Upgrade from 2.26GHz 4GB Mini to new 2.66 GHz?

[DHart]

I'm running a year old mini with 10.6.4 OS and 2.26 GHz processor and 4 GB of RAM and I'm happy with it's performance running all the typical stuff, as well as CS5 and LR3. Runs fine and fairly speedy. Here's what it's got:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: Mac mini
Model Identifier: Macmini3,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.26 GHz
NVIDIA GeForce 9400
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MM31.0081.B06
SMC Version (system): 1.35f0

But now, I've got to wonder if I would notice an improvement in running Photoshop filters (like Portraiture) or in finder activities if I upgraded to the 2.66 GHz Mini with 4GB of RAM. Looks like the only performance improvement other than
processor speed might be the graphics processor? And ability to go to 8GB of RAM, though 4GB seems plenty to for what I do.

* 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
* 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache
* 1066MHz frontside bus
* NVIDIA GeForce 320M
* 4GB RAM

graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory4

Your thoughts on that? Noticible improvement or hardly noticible?

 

[WardC]

If you were willing to put that much money down, you would get better performance out of an i5 iMac quad core or something like that. They new 2.66GHz Mini is pricey!!

 

[TMRaven]

That is a very ill-advised upgrade. If you must be on the bleeding edge of technology, get an easily upgradeable pc tower.

 

[DHart]

That is a very ill-advised upgrade. If you must be on the bleeding edge of technology, get an easily upgradeable pc tower.

PC is not even remotely a possibility for me. Mac for me all the way since 1984 and I doubt that will ever change.

OK then, it sounds like I'm fine with the mini I have. (I've also got a bunch of other macs). But like many, I'm lured by the draw of ever speedier machines.

 

[WardC]

PC is not even remotely a possibility for me. Mac for me all the way since 1984 and I doubt that will ever change.

OK then, it sounds like I'm fine with the mini I have. (I've also got a bunch of other macs). But like many, I'm lured by the draw of ever speedier machines.

I second that 100% !!!

 

[snsr]

I'm running a year old mini with 10.6.4 OS and 2.26 GHz processor and 4 GB of RAM and I'm happy with it's performance
...
Your thoughts on that? Noticible improvement or hardly noticible?

I'd say hardly noticeable. Things might be a bit snappier, but you'd see a much greater improvement from just upgrading your current system with a WD Scorpio Black 7200rpm drive (or, even better, an SSD).

 

[DHart]

I'd say hardly noticeable. Things might be a bit snappier, but you'd see a much greater improvement from just upgrading your current system with a WD Scorpio Black 7200rpm drive (or, even better, an SSD).

Yeah.. already did the HD upgrade to 500GB 7200 and the RAM is maxed out at 4GB. It's a plenty speedy set-up, really, I'm just a sucker for the latest, faster offerings.

 

[ValSalva]

Yeah.. already did the HD upgrade to 500GB 7200 and the RAM is maxed out at 4GB. It's a plenty speedy set-up, really, I'm just a sucker for the latest, faster offerings.

You could use the 7200 RPM HDD as an external drive if you bought an SSD. If you like speed, you'd love a good SSD.

 

[stevensr123]

The guy just wants a new, sexy looking gadget

 

[DHart]

The guy just wants a new, sexy looking gadget

Yeah! Don't we all.

SSD will come at some point, just a little more than I want to spend for the capacity right now, for me.