Mac Mini

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mattnad (talk | contribs) at 22:47, 16 October 2009 (Undid revision 320277071 by Marx01 (talk) no biase - the next sentence qualifies the statement. Out of the box it can be used for HT.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Mac mini
DeveloperApple Inc.
TypeDesktop
Introductory priceUS$599 and US$799 (as of March 2009)
CPUIntel Core 2 Duo (current model)
Intel Core Duo
Intel Core Solo
PowerPC G4 (original release)
Websitewww.apple.com/macmini/

The Mac Mini (trademarked as Mac mini) is a desktop computer made by Apple Inc. Like earlier Mini-ITX PC designs, it is uncommonly small for a desktop computer: 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) square and 2 inches (5.1 cm) tall. It weighs 2.9 pounds (1.31 kg) and its external power supply is roughly one third of the size of the computer itself.

The Mac Mini was introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo in January 2005, and has been updated with newer processors and other expansions several times since. It was announced at the same time as the iPod Shuffle, both scaled-down and less expensive alternatives to the company's main products in those lines. It was described by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the time as the "most affordable Mac ever".[1]

On March 3, 2009, 19 months after the previous update, Apple updated the Mac Mini, featuring new NVIDIA chipsets and the new Mini DisplayPort that has become standard on all the current Macintosh computers. It also features new peripherals, but it still looks almost the same as its predecessor. The new Mac Mini features a nVidia GeForce 9400M, allowing for more graphically intensive applications to be run than before. Apple now ships the 2.0 GHz and expandable to 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, at the same price as earlier versions in the U.S. The Mac Mini still comes with 1 GB RAM standard and 2 GB in the higher specification, although it is now expandable to 4GB. The wireless networking has also been upgraded to 802.11n, there are 5 USB ports and the FireWire 400 port has been replaced with FireWire 800.

Overview

The Mac Mini ships with Apple's Mac OS X Snow Leopard operating system installed, and also includes software such as the Safari web browser and the iLife suite of Apple applications to create and manage videos, music, photos and DVDs. Trial versions of iWork and Microsoft Office are also included. The Intel-based Mac Mini also comes with Front Row, an application which integrates the media management features.

The Mac Mini is the first Macintosh desktop not to include a keyboard or mouse. The Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh also shipped without a mouse, however it included a re-positionable touchpad as well as a keyboard and display. In addition there is no included display. The primary intended market for the Mac Mini was for "switchers" who would already own a display, USB keyboard and mouse, and other customers could easily purchase these if needed.[1]

Component PowerPC G4 Intel Core Intel Core 2
Model[1] Mac mini[2] Late 2005[3] Early 2006[4] Late 2006[5] Mid 2007[6] Early 2009[7]
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. Intel GMA 950 using 64 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory (up to 224 MB in Windows through Boot Camp)[8] nVidia GeForce 9400M using 128 MB or 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Hard drive
5400-rpm unless specified 		40 GB or 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 4200-rpm 40 GB or 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 60 GB, 80 GB, 100 GB, 120 GB Serial ATA
Optional 100 GB or 120 GB" 		60 GB, 80 GB, 100 GB, 120 GB, or 160 GB Serial ATA
Optional 120 GB or 160 GB 		80 GB, 120 GB, or 160 GB Serial ATA
Optional 160 GB 		120 GB or 320 GB Serial ATA
Optional 250 GB
Processor 1.25 GHz or 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.33 GHz or 1.5 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo (T1200) or 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo (T2300) 1.66 GHz (T2300) or 1.83 GHz (T2400) Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz (T5600) or 2.0 GHz (T7200) Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz (P7350) Intel Core 2 Duo
Optional 2.26 GHz (P8400) Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory
One RAM slot on G4 units; two on Intel units 		256 MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM
Expandable to 1 GB 		512 MB (two 256 MB) of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Expandable to 2 GB 		1 GB (two 512 MB) of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Expandable to 4 GB but about 3 GB is addressable 		1 GB (one 1 GB) or 2 GB (two 1 GB) of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Expandable to 8 GB[9]
AirPort Extreme Optional or Integrated 802.11b/g Integrated 802.11b/g (some models may unofficially support 802.11a as well) Integrated 802.11a/b/g/draft-n
Optical drive 8x DVD read, 24x CD-R and 16x CD-RW recording, 8x DVD±R read Combo drive or 8x DVD±R read, 8x DVD±R writes, 4x DVD±RW writes or 2.4x DVD±R writes, 24x CD read, 24x CD-R, and 16x CD-RW recording SuperDrive 8x DVD read, 24x CD-R and 16x CD-RW recording Combo drive or 8x DVD±R read, 4x DVD±R writes or 2x DVD±RW writes, 24x CD read, 16x CD-R, and 8x CD-RW recording SuperDrive 8x DVD±R read, 6x DVD±R-DL writes, 8x DVD±R writes or 6x DVD±RW writes, 24x CD read, 24x CD-R and CD-RW recording SuperDrive
Minimum operating system required Mac OS X Panther 10.3.7 Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.2 Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.5 Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.7 Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.10,
Mac OS X Leopard 10.5 		Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.6,
Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6
Weight 2.9 pounds / 1.32 kg
Dimensions 2 x 6.5 x 6.5 inches / 50.8 x 165.1 x 165.1 mm

