Mac Mini 2012 - What to expect

[blanka]

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 , I know it is...)

Please look at the mini from a MARKETING perspective, not from a schoolboy WISH perspective.

Core i7 quad + decent graphics at entry level is like sending a SUDO KILL ALL to every other mac in the product line.

They will use Ivy to slim down the Mini even further. If we get basic quad Ivy at the entry level, it will sacrifice other stuff to compensate. I really think that the best for APPL stock is a smaller mini, with more Greenpeace åsslicking as first argument is the way to go to please stockholders.
15x15x3 cm, Ivy quad, HD4000 (fast enough for 90% use), SSD only, no Ethernet, no FW, 3 USB 3 something like that. It would increase profit, and because the WE MAKE THE MOST ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY COMPUTER EVER it will sell by the buckload.

But there is one chance: since Jobs is dead, things go a little slower at Apple, and they might make the mistake to reuse the current shape one more itteration to make it actually an iMac killer, but it is NOT SMART.

----------

Processor: i5-3320M (i5-3210M is a bit low)
RAM: 4 GB at 1600 MHz (option for 8 GB)
Graphics: Intel HD 4000
Storage: Probably 500 GB at 5,400 rpm (with hopefully both an option for the 750 GB at 7,200 rpm and 128 GB SSD)

That is a faster machine than most iMacs and a lot of previous generation MacPro's. Wishfull thinking!

 

[Scrapula]

I pretty much agree that they will not make it out-perform the iMac. I'd prefer to get a new mini, but if there's a big difference, then I might switch to an iMac.

 

[HurryKayne]

Yeah.I think we will see a Quad core mini entry level when Imacs will go to Six core at least.
Maybe to put a

Hd4000 in the Air
640m plus quad core Bto for Minis
HD4000 (?) for retina's 13 macbookpro (so just very expensive retina and 2 inches between this and Air )
650m 15" in MacBookPros
660m-670 mx in 21 Imacs
and
675mx-680 m in the 27 Imac
could work...for Apple because it would be a dream for me
and a nightmare for Windows8.. ^^.

ps.
Retina's 13 leak of shows Air to be bigger than new 13 retinas...so if no Gpu in the Air..no Gpu on 13 as well.
Maybe this is the only way to have a 640m in next mini.
because if was there no 640 could ever had a chance to stay in the mini..maybe just the HD4000 or the underpowerd 625m just released..(please Poki don't kill me) to protect the r13 inches sales.

 

[Ice Dragon]

That is a faster machine than most iMacs and a lot of previous generation MacPro's. Wishful thinking!

I would actually say that's pretty accurate and I called that back in early June.

Here's why I stand by what I said then.

The early 2011 MacBook Pro and June 2011 Mac mini had the same processor. Back then we were talking mobile Sandy Bridge and now we are talking mobile Ivy Bridge.

I admit the i5-3210M is probably what will be used which is clocked at 2.5 GHz and has a Turbo Boost of up to 3.1 GHz. The i5-3320M is ever so slightly faster at 2.6 GHz and has a Turbo Boost of up to 3.3 GHz. The last dual core i5 is the i5-3360M at 2.8 GHz with a Turbo Boost of up to 3.5 GHz.

We then move into the i7 line which you know will be built to order just as it was last time. Either the dual core i7, i7-3520M at 2.9 GHz with the TB up to 3.6 GHz OR (and this is wishful thinking) the 35W quad-core i7-3612QM at 2.1 GHz with the TB up to 3.1 GHz.

I called it back then that memory would be doubled and it is. Apple is not dumb enough to ship 2 GB with Mountain Lion. They HAVE to move on to 4 GB minimum on a base machine. The discrete model and server model will have 8 GB most likely.

Graphics is where it gets murky. All in all, it looks like the 640M or 640M LE. I would love 1 GB, although expect 512 MB. Any less is pathetic though this is Apple and I should expect to be disappointed. I even joked with a tech friend of mine that I can't wait to see the new mini with 64 MB of discrete VRAM.

Phew you know I need a life when I am typing this at 5:38 in the morning though this is how much I have been anticipating this update.

 

[nephron8]

Now apple is known to use custom made intel processors which are not in your routine intel line up.
I expect some custom chip in core i5 series.
Let's see

 

[Ice Dragon]

Now apple is known to use custom made intel processors which are not in your routine intel line up.
I expect some custom chip in core i5 series.
Let's see

That could also be true. I think we are a bit far away from ULV being used in the mini for example though.

 

[nephron8]

True,
I agree.
It won't be ulv but some custom made chip.
Apple exclusive.

 

[Abazigal]

I won't mind an additional thunderbolt port and more USB ports. Firewire can go, ethernet....??

 

[Ice Dragon]

True,
I agree.
It won't be ulv but some custom made chip.
Apple exclusive.

That would be neat to see. As much as I love Intel and their future plans, I am very curious to see what Apple's engineers have cooked up.

 

[wafl iron]

Here's hoping that the 799 model comes standard with:

1) quad core
2) 8gb
3) ssd

It's wishful thinking. Apple will probably only do 1 of the above on the standard 799 mini. If i had to guess it would be either the quad or the 8gb.

 

[Poki]

Here's hoping that the 799 model comes standard with:

1) quad core
2) 8gb
3) ssd

It's wishful thinking. Apple will probably only do 1 of the above on the standard 799 mini. If i had to guess it would be either the quad or the 8gb.

