Mac mini SB/GPU combo (also concerning refreshed MBA)

[MUBiomed]

Are the new Mac mini's destined to have intel's 3000 GPU in them paired with the sandy bridge processors? It is my understanding that this is the case for the newly refreshed MBA's.

My reason for asking is because I am slightly tired of dealing with carrying around a 15" MBP. I also dont always have my streaming content available for my iPads/iPhones/Apple TV if the laptop is off. I miss having a computer running non-stop with the streaming content/documents always there.

I was wanting to run a mac mini at home with all of my content on it and trade out my 15" MBP for an 11" or 13" new MBA refresh to carry out with me. I could carry around the necessities locally but stream media from the mac mini at home (all content right now is currently on my MBP obviously) The problem is that I do play WoW and SCII occasionally so I would like to still be able to play those (preferably on the mac mini with my external monitor). If the new mac mini and MBA will both have the same specs (nearly) then there is probably little reason to do this.

Thoughts?

 

[flopticalcube]

Unless Apple manages to negotiate something or squeeze discrete graphics into the mini, it looks like the 3000 will be it. It's more or less on par with the 320m, maybe a bit less than more.

 

[MUBiomed]

Will the new SB CPU bump make up the difference in games or would it be better to get one the current gen models with the 320m graphics for my purposes (also cheaper of course)?

 

[philipma1957]

if you want games the mini is not good the lowest cost decent apple would be a 21 inch iMac. since you have a 27 inch ACD you are kind of screwed.


This may fix your problem.



http://www.holdan.co.uk/Sonnet/Storage+Solutions/Echo+Express with the 2011 mini if it has a t-bolt port

 

[MacinJosh]

Are the new Mac mini's destined to have intel's 3000 GPU in them paired with the sandy bridge processors? It is my understanding that this is the case for the newly refreshed MBA's.

SB comes with HD 3000/2000 whether you like it or not. It's a SoC (System on Chip) that has all the essentials on one chip unlike the current Mini with a separate CPU and separate Controller (320M). Since SB is SoC, there is no separate controller chip and so the space left by the 320M could be used for a GPU. The problem I see with this is (1) Where to put the RAM for GPU, (2) Heat, TDP issues, (3) Apple's possible reluctance to give us higher performance in the Mini.

 

[MUBiomed]

Hmm may have to wait and see if the Wednesday rumors pan out...but there has been no mention of a concurrent mini refresh with the new MBAs.

If apple did put a discreet GPU in on top of the 3000 that would be fantastic. Basically a 15" MBP in non-portable form. I agree it's probably not likely though since they won't want to eat away at low end iMac purchases.

 

[flopticalcube]

if you want games the mini is not good the lowest cost decent apple would be a 21 inch iMac. since you have a 27 inch ACD you are kind of screwed.


This may fix your problem.



http://www.holdan.co.uk/Sonnet/Storage+Solutions/Echo+Express with the 2011 mini if it has a t-bolt port

X4. Meh.

Hmm may have to wait and see if the Wednesday rumors pan out...but there has been no mention of a concurrent mini refresh with the new MBAs.

If apple did put a discreet GPU in on top of the 3000 that would be fantastic. Basically a 15" MBP in non-portable form. I agree it's probably not likely though since they won't want to eat away at low end iMac purchases.

Zotac sells a mini ITX SB board with an embedded nVidia GT430. Looking at it there is no way Apple could get that into a mini. Even a laptop board would be a tight fit.