Mac Mini G4

Inside of a Mac Mini

January 2005–July 2005

Two models were announced on January 11 2005 at the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco:

  • 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, and 40 GB hard drive, for US$499, (Model # M9686LL/A)
  • 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 256 MB RAM, and 80 GB hard drive, for US$599 (Model # M9687LL/A)

Each model also included:

Optional built-to-order add-ons included:

July 2005–October 2005

On July 26, 2005, slightly revised models were made available. The biggest change was a doubling of each unit's shipping amount of RAM, from 256 MB PC2700 (or PC3200 supported at PC2700 speeds) Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) in the prior units to 512 MB in the newer models (256 MB having been widely considered insufficient for OS X and its applications).

  • 1.25 GHz model (M9686LL/B at US$499)
  • 1.42 GHz model (M9687LL/B at US$599)

At this time, the 1.42 GHz model stopped including the internal modem as standard equipment, however it could still be purchased as a build-to-order option.

In addition a high-end model was introduced:

October 2005–February 2006

The Mac Mini was silently upgraded in October 2005 to 64 MB VRAM, and either a 1.33 GHz (up from 1.25 GHz) or 1.5 GHz G4 (up from 1.42 GHz) processor, with 512 MB of PC3200 RAM while underclocking it to PC2700.[citation needed] The 80 GB drive was a Seagate Momentus 5400.2 ST9808211A, which runs at 5400 rpm with a 8 MB cache. The SuperDrive is a MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-845, which supports DVD+R DL burning, and may also have unofficial support for DVD-RAM.[original research?] Also, the internal mezzanine board was upgraded to accommodate the AirPort Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology onto one chip. In previous models, the Mac mini included an AirPort Extreme card taped to the mezzanine board and a separate Bluetooth module.[10] This new Wi-Fi card also no longer uses an MCX-Female connector for the antenna (as the previous models did) but rather a proprietary Apple one. The serial number and specifications sticker on the underside of the machine itself 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.[citation needed] This may be to avoid issues with discounting or discontinuing of old stock.[original research?]

Mac Mini Core

Ports on the back of an older Mac mini model (Note: case is inverted and partially opened)

February 2006–September 2006

Two new Intel-based models were announced on February 28, 2006,[11] replacing the older line:

Both models include:

September 2006–August 2007

On September 6, 2006, Apple increased the speed of the US$599 model to a Core Duo T2300 1.66 GHz [MA607LL/A], and the US$799 model to a Core Duo (T2400) 1.83 GHz [MA608LL/A]. With this change, all shipping Macs used multi-core processors.

Mac Mini Core 2

August 2007

On August 7, the Mac Mini was refreshed with new hardware and software features, including:

  • New Intel Core 2 Duo processors, running at 1.83 (T5600) and 2.0 GHz (T7200)
  • 1 GB (two 512 MB) RAM up to 2 GB (two 1 GB) of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300) on two SO-DIMMs
  • An 80 GB or 120 GB internal 5400-rpm SATA hard drive, with 160 GB optional
  • Intel GMA 950 graphics, with 64 MB shared memory
  • iLife '08

November 2007

March 2009

On March 3, the Mac Mini was refreshed with new hardware features after 19 months, including:

