Apple TV sized Mac Mini?

[theorist9]

A cursory glance suggests that providing they keep the same width, they wouldn’t necessarily need to replace the racks rather than modify them to hold 2 in each slot, or maybe engineer cages to hold 4x per slot. Proving they can modify suitably to power that configuration per slot, that may work.

Unfortunately it's probably not as simple as that, as it's not just a matter of getting them to physically fit.

Specifically, take a look at this MacStadium blog ( https://www.macstadium.com/blog/digging-deeper-into-2018-mac-minis-at-macstadium ) where they described putting a lot of work into designing the current shelving configuration for their Minis, because their previous configuration wasn't providing the right airflow, causing the Minis to overheat and fail. And it wasn't just about the amount of airflow, it was also about its direction, since that needed to be synergized with the airflow in the room:

Our internal lab testing, performed even at a single rack-scale, demonstrated not only significant issues with thermal throttling but several cases of thermal failure under consistently high workloads. Our engineers quickly coined the term "bacon pans" and got back to work solving the problem.

We went back to the drawing board, well, back to Solidworks, designing a new, higher-density, better-sealed sled that allows us to realize the benefits of hot aisle/cold aisle airflow containment within the data center, provide more efficient cable management/routing, easier installation, and additional security for external HDD installs, and optional active per-sled exhaust fans.

This new sled ensures cold air ingresses where it's supposed to and flows over as much surface area of the mini’s chassis as possible, egressing on the hot side quickly with minimal stalling.

Granted, these were Intel Minis, and had higher power densities. But if you put Minis in Apple-TV-like cases you're also going to get high power densities. Thus they'd likely need to do a similar optimization in designing shelving for downsized Minis, particularly if they wanted to achieve a dense packing.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

cool like The Phonz.

like the what now?

 

[MBAir2010]

like the what now?

i'd reply "heeeeeeey, Sit On It"
but no one would know what I was typing about,
and get a ban, for 2 days, again, for being "over-headed" as in using a joke.

these MacBook Airs M1 and on are surprisingly cool.
while the Minis are small enough now and can't get any compact without being cool.

 

[grandoflex]

What about a Mini MacMini the size of a thumbnail? I'd be interested in that (just as long as the FindMy app worked, in case it slipped off the desk).

 

[HackMacDaddy]

They could put an underclocked M1 inside and it would fly. It could be Mac Nano + Apple TV + Apple Home Arcade (pair Arcade subscription with it).

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

Can I ask genuinely, what would the point be of a Mac mini the size of an Apple TV? portability if you were going somewhere you knew had a monitor, mouse, keyboard? I don't get what gap in the market this device fulfils but happy for someone to explain it to me!

 

[WilliApple]

This is definitely possible with the M regular chips at least, as long as all the ports except Thunderbolt gets sacrificed.

I would be all ok with that as well, as long as they don’t remove the HDMI port. Who knows, maybe they can make this $399 to differentiate it from the current Mac mini.

And the MacBook airs prove that it doesn’t need a fan.

Previous gen Apple TV had a fan btw.

 

[fenderbass146]

I think it could be easily done by Apple, but there would be limited external space for ports, and there is also a weight issue.

The current Apple TV 4K 3 is too light and small. The weight of the cables connected to it often determines where the ATV is placed, not the ATV itself.

so true, I had to put velcro on mine.

 

[dmccloud]

The server farms would be thrilled if the Mac Mini halved in size.

Space, power, and cooling are what cost them money. The Apple Silicon transition takes a big chunk out of two of those, a drop in physical size would be welcomed. 👍

Given how much smaller the Mac Mini is compared to just about every other server-grade appliance, one could easily argue that they also got the space consideration taken care of.

 

[PauloSera]

If they could pack the current Mac mini into an Apple TV sized puck, it would already be that size. Ridiculous question.

Obviously you mean something incredibly simplistic like "the chip" without the slightest concern for thermals or I/O.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Can I ask genuinely, what would the point be of a Mac mini the size of an Apple TV? portability if you were going somewhere you knew had a monitor, mouse, keyboard? I don't get what gap in the market this device fulfils but happy for someone to explain it to me!

I have a niche use I’m sure but I explained a few posts ago I often use my mini plus iPad plus Luna display as a makeshift portable machine. I’m not sure that qualifies as a gap in the market, but there is a use case for you. I would prefer a mini built into a keyboard perhaps… but either way it would be cool for me.

Given how much smaller the Mac Mini is compared to just about every other server-grade appliance, one could easily argue that they also got the space consideration taken care of.

So don’t progress further you mean?

 

[Juicy Box]

If they could pack the current Mac mini into an Apple TV sized puck, it would already be that size. Ridiculous question.

I doubt this is true.

If you look at the internals of the current M1 and M2 MM, half of the case is unused.

Apple could make a smaller MM, and I am sure that they could make one as small as the Apple TV.

That said, I don't think that they should, due to reduced space for ports, and the fact that cables would be heavier than the tiny MM, constantly moving it around, potentially pulling it off of the desk.

The new ATV4K3 is too small and too light weight with just an HDMI and power cable, start adding other cables, and a redesigned MM in the shell of an ATV4K3 might have to come with its own mount to keep it from moving.

