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Mac Mini 2012 - What to expect

Poki

Poki

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Mar 21, 2012
1,318
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As the new Mac Mini could be released any month now (Ivy Bridge isn't far away), I really want to know what I could expect. I have a 2009 MBP with 2,66 GHz C2D and GeForce GT9600M 256MB right now and really need a new main machine which outperforms my MBP in every way.

So, first on CPU. Intel has a OEM-only Core i7 which uses 35W power (exactly as much as the current i5 2,5 GHz) and is a Quad-Core 2,1 GHz CPU. If it's just about 5-10% faster than the current Mac Mini Server, it should be sufficient for most uses - even for some video editing with FCP, or not?

As for the GPU, I did much research, and sadly, here's not too much room for improvement. Possible options are the new Radeon HD 7650/7670, which uses about as much power as the current HD6630, but they're 5-15% faster. I really wish they would build in something like the HD6730m which is up to 25% faster, but that won't fit into the 10W TDP left for graphics.

Do you think Apple would be able to use more power for CPU and GPU as now? I heard the fans are pretty loud even now, so I doubt they would risk making them any louder ... At least I wish 512MB GDDR5-VRAM with an BTO-Option to 1GB - not too much to ask for in 2012, is it? (Yeah :apple:, I know it is...)

Next, SSD. They probably won't build one in standard, and the BTO-option is going to get cheaper, but not "cheap" like a Corsair Force 3 120GB SSD for 120€. Just sad that you loose warranty when you build it in ...

One question: They removed the DVD-burner last year. What's now in the space where the optical drive was back then? Is it empty in the non-server, single-HDD version? They may use it to build in another fan and a bigger graphics card *dreaming*. ;)

What do you think is possible and what do you wish it haves? Please let me know! :)
 
Been discussed extensively elsewhere, e.g.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1263649/

there are also other threads if you do a quick search...

generally as an owner of a mini server having moved over from late 2007 15" MBP, I would say the only thing this machine needs is a dedicated GPU and then it's flying. If can fit one in and keep the heat down with the quad core processor also in situ
 
Thanks for linking the thread. However, I wanted to discuss about the possibilities as far as power management and space are concerned. There are always some people here who know more about these things, so is it false to ask?
 
Yeah, that would be the most money-saving solution. ^^
 
Um, i hope there is a new revision this yeaar, i wa hoping to pick up a new refreshed version
 
DryEyez said:
Um, i hope there is a new revision this yeaar, i wa hoping to pick up a new refreshed version
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What exactly do you expect to be different if one comes out this year?

Ivy Bridge isn't out yet. Probably won't be out till Summer.
 
These threads sometimes forget that apple will never use the best parts available when the mini is the low end machine. They won't jeopardize imac sales, which have the highest profit margins.

Not saying the new mini wont be a beast, I think my 2.5 i5 mini still is!:D
 
I don't think the iMac has that much more profit than the Mini. I bet they're at least the same (%-wise). Keep in mind that you also get a Keyboard and Mouse, AND a very good screen for your money when buying an iMac.
 
Adamantoise said:
What exactly do you expect to be different if one comes out this year?

Ivy Bridge isn't out yet. Probably won't be out till Summer.
Click to expand...

You realise the summer is THIS year haha. I would also like to see those new 7 series GPU stuck in a mac mini, they would be little powerhorses.
 
DryEyez said:
You realise the summer is THIS year haha. I would also like to see those new 7 series GPU stuck in a mac mini, they would be little powerhorses.
Click to expand...

Right because the day immediately after the processors are released, Apple will start selling Minis without having to do any design work, validation, or supply chain.

Mini's aren't coming out this year. Apple doesn't make a lot of money from them, and it doesn't make sense to concentrate on such a low volume product when Macbook Pros could use the updating instead.
 
What I would like to see is the new nVidia Kepler GPU's in the mini. They have announced the new mobile GPU's. The GeForce 660M, 650M and 640M all have the new 28nm Kepler GPU. I can't see any TDP values on the site but I really hope Apple is going to use one of these. :D
 
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Adamantoise said:
Right because the day immediately after the processors are released, Apple will start selling Minis without having to do any design work, validation, or supply chain.
.
Click to expand...

You probably should know what you are talking about before you open your mouth...

Last summer, the 2.3ghz Dual Core i5 (2410M) and 2.5ghz Dual Core i5 (2520M) were released on 6/20/2011. Guess what? The upgraded Mac Mini's were released on July 20, 2011 (exactly one month later).

This summer, the dual core Ivy Bridge processors (which will most likely end up in the base and mid-mini) are due to release on 6/3/2012, based on last years release we can assume that the new Mac Mini's will be out at the beginning of July.
 
