Mac mini alternatives (macOS in VM on Apple and non-Apple hardware)

[Haswell]

Could I trouble you for a basic parts list? e.g. motherboard, video subsystem, memory, storage, case/PSU?

Sure thing! I am just using the integrated graphics. I went with this motherboard because it supports 4K @ 60Hz. You could use a Kaby Lake CPU, but I bought the CPU off eBay and I saved about $70 over Kaby Lake. Since there really isn't much difference between Skylake and Kaby Lake.

The PSU is outside of the case and I am using a full ATX PSU. If space is an issue then you could use an SFX PSU.

Intel i5-6500
GA-B250N Phoenix-WIFI
Corsair CMK16GX4M1A2400C16
Noctua NH-L9i
ADATA Premier SP550 M.2 2280 480GB
Corsair RM550X
Streacom F1C-WS Case

 

[alembic]

Thank you, Haswell.

 

[leo-tech]

First look at Intel + AMD chip in the wild (allegedly)

 

[leo-tech]

Intel 8th Generation and 9th Generation Processor Lists Leaked: Coffee Lake Refresh?

Officially, Intel does not comment on unreleased products, which often has the knock-on effect that processors aren’t actually known about until the day they appear on shelves. In order to find information early (in order to prepare for launches), it comes down to software and retailers to expose the details, either accidentally or on purpose. From a couple of sources today, we now have a full list of Intel’s 8th Generation processor stack, which is expected to launch during the first half of 2018, as well as some elements of Intel’s next 9th generation products...

 

[leo-tech]

Zotac MI640 vs. MI660

Zotac will soon be offering two Zbox nano NUC’s (Next Unit of Computing) with some 8th Generation Kaby Lake-R CPU’s. You will have to supply your own RAM, Storage, and OS...

 

[leo-tech]

AMD leak confirms Ryzen 2 will launch early 2018, ready for Intel's Coffee Lake refresh

A leaked roadmap confirms AMD are gearing up to launch their next generation of processors, codename Pinnacle Ridge, at the beginning of the new year. As a 12nm refresh of the first generation AMD Ryzen, these latest 2nd generation chips (a.k.a. Ryzen 2) are expected to offer higher clock-speeds, power efficiency, and improved SenseMI technology...

 

[leo-tech]

Best Mini PCs 2017 | by Brian Westover | Dec 8, 2017

 

[leo-tech]

Core i7-8720HQ CPU Specs Sort of Leaked

It has not been officially released yet, but already specs of the Core i7-8720HQ are coming out, and they look promising. It shows much promise as the CPU can be used both on mobile laptops or tiny desktops...

 

[Count Blah]

AMD leak confirms Ryzen 2 will launch early 2018, ready for Intel's Coffee Lake refresh

A leaked roadmap confirms AMD are gearing up to launch their next generation of processors, codename Pinnacle Ridge, at the beginning of the new year. As a 12nm refresh of the first generation AMD Ryzen, these latest 2nd generation chips (a.k.a. Ryzen 2) are expected to offer higher clock-speeds, power efficiency, and improved SenseMI technology...

That's Ryzen+, not Ryzen 2. Ryzen 2 will be a die shrink, what is coming in 2018 will not be.

 

[dogslobber]

Zotac Magnus EN1080K

This things costs 2200$ (!)
[doublepost=1514665583][/doublepost]

In the universe where "the computer is a toaster". As you noted, this was Steve Jobs' concept -- make the computer usable for non-tech people.

I installed an SSD into my toaster over Christmas...

 

[leo-tech]

Intel unveils its new processors with AMD Radeon RX Vega M graphics

Intel has shown off its new collection of 8th-generation Core processors, and these CPUs are particularly notable because they feature discrete graphics technology by AMD, Intel’s longstanding rival.

While this rare collaboration between Intel and AMD piqued our interest when it was revealed last year, the new information provided by Intel shows just how exciting these new processors could be.

The new Core processors are Intel’s first CPU with discrete graphics included in a single package, allowing for incredibly thin and light laptops and PCs that are able to provide impressive gaming performance and 4K media streaming...

 

[leo-tech]

Intel NUC8i7 Series Announced at 2018 CES

 

[leo-tech]

Intel "Hades Canyon" NUC hands-on review
"Hades Canyon" wants to prove Intel can build gaming PCs. Can gamers trust it?

IMHO not everything in this life is about games and gaming, but maybe it's just me.