 

[MBAir2010]

What about a Mini MacMini the size of a thumbnail? I'd be interested in that (just as long as the FindMy app worked, in case it slipped off the desk).

Brilliant!
and with a tag attached, we can locate our MacMini_THNL in no time!

 

[Analog Kid]

Mac nano!

Apple Pi

 

[i486dx2-66]

If you look at the internals of the current M1 and M2 MM, half of the case is unused.

YES! And half of the thermal capacity as well.

 

[Analog Kid]

If you look at the internals of the current M1 and M2 MM, half of the case is unused.

YES! And half of the thermal capacity as well.

It's not so much that it's unused-- the enclosure is pretty full of stuff. The question is whether that stuff is necessary. About a quarter of the enclosure looks like power supply. A good fraction is for cooling. I think it's mostly legacy stuff they don't change so they can keep the design costs down.

But the Mini is probably the wrong reference platform here. The Macbook Air is probably a better thing to look at. It doesn't have a big chunky power supply, and it's passively cooled. So it's possible to to do a lot without all the space filling hardware in the Mini. Add the tiny little fan in the ATV and you can do a little bit more.

If I had to guess, looking at teardown images, it looks like the MBA logic board is something like 18cm long and only has components on one side of the board. The ATV is 9.3cm across. So if you can split the MBA board into two, or populate both sides of the board, it would be pretty close to fitting.

Then you have to figure out what ports to keep and how to arrange them and such.

I guess the question is where would Apple put this in its lineup? I can't imagine it replacing the Mini, I'd hope it would be an addition to the line below the Min-- but it would have to be cheaper to pull that off.

How much cost can the strip out? The power supply would be simpler, the thermal management would mostly get stripped out, there'd be less aluminum in the enclosure... I'd wonder if they could pull out enough to cut the price by $100 or $150. I've no idea what the cost of those pieces would be.

If it turned out to be a $450+ computer, I'm not sure how many people would buy it to save that amount of money over a more capable Mini. If the goal was to save desk space, those customers are probably buying an iMac. You'd have to price it down to hobbyist levels, which I think would mean cutting the price down quite a bit more. I'm not sure they can do that.

I'd really like something in that form factor because it would be cool and fairly easy to setup for dedicated services. I'm not sure there's enough people like me though who would be attracted enough by the novelty of the system to overcome its limitations.

 

[WoodTableFromIkea]

wait until Apple needs to allow side-loading 🤓

What has side-loading have to do with OP's question?

You guys really like to fish for arguments and drama, it's amazing.

 

[257Loner]

Could they pack a Mac Mini into something the size of an Apple TV? I would buy one.

They could pack Apple Silicon into a computer the size of this:

 

[code-m]

So Apple can fit a M1 and M2 in an iPad form factor that has a battery, screen, etc but the people here think an AppleTV size device is not possible with passive cooling and an aluminium enclosure vice the present black plastic and this is even with the PSU built-in to accommodate additional I/O.

I would say this device needs no more than two USB-C ports, HDMI, power cable and an audio jack. Want more get a MacMini. Price $399.

 

[153957]

Whilst it could be done, and I think someone did a Mac mini m1 into a smaller case on YouTub, ….

No they did not, they simply made the power supply external.
Basically they split the mac mini into two parts, then pointed at one of the parts and said; "Look only at this part it is small than when the (which are both required) parts are put together! amazing!"...

 

[cupcakes2000]

So Apple can fit an M1 and M2 in an iPad form factor that has a battery, screen, etc but the people here think an AppleTV size device is not possible with passive cooling and an aluminium enclosure vice the present black plastic and this is even with the PSU built-in to accommodate additional I/O.

I would say this device needs no more than two USB-C ports, HDMI, power cable and an audio jack. Want more get a MacMini. Price $399.

Not to mention all the other Apple TV sized computing solutions in existence. Of course it’s possible.

 

[Che Castro]

They should make a Mac mini SE
the size of the Apple TV with M1
For cheap

 

[code-m]

Not to mention all the other Apple TV sized computing solutions in existence. Of course it’s possible.

Indeed and then wait for the ridiculous YouTube videos of can an AppleTV sized Mac handle editing 8K video and some other nonsense. It’s like these people do it just for the drama. No it’s not meant to even rarely edit 8K video just use it similar to a MBA without a built-in display, keyboard, trackpad and speakers.

It’s like someone purchasing a Toyota Yaris and racing it in the Indy500 or other race. Ridiculous.

 

[code-m]

They should make a Mac mini SE
the size of the Apple TV with M1
For cheap

Or the cheaper option is to open up TVOS by permitting a web browser, File.app, etc. The present chip is more than capable it’s just be restricted hence with alternate app stores Apple maybe pressured to “Think Different”.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Or the cheaper option is to open up TVOS by permitting a web browser, File.app, etc. The present chip is more than capable it’s just be restricted hence with alternate app stores Apple maybe pressured to “Think Different”.

No alt AppStore needed, just less rules! No browser or proper integrated files is absurd.

I have a pimped out firestick and it’s bad aside the abilities enabled. I have a kodi pi and it’s great but a mess. Apple do tv right- aside the restrictions.