  • New Intel Core 2 Duo processors, running at 2.0 GHz (P7350) as standard, or built to order with a 2.26 GHz (P8400). The official Intel Documentation states the P8400 supports Intel VT (VT-x) and the P7350 does not. The P7350 used in the 2.0 GHz model does however appear to support VT-x as confirmed by VMware.[12]
  • 1 GB of RAM on base model, or 2 GB (two 1 GB) of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM on two SO-DIMMs, upgradeable to 4 GB.
  • A 120 GB or 320 GB internal 5400-rpm SATA hard drive, with 250 GB optional on the base model.
  • An integrated nVidia GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 128 MB or 256 MB shared with main memory. (1 GB of RAM installed gives 128 MB VRAM and 2 GB or more of RAM installed gives 256 MB VRAM.)
  • The Combo drive was eliminated from the base model and replaced with a dual-layer 8× SuperDrive as standard. The SuperDrive now uses a SATA connection.
  • The FireWire 400 port was replaced with a FireWire 800 port.
  • A fifth USB port was added.
  • The DVI port was replaced with a mini-DVI port.
  • A mini-DVI to DVI-D adapter is included. A mini-DVI to VGA adapter is available.
  • A Mini DisplayPort was added in addition to the Mini-DVI port. This now allows the Mac Mini to work with the new 24" Apple LED cinema display directly and the 30" HD Cinema Display using a Mini DisplayPort to dual-link DVI adapter.
  • Both mini-DVI and Mini DisplayPort connections can be used concurrently for mirroring or extending.
  • Apple Remote no longer included but still available.
  • Updated firmware to allow support of wireless Remote Install Mac OS X.

The 2007 Mac Mini did not offer 802.11n support, but the 2009 revision does. The Mac Mini now has a 1066 MHz front side bus and integrated nVidia 9400M G graphics, identical to the nVidia 9400M graphics chipset and 1066 MHz front side bus found in all of the 'unibody' MacBooks that were introduced in October 2008.

General Intel Mac Mini information

Although it has been removed entirely from the Mac Mini's design, an Apple modem is still available–only now it is external, USB-based, and costs US$49 (UK£35).

While the industrial design of the Mac mini is handled entirely by Apple's in-house designers, some of the hardware has been engineered by Sparkfactor Design.[13]

The first generation G4-based Mac Mini was originally to include a built-in iPod dock connector in the white plastic top.[14] The feature was left out, but on the G4 Mac Mini an additional FireWire port can be found unwired on the secondary board hardware attached to the optical drive.[15]

Both Core Solo and Core Duo CPUs provide Intel VT (VT-x) even though Intel documentation has suggested VT-x was not to be a feature of the Core Solo.[original research?]

Initially, the Intel-based Mac Mini was shipped with a bug that caused difficulties with VT-x. Apple subsequently released a firmware update that fixes this bug.[16]

The Mac Mini integrates a 2.5 inch hard disk drive (ATA in the G4 models and SATA in the Intel models), CPUs and other components originally intended for mobile devices such as laptops, compared with regular desktop computers which generally use lower cost, but less compact and more power-demanding components. These mobile components help keep the power consumption down: according to data on the Apple web site, the first-generation PowerPC Mac Mini consumes 32 to 85 Watts, while the later Intel Core machine consumes 23 to 110 Watts. By comparison, a contemporary Mac Pro with quad-core 2.66 GHz processors consumes 171 to 250 Watts.[citation needed]

Graphics

The current 2009 Mac Mini has a nVidia GeForce 9400M sharing up to 128 MB or 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM with main memory. The decision to use a less capable 'integrated' graphics chip, the GMA950 GPU, on earlier Intel-powered Mac Minis was criticized by those wishing to play games and use other graphically heavy applications, who felt it was a step down from the still earlier G4 models. In Apple's early marketing of the G4-powered Mac Mini, 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:[17] The GeForce 9400M in the 2009 model is considered competitive with the graphics in other computers in its price class.[18]

Home theater

A Mac Mini as a home theater PC

The Mac Mini is also well suited for home theater or media center applications. The small footprint, CD/DVD player, multi-format video output, digital audio output, remote control and much more powerful Intel Core 2 Duo Processors make it relatively easy to use the Mac Mini as part of an entertainment system.[19]

It can be classified as an HTPC (home theater PC) with some limitations. The Mac Mini does not include a tuner card and cannot be upgraded to integrate one internally. Instead external devices like Elgato's HD HomeRun can encode and manage broadcast television from a cable or satellite receiver.

