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Mac mini 2013/2014 refresh.

grandM said:
so we shouldn't expect a new version till June?
You spoke of smaller. Would it be upgradable or no?
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You must understand i cannot speak on everything i hear. I would not have a business if i did.

It changes from week to week. In this business info moves fast. Upgradeable i cannot speak on. But expect it to have the same internals as MBP. We dont know if it will have broadwell or not until they actually buy broadwell chips and how many. Then we will know. But we are thinking broadwell. But if it is released sooner then based on thermals haswell.

But either way the internals will be the same as MBP sans discrete gpu.

Don't take this info as gospel. Apple released a 13 MBP when the whole industry thought it was gone for a retina Air. They released a 13 thin retina model as expected but called it a "pro". No one thought they would have two thin 13 models. But they did and they do .

Apple is one of the hardest companies to get a lead on.
 
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So I'm down to two probable ideas.

#1 they're doing the haswell bump that they could have done ages ago and didn't because the mini is unloved. Or..

#2 they love the mini so much, they wanted to give it first shot at broadwell. Having invested in a new design to take advantage of no DVD + no HDD + 14nm heat profile, they are ready to go. But are stuck waiting for intel:

http://www.dailytech.com/Intels+14+...ped+a+Quarter+Due+to+Defects/article33565.htm


The interesting part is that the answer depends not on technology but incentive. Or put another way: where is apple's heart?
 
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electronguru said:
so i'm down to two probable ideas.

#1 they're doing the haswell bump that they could have done ages ago and didn't because the mini is unloved. Or..

#2 they love the mini so much, they wanted to give it first shot at broadwell. Having invested in a new design to take advantage of no dvd + no hdd + 14nm heat profile, they are ready to go. But are stuck waiting for intel:

http://www.dailytech.com/intels+14+...ped+a+quarter+due+to+defects/article33565.htm


the interesting part is that the answer depends not on technology but incentive. Or put another way: Where is apple's heart?
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1+
 
Schnort said:
I'd be pretty surprised if the 'new' mac mini could be made much smaller than the brix, considering it's currently nearly twice the size.
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Why? The new Mac Pro is an 1/8th the size of the previous one :p

Granted there was a ton of stuff to prune from the old Mac Pros, but with the current Mac Mini there is actually a bit of wasted space at the moment thanks to it ditching the optical drive, and I doubt it'll keep the option of two 2.5" drives. After all that the Brix Pro has generally the same hardware, and it actually still has room for an mSATA slot.

I'm pretty sure Apple could easily equal or beat the Brix on size, the question is whether they should; personally I don't mind if the new Mac Mini remains a bit bigger if it means it can cool itself properly, but I fully expect Apple can find a way to make it small if they want to (and they're bound to).

Anyway, I wasn't actually pointing to the Brix for form factor, but rather because it has similar specs to what I'd expect the next high end Mac Mini to have, except maybe swapping mSATA for space for a PCIe flash module as an option. That said, it's absolutely within the realm of possibility that the next Mac Mini could be that kind of size, or even smaller.

That said, I wouldn't mind them keeping the thin "flat" design, as I've recently mounted two of my Mac Minis on the back of monitors using the VESA mounting holes, but if the Minis get much smaller they won't fit without a custom adapter ;)

ElectronGuru said:
#2 they love the mini so much, they wanted to give it first shot at broadwell. Having invested in a new design to take advantage of no DVD + no HDD + 14nm heat profile, they are ready to go. But are stuck waiting for intel:

http://www.dailytech.com/Intels+14+...ped+a+Quarter+Due+to+Defects/article33565.htm
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If it's true that Apple already has a design in mind but with heating problems then waiting for Broadwell seems pretty likely, as Broadwell is 14nm and reduces power consumption (and thus heat) by around 30% iirc, plus I think it's available an even smaller part, though I think that may be intended only for tablets. Could be interesting though, does anyone know what the Broadwell integrated GPUs will be like, could we be looking at Iris Pro as standard?
 
I cannot see Apple giving the Mini the Broadwell before the MBP or iMac, it doesn't make marketing or commercial sense. I suppose they could upgrade all at the same time, that would be a happy day.
 
haravikk said:
If it's true that Apple already has a design in mind but with heating problems then waiting for Broadwell seems pretty likely, as Broadwell is 14nm and reduces power consumption (and thus heat) by around 30% iirc, plus I think it's available an even smaller part, though I think that may be intended only for tablets. Could be interesting though, does anyone know what the Broadwell integrated GPUs will be like, could we be looking at Iris Pro as standard?
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Looks like 40% improvement over Haswell. :)
http://www.extremetech.com/computin...ape-indicates-major-improvements-over-haswell
 
The 10 month delay

I looked up the delay of the processor release to the Apple annoucement and it was 10 months from Intel releasing the current shipping i5 used in the Mac mini and when the apple annoucement was made.

