Jump to content

Mac Mini

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bsfmig (talk | contribs) at 12:35, 17 October 2014 (→Specifications: Mac mini early and late 2009 can run OS X 10.10.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Mac Mini
File:Mac mini.png
Current Unibody Mac Mini
ManufacturerApple Inc.
TypeDesktop[1] & Server[2]
Release dateOctober 16, 2014 (current release)
January 22, 2005 (original release)
Introductory priceUS $499–999
MediaCD/DVD drive (pre-July 2011 models), Digital distribution (post-July 2011 models)
Operating systemOS X[3][4]
CPUIntel Core i5[3] & Core i7[4] (current release)
PowerPC G4 (original release)
Memory4, 8, 16 GB DDR3 1600 MHz[5]
Storage500 GB (i5 model), 1 TB (i7 model), or two 1TB hard drives (i7 server model)[5]
DisplayNone included
ConnectivityWi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, FireWire, USB 3 (current release), HDMI, SDXC, Thunderbolt[5]
Power85 W PSU (7 A@12 V)
Dimensions1.4 inches (36 mm) H
7.7 inches (196 mm) W
7.7 inches (196 mm) D
Mass2.7 pounds (1.2 kg)[Notes 1]
RelatediMac, Mac Pro
WebsiteApple – Mac mini
Apple – Mac mini Server

The Mac Mini (marketed as Mac mini) is a small form factor desktop computer manufactured by Apple Inc. Like earlier mini-ITX PC designs, it is 7.7 inches (200 mm) square and 1.4 inches (36 mm) tall. It weighs 2.7 pounds (1.2 kg). Before the mid-2011 revision, all models, except the late 2009 and 2010 server models, came with an internal optical disc drive. Models pre-2010 used an external power supply and were narrower but taller at 2.0 × 6.5 × 6.5 inches (51 × 165 × 165 mm). The Mac Mini is one of three desktop computers in the current Macintosh lineup, the other two being the iMac and Mac Pro, although it generally uses components usually featured in laptops, hence its small size.[citation needed]

The Mac Mini was the first consumer level Macintosh desktop to ship without a display, keyboard, or mouse since Apple's success following the release of the iMac, with Apple marketing it as BYODKM (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse). The primary intended market for the Mac Mini was users switching from a traditional Windows PC to a Mac who might already own a compatible display, keyboard and mouse, although these could be easily purchased if needed.[6] A special Server version of the computer is also intended for use as a server in a small network, and starting with the mid-2010 revision, all Server models have included the Server edition of the OS X operating system.[citation needed]

The updated unibody Mac Mini is notable as Apple's first computer to include an HDMI video port to connect to a television or other display, more readily positioning the unit as a home theater device alternative to the Apple TV.[7]

Overview

A small form factor computer had been widely speculated and requested long before the release of the Mac Mini. Rumors predicted that the "headless iMac" would be extremely small, include no display, and would be positioned as Apple's entry-level desktop computer.[8] On January 10, 2005, the Mac Mini was announced alongside the iPod shuffle at the Macworld Conference & Expo and was described by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the time as "the cheapest, most affordable Mac ever".[6][9]

The Mac Mini is an entry-level computer intended for budget-minded customers. Until the 2011 release, the Mac Mini had much less processing power than the other computers of the Macintosh lineup. Unlike regular desktop computers, which use standard-sized components such as 3.5-inch hard drives, Apple uses lower power laptop components in the Mac Mini to fit all the necessary components into the small case and to prevent overheating, common in such compact spaces.[10] Previously, with the choice of components on the older models, the machine was considered somewhat slower than standard desktop computers. It also had less storage and memory than comparable desktops. However, the 2011 upgrade addressed many of these previous complaints.

In general, the Mac Mini has been praised as a relatively affordable computer with a solid range of features. However, the press also agrees that it is relatively high priced for a computer aimed at the lower segment of the market. It is possible to buy small form factor computers at the same price with faster processors, better graphics card, more memory, and/or more storage.[11] The small form factor has made the Mac Mini particularly popular as a home theater solution. In addition, the small size and observed reliability has helped keep resale values high.[12]

On October 22, 2009, Apple introduced a new server version of the Mac Mini along with revisions of the computer. This model lacks an optical drive, but contains a second hard drive in its place. This version is marketed as an affordable server for small businesses and schools.

A new model of the Mini was introduced on June 15, 2010. The new model was thinner, with a unibody aluminum case designed to be easily opened for RAM access, and incorporated upgraded hardware, such as an HDMI port and Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics. An update announced July 20, 2011 dropped the internal CD/DVD optical drive from all versions and introduced a Thunderbolt port, Intel Core i5 processor, and either Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated graphics or AMD Radeon HD 6630M dedicated graphics. The server model was upgraded to a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor. Quad-core i7 CPUs are also used in the late-2012 desktop Mac Mini computers.[13]

Design

The original Mac Mini before the 2010 re-design
Inside of an Intel Mac Mini circa 2007

The most notable feature of the Mac Mini is its size. The original design measured only 2.0 × 6.5 × 6.5 inches (51 × 165 × 165 mm). The exterior of the original Mac Mini was made of aluminum capped with polycarbonate plastic on the top and bottom. The original design had no visible screws and was not meant to be upgraded by the user. The back of the machine contains the I/O ports and vents for the cooling system. It had an external power supply.

