| Mac Mini | |
| Developer: | Apple Inc. |
| Type: | Compact desktop Server (pre-October 2014 models) |
| Releasedate: | (current release) (original release) |
| Price: | US$499 (original) US$599 (current release) |
| Os: | macOS |
| Predecessor: | Power Mac G4 Cube |
| Related: | iMac, Mac Pro, iMac Pro, Developer Transition Kit, Mac Studio |
| Family: | Mac |
Mac Mini (stylized as Mac mini) is a small form factor desktop computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc., it is positioned between the consumer all-in-one iMac and the professional Mac Studio and Mac Pro as one of four current Mac desktop computers. Since launch, it has shipped without a display, keyboard, and mouse. The machine was initially branded as "BYODKM" (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse) as a strategic pitch to encourage users to switch from Windows and Linux computers.[1]
In January 2005, the original Mac Mini was introduced with the PowerPC G4 CPU. In February 2006, Apple announced a new Intel Core Solo model, the first with an Intel processor. A thinner unibody redesign, unveiled in June 2010, added an HDMI port, and was more readily positioned as a home theater device and an alternative to the Apple TV.
The 2018 Space Gray Mac Mini model has Thunderbolt, an Intel Core i3, Core i5 or i7 CPU, and also changed the case's default silver for space gray. This model also has solid-state storage and replaces most of the data ports with USB-C sockets. The Apple silicon Mac Mini based on the Apple M1 chip was introduced in November 2020 in the original silver style; the 2018 space gray model remained available as a high-end model with more RAM options until the release of an updated model based on the M2 and M2 Pro chips in January 2023.
A server version of the Mac Mini that is bundled with the Server edition of the OS X operating system was offered from 2009 to 2014. The Mac Mini received generally tepid reviews except for the Apple silicon model, which was praised for its compatibility, performance, processor, price, and power efficiencies, though it drew occasional criticism for its ports, speaker, integrated graphics, non-user-upgradable RAM and storage, and the expensive cost to buy associated accessories and displays.
The Mac Mini was modeled on the shape of a standard digital media player,[2] and runs the macOS operating system (previously Mac OS X and OS X).[3] It was initially advertised as "BYODKM" (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse), aiming to expand Apple's market-share of customers using other operating systems such as Microsoft Windows and Linux.[4] Mac Mini was the company's only consumer computer that shipped without a paired display, keyboard, and mouse since its original release in 2005.[5]
Since the unibody redesign in 2010, the Kensington Security Slot and the optical drive were removed from all models,[6] leaving internal storage spaces for either a second internal hard drive or an SSD, which can be ordered from Apple or as an upgrade kit from third party suppliers.[7]
Apple's release of a small form factor computer had been widely speculated upon and requested before the Mac Mini.[8] In January 2005, the Mac Mini G4 was introduced alongside the iPod shuffle at the Macworld Conference & Expo; Apple CEO Steve Jobs marketed "The cheapest, and most affordable Mac ever".[9] [10] The machine was intended as an entry-level computer for budget-minded customers. In comparison to regular desktops, which use standard-sized components such as 3.5-inch hard drives and full-size DIMMs, the Mac Mini G4 uses low-power laptop components to fit into small cases and avoid overheating.[11]
The aluminum case, the top and bottom of which is capped with polycarbonate plastic, has an optical drive slot on the front, and the I/O ports and vents for the cooling system on the back. It has an external 85W power supply.[12] Mac Mini G4 has no visible screws, reflecting Apple's intention the computer may not be upgraded by the user. Some Mac Mini owners used a putty knife or a pizza cutter to open the case to install third-party memory, which could be obtained more cheaply than Apple's offering.[13]
