Around $700 Budget, what's the better move?

[slivvy]

So I have keyboard, monitors all that jazz. I'm just looking to build the best possible PC to go with them. I'm looking at refurbished mac mini's on apples web site and I can get the quad core i7 model for $679. But then I'm looking at the custo mac mini in the buyers guide here and looks like all the parts together add up to around $600.

Would the custo mac mini with the 4340 i3 processor, 16gb ram, and 256gb SSD be a much better PC in your opinion than the $679 refurbished mac mini?

Mini for reference-
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD388LL/A/refurbished-mac-mini-23ghz-quad-core-intel-core-i7

vs.

Buyers Guide for reference-
http://www.tonymacx86.com/384-building-customac-buyer-s-guide-september-2013.html#mini

 

[trs96]

So I have keyboard, monitors all that jazz. I'm just looking to build the best possible PC to go with them. I'm looking at refurbished mac mini's on apples web site and I can get the quad core i7 model for $679. But then I'm looking at the custo mac mini in the buyers guide here and looks like all the parts together add up to around $600.

Would the custo mac mini with the 4340 i3 processor, 16gb ram, and 256gb SSD be a much better PC in your opinion than the $679 refurbished mac mini?

Yes, the CustoMac Mini would be much faster with the SSD and 4340 cpu. The Mac Mini is just a
laptop w/out a monitor and with the slow 5400 rpm HDD is much slower at doing everyday tasks.
If you need just an internet surfing, media streaming computer, then the Apple Mini is the way to go.
If you want to create content (edit hi def videos and photos) then go with the CustoMac.

 

[slivvy]

Thank you! I'm going for it. Just ordered all the parts from NewEgg through tonymac's buying guide. Can't wait to get it running!