The Mac Mini, updated on June 15, 2010, was fully redesigned,[1] being slimmer than the prior models at only 1.4 inches (36 mm) tall, but wider at 7.7 inches (196 mm) a side. The weight rose from 2.9 to 3.0 pounds (1.3 to 1.4 kg). The power supply is now internal as opposed to external. The chassis no longer has the polycarbonate plastic on the top or bottom. The newer model, introduced July 20, 2011 has the same physical dimensions but is slightly lighter, at 2.7 pounds (1.2 kg), presumably because it lacks an internal CD/DVD drive.

The current Mac Mini is designed to be opened using a round cover on the bottom of the computer. Prior versions of the Mini were much more difficult to open. Some Mac Mini owners used a putty knife or a pizza cutter to pry open the cases of older Mini models to gain access to the interior for installation of cheaper third party memory upgrades.[14] The official Apple Service Source manual for Mac Mini describes this procedure in detail, including an official Apple part number for a "modified putty knife". It's also possible to use wires to pull the white plastic bottom case out of the metal top case.[15] While opening the case does not actually void the Mac Mini warranty, anything broken while the case is open is not covered.[16] Other modifications include hard disk upgrades, overclocking the processor (G4 only),[17] and upgrading the wireless networking (for older models) to 802.11n.[18] The 2009 model can have its SuperDrive replaced with a second SATA hard drive.[19] The removal of the optical drive in the 2011 models leaves internal space for a second internal hard drive or SSD, which can be ordered as a BTO option from Apple, or as an upgrade kit from 3rd party suppliers.

With the switch to the Intel Core Solo and Duo line, Apple initially used a socketed CPU in the Mac Mini that allowed the processor to be replaced. They switched to a non-socketed CPU with the 2009 model that did not allow an easy upgrade. With the June 2010 revision, the case can be readily opened to add RAM.

Home theater

The Mac Mini can be used for home cinema (theater) applications. The small footprint, multi-format video output, digital audio output, remote control IR receiver and the relatively powerful Intel CPUs make it easy to use the Mac Mini as part of a home entertainment system.[20]

A 2008 Mac Mini as a home theater PC demonstrating the Front Row application. Current models include an HDMI port for easy connection with modern televisions and home theater receivers.

It can be classified as a home theater PC (HTPC) with some limits. The Mac Mini does not include an integrated TV tuner card and cannot be upgraded to install one internally; accessing TV requires external devices like Elgato's EyeTV USB adapter or SiliconDust's HDHomeRun networked TV tuner which will encode and manage broadcast television from a cable or satellite receiver. The July 2011 model lacks a built-in CD/DVD player and OS X Lion no longer supports Front Row remote control software.

Pre-2009 Mac Mini models had a video connector which was compatible with DVI, HDMI (video only), SVGA, S-Video and composite video with the appropriate adapter. Sound is provided by a combination jack that uses both mini-RCA (analog) and optical fiber cables (digital).[21] Unlike the Apple TV, the Mac Mini is backward compatible with televisions that have only composite or S-Video inputs. As of the July 2011 revision of the Mac Mini, the computer sports an Intel HD3000 graphics processor with an optional Radeon graphics processing unit available and Thunderbolt which makes decoding high-resolution video much quicker and efficient. The addition of an HDMI port simplifies connecting the Mini to high-definition televisions and home theater AV receivers.

Because of the similar small form factor, HDMI port, remote control IR receiver, and media browser interface, some users see the Mac Mini as an Apple TV alternative.[7] It has both iTunes for media rental, purchase, and management, and a native user interface with Front Row, based on the user interface of the original Apple TV.[21][22] The Apple TV is limited to video in the MP4 format, whereas Mac Mini users employing the appropriate QuickTime codecs can watch other video formats like Divx, Xvid, and the Matroska (Mkv) container, or almost all other formats using an open source player such as VLC, without resorting to hacks. The current Intel models of Mac Mini can display video via the HDMI port at a maximum resolution of 1080p[20] and up to 2560x1600 via the mini display port with a compatible monitor.

The Mac Mini can also run third-party front-end media player applications for Mac OS X, such as Plex or XBMC, to be used as a home theater PC (HTPC).

Mac Mini G4

The specifications below are from Apple's "tech specs" page,[3] except where noted.

Processors

The Mac Mini G4 uses single-core 32-bit PowerPC processors that have 512 KB of on-chip L2 cache. The processor accesses memory through the front-side bus, which is clocked at 167 MHz. The chips in these models of Mac Mini run at 1.25, 1.33, 1.42, or 1.5 GHz. The computer supports an ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM standard. The high-end model of the last revision comes with 64 MB of video memory instead.

Memory

The Mac Mini G4 uses 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, allows a maximum of 1 GB of memory, and has only one desktop DIMM slot for random-access memory. This restricts both the maximum amount of available memory, which can greatly reduce performance by forcing the system to page to the hard disk, and, since the system is unable to take advantage of dual channels, maximum bandwidth. This issue was addressed in the Intel models of Mac Mini by using two notebook DIMM slots.

Storage

The Mac Mini G4 uses a single 2.5-inch Ultra ATA/100 hard drive, which offers a maximum transfer rate of 100 MB/s. Because of its sealed enclosure, it is not possible to upgrade the hard drive without opening the enclosure and possibly voiding the warranty of the system.[16] The Mac Mini G4 also contains a second ATA cable that connects to the optical drive. A Combo drive was included as standard, while a SuperDrive able to write to DVDs was also an option.

