Computer Home Set-up - Long one

[Slammed172]

Right, I've looked through numerous threads but haven't really got the answer I was looking for. So any help I would appreciate. It's a two part question.

Got a Mac Pro 2009 and it's slowly die-ing. It's a 2.66 ghz intel core 2 duo with 8gig ram.

I also have a xbox one and smart tv in a different room to the "office" that I'd like to stream movies to. At the moment I plug in the Mac to the HDMI and watch it through the TV and listen through the Mac as it's a an older version and doesn't support audio. Not ideal.

So the plan was to get a new Mac Book Pro, however ~ 2k for what I want isn't a good idea, plus I'll probably be going travelling in a year so don't want to take a 2k Mac with me but will take my old one.

The the next plan is to get a NAS and a Mac Mini. Ideal. I have a thunderbolt display, keyboard and mouse so that front is sorted. I can wipe my laptop and wack everything on the NAS and share to Mac Mini, Mac Pro and TV.. right ?

Questions.

NAS, do I need one, or shall I just get a portable HD and plug it into my router ? A lot cheaper.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003IPC21Y/?tag=cliospnet01-21

Or a NAS

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FOKN7FG/?tag=cliospnet01-21

Twice the price but shocking reviews.

Synology are now 4 X the above in price so not ideal for me personally.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CDG2XHC/?tag=cliospnet01-21

+ X 2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008JJLZ7G/?tag=cliospnet01-21

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So that's part one.

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Part two, the Mac Mini.

With looking at the spec of my current Pro. I'd want at least 8 gig memory and then close to 2.6ghz.

I'm assuming a 2.3 quad core is a lot better than a 2.5 dual core and both a lot better than a 2.6 2 duo ? Will I see the difference with a 2.6 quad core upgrade for £80 ?

As standard Mac Mini comes with 1 tb storage, I won't need this as I'll have a NAS (of sort), so is it worth the £160 upgrade to 256 SSD in terms of speed and performance ?

I'm trying to future proof myself as my Pro has lasted 4/5 years perfectly so I want the above to do the same. I'm only a Web Developer so don't use heavy programs/files, only large Illustrator comps.

The spec is now 2.6 ghz quad core, 8 gig, 256 SSD - this is £999 - do I need all this ? Was only planning on spending 1k ALL in for the above MAX.

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Sorry for the long thread.

All suggestions appreciated.

 

[cava83]

Below in bold.

Right, I've looked through numerous threads but haven't really got the answer I was looking for. So any help I would appreciate. It's a two part question.

Got a Mac Pro 2009 and it's slowly die-ing. It's a 2.66 ghz intel core 2 duo with 8gig ram.

I also have a xbox one and smart tv in a different room to the "office" that I'd like to stream movies to. At the moment I plug in the Mac to the HDMI and watch it through the TV and listen through the Mac as it's a an older version and doesn't support audio. Not ideal.

So the plan was to get a new Mac Book Pro, however ~ 2k for what I want isn't a good idea, plus I'll probably be going travelling in a year so don't want to take a 2k Mac with me but will take my old one.

The the next plan is to get a NAS and a Mac Mini. Ideal. I have a thunderbolt display, keyboard and mouse so that front is sorted. I can wipe my laptop and wack everything on the NAS and share to Mac Mini, Mac Pro and TV.. right ?

Questions.

NAS, do I need one, or shall I just get a portable HD and plug it into my router ? A lot cheaper. NAS can simplify things or make it more complicated, only you can answer if you need one. A single HD (portable in your instance) is a lot cheaper.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003IPC21Y/?tag=cliospnet01-21

Or a NAS

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FOKN7FG/?tag=cliospnet01-21

Twice the price but shocking reviews. As you said, shocking reviews.

Synology are now 4 X the above in price so not ideal for me personally. Some people like QNAP, some Synology. I have a 1513+ and it is a good investment. Share files with friends/stream movies/plex.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CDG2XHC/?tag=cliospnet01-21

+ X 2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008JJLZ7G/?tag=cliospnet01-21

-------

So that's part one.

------

Part two, the Mac Mini.

