Best Mac Mini Graphics ??

[lafinfil]

Looking at decay's post below about Mac Minis in the refurb store

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/sp...c/mac_mini

All other things being equal (except minor speed bump) which of these has the best video spec ?

2.3 i5 w/ Intel HD Graphics 3000

2.5 i5 w/ Intel HD Graphics 4000

2.5 i5 w/ AMD Radeon HD 6630M

Looking to run dual monitors (separate windows - not mirrored)

I'm guessing that since the first 2 are integrated graphics that the AMD Radeon is best ?

TIA !

[MGS_forgot_password]

I don't think it will matter much unless you are playing games.

[anonymouse1]

Yes, AMD Radeon is best.

Look at the Snow Lion upgrade--older Macs using integrated graphics can't run it, but those with separate GPUs can.

[kj]

Throw the HD 3000 out. A lot worse. But even on games the other two aren't THAT different. Depending on the price difference, it might not matter that much. Maybe the radeon will be supported longer than the hd 4000, but I wouldn't think necessarily. If I remember right, the ati x1600 wasn't supported all that well either, even though it was a discrete card. kj.

[lafinfil]

Thanks guys. I did a little reading since posting and your comments support what i found,
Not a great deal of difference between the various choices with Radeon likely to be supported longer.

[GeneL]

This has been one of my "big" questions in considering the switch from my older MacPro, which cannot be upgraded past Lion, to a Mac Mini.

From what I've read, it seems that the one big limitation of even the server top of the line Mini, is the integration of video on the processor chip.

I've been running my 60 inch Panasonic plasma tv from my MacPro, with fantastic results, so I'm wondering what video limitations there'd be with a Mini?

Any other video issues that would be experienced with a Mini compared to a 2.66 GHz MacPro?

[bazookaman]

GeneL wrote:
I've been running my 60 inch Panasonic plasma tv from my MacPro, with fantastic results, so I'm wondering what video limitations there'd be with a Mini?

Yes. But the highest resolution you'd get on your 60 inch screen is still only 1920x1080.

[GeneL]

bazookaman wrote:
[quote=GeneL]
I've been running my 60 inch Panasonic plasma tv from my MacPro, with fantastic results, so I'm wondering what video limitations there'd be with a Mini?

Yes. But the highest resolution you'd get on your 60 inch screen is still only 1920x1080.
So, are you saying that a Mini would give me the same results (picture quality) as my MacPro? If that's the case, I'd be perfectly satisfied. The viewed picture quality on my tv is amazing!

It's just that some of the only complaints that I've picked up on, were about having the "integrated" video design as it's been done on the new Mini's.

I'd be happy to have it confirmed that I'd still have either a DVI output with a digital audio out as well or an integrated HDMI port that I could use to connect my tv.

[bazookaman]

The mini can run the shiny mac apple display and it's got a resolution of 2560 x something or other. A lot more than standard HD that TV's show. But it's only got a thunderbolt and hdmi out.

[clay]

bazookaman wrote:
But it's only got a thunderbolt and hdmi out.

Both of which can be adapted to other connections (DVI, VGA, etc). The HDMI can only output up to 1080, FWIW. The thunderbolt port can handle higher resolutions, like the Apple display that you mentioned.