External connectivity

The original Mac Mini includes two USB 2.0 and one FireWire 400 port. Networking is supported with 10/100 Ethernet and V.92 modem ports, while 802.11b/g and Bluetooth were additional build-to-order options. The modem was later omitted from the Mac Mini, but an external modem remained an option. External displays are supported via a DVI port. Adaptors are also available for VGA, S-Video, and composite video. The system contains a built-in speaker and an analog 1/8-inch stereo Mini jack for sound out at the back of the case.

In the last revision of the Mac Mini G4, the internal mezzanine board was upgraded to accommodate the AirPort Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology onto one chip. In prior models, the Mac Mini included an AirPort Extreme card taped to the mezzanine board and a separate Bluetooth module.[23] This new Wi-Fi card also no longer uses an MMCX-Female connector for the antenna (as the prior models did) but rather a proprietary Apple one.

Specifications

Component PowerPC G4
Model Early 2005 Mid 2005[24] Late 2005[25]
Release date January 11, 2005 July 26, 2005 September 27, 2005
Order number M9686*/A, M9687*/A M9686*/B, M9687*/B, M9971*/B M9687*/B, M9971*/B
Model identifier PowerMac10,1 PowerMac10,2
Model number A1103
Processor 1.25 GHz or 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.33 GHz or 1.5 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A)
Cache 64 KB L1, 512 KB L2 (1:1)
Front-side bus 167 MHz
Memory
one RAM slot 		256 MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM
Expandable to 1 GB 		512 MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM
Expandable to 1 GB
Graphics ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM. ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32 MB or 64 MB of DDR SDRAM.
Hard drive 40 or 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 4200 rpm 40 or 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 5400 rpm
Optical drive Combo drive or SuperDrive
Connectivity Optional or Integrated Airport Extreme 802.11b/g
10/100 Base-T Ethernet
Optional or Integrated 56k V.92 modem
Optional or Integrated Bluetooth 1.1 		Optional or Integrated AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g with Bluetooth 2.0+EDR card
10/100 Base-T Ethernet
Optional or Integrated 56k V.92 modem
Peripherals 2x USB 2.0
1x Firewire 400
Built-in mono speaker
Audio-out mini-jack
Video out DVI
Original Operating system Mac OS X 10.3.7 "Panther" Mac OS X 10.4.2 "Tiger"
Maximum Operating system Mac OS X 10.5.8 "Leopard"
Weight 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg)
Dimensions 2.0 inches (51 mm) H × 6.5 inches (170 mm) W × 6.5 inches (170 mm) D

Notes:
1 The serial number and specifications sticker on the underside of the latest revision do not carry the actual specs of the upgrade. For example, on a 1.5 GHz model, 1.42 GHz is listed. The product packaging also did not reflect the upgrade. Apple did not revise the official specifications on their web site.[26]

Alternative operating systems

The Mac Mini G4 can run different operating systems designed for the PowerPC architecture. For example, users can easily install the AmigaOS-compatible MorphOS, or Linux distributions such as Debian or Ubuntu.[27][28][29][30]

Support for pre-OS X Mac applications

Unlike the Intel models, a G4 Mac Mini running Mac OS X 10.4 can run Mac OS 9 "Classic" applications, so long as a bootable copy of the OS 9 System Folder is installed from which to run the Classic environment. As of Mac OS X 10.5, the ability to run the Classic Environment was removed.

Intel-based Mac Mini

The specifications below are from Apple's "tech specs" page,[3] except where noted.

Processors

The current non-server Mac Mini is available in two versions, one with a mobile dual-core 64-bit Intel Core i5 processor that runs at 2.5 GHz and one with a choice of a mobile quad-core Intel Core i7 2.3 GHz or a quad-core Core i7 2.6 GHz; the server model has a choice of the same processors as the faster non-server model. The CPU in the slower non-server model has a 3 MB on-chip L3 cache, and the CPUs available for the faster non-server model and the server model have a 6 MB on-chip L3 cache; the cache is shared between the cores and GPU (if in use). Prior revisions used a "Penryn" Intel Core 2 Duo processor, "Merom"-based Core 2 Duo and "Yonah"-based Core Duo and Solo chips.

The 2006 and 2007 Mac Minis that come standard with a 32-bit Intel Core Duo processor can be changed to an Intel 64-bit Core 2 Duo processor through a simple upgrade.[31] Since the 2006 and 2007 "Merom"-based Mac Minis came with socketed processors, the 32-bit processor can easily be removed, and replaced with a compatible 64-bit Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The following processors are compatible: 2.00 GHz Intel T7200 SL9SF, 2.16 GHz Intel T7400 SL9SE, 2.33 GHz Intel T7600 SL9SD. The more recent 2009 and later Mac Minis have the processors soldered onto the logic board and thus are not upgradable. Once the 2006 Mac Mini has been upgraded to a 64-bit Core 2 Duo processor, and RAM is upgraded to at least 2 GB, it can run OS X Lion through a minor modification by editing or deleting the platformsupport.plist file.[32][33] A 2007 Mac Mini will run OS X Lion without any modification. Many users have found that such upgrades can make the 2006/2007 Mac Minis' performance even better than the 2009 Mac Mini models. Geekbench scores have shown that the 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo fitted Mac Mini with 2 GB of RAM has a score of 3060 whereas a late 2009 Mac Mini with 2 GB of RAM has 3056 making the two machines fairly comparable.[34][35]