With looking at the spec of my current Pro. I'd want at least 8 gig memory and then close to 2.6ghz Do you need the extra CPU, what is it you do that requires the extra jump in price? RAM and Disk usage, are two of the things you use more, before maxing out your CPU (normally)

I'm assuming a 2.3 quad core is a lot better than a 2.5 dual core and both a lot better than a 2.6 2 duo ? Depends on what you will be using for it. I have a quadcore Will I see the difference with a 2.6 quad core upgrade for £80 ? Depends, SSD might be a better investment than CPU increase for your scenario.

As standard Mac Mini comes with 1 tb storage, I won't need this as I'll have a NAS (of sort), so is it worth the £160 upgrade to 256 SSD in terms of speed and performance ? SSD is one of the things that you can do which will really, really increase the performance. I have a Samsung 830 pro in mine, did the upgrade myself. Save £££. Double check warranty if you are making changes yourself.

I'm trying to future proof myself as my Pro has lasted 4/5 years perfectly so I want the above to do the same. I'm only a Web Developer so don't use heavy programs/files, only large Illustrator comps. Pro and a mini are two different beasts. Mac mini for those requirements should be fine, it's a beast.

The spec is now 2.6 ghz quad core, 8 gig, 256 SSD - this is £999 - do I need all this ? Was only planning on spending 1k ALL in for the above MAX. But you where considering getting a 2k laptop

Here;

Buy this > http://store.apple.com/uk/product/FD388B/A or this > http://store.apple.com/uk/product/G0NP1B/A

Then get your RAM from Crucial and your SSD from where you want.

Less than £850 and you have an awesome machine at a reasonable price for what you need.

You can of course build your own windows machine, cheaper and better spec, but do you need it? Probably not.

----

Sorry for the long thread.

All suggestions appreciated.

 

[Slammed172]

Thanks for the reply cava83 - thought there were more techies looking at other threads, but hey ho.

I've chosen to order the WD MyCloud. Just because, if it's crap I can return it. I feel that a normal HD will be a mare with a Smart TV as I'll have to map I.P's etc.

On the investment front, I will probably invest later down the line as I want to see if a NAS works for my set-up for a start, it might be a PITA, so don't want to spend £350 on a PITA.

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Mac - refurbs, never thought of that, I might just well do your suggestion, so thanks for that, deffo going to go down the SSD route ! It's just choosing whether to go 2.3 or 2.6. hmm.

 

[Slammed172]

Bit overwhelming this thread.

I went out and bought the WD MyCloud and it's perfect. Reviews of it being noisy and impossible to set-up. It's literally silent, it's quick and it took me 2 minutes to set-up. Some reviews are such a waste of time. The bad reviews are probably people running less than 1mb broadband and PC's with XP on.

I also purchased a Mac Mini - didn't go for the refurb. Went for the 2.6 ghz quad core, 8 gig, 256 SSD with a cheeky QuidCo cash back. Should arrive tomorrow and should future proof me for a while anyway. V happy.

 

[Jack!]

I have the DS213j, I love it - not that it's much help to you now.

 

[cava83]

Excellent, good setup. I think you would have liked a synology, maybe next time. Did you need the CPU speed bump

how are you getting on with it?

 

[Slammed172]

Thanks anyway Jackiecube
cava83 - Yes I certainly will bare that in mind, just wanted to give the WD a chance and at the moment, it's ace. But judging my the reviews, I'm sure it'll fail in a week and I'll be sending it back.

The Mac Mini - well I haven't actually pushed it yet as it only arrived yesterday, but fcuk me does it fly doing normal day to day tasks, I don't want to open the MBP up any more.

 

[cava83]

Thanks anyway @Jackiecube
@cava83 - Yes I certainly will bare that in mind, just wanted to give the WD a chance and at the moment, it's ace. But judging my the reviews, I'm sure it'll fail in a week and I'll be sending it back.

The Mac Mini - well I haven't actually pushed it yet as it only arrived yesterday, but fcuk me does it fly doing normal day to day tasks, I don't want to open the MBP up any more.

It's the SSD.

I bet your MBP is a standard HD?

Seriously, an SSD is one of the best improvements for normal computers, then ram (normally)

Most comps CPU is stupidly quick, even normal laptops. Hard to saturate unless doing video or something a long those lines.

My Mac Mini, is a i7 2.3 with 16GB ram and a 256 SSD, it's good then it's connected to a Synology 1513+ with 5 x WD Red drives in there. Good toy.

Good luck