2012 mac mini i7 quad core for pro tools

A pair of 1 TB SATA SSDs and a mounting bracket kit for the 2012 Mini would give you twice as much storage at a similar price. PCIe-attached flash is faster than SATA SSDs, but the 2014 Mini has a limit of 1 TB of the former, and you must select the internal storage option you want at order time. It has the same RAM ceiling as the 2012 model (16 GB), but if you want to upgrade RAM, you must do so at order time, since the RAM is soldered in. The dual Thunderbolt ports probably imply extra video flexibility (e.g., the ability to run two 27' monitors instead of a 27' and a 24'). The 2014 model has somewhat faster CPUs, two Thunderbolt 2 ports (compared to one Thunderbolt port and one Firewire 800 port on the 2012 model), and PCI-attached flash storage options. How much better is the 2014 mini compared to the 2012? Does it make sense to get a new one when the 2012 is so much more upgradeable? I really need USB 3 and would like 2 internal SSD's, like I have now. I want to upgrade my 2011 mini and considering a used 2012 model. How well these work and whether this will actually speed file transfers compared to USB 2 I can not confirm but theoretically that will open you to the wonderful world of USB 3 for less than the cost of an otherwise comparable machine. There are USB 3 to Thunderbolt adapters available.

Faster than eSATA or USB 3 is faster than the maximum transfer rate of mechanical drives anyway. There is not an overwhelming difference using mechanical drives between USB 3 and 2. I understand your USB 3 pain as the limited storage of the MM requires use of external drives. The Intel graphics are hardly improved between the machines you describe. If you have an i5 you may perceive a difference going to an i7 processor but it will not be overwhelming and within short use of the machine you may not appreciate the difference. My personal experience is what testing shows. An i5/7 Sandy Bridge to the end user seems as fast as a Skylake i5/i7 all things being equal. Tests of user perceived performance, as opposed to nano and milli second differences that can be measured, do not show significant differences between Intel processors of the same class from Sandy Bridge to current (except for Apple yet) Skylake processors.

2012 mac mini i7 quad core for pro tools