While the Mac Mini G4 contained a separate graphics processor, all revisions of the Intel-based Mac Mini contain integrated GPUs, except in the 2011 version where the 2.5 GHz model contains a separate AMD Radeon GPU. In Apple's early marketing of the Mac Mini G4, it touted the superiority of the use of a discrete ATI Radeon 9200 32 MB graphics card over the integrated graphics included in many budget PCs.[36] The Intel GMA that was built into the Mac Mini was criticized for producing stuttering video, despite supporting hardware accelerated H.264 video playback, and disappointing frame rates in graphics-intensive 3D games.[37]

Back panel of a mid-2007 2,1 model Mac Mini. From left to right, first row: power button, 10 ventilation holes, Kensington lock slot, audio in, audio out. Second row: DC in, gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 400, DVI, 4 USB 2.0 ports
Back panel of a late 2009 3,1 model Mac Mini. From left to right, first row: power button, 10 ventilation holes, Kensington lock slot, audio in, audio out. Second row: DC in, gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 800, mini DVI, mini-DisplayPort, 5 USB 2.0 ports

Memory

Unlike the Mac Mini G4, the Intel-based Mac Mini uses a dual-channel architecture for memory. The original Intel-based Mac Mini uses 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, while models starting with the early 2009 revision use 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM. From the 2011 revision the Mac Mini supports up to 16 GB of memory. The current model also features a removable bottom panel, so that the memory can be replaced by the user. Since the integrated graphics processor does not have its own dedicated memory, the system shares some of the main system memory with it.

Storage

The Intel-based Mac Mini moves away from the formerly used Ultra ATA/100 to the newer Serial ATA interface, which offers a maximum 3 Gbit/s transfer rate, however all models of Intel Mac Mini have been limited to 1.5 Gbit/s even though the SATA standard supports a transfer of 3 Gbit/s. All models continue to use 2.5-inch hard drives as opposed to the 3.5-inch drives used in standard desktops. A server edition of the Mac Mini was introduced in October 2009, which omits the optical drive in favor of a second hard drive for a total of 1 TB of storage. A Combo drive was initially offered as standard, with the SuperDrive being an option, but through the 2010 models, all models that have an optical drive contain the SuperDrive as standard. The 2010 standard version of the Mac (without Server) comes with a 300 GB or on 2.66 GHz 500 GB of storage.

External connectivity

The original Intel-based Mac Mini includes four USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port. Networking is supported with a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port and an integrated 802.11b/g AirPort card. Bluetooth was also made standard. External displays are supported through a DVI port. While the Mac Mini G4 supports only analog audio output, the Intel-based Mac Mini has separate mini-TOSLINK/3.5 mm mini-jacks that support both analog audio input and output as well optical digital S/PDIF input and output.

The I/O ports were changed with the early 2009 revision. A fifth USB 2.0 port was added and the FireWire 400 port was replaced with a FireWire 800 port. The AirPort card was upgraded to 802.11a/b/g/draft-n and later to 802.11a/b/g/n. Bluetooth was also upgraded from 2.0 to 2.1. Instead of a single full-size DVI port, a mini-DVI port was added along with a Mini DisplayPort connection, which allows dual display support. Unlike the DVI port, the Mini DisplayPort supports external displays with a resolution up to 2560 × 1600, which allows use of the 30-inch Cinema Display with the Mac Mini. As of this revision, the Apple Remote is no longer included with the Mac Mini.

The Mac Mini 2009 model gave access to 3 different USB busses on the back. Port 2 shares a USB bus with the IR connection. Ports 1+5 and 3+4 are each on their own USB bus. So it should be possible to get a throughput of 3x480=1440 Mbit/s.

Specifications

Component Intel Core Intel Core 2 Duo
Model Early 2006[38] Late 2006[39] Mid 2007[40] Early 2009[41] Late 2009[42][43]
Release date February 28, 2006 September 6, 2006 August 7, 2007 March 3, 2009 October 20, 2009
Order number MA205*/A, MA206*/A MA607*/A, MA608*/A MB138*/A, MB139*/A MB463*/A, MB464*/A MC238*/A, MC239*/A, MC408*/A
Model identifier Macmini1,1 Macmini2,1 Macmini3,1
Model number A1176 A1283
Processor 1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo (T1200) or 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo (T2300)

Upgradable up to an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz T7600 processor.[31]

1.66 GHz (T2300) or 1.83 GHz (T2400) Intel Core Duo

Upgradable up to an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz T7600 processor. [31]

1.83 GHz (T5600) or 2.0 GHz (T7200) Intel Core 2 Duo

Upgradable up to an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz T7600 processor. [31]