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paulrbeers said:
You probably should know what you are talking about before you open your mouth...

Last summer, the 2.3ghz Dual Core i5 (2410M) and 2.5ghz Dual Core i5 (2520M) were released on 6/20/2011. Guess what? The upgraded Mac Mini's were released on July 20, 2011 (exactly one month later).

This summer, the dual core Ivy Bridge processors (which will most likely end up in the base and mid-mini) are due to release on 6/3/2012, based on last years release we can assume that the new Mac Mini's will be out at the beginning of July.
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Easily explained by the fact that the Mini is pretty much a 13" Macbook Pro ... Which had been out 4 months before then.

We will not see another Mini this summer. I won't argue this any further, I'll just bump this to say I told you so when the summer is over.
 
Adamantoise said:
Easily explained by the fact that the Mini is pretty much a 13" Macbook Pro ... Which had been out 4 months before then.

We will not see another Mini this summer. I won't argue this any further, I'll just bump this to say I told you so when the summer is over.
Click to expand...

Yep and the Macbook Pro processors will be out on April 29th, so by the time the June 3rd date will be out, it should give Apple about a month or more. Even going with 4 months, that puts the Mac Mini release date of August 29th.....
 
paulrbeers said:
Yep and the Macbook Pro processors will be out on April 29th, so by the time the June 3rd date will be out, it should give Apple about a month or more. Even going with 4 months, that puts the Mac Mini release date of August 29th.....
Click to expand...

They're using the same Ivy Bridge processors that you just said are coming out 6/3/2012

Wut?
 
Adamantoise said:
They're using the same Ivy Bridge processors that you just said are coming out 6/3/2012

Wut?
Click to expand...


No. The Macbook Pro Processorss are going to be using the April 29th processors. April 29th the Mobile Quad Core processors are being released. These are the processors that will make their way into Macbook Pros. Just like with Sandy Bridge, the Macbook Pro Processors will be released in the first round for Ivy Bridge. Then the Macbook Air and Mac Mini processors will be released in the second round of processors on 6/3/2012.

You really don't pay much attention to Intel releases do you? Which points to the fact you really don't know what you are talking about when you say that Mac Mini's won't be updated this year.

Just to further make a point, last year in approximately 5 months, Apple updated their entire computer line up (with the exception of the Mac Pros since the Sandy Bridge ES processors were just released in March 2012). So even using 5 months from April 29th, we are still looking at a Mac Mini update no later than the end of September.



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Adamantoise said:
We will not see another Mini this summer. I won't argue this any further, I'll just bump this to say I told you so when the summer is over.
Click to expand...

And just to point out, earlier in this thread you said Ivy Bridge based Mac Mini's weren't coming out this year. So which is it my friend? This Year or this summer? Seems you are already "changing" your prediction.

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Adamantoise said:
Mini's aren't coming out this year. Apple doesn't make a lot of money from them, and it doesn't make sense to concentrate on such a low volume product when Macbook Pros could use the updating instead.
Click to expand...

My point made....
 
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"Low volume product"? Yeah, that may be true for Apple if you compare the Mini to the MacBooks or iMacs, but every other PC maker would dream of a single computer generating as much volume as the Mac Mini. And believe it or not, this makes nice money for Apple - so there's no reason not to update it regularly.
 
It said what to expect, but it didn't say "what not to expect"

i just hope they make it this year and mid model has these specs: i7 2.5 ghz dual core, AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 don't know if compatible (hopefully can take 512 mb GDDR3 vram)? 4gb ram up to 16gb and 500 gb hard drive or 250 gb SSD.




Dont say this wont be compatible blah blah blah no one cares but you!
 
xxDEATHTRAPZxx said:
It said what to expect, but it didn't say "what not to expect"

i just hope they make it this year and mid model has these specs: i7 2.5 ghz dual core, AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 don't know if compatible (hopefully can take 512 mb GDDR3 vram)? 4gb ram up to 16gb and 500 gb hard drive or 250 gb SSD.




Dont say this wont be compatible blah blah blah no one cares but you!
Click to expand...

An ssd option and a good gpu would be nice. I am hoping for more t-bolt ports myself.
 
Here's a discussion point:

What if Apple made the Mac mini more like the MacBook Air. Now it doesn't have an optical drive, imagine a smaller machine with a faster CPU, but SSD storage and RAM soldered directly to the board.

It's very unlikely (given that Apple actually made the Mac mini's RAM easier to upgrade in 2010), but they do seem to be commoditising the Mac line, making them more iOS-like and exerting more control, so what if?...
 
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