If they follow the same release schedule then that would put a Haswell release in April of 2014. That would coincide wtih a lot of conjecture here.

So maybe the best thing for me to do ( currently very close to pulling the trigger) would be wait for April and if a Haswell is not release buy up what I can come May just in case they do decide to discontinue the Mac Mini.

I think plenty are still in the channel thorugh most outlets so its likey I could still get one if any freak annoucement is made.
 
ioannis2005gr said:
hey! what about this article...read carefully!

http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/mac/...-when-will-apple-launch-new-mac-mini-3472956/

:cool:
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This pretty much corresponds with my own wishlist for the mini --> 8GB RAM, 128GB Flash, faster processor, faster graphics. I'm not bothered about a case update either way. Just so long as I can buy a new mac that doesn't have a screen built in or cost me an arm and a leg. I've been wondering about the 24th Jan given the anniversary*. I would imagine they would go with a more high profile product though, as we mini fans know apple doesn't have the mini that high up the priority list, but here's hoping...

* maybe it'll be a mini in a mac plus case? :rolleyes:
 
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haravikk said:
....
Granted there was a ton of stuff to prune from the old Mac Pros, but with the current Mac Mini there is actually a bit of wasted space at the moment thanks to it ditching the optical drive,
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but with new WiFi needing MIMO for speed and bluetooth and RF noisy USB 3.0 devices it isn't like they couldn't use that very small amount of space for something new.

and I doubt it'll keep the option of two 2.5" drives.
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I don't think those will stay either but one has a good chance. The mini taking the iMac design cue of one blade SSD and one HDD and still offering Fusion set ups as BTO.


If Apple wants to keep the same performance and major components then making it smaller isn't going to make it quieter ( one of the Mac Pro design cues).


I'm pretty sure Apple could easily equal or beat the Brix on size, the question is whether they should; personally I don't mind if the new Mac Mini remains a bit bigger if it means it can cool itself properly, but I fully expect Apple can find a way to make it small if they want to (and they're bound to).
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I don't buy into the "bound to" The mini already is small. Smaller than small is buying what? To gut performance ... is that really going to help sales? To create bigger cooling headaches ... is that really going to help sales? To fit the mini into more locations it didn't fit in before? really?

They could reflow the motherboard layout with a PCIe blade SSD to perhaps trim 0.5-1" off the basic rectangle but that isn't particularly a much smaller trend. It also nukes some of the space for ports. Part of Apple's design language is that it will be a symmetric drop. If pull back L then probably would pull back W. Dumping ports doesn't make much sense. ( trading for another TB port perhaps, but driving the net count substantially down is asking for trouble).

They can flip it vertical, but that is just a balloon squeeze of reduction of LxW and huge increase in H.


If it's true that Apple already has a design in mind but with heating problems then waiting for Broadwell seems pretty likely, as Broadwell is 14nm and reduces power consumption (and thus heat) by around 30% iirc, plus I think it's available an even smaller part, though I think that may be intended only for tablets. Could be interesting though, does anyone know what the Broadwell integrated GPUs will be like, could we be looking at Iris Pro as standard?
Click to expand...

IrisPro isn't likely going to dump max TDP. Smaller process but now there is a large eDRAM present too. Heat isn't particularly going down. Smaller is questionable if using the MCM module with the PCH/chipset also folded in. That runs counter to using MCM to put the eDRAM on.

The mini could follow the MBA (instead of the iMac ) but that is rather dubious as most of its desktop competition isn't going that way....

Mini usages mainly the larger AppleTV zone particularly don't really make much sense for a OS X device. I don't see Apple buying into that in a major way.
 
Jambalaya said:
I cannot see Apple giving the Mini the Broadwell before the MBP or iMac, it doesn't make marketing or commercial sense. I suppose they could upgrade all at the same time, that would be a happy day.
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and this maybe true but if Apple wants to stay in the server business they are going to want to op for Broadwell because of power savings. Every penny counts when you are running a room full of servers. There are other ARM chips out there that could take a big bite.
 
Schnort said:
The brix is 2.44 x 4.39 x 4.5 in = 48cu in
The mac mini is 1.4 x 7.7 x 7.7 in = 83 cu in

I'd be pretty surprised if the 'new' mac mini could be made much smaller than the brix, considering it's currently nearly twice the size.
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The Brix has an external power supply. that is a substantial volume issue. This whole limbo to smallest case is alot easier if chuck stuff like the power supply (and its thermal extraction overhead) outside the box.
 