2.0 GHz (P7350) Intel Core 2 Duo
Optional 2.26 GHz (P8400) Intel Core 2 Duo 		2.26 GHz (P7550) or 2.53 GHz (P8700) Intel Core 2 Duo
Optional 2.66 GHz (P8800) Intel Core 2 Duo
Cache 2 MB on-chip L2 cache 2 MB (1.83 GHz), 4 MB (2.0 GHz) shared 3 MB on-chip L2 cache
Front-side bus 667 MHz 1067 MHz
Memory 512 MB (2 × 256 MB) of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Expandable to 2 GB 		1 GB (2 × 512 MB) of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Expandable to 4 GB 		1 GB (1 × 1 GB) or 2 GB (2 × 1 GB) of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Expandable to 8 GB (4 GB supported by Apple)[44][45] 		2 GB (2 × 1 GB) or 4 GB (2 × 2 GB) of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Expandable to 8 GB (4 GB supported by Apple)
Graphics Intel GMA 950 using 64 MB of DDR2 SDRAM (up to 224 MB in OS X with sufficient RAM or Windows through Boot Camp)[46] Nvidia GeForce 9400M using 128 MB or 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM Nvidia GeForce 9400M using 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM
Shared with main memory
Hard drive 60 or 80 GB
Optional 100 GB or 120 GB 		60 or 80 GB
Optional 100 GB, 120 GB, 160 GB 		80 or 120 GB
Optional 160 GB 		120 or 320 GB
Optional 250 GB 		160 or 320 GB
2 × 500 GB on server model
Optional 500 GB
Serial ATA 5400-rpm
Optical drive 8× DVD read,
24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW recording Combo drive
or
8× DVD±R read, 4× DVD±R writes or 2× DVD±RW writes,
24× CD read, 16× CD-R, and 8× CD-RW recording SuperDrive 		8× DVD±R read, 6× DVD±R-DL writes, 8× DVD±R writes or 6× DVD±RW writes,
24× CD read, 24× CD-R and CD-RW recording SuperDrive 		8× DVD±R read, 6× DVD±R-DL writes, 8× DVD±R writes, 6× DVD-RW writes, 8× DVD+RW writes,
24× CD read, 24× CD-R and CD-RW recording SuperDrive
No optical drive on server model
Connectivity Airport Extreme Atheros 802.11b/g
Gigabit Ethernet
Bluetooth 2.0+EDR 		Airport Extreme Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/draft-n
Gigabit Ethernet
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR 		Airport Extreme Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/n
Gigabit Ethernet
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Peripherals 4x USB 2.0
1x Firewire 400
Built-in mono speaker
Audio-out mini-jack
Audio line-in/digital audio input 		5x USB 2.0
1x Firewire 800
Built-in mono speaker
Audio-out mini-jack
Audio line-in/digital audio input
Video out DVI Mini-DVI and Mini DisplayPort
Original operating system Mac OS X 10.4.5 "Tiger" Mac OS X 10.4.7 "Tiger" Mac OS X 10.4.10 "Tiger" Mac OS X 10.5.6 "Leopard" Mac OS X 10.6.1 "Snow Leopard" or Mac OS X 10.6.1 "Snow Leopard Server"
Maximum operating system Mac OS X 10.6.8 "Snow Leopard"

Mac OS X 10.7.5 "Lion" using a workaround after Core 2 Duo upgrade.[32] 		Mac OS X 10.7.5 "Lion"[33] OS X 10.10 "Yosemite" if 2GB RAM installed[47][48]
Weight 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg)
Dimensions 2.0 inches (51 mm) H × 6.5 inches (170 mm) W × 6.5 inches (170 mm) D

Unibody Mac Mini

Back panel of a mid-2010 4,1 model unibody Mac Mini. From left to right, first row: power button, AC power supply plug, Gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 800, HDMI, mini-DisplayPort, 4 USB 2.0 ports, SDXC card slot. Second row: ventilation holes, audio in, audio out

Structure

Starting from the mid-2010 revision, there is a removable panel on the bottom, enabling the user to upgrade the RAM. The new Mac Mini has an all-aluminium enclosure, called unibody. The unibody manufacturing process was originally developed for the MacBook Air[49] and later also used in the MacBook and MacBook Pro before being introduced into the Mac Mini range.

The built-in power supply negates the need for an external power supply "brick" used on prior models.[50]

There have been other changes in the 2011 revision. They include the elimination of the Kensington Security Slot,[51] as well as the optical drive. While the fifth USB 2.0 port was also removed, this has given space for an SD card slot to be included on the back of the machine.

Like the 2009 version, a Mini DisplayPort (which allows for a VGA connection, via a non-included cable) is included. An HDMI port, which Apple describes as being HDMI 1.4 compliant, replaces the mini-DVI port on the prior models as one of the main video connection methods. The HDMI port supports up to 1080p on HDMI connections and 8 channel 24-bit audio at 192 kHz, Dolby Surround 5.1 and stereo output. With the included HDMI to DVI adapter, for those currently using a DVI interface, the HDMI port will work with resolutions up to 1920 × 1200 pixels, while the Mini DisplayPort can concurrently support up to a resolution up to 2560 × 1600 pixels.[citation needed]