For advertising reasons, it will be the quad core chip (imo). 8 Gigs of RAM don't make sense to power users, as these will need at least 16 GB, and casual users will do fine with 4. A SSD is probably too expensive, but as hard drive prices go up and SSD prices come down, who knows ...

Please look at the mini from a MARKETING perspective, not from a schoolboy WISH perspective.

Core i7 quad + decent graphics at entry level is like sending a SUDO KILL ALL to every other mac in the product line.

They will use Ivy to slim down the Mini even further. If we get basic quad Ivy at the entry level, it will sacrifice other stuff to compensate. I really think that the best for APPL stock is a smaller mini, with more Greenpeace åsslicking as first argument is the way to go to please stockholders.
15x15x3 cm, Ivy quad, HD4000 (fast enough for 90% use), SSD only, no Ethernet, no FW, 3 USB 3 something like that. It would increase profit, and because the WE MAKE THE MOST ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY COMPUTER EVER it will sell by the buckload.

Did I say anything about entry level? I always talked about the high end Mini. And I doubt they will slim it down even further. Apart from not making sense for a desktop at all, it would make it more expensive to produce, especially when using SSDs down the line.

I only said I want a quad-core Mini with a GeForce GT 640M, no matter what the price is - and this machine is easy to build, so if they want, they're able to do it. And market it, as it's easily the most powerful computer with this form factor.

 

[Cory Bauer]

Sadly, I'm sure the $599 Mac Mini will be nothing more than what the $1,199 MacBook Pro is today:

2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
4GB 1600MHz memory
500GB 5400-rpm hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 4000

And like today, if you want the quad-core server model I'm sure you'll have to sacrifice dedicated graphics to get it.

 

[Poki]

Sadly, I'm sure the $799 Mac Mini will be nothing more than what the $1,199 MacBook Pro is today:

2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.1GHz
4GB 1600MHz memory
500GB 5400-rpm hard drive1
Intel HD Graphics 4000

And like today, if you want the quad-core server model I'm sure you'll have to sacrifice dedicated graphics to get it.

Well, if that's the case, I'll just buy an iMac. Not what I want, but if there's no other option ...

 

[Cory Bauer]

Well, if that's the case, I'll just buy an iMac. Not what I want, but if there's no other option ...

I feel your pain. IMO the Mini should have been designed to be an iMac without the screen, but Apple wants to sell us a MacBook Pro without the screen instead - probably to protect iMac sales. I have to correct my post though; those specs I posted would be for the $599 model - not the $799 model. Sorry.

 

[Poki]

I feel your pain. IMO the Mini should have been designed to be an iMac without the screen, but Apple wants to sell us a MacBook Pro without the screen instead - probably to protect iMac sales. I have to correct my post though; those specs I posted would be for the $599 model - not the $799 model. Sorry.

You're absolutely right. Of course a HD 6970 doesn't fit into the Mini, but many other things do.

I don't care about the 599 model. I don't even care if they'd charge me 1000. But I care about the specs - and I definitely NEED a quad-core i7 chip, a GT 640M and a SSD (well, the last thing is more something I want, but still ...). Please, Apple, make it happen!

 

[Ice Dragon]

Well, if that's the case, I'll just buy an iMac. Not what I want, but if there's no other option ...

He edited his post from the $799 Mini to the $599 Mini. I hope the $799 Mini is not equal to the $1,199 MBP. That would be a huge disappointment.

Edit: My bad. I posted 21 minutes after Poki posted.

 

[nephron8]

My prediction is

Quad core ivy bridge with 4 gb ram and no ssd or may b 64 gb

 

[palmharbor]

Brand new macmini 10.20.12

I have one and if i could i would demand my money back
but this is a replacement that was only 6 months old.
Junk, junk...u will re-in stall the os everyday and still
have problems

 

[takasugi]

I have one and if i could i would demand my money back
but this is a replacement that was only 6 months old.
Junk, junk...u will re-in stall the os everyday and still
have problems

I have 2 Mac minis and I don't reinstall the OS everyday.

 

[Poki]

I have one and if i could i would demand my money back
but this is a replacement that was only 6 months old.
Junk, junk...u will re-in stall the os everyday and still
have problems

What the hell do you with your Mac to screw up OSX so often?? :O

 

[Lance-AR]

That sounds like my mid 2011. Problems with 10.8, 10.8.1 and 10.8.2. 10.7.4 was nice lol

 

[scottsjack]

I have 2 Mac minis and I don't reinstall the OS everyday.

I only have one mini but I do have to reinstall the OS every day that I upgrade the hard drive! (Three times so far)

 

[RaceTripper]

I only have one mini but I do have to reinstall the OS every day that I upgrade the hard drive! (Three times so far)

There are ways to upgrade a hard drive without reinstalling the OS. I have done it numerous times.

 

[old-wiz]

I have one and if i could i would demand my money back
but this is a replacement that was only 6 months old.
Junk, junk...u will re-in stall the os everyday and still
have problems

This poster has a rant in the wasteland about, among other things, his new Mac mini's Superdrive not working right.

I have a 2010 mini that has been on 24/7 and it's my wife's main system and has had zero hardware/software issues since purchased. I've done the normal OS updates, but it works without issues.

 

[Abazigal]

If they are going to do something crazy like removing ethernet (I couldn't care less about firewire), at least give us something like 2 thunderbolt ports and 5-6 usb ports. Those things fill up fast. 2 for keyboard and mouse, 1 for wireless broadband dongle, 1-2 for external HDD/thumbdrives and/or charging of ios devices...

I actually won't mind; it would be perfect for my workplace where my enterprise network probably won't play nice with outside devices.