The Mac Mini G4 is based on a single-core, 32-bit, PowerPC CPU with 512 KB of on-chip L2 cache. The processor, running at 1.25, 1.33, 1.42, or 1.5 GHz depending on the model, accesses memory through a front-side bus clocked at 167 MHz. The CPU can be overclocked to higher frequencies by either soldering or desoldering certain zero-ohm resistors on the logic board.[14] [15]
An ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor (GPU) with 32 megabytes (MB) of DDR SDRAM was supplied as standard; in the final 2005 model, Apple added a high-end option of 64 MB VRAM.[16] In Apple's early marketing of the Mac Mini G4, it touted the superiority of the discrete graphics board over the integrated graphics in many budget PCs.[17]
The machine uses 333 MHz DDR SDRAM and has one desktop-sized DIMM slot for RAM, allowing a maximum of 1 gigabyte (GB) of memory, a relatively small amount. Because of the small amount of memory, the system often had to page against the hard drive, slowing operation considerably. The Mac Mini G4 uses a single 2.5-inch Ultra ATA/100 hard drive that offers a maximum transfer rate of 100 megabytes per second (MB/s). It is not possible to open the sealed enclosure to upgrade the hard drive without possibly voiding the warranty of the system.[18] 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 that could write to DVDs was also an option.[19]
The Mac Mini G4 has two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port. Networking is supported with 10/100 Ethernet and a 56k V.92 modem, while 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth were additional, build-to-order options. External displays are supported via a DVI port, and adapters for VGA, S-Video, and composite video output were available. The system contains a built-in speaker and an 1/8-inch stereo mini jack for analog sound output. The new Wi-Fi card no longer used an MMCX-Female connector for the antenna, as do prior models, but rather a proprietary Apple one.[20]
The Mac Mini G4 was initially supplied with Mac OS X 10.3, then later with Mac OS X 10.4, and can run Mac OS 9 applications, as long as a bootable copy of the OS 9 system folder is installed from which to run the Classic environment (although the Mac Mini G4 cannot natively boot to Mac OS 9). As of Mac OS X 10.5, the ability to run the Classic environment was removed. Later, Mac OS 9 was able to run on the Mac Mini G4 through an unofficial patcher, though this was not supported by Apple.[21] It is compatible with operating systems designed for the PowerPC architecture. Users can install the AmigaOS-compatible MorphOS, OpenBSD,[22] and Linux distributions such as Debian and Ubuntu.[23] [24] [25] [26]
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.
| Model | Early 2005 | Mid 2005 | Late 2005 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timetable | Released | January 11, 2005[27] | July 26, 2005[28] | September 27, 2005 | |||
| Discontinued | February 28, 2006 | July 26, 2005 | September 27, 2005 | February 28, 2006 | |||
| Model numbers | Order number | M9686/A | M9687/A | M9686/A | M9971/B | M9686/B | M9687/B |
| Model identifier | PowerMac10,1 | PowerMac10,2 | |||||
| Model number | A1103 | ||||||
| Performance | Processor | PowerPC G4 (7447A) | |||||
| Processor Clock speed | 1.25 GHz | 1.42 GHz | 1.25 GHz | 1.42 GHz | 1.33 GHz | 1.5 GHz | |
| Cache | 64 KB L1, 512 KB L2 (1:1) | ||||||
| Front-side bus | 167 MHz | ||||||
| Memory (one RAM slot) | 256 MB 333 MHz DDR SDRAM | 512 MB 333 MHz DDR SDRAM | |||||
| Graphics | ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32 MB DDR SDRAM | ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 64 MB DDR SDRAM | |||||
| Storage | Hard drive capacity | 40 GB | 80 GB | 40 GB | 80 GB | 40 GB | 80 GB |
| Hard drive type | 2.5" PATA/100 at 4200 rpm | 2.5" PATA/100 at 5400 rpm | |||||
| Optical drive | Slot-in Combo drive | Slot-in Combo drive or SuperDrive | Slot-in Combo drive | Slot-in Combo drive or SuperDrive | |||
| Connections | Connectivity | Optional or integrated Wi-Fi 3 (802.11b/g) 10/100 Base-T Ethernet Optional or integrated 56k V.92 modem Optional or integrated Bluetooth 1.1 | Optional or integrated Wi-Fi 3 (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 (supports resolutions up to 1920x1200) | ||||||
| Dimensions | Weight | 2.9lb | |||||
| Volume | 2inches H × 6.5inches W × 6.5inches D | ||||||
| Power | 32W (Idle), 85W (Max) (1.25 GHz model with 256 MB RAM, 40 GB drive, and Combo drive) | ||||||