Specifications

Component Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core i5 & i7
Model Mid 2010[52][53] Mid 2011[54][55] Late 2012[56][57] Late 2014
Release date June 15, 2010 July 20, 2011 October 23, 2012 October 16, 2014
Order number MC270XX/A MC438XX/A
(server model) 		MC815XX/A MC816XX/A MC936XX/A
(server model) 		MD387LL/A MD388LL/A MD389LL/A
(server model) 		? ? ?
Machine model Macmini4,1 Macmini5,1 Macmini5,2 Macmini5,3 Macmini6,1 Macmini6,2 Macmini?,? Macmini?,? Macmini?,?
Model number A1347
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo (P8600)
Optional 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (P8800) 		Intel Core 2 Duo (P8800) Dual-core Intel Core i5 (i5-2415M) Dual-core Intel Core i5 (i5-2520M Turbo Boost up to 3.2 GHz)
Optional i7-2620M dual-core Intel Core i7 		Quad-core Intel Core i7 (i7-2635QM) Dual-core Intel Core i5 (i5-3210M) Quad-core Intel Core i7 (i7-3615QM Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz)
Optional i7-3720QM quad-core Intel Core i7 		Dual-core Intel Core i5 (Haswell) Dual-core Intel Core i5 (Haswell) Dual-core Intel Core i5 (Haswell)
Frequency
(Turbo Boost) 		2.4 GHz
2.66 GHz with P8800 		2.66 GHz 2.3 GHz (2.9 GHz) 2.5 GHz (3.2 GHz)
2.7 GHz (3.4 GHz) with i7-2620M 		2.0 GHz (2.9 GHz) 2.5 GHz (3.1 GHz) 2.3 GHz (3.3 GHz)
2.6 GHz (3.6 GHz) with i7-3720QM 		1.4 GHz (2.7 GHz) 2.6 GHz (3.1 GHz) 2.8 GHz (3.3 GHz)
Cores
(threads) 		2 2 (4) 4 (8) 2 (4) 4 (8) 2 (4)
Cache 3 MB on-chip L2 3 MB on-chip shared L3 3 MB on-chip shared L3
4 MB on-chip shared L3 with i7-2620M 		6 MB on-chip shared L3 3 MB L3 6 MB L3 3 MB L3
Front-side bus 1.07 GHz DMI ?
Memory
two RAM slots 		2 GB (2 × 1 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Expandable to 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM 		4 GB (2 × 2 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Expandable to 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM 		2 GB (2 × 1 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3
Optional 4 (2 × 2 GB) or 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM 		4 GB (2 × 2 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3
Optional 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM 		4 GB (2 × 2 GB) 1600 MHz DDR3
Optional 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) or 16 GB (2 × 8 GB) 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM 		8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1600 MHz DDR3
Optional 16 GB (2 × 8 GB) 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Unofficially 16 GB (2 × 8 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, via non-Apple suppliers[58] Unofficially 16 GB (2 × 8 GB) 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, via non-Apple suppliers[59] n/a
Graphics
shared with main memory 		Nvidia GeForce 320M using 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 288 MB of DDR3 SDRAM AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics processor with dedicated 256 MB of GDDR5 memory Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 384 MB of DDR3 SDRAM Intel HD Graphics 4000 Intel HD Graphics 5000 processor Intel Iris
Hard drive
 320 GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
Optional 500 GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD 		2 × 500 GB 7200 rpm SATA HDD 500 GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
Optional 750 GB 7200 rpm SATA HDD 		500 GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
Optional 750 GB 7200 rpm SATA HDD, 256 GB SSD, or 1 × 256 GB SSD + 1 × 750 GB 7200 rpm SATA HDD 		2 × 500 GB 7200 rpm SATA HDD
Optional 2 × 750 GB 7200 rpm SATA HDD, 1 or 2 × 256 GB SSD(s), or 1 × 256 GB SSD + 1 × 750 GB 7200 rpm SATA HDD 		500 GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD[60] 1 TB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
Optional 1 TB Fusion Drive or 256 GB SSD[61] 		2 × 1 TB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
Optional 1 or 2 × 256 GB SSD(s)[62] 		500 GB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
Optional 1 TB Fusion Drive 		1 TB 5400 rpm SATA HDD
Optional 1 TB Fusion Drive or 256 GB SSD 		1 TB Fusion Drive
Optional 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB SSD
Optical drive SuperDrive (writes: 6× DVD±R-DL, 8× DVD±R, 6× DVD-RW, 8× DVD+RW; reads: 8× DVD±R, 24× CD, 24× CD-R and CD-RW
 None included
(Optional External SuperDrive)
Connectivity 10/100/1000 Base-T Gigabit Ethernet port
built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
IR receiver 		replaces Bluetooth 2.1+EDR with Bluetooth 4.0
Peripheral connections 1 × HDMI Port (Includes HDMI to DVI Adapter)
1 × Mini DisplayPort
1 × SDXC card slot
1 × Firewire 800 port
4 × USB 2.0 ports
1 × 3.5 mm Line out/Headphone jack
1 × 3.5 mm Line in jack 		replaces 1x Mini DisplayPort with 1 × Thunderbolt port replaces 4 × USB 2.0 ports with 4 × USB 3.0 ports replaces 1 × Thunderbolt port and 1 x Firewire 800 port with 2 × Thunderbolt 2 ports
Operating system (original) Mac OS X 10.6.3 "Snow Leopard" Mac OS X Server 10.6.3 "Snow Leopard Server"

