Mac mini 2013/2014 refresh.

[Geminist]

Of course not expected anyone to know, but technologically speaking, is there a chance that the refreshed Minis will allow for up to 32 GB of RAM?

I understand the current gen is limited to 8 GB per slot, so 16 GB max.

 

[hudson1]

there was one year - 2008 when there was no new mini. it was tough back then cause we were stuck with Crappy GMA graphics and weak CPU.
honestl if they skip Haswell gen its not really tragic. the performance is still great, you can put two SSDs to have PCIe like performance and plenty of ports.

Memory very hazy on this one but wasn't 2008 the time when Apple was caught up in the Intel - Nvidia fight over dedicated GPU's on the motherboard? Seems there was a legal issue that kept Apple from moving forward with updates without resorting to Intel's iGPU which they were trying to avoid due to poor performance. This is why, IMHO, the "400 day" cycles are meaningless as they are completely skewed by this episode.

 

[Ice Dragon]

Of course not expected anyone to know, but technologically speaking, is there a chance that the refreshed Minis will allow for up to 32 GB of RAM?

I understand the current gen is limited to 8 GB per slot, so 16 GB max.

Highly doubtable as there are no 16 GB SO-DIMMS. I also doubt Apple would make four slots available for memory as with the 27" iMac.

 

[CoolHotCold]

I agree...most possible to follow 13'' rMBP chips....along with TB2....

I think it'll follow the 13" Chips (which are duel core only) for the cheap mini so that's Iris. While the more expensive Mini and Server edition will use the 15" quad core version, which is the Iris Pro.

 

[mvmanolov]

I think it'll follow the 13" Chips (which are duel core only) for the cheap mini so that's Iris. While the more expensive Mini and Server edition will use the 15" quad core version, which is the Iris Pro.

bah i certainly hope so

gimme some yummy pro iris-ness

 

[Windows2Mac]

Refreshed mini

I'm currently having an internal battle with impatience vs my common sense! Argh it's like I want to just go and buy one but I'm going to be so annoyed when they update it..

 

[ElectronGuru]

Now that Apple made the mac pro too costly I am interested in the move they do with minis.

Suppose the new MP inspires a new set of displays and the mini works with most or even all of them. I'm just crazy enough to spend double on the screen as the box, provided the new CPU can drive enough pixels.

 

[Dentifrice]

I'm currently having an internal battle with impatience vs my common sense! Argh it's like I want to just go and buy one but I'm going to be so annoyed when they update it..

Same as you...

I want the mac mini i7 2.6 ghz and I will add my own SSD and own 16gb of ram.

At the same time, I don't know if I should wait for the the new mac mini...but I'm scared they change it so I can't add my own ssd and ram anymore like they do with all their models...

 

[grandM]

indeed

Same as you...

I want the mac mini i7 2.6 ghz and I will add my own SSD and own 16gb of ram.

At the same time, I don't know if I should wait for the the new mac mini...but I'm scare the change it so I can't add my own ssh and ram anymore like they do with all their model...

this bothers me too...

 

[Dentifrice]

this bothers me too...

and at the same time, does haswell give that much more power than ivy ? Just the cpu I mean

and for the video card, I'm pretty sure they will put the HD5000 in this update. what about hd4000 vs hd5000 ?

 

[Lesser Evets]

Of course not expected anyone to know, but technologically speaking, is there a chance that the refreshed Minis will allow for up to 32 GB of RAM?

I have 16GB of RAM in this old Pro, and I can't imagine how I could use more in a machine like this or the Mini at this time. With the new Pros--more memory is better for the huge video and graphics capability.

 

[mvmanolov]

and at the same time, does haswell give that much more power than ivy ? Just the cpu I mean

and for the video card, I'm pretty sure they will put the HD5000 in this update. what about hd4000 vs hd5000 ?

this is tearing me apart as well.

I may have already bought a 2012 but luckily i just bough an 2013 Air so i need watch my budget for at least another month so that is a serious push factor for waiting….

 

[CoolHotCold]

and at the same time, does haswell give that much more power than ivy ? Just the cpu I mean

and for the video card, I'm pretty sure they will put the HD5000 in this update. what about hd4000 vs hd5000 ?

Nope, It'll either be a HD4600 or Iris and Iris Pro.

There is no HD5000 i7 version for the Mac Mini, the only HD5000 version is a 15W Low voltage Duel core version that costs the same as a Iris Pro.

So HD4600 vs Iris and Iris Pro if they decide to refresh the Mini. And why I think it'll be a Iris and Iris Pro is because it's just easier to order the same chips the retina MBP's use instead or ordering a entire new batch of processors and having to re-code the entire graphics library for them.

