Yes, thank you. I meant an updated retina display (double the current resolution). To me, that seems a bridge to far. It may work but it could be clunky.
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Mac mini 2013/2014 refresh.
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Yes, thank you. I meant an updated retina display (double the current resolution). To me, that seems a bridge to far. It may work but it could be clunky.
I waited for the Ivy Bridge refresh of the Mini in the hopes of a better discrete GPU, though Apple's shift to Integrated Graphics (BLEH!) has forced me to wait for Haswell. Whatever Mini has Intel Iris (5200 preferred), will be my first new Mac computer since my ancient iBook G4 (and the first new PC since 2007, when I built my Core 2 Duo). I mainly want the Iris GPU for some gaming until the Mac Pro arrives, which would then replace my aging Windows gaming rig (You can only go so far on a 7850 and a Q8400 CPU).
The only other change I'd like to see to the Mini is a Fusion Drive as standard, likely a 64GB PCIe drive (like the Air and rMBP) combined with a 500GB hard disk as standard, and a 128GB PCIe drive/1TB Hard Disk as the standard on the upgraded model. For the server, I'd much rather see twin 64GB PCIe drives than twin 500 or 1TB drives, with an emphasis on TB2 or network storage rather than using the server itself.
The only other change I'd like to see to the Mini is a Fusion Drive as standard, likely a 64GB PCIe drive (like the Air and rMBP) combined with a 500GB hard disk as standard, and a 128GB PCIe drive/1TB Hard Disk as the standard on the upgraded model. For the server, I'd much rather see twin 64GB PCIe drives than twin 500 or 1TB drives, with an emphasis on TB2 or network storage rather than using the server itself.
ok these are gonna be the connections, easy to predict,
ethernet
4 usb3
2 thundebolts
hdmi
sdxc card slot
audio out
NO AUDIO IN
NO FIREWIRE 800
ethernet
4 usb3
2 thundebolts
hdmi
sdxc card slot
audio out
NO AUDIO IN
NO FIREWIRE 800
I doubt they would remove the audio in. If anything they would make a combo audio port that would do both.
My hopes are pretty simple. I want to run two thunderbolt displays and an HDMI output to a TV at the same time. The current graphics chipset doesn't support 3 concurrent displays. Assuming this becomes possible, I could care less about any other updates they make. I hope ram and drives are still user replaceable, but anything else is icing.
Assuming Apple can deliver this, I will buy the fastest i7 model they offer and two thunderbolt displays (hopefully with the new magsafe connector).
well, they got rid of the "audio in" in both latest MacBooks and iMacs models, i dont see why they won't do the same to the mini.
Both were due to space concerns with changed form factors. Unless the mini becomes smaller, I doubt we see much of a change.
So Broadwell is being delayed until the second half of next year and it is only the U, Y, and H series being updated. Apple is using HQ processors apparently in the 15" MacBook Pro. The M line will be a Haswell refresh.
Well the latest 15" rMBP has the room for 2 audio connectors, but it only has the one headphone jack.
I think Apple kind of figures if you need an audio in, there are numerous USB audio interfaces you can buy for less than a Benjamin. Many of which are essentially driverless class compliant boxes.
Besides, most people who NEED audio inputs probably have already invested in a pro or semi-pro audio interface.
I'm more upset at the continued omission of firewire. TB doesn't support the cable lengths that FW does. And there are still a few things I like to do with firewire. (moving profiles between machines when our users migrate fer instance)
My Predictions for the New Mini
My prediction is that the new Mini will share the form factor of the new Airport Extreme and Time Capsule.
I expect quad-core Haswell CPUs with Intel HD 4600 graphics. According to http://semiaccurate.com/2013/06/10/intels-hd-4600-graphics-another-review/ the HD 4600 is a big upgrade in graphics performance from the HD 4000 graphics in the current Mini, allowing many games to be played at 1080p rather than 720p. HD 4600 has been designed to drive 4K displays, which Apple might possibly introduce as soon as the new Mac Pro. CPUs with HD 5000, 5100, or 5200 graphics would be too expensive in the Mini.