Mac OS X v10.6.4 was released one day after the Mac Mini to resolve graphics and SDXC card issues.[63][64] 		Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" & Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion Server" (later, supplied with additional "OS X Server" package instead) OS X 10.8.1 "Mountain Lion" OS X 10.8.1 "Mountain Lion" & "OS X Server" OS X 10.10 "Yosemite"
Operating system (maximum) OS X 10.10 "Yosemite"[65]
Noise
at idle 		13 dBA (2.4 GHz)
15 dbA (2.66 GHz) 		15 dBA 16 dBA 17 dBA 12 dBA 15 dBA 16 dBA 12 dBA
Power
?
Greenhouse gas emissions 270 kilograms (600 lb) CO2e[72] 710 kilograms (1,570 lb) CO2e[73] 280 kilograms (620 lb) CO2e[74] 1,130 kilograms (2,490 lb) CO2e[75] 290 kilograms (640 lb) CO2e[70] 1,020 kilograms (2,250 lb) CO2e[71] ?
Weight 3.0 pounds (1.4 kg) 2.8 pounds (1.3 kg) 2.7 pounds (1.2 kg) 3.0 pounds (1.4 kg) 2.7 pounds (1.2 kg) 2.9 pounds (1.3 kg) 2.6 pounds (1.2 kg) 2.7 pounds (1.2 kg)
Dimensions 1.4 inches (36 mm) H × 7.7 inches (196 mm) W × 7.7 inches (196 mm) D

Mac Mini Server

Apple has offered a Server configuration of the Mac Mini. Originally[when?], this model came preloaded with only an OS X Server version of OS X, but later models instead came preloaded with the standard version of OS X, as well as a separate OS X Server package, which included separate component apps (including "Server App", "File Sharing", "Wiki Server", "Profile Manager", et al.). Later on, Apple released the OS X Server packaged app as a single purchase from the Mac App Store, containing all the separate components apps, so that any model of Mac computer could download and use them.[citation needed]

The mid-2010 Server model was initially the only Mac Mini to entirely remove the optical drive, replacing it with a second hard drive in its place. However, from the mid-2011 models onwards, all models of Mac Mini had the optical drive removed.[citation needed]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Actual weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.