 

[leo-tech]

CES 2018: We talk To Intel's John Deatherage about Hades Canyon and the future of NUCs

Intel's NUC and Compute Cards might look small at first glance but the future of both products is one filled with big ideas. Amidst the chaos of this year's CES in Las Vegas, we sat down for a quick chat with Intel's John Deatherage to talk about the Hades Canyon NUC and the exciting things it could lead to...

 

[oneMadRssn]

For my uses, I replaced my Mac Mini with an Synology 8-bay NAS (Intel Atom version). It's pretty sweet.

I was using my Mac Mini as file server, itunes server, backup server, and downloader for the most part. 90% of the time I was accessing it via remote desktop.

IMHO not everything in this life is about games and gaming, but maybe it's just me.

Not everything is about racing either, but car shows pay the most attention to sports cars; most car companies lead with their sports car.

There are two main ways to sell: (1) Put your lowest-cost base-product up as a loss-leader to undercut the competition, and hope to upsell customers to a more profitable product; or (2) Put your highest-cost, fasted, most powerful product as a flagship to stand out from the competition, and hope customers will buy the less crazy products below it.

With CPUs at a consumer trade-show, strategy number 2 is gaming.

 

[leo-tech]

The link in post 90 above doesn't work.
Here's the correct one:
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/455498/tech-companies-facebook-google-hiding-plain-sight

Thank you Fishrrman, whatever it was now fixed (but re-entering the exact same URL, but it could be that I first overlooked some missing character).

 

[leo-tech]

Intel NUC mini PC with Core i7-8650U up for pre-order for $710 an up

Intel’s first NUC mini computers with 8th-gen Core processors are coming in March, and Simply NUC, a company that sells Intel’s tiny desktop PCs) is taking pre-orders for some of the first models.

The NUC7i7DNKE is a slim model with an Intel Core i7-8650U quad-core processor (Kaby Lake R 4c/8t mobile 15W Intel UHD Graphics 620) and room inside the case for an M.2 solid state drive, while the NUC7i7DNHE is a taller model with the same processor, but room under the hood for both an M.2 drive and a 2.5 inch hard drive or SSD.

Both are up for pre-order from Simply NUC’s website for $710 and up...

Simply NUC® announces first quad-core 8th Gen i7 commercial NUCs as latest edition Intel® Dawson Canyon NUC models

• 8th Generation Intel Core™ i7-8650U, Quad-Core, Hyper-Threaded vPro processor with Turbo Boost to 4.2GHz, 8MB SmartCache and 15w TPD
• Support for Headless Operation (retains DDC data from monitor)
• Dual full-size HDMI 2.0 (4K @ 60Hz) CEC standard on one HDMI connector, optional on second
• Intel® Optane Memory ready
• vPro and AMT Remote Management features
• vPro and TPM 2.0 as well as all Intel processor Security and Advanced features
• Intel® 8265 Wireless-AC, IEEE 802.11ac 2x2 (867Mbps) + Bluetooth v4.2 pre-installed (optional for motherboard)
• Up to 7.1 multichannel digital audio
• Intel ® i219-LM 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
• Qualified 24/7 operation
• Optional Fan-less chassis available

New Dawson Canyon NUC models include:

- NUC7i7DNKE (Slim chassis)
- NUC7i7DNHE (Tall chassis with 2.5” drive support and extra back panel expansion)
- NUC7i7DNBE (Board only product)
- NUC7i7DNFE (Fan-less chassis)

 

[leo-tech]

I cannot find the new Intel Dawson Canyon 2018 8th-gen i7 NUC on this picture (so, logically there must be another, a more complete Intel NUC 2018-2019 roadmap):

Intel NUC Roadmap 2018-2019 Gemini Lake, Coffee Lake, and Kaby Lake H

 

[leo-tech]

35 watt AMD Ryzen + Radeon Vega chips coming soon?

 

[leo-tech]

Intel’s first hexa-core chips for laptops coming soon (leaks)

There’s more evidence that Intel plans to launch laptop chips with up to 6 cores and 12 threads. We got a first glimpse at an unannounced 45W Core i7-8720HK hexa-core processor in December, and details about a higher-performance Core i7-8750HK leaked this week.

Now a leaked Intel roadmap suggests Intel may have at least one more hexa-core laptop chip on the way.

German site ComputerBase has published a series of pictures that allegedly show an Intel roadmap released in January. Among other things, the roadmap features two previously unannounced laptop-class processors:

Core i7-8550H: 2.6GHz base/4.3 GHz boost, 6-cores, 12-threads, 9MB cache
Core i5-8400H: 2.5 GHz base/4.2 GHz boost, 4-cores, 8t-threads, 8MB cache

Both chips seem to be able to run at 35W or 45W and they feature Intel UHD 630 integrated graphics and support for DDR4-2666 or LPDDR3-2133 memory.