Specifically, I would not be surprised if Apple were to offer the i5-4670T in the low-end and the i7-4770T in the high-end model. Both are 45W parts and represent a significantly lower price point compared to the i5-3210M and i7-3615QM used in the current Mini. (I realize these are classified by Intel as desktop CPUs, but so what?) Together with the cost savings from soldering 8GB (in the low-end) of DDR3 directly to the motherboard, this could allow Apple to drop the entry-level price point from $599 back down to $499. 16GB would be available either standard on the high-end model or as a BTO option.
Of course, 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0 will be included.
Ports:
1 or 2 Thunderbolt (definitely not TB2 in 2013)
1 Gigabit Ethernet
4 USB3
1 HDMI
1 SDXC
Audio (probably both in and out)
0 Firewire
The new form factor would make it impossible to install two HDDs, but it would still be possible to install one HDD plus one SSD.
My prediction is that the new Mini will share the form factor of the new Airport Extreme and Time Capsule.
I expect quad-core Haswell CPUs with Intel HD 4600 graphics. According to http://semiaccurate.com/2013/06/10/intels-hd-4600-graphics-another-review/ the HD 4600 is a big upgrade in graphics performance from the HD 4000 graphics in the current Mini, allowing many games to be played at 1080p rather than 720p. HD 4600 has been designed to drive 4K displays, which Apple might possibly introduce as soon as the new Mac Pro. CPUs with HD 5000, 5100, or 5200 graphics would be too expensive in the Mini.
Specifically, I would not be surprised if Apple were to offer the i5-4670T in the low-end and the i7-4770T in the high-end model. Both are 45W parts and represent a significantly lower price point compared to the i5-3210M and i7-3615QM used in the current Mini. (I realize these are classified by Intel as desktop CPUs, but so what?) Together with the cost savings from soldering 8GB (in the low-end) of DDR3 directly to the motherboard, this could allow Apple to drop the entry-level price point from $599 back down to $499. 16GB would be available either standard on the high-end model or as a BTO option.
Of course, 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0 will be included.
Ports:
1 or 2 Thunderbolt (definitely not TB2 in 2013)
1 Gigabit Ethernet
4 USB3
1 HDMI
1 SDXC
Audio (probably both in and out)
0 Firewire
The new form factor would make it impossible to install two HDDs, but it would still be possible to install one HDD plus one SSD.
I think that for the quadcore version they will go with the I7-4700MQ, it comes with hd4600 and the same price that the actual i7-3615QM.
If we are lucky they put the I7-4750HQ, it is the cheapest CPU with HD5200.
If we are lucky they put the I7-4750HQ, it is the cheapest CPU with HD5200.
I hope they don't change form factors. User replaceable ram and hard drives are one of my largest draws.
Hi guys,
I'm new to the forum and indeed to macs also. I'm looking at buying a Mac mini within the next few weeks, I'll just be buying the low end version. My question is: Do you think I'd be best waiting for the new version, or isn't it going to make that much difference performance wise if I just buy the current version?
I use my current pc Which has a core i3 2120 and 8gb ddr3 ram mainly for browsing, checking emails, social media and watching movies. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Regards,
Diesel79.
I'm new to the forum and indeed to macs also. I'm looking at buying a Mac mini within the next few weeks, I'll just be buying the low end version. My question is: Do you think I'd be best waiting for the new version, or isn't it going to make that much difference performance wise if I just buy the current version?
I use my current pc Which has a core i3 2120 and 8gb ddr3 ram mainly for browsing, checking emails, social media and watching movies. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Regards,
Diesel79.
I also prefer the current design but don't be surprised if they do change form factors. The new micro tube-tower form factor used by the Airport Extreme is probably much cheaper to manufacture than the current Mini's low profile aluminum body design.
http://www.apple.com/airport-extreme/
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The current Mac Mini would be fine for the needs you describe. The only questions I have is do you connect to your LAN via Wifi or Ethernet and how fast is your Internet connection. If you use Wifi and have an extremely fast Internet connection, then Wifi might be a bottleneck, in which case the 802.11ac of the future Mini might be worth waiting for.