The video connector on pre-2009 Mac Minis was compatible with DVI, HDMI (video only), SVGA, S-Video, composite video and component video with the appropriate adapter. Sound is provided by a combination jack that uses both Mini-RCA (analog) and optical fiber cables (digital).[20] Unlike the Apple TV, the Mac Mini is backward compatible with televisions that have only composite or S-Video inputs. With the release of the March 2009 revision of the Mac Mini, the computer now supports the 9400M GPU and Mini Display Port technology to more easily run high resolution media. It is also no longer compatible with composite or S-Video without a third-party scan converter.

Because of the similar form factor, remote control, and media browser interface, some users see the Mac Mini as an Apple TV alternative. It has both iTunes for media rental, purchase, and management, and a user interface with Front Row, based on the Front Row of the version 1.0 Apple TV.[20][21] 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 Mkv without resorting to hacks. The faster of the original intel Mac Mini models can display video at a maximum resolution of 1080p, compared to the AppleTV's 720p.[19] The Mac Mini can also incorporate third-party front-end applications like XBMC Media Center, Plex, and Boxee.

Opening the case and modifications

Some Mac Mini owners have managed to use a putty knife or a pizza cutter to pry open the computer's case, thereby gaining access to the interior to install cheaper 3rd-party memory upgrades.[22] In fact, the official Apple Service Source manual for Mac Mini describes this procedure in detail, even 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.[23] While opening the case does not actually void the Mac mini warranty, anything broken while the case is open is not covered. Other modifications include overclocking the processor (G4 Only)[24] and upgrading the wireless networking to 802.11n.[25] The 2009 model can have its SuperDrive replaced with a 2nd SATA hard drive[26].

With the switch to the Intel Core Solo and Duo line, Apple uses a socketed CPU in the Mac Mini that allows the processor to be replaced. With the 2009 model they switched to a new glue process that does not allow for an easy upgrade.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Apple unveils low-cost 'Mac mini', BBC News, retrieved 2009-03-03 Cite error: The named reference "BBCunveil" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ Mac mini (orig.) - Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., retrieved 2009-03-03
  3. ^ Apple Mac mini G4/1.25 Specs (M9686LL/A*), retrieved 2009-03-03
  4. ^ Mac mini (Early 2006) - Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., retrieved 2009-03-03
  5. ^ Mac mini (Late 2006) - Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., retrieved 2009-03-03
  6. ^ Mac mini (Mid 2007) - Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., retrieved 2009-03-03
  7. ^ Mac mini (Early 2009) - Technical Specifications, Apple Inc., retrieved 2009-03-03
  8. ^ Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset Family Datasheet, Intel Corporation, June 2008, retrieved 2009-03-03
  9. ^ http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=784083
  10. ^ Apple readying significant Mac mini update, AppleInsider, retrieved 2009-03-03
  11. ^ Apple Unveils Mac mini with Intel Core Duo, Apple Inc., retrieved 2009-03-03
  12. ^ Eric Tung (2009-03-13). "Re: Does VMware Fusion require a CPU supporting Intel VT-x?". Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  13. ^ Portfolio, Sparkfactor Design, retrieved 2009-03-03
  14. ^ Apple to introduce headless iMac, iPod speakers, AppleInsider, retrieved 2009-03-03
  15. ^ Is the Mac Mini Apple's future 'smart' iPod Dock?, The Register, retrieved 2009-03-03
  16. ^ EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs, Apple Inc., retrieved 2009-03-03
  17. ^ Mac mini G4 Graphics, Apple Inc. {{citation}}: |archive-url= requires |url= (help)
  18. ^ http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/apple-mac-mini-2/4505-3118_7-33541087.html CNET 2009 mac mini review]
  19. ^ a b Saunders, Grover (2007), Mac mini: The original Apple TV alternative, Ars Technica, retrieved 2009-03-03
  20. ^ a b Breen, Christopher (2006-05-31), My multimedia Mac mini, Macworld, retrieved 2009-03-03
  21. ^ Pince-Nez, Quincy (2007), Front Row on Leopard - Like getting an AppleTV for Free, http://www.9to5mac.com, retrieved 2009-06-18 {{citation}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  22. ^ The Mac mini: Inside and Out, Macworld, 2005-01-20, retrieved 2009-03-03
  23. ^ Mac Hack(001) Opening Mac Mini: Wire Method, retrieved 2009-03-03
  24. ^ Bodnar, Leo, Overclocking Apple Mac mini, retrieved 2009-03-03
  25. ^ 802.11n wireless upgrade for Mac mini, MacNN, retrieved 2009-03-03
  26. ^ http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Mac-mini-A1283-Terabyte-Drive/660/1

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mac mini.


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