 

[Geminist]

I have 16GB of RAM in this old Pro, and I can't imagine how I could use more in a machine like this or the Mini at this time. With the new Pros--more memory is better for the huge video and graphics capability.

I'm hoping to use the Mini to do some mini projects for computational modelling and RAM is one of the important aspect for this.

Also, it will allow me to continue using the Mini whilst the modelling is running

 

[Dentifrice]

Nope, It'll either be a HD4600 or Iris and Iris Pro.

There is no HD5000 i7 version for the Mac Mini, the only HD5000 version is a 15W Low voltage Duel core version that costs the same as a Iris Pro.

So HD4600 vs Iris and Iris Pro if they decide to refresh the Mini. And why I think it'll be a Iris and Iris Pro is because it's just easier to order the same chips the retina MBP's use instead or ordering a entire new batch of processors and having to re-code the entire graphics library for them.

so, big difference between iris and iris pro ?

and what about hd4000 of the mac mini 2011 vs iris/iris pro ?

 

[addictzz]

Same as you...

I want the mac mini i7 2.6 ghz and I will add my own SSD and own 16gb of ram.

At the same time, I don't know if I should wait for the the new mac mini...but I'm scared they change it so I can't add my own ssd and ram anymore like they do with all their models...

Definitely. Seeing how iMac and Macbook pro have moved up to user-unfriendly design, Mac Mini might suffer the same fate.

If the new ones are not very appealing, you can still purchase the old one right after the announcement of the refresh right?

 

[comatory]

Memory very hazy on this one but wasn't 2008 the time when Apple was caught up in the Intel - Nvidia fight over dedicated GPU's on the motherboard? Seems there was a legal issue that kept Apple from moving forward with updates without resorting to Intel's iGPU which they were trying to avoid due to poor performance. This is why, IMHO, the "400 day" cycles are meaningless as they are completely skewed by this episode.

I believe that was the case and thats the reason why release cycle is stretched until now. but consider this: iPad2 is still around, its very cheap to make now and people are still buying them. while its differen category and serves as an upsell to retina models,it demonstrates that they dont always put newest chips in their tech and settle cause of logistics and demand.

 

[mayuka]

When tim cook says things like "proud of our product lineup going into the holidays" it suggests to me it's not going to be upgraded.

Why is that? There is one important word missing: "current". The holidays have not started yet. I'm confident that we see a silent update sometime in november.

 

[iydkmigthtky]

I'm confident that we see a silent update sometime in november.

why would they break the cycle for a silent update (last 4 years either july/june or october)? i'm crossing my fingers for something more significant. i'd buy a redesigned mac mini in a heartbeat.

 

[CoolHotCold]

why would they break the cycle for a silent update (last 4 years either july/june or october)? i'm crossing my fingers for something more significant. i'd buy a redesigned mac mini in a heartbeat.

I wouldn't.

I'd take configurability over "smaller" any day. The Mac Mini is perfectly sized as it is with the ability to take two hard drives and upgradeable RAM. I will be a sad, sad panda

 

[Philgr]

just notice a load of Mac Minis of most configuration have appeared in the refurb store on the UK site

Is this apple off loading stock before a refresh ?

 

[Schnort]

Could be, though something similar happened in the US a few weeks (month?) ago.

 

[mayuka]

why would they break the cycle for a silent update (last 4 years either july/june or october)? i'm crossing my fingers for something more significant. i'd buy a redesigned mac mini in a heartbeat.

They did a similar thing with the iMac last year. (Or was it the year before that already?) Significant numbers were inly available in january. It could be possible that the Mac mini now is entirely assembled in the U.S. Maybe that has something to do with the delays.

Don't cross your fingers too long. If the update isn't there in mid or end of november I wouldn't wait any longer. In 2009 they updated the Mac mini in March. If I remember correctly, they updated the design in october later that year. Maybe this is a hint towards a complete redesign that anyone is talking about. All the early models were introduced in March until 2005 by the way.

 

[spacepower7]

I didn't have time to read all 16 pages here.

If the next Mac mini upgrade uses the same chipset for the mid-range mini as low end 15" MBP Retina, like last year, the integrated graphics are a huge improvement with everything (except games of course.)

TLDToday has a YouTube video comparing the high-end 2012 MBPr to the low-end integrated graphics in the 2013 MBPr.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ATKDuQOQw9k

 

[haravikk]

If the next Mac mini upgrade uses the same chipset for the mid-range mini as low end 15" MBP Retina, like last year, the integrated graphics are a huge improvement with everything (except games of course.)

Except of course for the Mac Mini it's all improvement, as it's never been especially good at gaming