| Operating system | Minimum | Mac OS X 10.3 Panther | Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger | ||||
| Latest release | Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard if at least 512 MB RAM installed, otherwise Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger | Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard | |||||
In February 2006, Apple announced the first Intel Mac Mini, as part of the Mac's transition to Intel processors. Based on the Intel Core Solo and Duo CPUs, they are four times faster than its predecessor PowerPC G4.[29] [30] This would be the only Mac to have the Core Solo, and by extension the only Intel-based and final Mac with a single-core processor. An updated server version of the machine was released in October 2009, having been marketed as an affordable server for small financial and academic uses; this model omitted the optical drive and used a hard drive instead.[31] [32]
The 2006 and 2007 models are fitted with 32-bit Intel Core Solo or Duos, CPUs that is upgradable with the 64-bit Core 2 Duo processors.[33] The 2006 and 2007 Merom-based Mac Mini models were supplied with socketed CPUs; the 32-bit processor can be removed, and replaced with a compatible 64-bit Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Models manufactured in and after 2009 had their CPUs soldered onto a logic board, preventing its upgradability. The upgrades make the 2006/2007 models perform better than the 2009 models. Geekbench has shown 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]
The built-in Intel GMA was criticized for producing stuttering video despite supporting hardware accelerated H.264 video playback, and disappointing frame rates in graphics-intensive 3D games.[36] Early and Late 2009 models corrected these performance issues with an improved NVIDIA-based GeForce 9400M chipset.[37]
The Intel-based Mac Mini includes four USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port. The I/O ports were changed with the early 2009 revision, adding a fifth USB 2.0 and swapping the FireWire 400 port for a FireWire 800 port. An infrared receiver was added, allowing the use of an Apple Remote. Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and 802.11g Wi-Fi became standard and the Ethernet port was upgraded to Gigabit. A built-in 56k modem was no longer available.[38] The 2009 models added 802.11 draft-n and later 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth was upgraded from 2.0 to 2.1. External displays are supported through a DVI port. The 2009 models have Mini-DVI and Mini DisplayPort video output, allowing the use of two displays. The Mini DisplayPort supports displays with a resolution up to 2560×1600, which allows use of the 30-inch Cinema Display. The Intel-based Mac Mini has separate Mini-TOSLINK/3.5 mm mini-jacks that support both analog audio input and output, and optical digital S/PDIF input and output.[39] [40]
| Model | Early 2006 | Late 2006 | Mid 2007 | Early 2009 | Late 2009 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component | Yonah Intel Core | Merom Intel Core | Penryn Intel Core | |||||||||
| Timetable | Released | February 28, 2006[41] | September 6, 2006 | August 7, 2007 | March 3, 2009[42] | October 20, 2009 | ||||||
| Discontinued | September 6, 2006 | August 7, 2007 | March 3, 2009 | October 20, 2009 | June 15, 2010 | |||||||
| Model numbers | Order number | MA205 | MA206 | MA607 | MA608 | MB138 | MB139 | MB463 | MB464 | MC238 | MC239 | MC408 (Server) |
| Model identifier | Macmini1,1 | Macmini2,1 | Macmini3,1 | |||||||||
| Model number | A1176 | A1283 | ||||||||||
| Performance | Processor standard | 1.5 GHz (T1200) Intel Core Solo | 1.66 GHz (T2300) Intel Core Duo | 1.83 GHz (T2400) Intel Core Duo | 1.83 GHz (T5600) Intel Core 2 Duo | 2.0 GHz (T7200) Intel Core 2 Duo | 2.0 GHz (P7350) Intel Core 2 Duo | 2.26 GHz (P7550) Intel Core 2 Duo | 2.53 GHz (P8700) Intel Core 2 Duo | |||
| Processor upgradability | ||||||||||||
| Cache | 2 MB on-chip L2 cache | 2 MB (1.83 GHz) shared | 4 MB (2.0 GHz) shared | 3 MB on-chip L2 cache | ||||||||
| Front-side bus | 667 MHz | 1067 MHz | ||||||||||
| Memory standard | 512 MB (2 × 256 MB) | 1 GB (2 × 512 MB) | 1 GB (1 × 1 GB) | 2 GB (2 × 1 GB) | 4 GB (2 × 2 GB) | |||||||
| Memory type | 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM | 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM | ||||||||||