Intel’s H-series processors are typically aimed at high-performance laptops that need more power than the thin-and-light models served by Intel’s 15 watt U-series chips. But while Intel has been offering 8th-gen Core U chips for months, the H-series has been missing until now. Well, kind of.

Theoretically the new Kaby Lake-G chips Intel announced last month pair an H-series CPU with an AMD GPU. But since you couldn’t get those CPUs on a separate package, I’m not sure that counts.

 

[leo-tech]

Intel Ice Lake laptop chip leak hints at big graphics bump

Intel’s 8th-gen line of Core processors includes chips based on the company’s “Kaby Lake Refresh” and “Coffee Lake” architecture, and we’re expecting upcoming “Cannon Lake” chips to be branded as 8th-gen chips as well.

But rumor has it that Intel is on track to launch its first “Ice Lake” processors later this year, and they’ll be some of the first 9th-gen Intel processors manufactured using a 10nm+ process.

It seems like that might not be all that’s new though. Leaked benchmarks suggest that Ice Lake architecture will bring a big boost in integrated graphics performance to laptops.

According to a SiSoft Sandra listing uncovered by TechPowerUp it looks like someone’s testing an “Intel Ice Lake Client Platform” system with an Ice Lake U series processor, DDR4 RAM, and Intel UHD Gen11 graphics...

 

[leo-tech]

Intel unveils discrete GPU prototype

Intel has been making big strides with its integrated graphics technology in recent years, to the point that gaming-focused mini PCs and handhelds with Intel HD graphics aren’t a complete joke.

But you still get better graphics performance with a discrete GPU, which is why Intel is partnering with AMD to launch its first Intel CPU + AMD GPU processors this year. And the company hired AMD’s chief GPU architect Raja Koduri last year to help develop new graphics technology in-house...

 

[leo-tech]

Gigabyte launches BRIX mini PCs with 8th-gen Intel chips

Gigabyte is updating its BRIX line of mini PCs with new models sporting 8th-gen Intel Core “Kaby Lake Refresh” quad-core processors.

There are four new models, including two that have room under the hood for an M.2 2280 solid state drive and two taller versions that have a 2.5 inch drive bay in addition to that M.2 slot.

So here’s the complete lineup:

• GB-BRi5-8250 – Core i5-8250U/M.2 SSD
• GB-BRi7-8550 – Core i7-8550U/M.2 SSD
• GB-BRi5H-8250 – Core i5-8250U/M.2 SSD/2.5″ drive
• GB-BRi7H-8550 – Core i7-8550U/M.2 SSD/2.5″ drive

Each version has 2 SODIMM slots for DDR4 memory, Mini DisplayPort and HDMI ports, a USB 3.1 Type-A port, a USB 3.1 Type-C port, two USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, dual array microphones, and a headphone jack...

 

[malsan]

I like the Brix port placement. Headphone and USB C in front are the way I would like it. Hades Canyon has that as well, but the smaller form factor nucs usually don't.

Just saw the first geekbench for 8809g. It purports to be the Hades Canyon nuc.

http://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/7257425

WCCFTech has some benchmarks up as well. I think they got their numbers from playwares, but I cannot read the original.

https://wccftech.com/intel-hades-canyon-nuc-core-i7-8809g-amd-rx-vega-gpu-tested/

April is going to be an interesting month. Hoping for an update to the Mac mini, but with these alternatives, MacOS, as buggy as it is lately, is becoming less of a draw.

 

[Fishrrman]

I realize at least one company has attempted this before, but...

I'd like to see an established PC manufacturer put together what tonymac86's site calls "a golden build" -- that is, a compilation of components that are "as compatible with the Mac OS as it gets".

Then -- and this is important -- without any reference to "Apple", "Mac", etc. -- offer it as a "Hacker's special, golden build, for Linux/UNIX". Again, without ANY reference to Apple or the Mac at all, to avoid legal implications or entanglements. Also, the seller would have to explicitly decline any and all attempts at "tech support for Mac users". No explicit or implicit nexus to the Mac at all.

In other words, it would be a package "offered silently" for "people in the know" who would have to discover it on their own, and handle the hackintosh installation on their own.

I sense a modest but dedicated market could exist for such a product.
And since it would be just an "assemblage of parts" readily available for the PC market, it would be cost-effective to design, build and sell.