References

  1. ^ a b Mac mini, Apple Inc., retrieved July 20, 2011
  2. ^ Mac mini Server, Apple Inc., retrieved July 20, 2011
  3. ^ a b c d Mac mini Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., retrieved July 20, 2011
  4. ^ a b Mac mini Server – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., retrieved July 20, 2011
  5. ^ a b c https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/specs.html
  6. ^ a b Apple unveils low-cost 'Mac mini', BBC News, January 11, 2005, retrieved June 22, 2010
  7. ^ a b Eaton, Kit (June 15, 2010), Apple's New Mac mini: A Preview of the Next Apple TV, Fast Company, retrieved June 22, 2010
  8. ^ $499 Headless iMac?, MacRumors, December 29, 2004, retrieved June 22, 2010
  9. ^ Simon, William L.; Young, Jeffrey S. (2005). iCon: Steve Jobs, The Greatest Second Act in the History of Business
  10. ^ Crothers, Brooke (June 27, 2009), Is Apple's Mac mini a MacBook inside?, CNet, retrieved June 22, 2010
  11. ^ Frakes, Dan (November 3, 2009), Mac mini (Late 2009) Review, Mac Publishing, retrieved June 22, 2010
  12. ^ "The marked for used Mac minis", Macminicolo.net, August 2013, retrieved August 2013 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ Apple Mac mini/2.3GHz Core i7 (Late 2012) specs
  14. ^ Frakes, Dan (January 20, 2005), The Mac Mini: Inside and Out, Mac Publishing, retrieved June 22, 2010
  15. ^ Mac Hack(001) Opening Mac mini: Wire Method, November 1, 2006, archived from the original on February 12, 2008, retrieved June 22, 2010
  16. ^ a b Mac mini Late 2009 User Guide (PDF), Apple Inc., 2009, p. 60, retrieved June 22, 2010, If you open your Mac mini or install items, you risk damaging your equipment, and such damage isn't covered by the limited warranty on your Mac mini.
  17. ^ Bodnar, Leo (February 2, 2005), Overclocking Apple Mac mini, retrieved June 22, 2010
  18. ^ 802.11n wireless upgrade for Mac mini, MNM Media, March 26, 2007, retrieved June 22, 2010
  19. ^ Djuric, Miroslav (March 5, 2009), Installing Mac mini Model A1283 Terabyte Drive, iFixit, retrieved June 22, 2010
  20. ^ a b Saunders, Grover (March 30, 2007), Mac mini: The original Apple TV alternative, Ars Technica, retrieved June 22, 2010
  21. ^ a b Breen, Christopher (May 31, 2006), My multimedia Mac mini, Mac Publishing, retrieved June 22, 2010
  22. ^ Pince-Nez, Quincy (October 24, 2007), Front Row on Leopard – Like getting an AppleTV for Free, 925, retrieved June 22, 2010
  23. ^ Jade, Kasper (September 27, 2005), Apple readying significant Mac Mini update, AppleInsider, retrieved June 22, 2010
  24. ^ Mac mini (orig.) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., September 3, 2009, retrieved June 22, 2010
  25. ^ Apple Mac mini G4/1.25 Specs (M9686LL/A*), Kyle Media, retrieved June 22, 2010
  26. ^ Preimesberger, Chris (September 29, 2005), Apple Confirms Some Mac Minis Have Unlabeled Upgrades, Ziff Davis, retrieved June 22, 2010
  27. ^ Sowerbutts, William R (2006), Linux on the Mac mini, sowerbutts.com, retrieved June 22, 2010
  28. ^ How to Install Power Linux on the Mac mini G4, powerlinux.com, retrieved June 22, 2010
  29. ^ Debian GNU/Linux installation on PowerPC machines, Debian, retrieved June 22, 2010
  30. ^ Muto, Kenshi, Apple: Mac mini PowerPC G4, kmuto.jp, retrieved June 22, 2010
  31. ^ a b c d Galan, Walter. "Installing Mac mini Model A1176 Core 2 Duo Processor". Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  32. ^ a b "Hack Mac OS X Lion to work on unsupported Core Duo & Core Solo Macs". Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  33. ^ a b "Replacing platformsupport.plist after OS X Lion updates". Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  34. ^ "2006 Mac Mini with 2.33Ghz T7600 Geekbench data". Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  35. ^ "Late 2009 Mac Mini Geekbench data". Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  36. ^ Mac mini G4 Graphics, Apple Inc., archived from the original on March 5, 2005, retrieved June 22, 2010
  37. ^ Seff, Jonathan (March 9, 2006), Intel-based Mac minis Review, Mac Publishing, retrieved June 22, 2010
  38. ^ Mac mini (Early 2006) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., October 13, 2008, retrieved June 22, 2010
  39. ^ Mac mini (Late 2006) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., October 13, 2008, retrieved June 22, 2010
  40. ^ Mac mini (Mid 2007) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., January 30, 2009, retrieved June 22, 2010
  41. ^ Mac mini (Early 2009) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., March 3, 2009, retrieved June 22, 2010
  42. ^ Mac mini (Late 2009) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., March 16, 2010, retrieved June 22, 2010
  43. ^ Mac mini (Mac OS X Server, Late 2009) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., October 21, 2009, retrieved June 22, 2010
  44. ^ "The State of the Mac mini", Macminicolo.net, October 2009, retrieved June 22, 2010
  45. ^ Perry, Michael (October 26, 2009), "CONFIRMED! OWC supports 8.0GB memory in Mac mini 3,1 machines", Other World Computing, retrieved June 22, 2010
  46. ^ Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset Family Datasheet (PDF), Intel Corporation, June 2008, retrieved June 22, 2010
  47. ^ Graziano, Dan (June 11, 2013). "OS X Mavericks compatible with all Macs capable of running Mountain Lion". BGR.com. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  48. ^ "Upgrade to OS X Yosemite. Free on the Mac App Store". Apple.com. October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  49. ^ Designed to put more power in less space., Apple Inc., retrieved June 22, 2010
  50. ^ Paul, Ryan. "Ars reviews the 2011 Mac mini as an HTPC". Ars Technica. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  51. ^ Frakes, Dan (June 15, 2010), Hands on with the new Mac mini, Mac Publishing, retrieved June 22, 2010
  52. ^ Mac mini (Mid 2010) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., June 15, 2010, retrieved June 22, 2010
  53. ^ Mac mini Server (Mid 2010) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., June 15, 2010, retrieved June 22, 2010
  54. ^ Mac mini (Mid 2011) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., July 21, 2011, retrieved August 8, 2011
  55. ^ Mac mini Server (Mid 2011) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., July 21, 2010, retrieved August 8, 2011
  56. ^ Mac mini (Late 2012) – Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., October 24, 2012, retrieved October 25, 2012
  57. ^ Mac mini Server (Late 2012) - Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., October 30, 2012, retrieved November 4, 2012
  58. ^ "Certain 2010 MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini models join the '16 GB' MaxRAM club". Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  59. ^ Dan Frakes (August 3, 2011). "New Mac minis deliver serious performance". Macworld.
  60. ^ "Mac mini MD387LL/A (Late 2012) – Apple Store". Apple Inc. October 23, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  61. ^ "Mac mini MD388LL/A (Late 2012) – Apple Store". Apple Inc. October 23, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  62. ^ "Mac mini MD389LL/A (Late 2012) – Apple Store". Apple Inc. October 23, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  63. ^ Mac OS X v10.6.4 Update Mac Mini (Mid 2010), Apple Inc., June 15, 2010, retrieved June 22, 2010
  64. ^ Mac OS X Server v10.6.4 Update Mac mini (Mid 2010), Apple Inc., June 15, 2010, retrieved June 22, 2010
  65. ^ Yosemite, retrieved October 16, 2014
  66. ^ Mac mini Environmental Report (PDF), Apple Inc., 2010, retrieved June 22, 2010
  67. ^ Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server Environmental Report (PDF), Apple Inc., 2010, retrieved June 22, 2010
  68. ^ Mac mini Environmental Report (PDF), Apple Inc., 2011, retrieved July 20, 2011
  69. ^ Mac mini with Lion Server Environmental Report (PDF), Apple Inc., 2011, retrieved July 20, 2011
  70. ^ a b Mac mini Environmental Report (PDF), Apple Inc., 2012, retrieved October 23, 2012
  71. ^ a b Mac mini with Lion Server Environmental Report (PDF), Apple Inc., 2012, retrieved October 23, 2012 Cite error: The named reference "late2012serverenvironreport" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  72. ^ "Mac Mini Environmental Report" (PDF). apc. June 2010. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  73. ^ "Mac Mini with Snow Leopard Server Environmental Report" (PDF). apc. June 2010. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  74. ^ "Mac Mini Environmental Report" (PDF). apc. July 2011. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  75. ^ "Mac Mini with Lion Server Environmental Report" (PDF). apc. July 2011. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Mac_Mini&oldid=629975606"