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Boil

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2018
3,480
3,176
Stargate Command
Socketed CPU - 9th Gen i5 thru i9 CPU options
Four RAM slots - up to 64GB RAM
Three M.2 NVMe SSD slots - up to 6TB storage
MXM-based GPU - Vega 56 w/8GB & Vega 64 w/16GB options
 

Zorori

macrumors 6502
Nov 26, 2017
253
330
* A decent processor 8th/9th gen, though something ARM based would be interesting...
* 4 slots of user upgradable ram upto 32GB, but I expect it will be be soldered.
* TB3 USB-C ports (of course, HMDI, USB3, audio in, and headphones would be nice!)
* NVMe SSDs

I'd be happy with the MBP15's internals though, HP Z2 Mini looks cool too.

I don't want an discrete graphics card. I am a developer, so I just want CPU performance. For a small unit an eGPU/external enclosure would be a better option.
 
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opeter

macrumors 68030
Aug 5, 2007
2,709
1,619
Slovenia
After Apple will switch to ARM, the new Macs will be refreshed yearly. ;)

They could do that already, but didn't do. So no excuse for them.
 

Smeaton1724

macrumors 6502a
Sep 14, 2011
836
806
Leeds, UK
Same size as the Apple TV 4/4K, single USB-C port, dual core, 8GB RAM soldered and 128GB PCIe storage base configuration, starting price 799.

On a serious note I would love this:
Configurations - Base, Mid, Max.
Processor - Dual, Quad, Hex.
Ram - 8, 16, 32.
Storage - 256, 1000, 2000.
Ports - x3 USB-C (1 for power), x2 USB-A, x1 HDMI, x1 ethernet, x1 SDXC on all configs.
Appearance - Same as existing case but different back plate for the ports.
Price - 499, 749, 999.
 

Phlashman_

macrumors newbie
Oct 11, 2018
5
12
I've been thinking about the new Mac Mini as I've got 2 27" thunderbolt monitor (one in an iMac) so a new iMac would be excessive spending. But the rumour of a Mac Mini Pro that "isn't that mini anymore" made me think...

What if Apple recycled the Mac Pro Trashcan design? It's small, it has 4 user upgradable RAM slots, the 1 NVMe slot on top of one of the graphics cards could be expanded to 2 (or maybe more) when they drop the secondary GPU. Put a desktop level GPU instead of an (old) workstation one and switch to i3,i5,i7,i9 z390 chipset. Thunderbolt 3 + USBCs all over the place for eGPU support. I'd buy it in a second.

Maybe they do this as a Mac Mini Pro, and then a low price one that has a design like the current Mac Mini?
 
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Boil

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2018
3,480
3,176
Stargate Command
I've been thinking about the new Mac Mini as I've got 2 27" thunderbolt monitor (one in an iMac) so a new iMac would be excessive spending. But the rumour of a Mac Mini Pro that "isn't that mini anymore" made me think...

What if Apple recycled the Mac Pro Trashcan design? It's small, it has 4 user upgradable RAM slots, the 1 NVMe slot on top of one of the graphics cards could be expanded to 2 (or maybe more) when they drop the secondary GPU. Put a desktop level GPU instead of an (old) workstation one and switch to i3,i5,i7,i9 z390 chipset. Thunderbolt 3 + USBCs all over the place for eGPU support. I'd buy it in a second.

Maybe they do this as a Mac Mini Pro, and then a low price one that has a design like the current Mac Mini?

No, nope, uh-uh...
 
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Never mind

macrumors 65816
Oct 25, 2018
1,071
1,191
Dunedin, Florida
Being more realistic ......

i5 and i7
16 / 32 GB ram
Fast SSD 64 / 128 / 256
intel Graphic / upgrade to discrete graphic
Full size card reader
$ 749.00 > $ 849.00 max
 

Boil

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2018
3,480
3,176
Stargate Command
Being more realistic ......

i5 and i7
16 / 32 GB ram
Fast SSD 64 / 128 / 256
intel Graphic / upgrade to discrete graphic
Full size card reader
$ 749.00 > $ 849.00 max

I seriously doubt Apple is going to go with a 64GB or a 128GB SSD for the low end of the new Mac Mini...

The lowest end MacBook Air & 13" MacBook Pro offer 128GB SSD options, but everything else in the Apple macOS computer lineup is 256GB or better...

I feel, here in 2018, with macOS Mojave, one needs at least a 256GB SSD...
 

gusping

macrumors 68020
Mar 12, 2012
2,024
2,309
Being more realistic ......

i5 and i7
16 / 32 GB ram
Fast SSD 64 / 128 / 256
intel Graphic / upgrade to discrete graphic
Full size card reader
$ 749.00 > $ 849.00 max

Prices are way too low for the high end option imo. I’d love a discrete GPU, but Apple hate them so I don’t think we’ll get one, even as an option.
 
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Zackmd1

macrumors 6502a
Oct 3, 2010
815
487
Maryland US
The Mac variant of the Intel hades canyon nuc...

8th gen quad core
16gb ram upgradable
Removable SSD
AMD Vega M (similar to desktop rx 570)
Thunderbolt 3
Space grey

All in the same form factor and under $1k....

Seeings how that is not going to happen, Intel graphics it is....
 

Boil

macrumors 68040
Oct 23, 2018
3,480
3,176
Stargate Command
Prices are way too low for the high end option imo. I’d love a discrete GPU, but Apple hate them so I don’t think we’ll get one, even as an option.

Which is why I could see the Kaby Lake G lineup as a viable option for a 'pro-focused' Mac Mini...

If Apple goes with a newer gen of Intel CPUs (Kaby Lake is 7th gen), like the 8th gen Coffee Lakes or the new 9th gen Coffee Lake refresh CPUs, then I would figure they would ensure that end-users can add an eGPU for discrete graphics...

As log as I can put the RAM and SSD out of my 2011 MacBook Pro I will be happy.

I would REALLY hope you cannot, as your MacBook Pro is using DDR3 RAM, modern systems are now using DDR4 RAM...
 

natallica

macrumors 6502
Mar 7, 2005
345
139
Fairfax, VA
Not soldered RAM & SSD. I'd love to see it be a bit more modular for upgrade/repair if they really are targeting the "pro" user -- although with the iMac Pro that seems to mean less upgradeable than the standard iMac!
 
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