Thanks for the reply. I have 80 meg sky fibre broadband, I can use either wifi or ethernet as I have a 10 metre ethernet cable. I ordered the entry level mac mini online today and it's being delivered on Tuesday, although I'm a little worried that 4gb of ram isn't enough after doing a bit of reading. I really don't want to have to upgrade the ram just yet, I plan to, but a little further down the line. My brother has an iMac that he purchased brand new last year and that only has 4gb of ram, but it does have a 512 graphics card. Is the 4gb of ram that comes preinstalled going to be enough? Logic tells me yes or Apple wouldn't sell them that way, or is it just a ploy in the hope you'll buy more ram off them?
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
You're welcome. Whether or not 4GB of RAM will be enough will depend on your usage. Check to see how much you're swapping. If it's too much for you, then you can upgrade. I have 4GB now, but my next Mac will have 8GB.
Thanks again. I plan to upgrade to 8gb of ram within a few months, but I'd just like to run smoothly on 4gb until then. I know I would fine with 4gb on windows for my uses, but I'm not sure how memory hungry OS X is. My current pc has 8gb of ram and I've hardly ever seen the ram go above 28% usage. Is OS X a lot heavier on ram than say windows 7 or 8?
4gb should be okay. 8gb would be better.
even getting 1 stick of 8gb ram to go to 10gb works.
or getting 1 stick of 4gb ram to go to 6gb. .
matched pairs are not that important as they were 4 or 5 years ago.
Thanks for the reply. I'll see how smooth things run for a week on 4gb and if I feel I need to upgrade the ram sooner than I'd hoped, I'll upgrade it at the end of the week. Thanks again.
I agree that there is a high chance of that the form factor becomes like the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule. It makes sense for cooling, imho the current form factor has heat issues and the Mac Pro design has advantages for the cooling whilst being cheaper to manufacture than the present enclosure.
For permanent storage there is no need to stick to the 2.5" form factor, the internals are shrinking by the day, and I can it see becoming it obsolete within a few years. 1.8" may hang around a tad longer but eventually will be replaced by another faster connection than SATA.
Apple may well do a Mac Pro move and put PCIe into the Mac mini or alternatively solder the flash drive in. I would not mind the first option but the second option would have me looking round for something else.
I think they'll leave it exactly as it is I/O wise and I can't see them removing either functionality or internal expansion. They could hardly sell a server model that only had room 1 hard drive. Fussion doesn't count, that's still 2 physical drives.
I bet it's just a CPU and chipset upgrade with Thunderbolt 2.
There wouldn't be any point in making yet another form over function system.
The iMac is thin for the sake of it at the expense of expandability and longevity (how can you justify a glued together, non-user upgradable giant laptop for your desk?), the new Mac Pro looks interesting but it has to absolutely scream for CPU intensive tasks because the current 2.3 and 2.6Ghz Mac Mini can spank the current quad core Xeon for a third of the price and there's nothing to say the entry level 2013 Mac Pro will have double the performance of the current 3.2Ghz system on the low end for a worthwhile price.
I bet it's just a CPU and chipset upgrade with Thunderbolt 2.
There wouldn't be any point in making yet another form over function system.
The iMac is thin for the sake of it at the expense of expandability and longevity (how can you justify a glued together, non-user upgradable giant laptop for your desk?), the new Mac Pro looks interesting but it has to absolutely scream for CPU intensive tasks because the current 2.3 and 2.6Ghz Mac Mini can spank the current quad core Xeon for a third of the price and there's nothing to say the entry level 2013 Mac Pro will have double the performance of the current 3.2Ghz system on the low end for a worthwhile price.
No Mac mini design ever had heat issues. I'm having several models, including the original one from 2004 and the 2011 model. Every single one runs cool. That's simply wrong.
1.8" devices are expensive because they are used practically nowhere these days. Apple will support one 2.5" SATA connection in one configuration. The main drive, however, will be a PCIe drive similar to the one used in the latest Macbook Airs. It will be removable, but proprietary nonetheless.