| Memory expandability | ||||||||||||
| Graphics | Intel GMA 950 using 64 MB DDR2 SDRAM (up to 224 MB in OS X with sufficient RAM or Windows through Boot Camp) | Nvidia GeForce 9400M using 128 MB DDR3 SDRAM | Nvidia GeForce 9400M using 256 MB DDR3 SDRAM | |||||||||
| Shared with main memory | ||||||||||||
| Storage | Hard drive | 60 GB | 80 GB | 60 GB | 80 GB | 80 GB | 120 GB | 120 GB | 320 GB | 160 GB | 320 GB | 2 × 500 GB |
| Serial ATA 5400-rpm | ||||||||||||
| Optical drive | 8× DVD read, 24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW recording Combo drive | 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 read, 24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW recording Combo drive | 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 read, 24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW recording Combo drive | 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 | None | ||||
| Connections | Connectivity | Built-in Wi-Fi 3 (802.11b/g) Gigabit Ethernet Bluetooth 2.0+EDR IR Receiver | Built-in Wi-Fi 4 (802.11a/b/g/draft-n) Gigabit Ethernet Bluetooth 2.1+EDR IR Receiver | Built-in Wi-Fi 4 (802.11a/b/g/n) Gigabit Ethernet Bluetooth 2.1+EDR IR Receiver | ||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||
| Dimensions | Weight | 2.9lb | ||||||||||
| Volume | 2inches H × 6.5inches W × 6.5inches D | |||||||||||
| Operating system | Minimum | Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger | Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard | Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard | ||||||||
| Latest release | Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard if at least 1 GB RAM installed, otherwise Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard | Mac OS X 10.7 Lion if at least 2 GB RAM installed, otherwise Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard[43] | OS X 10.11 El Capitan if at least 2 GB RAM installed, otherwise Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard | OS X 10.11 El Capitan | ||||||||
In June 2010, Apple redesigned the Mac Mini, giving it a more compact, thinner unibody aluminum case that has an internal power supply, an SD card slot,[44] a Core 2 Duo CPU, and a HDMI port for video output that Apple marketed as HDMI 1.4 compliant, replacing the Mini-DVI port of the previous models.[45] [46]
In July 2011, a hardware update was announced; models were now fitted with a Thunderbolt port, dual-core Intel Core i5 and 4-core i7 CPUs, support for up to 16 GB of memory, Bluetooth 4.0, and either an Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated graphics or an AMD Radeon HD 6630M dedicated graphics. The revision, however, removed the internal CD/DVD optical drive. The server model was upgraded to a quad-core Core i7 processor. Apple updated the line in October 2012, with Ivy Bridge processors, USB 3.0, and upgraded graphics.[47] In October 2014, the line was updated with Haswell processors, improved graphics, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, 4K output via HDMI and Thunderbolt 2, with a second Thunderbolt port replacing the FireWire 800 port.[48] The Fusion Drive and SSD models include a second bay for PCIe-based NVMe flash storage; hard drive-only models require an aftermarket adapter.[49] The price of the base model was lowered by $100. Two holes that were used to open the case were removed from the case because the memory, being soldered to the logic board, was no longer upgradable. Because the integrated GPU does not have its own dedicated memory, the system shares some of the main system memory with it.[50]
Comparing the high-end models of both releases, the 2012 model has a 4-core, 8-thread Intel Core i7-3720QM whereas the 2014 model has a 2-core, 4-thread Intel Core i7-4578U. The 2014 updated model has Intel Iris graphics (GT3), which greatly outperforms the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (GT2) in the previous models.[51] The 2014 CPUs were more energy-efficient: their maximal thermal design power (TDP) was 62% lower than that of the 2012 models.[52] [53] The 2014 revision underwent internal process transition to dual-core CPUs, performing a lower-quality of multi-threaded workloads compared to the quad-core processors in the 2012 model, though the single-threaded workload interactions speeds increased.[54]