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ftribel
Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Posts: 295
Location: Paris, France
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 Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:32 am Post subject: Mac mini and PC8 |
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Does somebody knows if PC8 is fast with a mac mini ?? Compared to imac, I mean.
Thank you. |
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raleighross
Joined: 12 Aug 2004
Posts: 393
Location: Raleigh, NC
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| Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:36 am Post subject: |
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In general current iMacs are faster than current Mini's.
In specific, faster CPU, faster disk drive, and more memory possible. And I think the memory bus on the iMac is also faster than on the Mini.
Whether or not you'd notice depends on how complicated your drawings are.
David |
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F700ES
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 141
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| I would think that the on-board intel video with shared memory would be the biggest bottle-neck. |
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CJH
Joined: 24 Apr 2004
Posts: 351
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| Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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I have PC8 on a 1.8Ghz Mac Mini and for the work I do (structural drawings with lots of hatches, no shadows, limited transparencies) it is just fine-comparable to my 2.2Ghz Macbook Pro for most uses. I probably notice the hard drive speed more than anything as opening files is a little slower.
The beauty of the Mini is it is tucked away and forgotten, no noise or heat like the G5 it replaced (and faster than the G5 running PC7). |
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raleighross
Joined: 12 Aug 2004
Posts: 393
Location: Raleigh, NC
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| Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 4:09 am Post subject: |
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Yes I forgot to mention the shared graphics memory. But both the iMac and the Mini share this "feature" except on the highest end iMac with the graphics upgrade.
I've been doing a lot of system installs on minis lately for some testing and that slow disk drive is really really really noticeable when writing to the disk. Reads are slower to but not nearly as noticeable.
The G4 I use for my desktop for non graphics works seems faster on things that are not CPU intensive but for graphics and CPU speed the mini blows it away.
So if Sketchup or 3D or movie editing or .... is in your future I'd go with the iMac. It also gives you the option of a 2nd display and upgrading parts in it is waaaaaay easier than a Mini. Oh, yeah, I think the mini is limited to 2GB.
David |
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ftribel
Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Posts: 295
Location: Paris, France
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| Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:46 am Post subject: |
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Thanks all.
In fact, I want a mini only to put upon my G5 2X2,7 to use only with powercadd 8, nothing else. And all the files are on a G4 server, so the features of the disk drive is not really important.
The question is : is PC8 on mac mini really faster than PC7 on my G5 2X2,7. It's important, because I stopped drawing with PC7, I was upstet by the slowness of this version. And I hope the pleasure could come back ?
I tried the demo at home, with my intel imac and it was really faster than PC7/G5. |
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John Cruet
Joined: 30 Apr 2004
Posts: 352
Location: Guilford, CT
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| Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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| raleighross wrote: | Yes I forgot to mention the shared graphics memory. But both the iMac and the Mini share this "feature" except on the highest end iMac with the graphics upgrade.
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I don't think you have that "fact" right.
From the Apple Website:
Mac Mini:
Mac mini at a Glance
1.83GHz or 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
Apple Remote with Front Row
Up to 2GB memory4
Intel GMA 950 graphics processor
DVI connector, VGA adapter
Slot-loading optical drive
Up to 160GB hard drive4
Built-in Gigabit Ethernet
Analog and digital audio
Expansion via USB and FireWire
iLife ’08, Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard
iMac- the basic 20 inch model:
Graphics and video support
20-inch model with 2.4GHz processor
ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics processor with 128MB of GDDR3 memory
To my understanding, the current iMacs do NOT have shared graphics memory.
_________________
John Cruet
G4/733 w/1028 mb RAM & OS 10.4.10, Classic-free, skuzzy-free (runs PC7)
MacBook Pro 2G Intel core duo 2 gig RAM & OS 10.5.4.
PowerCadd 8, WT 9
Canon iP710 printer
www.johncruet.com |
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raleighross
Joined: 12 Aug 2004
Posts: 393
Location: Raleigh, NC
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| Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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| John Cruet wrote: | | raleighross wrote: | Yes I forgot to mention the shared graphics memory. But both the iMac and the Mini share this "feature" except on the highest end iMac with the graphics upgrade.
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I don't think you have that "fact" right.
From the Apple Website:
...
Graphics and video support
20-inch model with 2.4GHz processor
ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics processor with 128MB of GDDR3 memory
To my understanding, the current iMacs do NOT have shared graphics memory. |
Yep. They used to but now don't. (I get confused at times.  ) Which would make them a much better performer for anything doing graphics. And the high end 24" with the graphics card upgrade even better.
Minis have become machines mainly for the "I can't afford anything else" or I want something to stick in the corner and not pay attention to.