Jambalaya said:
I cannot see Apple giving the Mini the Broadwell before the MBP or iMac, it doesn't make marketing or commercial sense. I suppose they could upgrade all at the same time, that would be a happy day.
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Correct. That is why we estimate a June timeframe. If it is released sooner, expect Haswell not broadwell. MBP, imac will get it first.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Broadwell is set to give us a small but modest increase in power savings, small but modest increase in CPU performance, but a fairly substantial boost in GPU performance?

With Haswell already boasting a fairly decent boost in GPU over Ivy Bridge, Broadwell is going to be a tasty jump if the Mac Mini skips Haswell, especially when looking at the GPU. Even the CPU jump from Ivy to Broadwell will be decent enough, no?

Scott
 
scottrichardson said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Broadwell is set to give us a small but modest increase in power savings, small but modest increase in CPU performance, but a fairly substantial boost in GPU performance?

With Haswell already boasting a fairly decent boost in GPU over Ivy Bridge, Broadwell is going to be a tasty jump if the Mac Mini skips Haswell, especially when looking at the GPU. Even the CPU jump from Ivy to Broadwell will be decent enough, no?

Scott
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Intel Claims 40% improvement of GPU over Haswell. Haswell was the tic in the new chip architecture that improved CPU performance and Broadwell is the toc.
 
deconstruct60 said:
Smaller than small is buying what?
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No-one really wanted a smaller Mac Pro, and even people who kind of did didn't need Apple to make such a huge reduction as they did (even half the size would have been a significant reduction).

Same kind of deal with the iMacs; I didn't really notice anyone complaining about the bulk of an iMac, but Apple made it much thinner anyway. Miniaturisation does have a certain wow factor if it can be pulled off.

deconstruct60 said:
To gut performance ... is that really going to help sales? To create bigger cooling headaches ... is that really going to help sales?
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The Brix doesn't seem to suffer either of these issues; it still manages to be a great little performer in a tiny profile. The main trade-off it makes is really that it doesn't have an internal power supply; I can understand the Mac Mini remaining a bit larger to account for that, but with better and better power efficiency in all components, it's definitely possible to slim down.

That doesn't mean they will; it's just as possible they could go the Airport Extreme route and slim the Mini down horizontally but make it a bit taller, even if the volume remained the same it'd still be functionally smaller. Though personally I hate the new Airport Extreme design, I do prefer the "flat" profile of the current Mac Mini in terms of aesthetics.

deconstruct60 said:
Dumping ports doesn't make much sense.
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While I don't personally want them to, there is definitely room to do so; a Mac Mini doesn't strictly need an Ethernet port when you can use a Thunderbolt adapter, especially since it has good built in WiFi. FireWire is bound to go, and there isn't really much reason for the Mac Mini to have an SD Card slot on the back (it's not very easy to use in that position). So if they need to trim I/O there's plenty of options that don't really cause the Mac Mini to lose anything.


Anyway, I want to say again; I'm not saying I expect the Mac Mini to be as small as the Brix Pro, I just expect it to have similar hardware, or is even possibly waiting for Broadwell. I firmly believe that if Apple thinks they can make the Mac Mini smaller then they'll do it, I just don't know how much smaller; it could be as simple as trimming down the current size by 10%, or it could be more major than that, I definitely think if they wanted to they could approach Brix Pro sizes, and even Brix Pro + room for an internal PSU is pretty damn small, and clearly is enough room for the hardware a Mac Mini needs. I don't know for sure, it's all speculation, but it just seems like they'd wait for so long if all we were getting was a spec-bump.
 
ElectronGuru said:
So I'm down to two probable ideas.

#1... the mini is unloved. Or..

#2 ... stuck waiting for intel...
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That second one is the BIG problem Apple has faced since getting roped into the Intel CPUs. I'm betting that Apple either will leverage Intel to produce processors with Apple in mind, timely releases, or Apple will tear away from Intel in a few years.

Of course, Apple might not have to do any such thing due to the fact that their own A-line processors are overtaking all computing. It might be only half a decade before desktops are completely marginalized, thus the issue is effectively trivia.
 
I was thinking they may consider a vertical orientation mac mini ala timecapsule and mac pro. Thermals and long antennaes are helped out, and to be honest would fit on my desk better.


-d
 
dugbug said:
I was thinking they may consider a vertical orientation mac mini ala timecapsule and mac pro. Thermals and long antennaes are helped out, and to be honest would fit on my desk better.


-d
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It wouldn't fit in 1u racks anymore. Guess that isn't very important to apple (me neither), but it is something to think about. The idea of having a rack and just adding another mini would be lost
 
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