Help Me select Mini

Get the version with i7, 8GBytes DRAM and 256GB SSD.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Why would 256gb SSD be preferable to 64gb if storing music on an external drive? Under most circumstances I'm using less than 1/3 of the drive - all that is really on there is the OS and the music software I'm using.

Haven't tried a firewire drive - ended up with a Thunderbolt drive because my previous audio computer was a macbook air and it didn't have firewire. I haven't noticed any "noise" other than the fan on the drive itself. If using something like Amarra doesn't it play from cache memory anyways- i.e the drive is purely for storage?

It is a good idea to get a large SSD so that you can put multiple OS images on it. Often, the good S/W players need fresh OS installs to sound good for each new release. Amarra for instance. Things get mucked-up with both the OS and the player S/W if you do multiple installs on the same image.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Ok...good news. I popped my 2007 Mac Mini on Ebay and got $256 for it. Now will be looking on Apple.com for a refurb unit and then have it shipped off for the upgrades. Thanks for the advice!

>>I have had all three processors and, the Core I7 sounds the best.

Dude, c'mon. Seriously?