Davi |
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F700ES
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 141
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks JC, I wanted to get a mini until I saw this. No way I am buying a machine with a on-board graphics card.
I did get a used G4 cube a while back. Pretty nice little unit. I have yet to put X on it but still fun to play with.
| John Cruet wrote: |
I don't think you have that "fact" right.
From the Apple Website:
Mac Mini:
Mac mini at a Glance
1.83GHz or 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
Apple Remote with Front Row
Up to 2GB memory4
Intel GMA 950 graphics processor
DVI connector, VGA adapter
Slot-loading optical drive
Up to 160GB hard drive4
Built-in Gigabit Ethernet
Analog and digital audio
Expansion via USB and FireWire
iLife ’08, Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard
iMac- the basic 20 inch model:
Graphics and video support
20-inch model with 2.4GHz processor
ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics processor with 128MB of GDDR3 memory
To my understanding, the current iMacs do NOT have shared graphics memory. |
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John Cruet
Joined: 30 Apr 2004
Posts: 352
Location: Guilford, CT
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| Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 8:27 am Post subject: |
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| F700ES wrote: | Thanks JC, I wanted to get a mini until I saw this. No way I am buying a machine with a on-board graphics card.
I did get a used G4 cube a while back. Pretty nice little unit. I have yet to put X on it but still fun to play with. |
OK, I plead guilty, but it's the prime reason I spent $900 more for the Macbook Pro than the MacBook- that the graphics card was separate- mine has an ATI Radeon X1600 mobile card.
_________________
John Cruet
G4/733 w/1028 mb RAM & OS 10.4.10, Classic-free, skuzzy-free (runs PC7)
MacBook Pro 2G Intel core duo 2 gig RAM & OS 10.5.4.
PowerCadd 8, WT 9
Canon iP710 printer
www.johncruet.com |
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ftribel
Joined: 14 Apr 2004
Posts: 295
Location: Paris, France
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| Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:42 am Post subject: |
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| Do you think the graphic card is so important with PC8 ??? |
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raleighross
Joined: 12 Aug 2004
Posts: 393
Location: Raleigh, NC
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| Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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| ftribel wrote: | | Do you think the graphic card is so important with PC8 ??? |
A graphics card which does NOT steal main memory for video memory makes a large difference for most applications that display lots of graphics.
Notice that "so", "large", "lots", and other such words in this thread are not very precise but only indicate a trend.
Plus it depends on the size (in pixels) of the display and the complexity of the graphics being displayed.
Hows that for a sure maybe?
Personally I'd recommend to anyone running ANY CAD application who uses it more than an hour or two a day to get a machine with a graphics setup that does not share graphics memory with main memory.
MNERHO
David |
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poolvibe
Joined: 16 Apr 2004
Posts: 368
Location: My Lair
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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I have 4 estimators than run PC7 on Ibook G4s w/ 1gb ram so a new mini should be fine. Just don't load up on transparency and bmp fills etc. 
_________________
www.shouldbefree.net |
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patrickm
Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 399
Location: santa barbara, ca
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:29 am Post subject: |
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The logic board on my old 17" Powerbook G4 is dying and I need to figure out whether to fix it ($$) or get a new computer ($$$). I've been using this Powerbook and home and have a 17" MacBook Pro at the office (used with a 30" apple monitor).
I am trying to sort out the options and was wondering if anyone has any updates on their experiences using PC8 on a Mac Mini. If a mini performs with PC8 and can drive a 30" monitor (I get conflicting information from the local Mac reseller), I was considering moving the 17" MBP to home and using the mini at work. If not, I might get a MacBook for home.
Any comments would be appreciated,
patrick |
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John Cruet
Joined: 30 Apr 2004
Posts: 352
Location: Guilford, CT
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| Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:33 am Post subject: |
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| patrickm wrote: | The logic board on my old 17" Powerbook G4 is dying and I need to figure out whether to fix it ($$) or get a new computer ($$$). I've been using this Powerbook and home and have a 17" MacBook Pro at the office (used with a 30" apple monitor).
I am trying to sort out the options and was wondering if anyone has any updates on their experiences using PC8 on a Mac Mini. If a mini performs with PC8 and can drive a 30" monitor (I get conflicting information from the local Mac reseller), I was considering moving the 17" MBP to home and using the mini at work. If not, I might get a MacBook for home.
Any comments would be appreciated,
patrick |
You need to research the Mac Mini at Apple's website. The specs for this computer have changed dramatically.
_________________
John Cruet
G4/733 w/1028 mb RAM & OS 10.4.10, Classic-free, skuzzy-free (runs PC7)
MacBook Pro 2G Intel core duo 2 gig RAM & OS 10.5.4.
PowerCadd 8, WT 9
Canon iP710 printer
www.johncruet.com |
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