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Ask HN: Can you do IOS/XCode development on Mac Mini (1.4 Ghz)

by neilxdsouza on 3/8/15, 4:55 AM with 16 comments

Need advice on whether you can do IOS Dev on a Mini the 1.4 Ghz (2 core i5). Im from india and you can get this machine here (on Amazon.in) for INR 32K (about USD 500). There is a higher spec'd mini at 2.5 Ghz That costs about INR 50K (about USD 800), but I'm trying to see how far I could get with the cheapest model.

Does anyone use this machine for development?

My initial plan was to buy the 15 inch MBP (Iris graphics) which you can get here (amazon.in) for INR 120K (about USD 2000). But, after re-thinking, my girlfriend is into fashion and I'm planning to get her an innovis 1500 embroidery cum sewing machine and am cutting down on my specs a little - a little bet I'm taking on her.

The idea is to buy the 1.4 Ghz mini for INR 32K and put 16 Gb ram into - I checked on amazon.in - you can get a corsair chip for about INR 7300 - 16 Gb will cost me about INR 15K (about USD 250).

So to summarize, if I bought an mac mini (1.4 Ghz) and put 16Gb ram into, would I be able to do IOS development work on it or would it be a frustrating exercise.

  For those who want to compare the savings:

  (All prices in INR)
  Mac - mini     - 32,000
  16 Gb ram      - 14,000
  Full hd screen -  8,000
  ----------------------
  Total           54,000 

  MBP 15 inch   - 120,000 
 
  Difference = 120K - 54K = 66K INR (about USD 1000)

 Thanks, do let me know your experience/opinions.

  • by daven11 on 3/8/15, 5:05 AM

    I use a macbook air mid 2011. 1.7 Ghz i5, 4GB 133MHz DDR3, 128GB SSD, intel HD graphics 3000 384 MB memory, and it works fine. I run Yosemite on it and develop iOS apps. I actually run a Windows 8 VM on it as well - but I have to be careful with the memory usage :-). I keep looking for an excuse to upgrade it but I have no reason :-(

    If you buy from Apple you can return it in 14 days no questions asked - at least in Australia last time I looked. I tried this once with an external hard drive (too noisy) and it was not a problem.

  • by tiboll on 3/8/15, 9:33 PM

    I would suggest an SSD (or Fusion Drive) and at least 8gb of memory (that's pretty much what I have on the Air).

    If you take theses 2 options on the 1.4Ghz you're already over the price of the middle range which have a better processor and a better graphic card.

  • by __Joker on 3/8/15, 5:45 AM

    I work with 128 GB SSD + 8 GB RAM. I think less RAM is fine, if you have SSD. The swaps, if there is any swaps, will be faster.

    Between verify, whether the RAM is upgradable or not.

  • by Ezhik on 3/8/15, 5:31 AM

    I think it'll work pretty well, unless you are working on really big projects.

    RAM is something that will never hurt to have more of.