Mac Mini to receive processor bump alongside MacBook Pro

[Checko]

I read the article on the homepage regarding a processor bump for the MacBook Pro within the next week or month. I'm interested in picking up a Mini, but since the normal and Server versions use the same processors as the MacBook Pro, do you think Apple would bump up the clock speeds on the Mini as well?

 

[philipma1957]

yes I do thinks so. but they may wait until jan 2012. in 2009 they had a march and oct update IIRC 6 or 7 months apart.

so 6 or 7 months gets you into jan or feb 2012.

as an sside having used all the new minis the cpus are really good. i would not hope for a faster cpu I would like a better gpu

 

[MJL]

I read the article on the homepage regarding a processor bump for the MacBook Pro within the next week or month. I'm interested in picking up a Mini, but since the normal and Server versions use the same processors as the MacBook Pro, do you think Apple would bump up the clock speeds on the Mini as well?

Image

I just got the 2011 2.5 Ghz mini too (need the SB for data throughput) and am less than impressed with the heat; the 2010 2.4 hardly ever increases the fan speed from 1800 and the temperature stays nicely down. The 2011 2.5 runs at least 20C hotter and the fan at times sounds like a hairdryer.

Hopefully the mini refresh adresses the heat issue. I cannot understand why they do not get CPU's with a lower TDP.

 

[YsoSerious]

Always makes me wonder if there will ever be a day where intel can't fit anymore processing power into current silicon chips. What then? Overclocking CPUs till they melt?

 

[bearcatrp]

Ivy bridge should allow better TDP. Would like to see a quad w/hyperthreading above 2.5ghz in a mini.

 

[powerbook911]

Checko

I highly doubt we will see a Fall 2011 Mac Mini update.

I think you're going to be looking at Spring 2012 at the earliest. Of course, I could be wrong, and they could come out tomorrow. ha.

I just think the end of July is still very recent. 3 months. I would be quite surprised indeed.

I just ordered a refurbished Mini Server for $850.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

I cannot understand why they do not get CPU's with a lower TDP.

Lower performance per watt is not Apples target.

I just got the 2011 2.5 Ghz mini too (need the SB for data throughput) and am less than impressed with the heat; the 2010 2.4 hardly ever increases the fan speed from 1800 and the temperature stays nicely down. The 2011 2.5 runs at least 20C hotter and the fan at times sounds like a hairdryer. Hopefully the mini refresh adresses the heat issue.

The heat problem is a firmware problem, and a problem with the Lion kernel. Make sure that you have installed all necessary updates. My Early-2011 17" MBP (similar hardware) runs much cooler after the latest firmware update.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Always makes me wonder if there will ever be a day where intel can't fit anymore processing power into current silicon chips. What then? Overclocking CPUs till they melt?

They will use > 50 GHz carbon nanotube based 2 nm "transistors".

References:
IBM Scientists Create Method to Measure the Performance of Carbon Nanotubes as Building Blocks for Ultra Tiny Computer Chips of the Future
http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/22441.wss

Timeline of carbon nanotubes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_carbon_nanotubes

I want a 75 GHz 32-cores MBP with a 21" 4x "retina" display!

 

[MJL]

Lower performance per watt is not Apples target

A lower TDP means same performance but using less watts - this is what they do in laptops: same CPU design, almost same performance at considerable energy savings.

The heat problem is a firmware problem, and a problem with the Lion kernel. Make sure that you have installed all necessary updates. My Early-2011 17" MBP (similar hardware) runs much cooler after the latest firmware update.

Wrong - the 2010 at idle uses 8 watts, the 2011 model at idle uses 15 watts.
http://www.digitalversus.com/apple-mac-mini-2011-p718_11778_71.html

This is mainly due to the TDP of the CPU: the 2010 models were 18 Watts and the 2011 are 35 / 45 Watts plus a GPU ( 10 ~ 15 Watts).

And from my signature you can also read that I run Windows 7 and tests have shown that Windows 7 on the 2010 and 2011 run cooler than Lion.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

A lower TDP means same performance but using less watts

No. Here is the proof:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_design_power

And you have no proof for your assertions.

Wrong

What?

the 2010 at idle uses 8 watts, the 2011 model at idle uses 15 watts.

The firmware and the OS *can* use the power management features of the CPU, but either the firmware and/or Lion does not implement the appropriate power management functions, which results in "hotter" chips. I guess the iPhone and iOS is more important for Apple than Lion and Lion-only machines like the "new" Mac mini, which results in unfinished products.

This is mainly due to the TDP of the CPU: the 2010 models were 18 Watts and the 2011 are 35 / 45 Watts plus a GPU ( 10 ~ 15 Watts).

The TDP has nothing to do with the real world. It is a theoretical maximum value, below the maximum power a processor can draw.

And from my signature you can also read that I run Windows 7 and tests have shown that Windows 7 on the 2010 and 2011 run cooler than Lion.

If true, then it is a proof for my assertion, that the heat is OS dependent.

Btw, you sound like a typical "i know it all" type of computer user.

 

[chedda]

No fans no heat i7 @ 2.7

I used an i7 @ 2.7 all day today in a warm office the fans didn't kick in at all nor did it feel hot too the touch. I updated the efi as part of the software update as soon as i picked it up.

 

[dolphin842]

I read the article on the homepage regarding a processor bump for the MacBook Pro within the next week or month. I'm interested in picking up a Mini, but since the normal and Server versions use the same processors as the MacBook Pro, do you think Apple would bump up the clock speeds on the Mini as well?

A Sandy Bridge speed bump likely wouldn't mean a whole lot even if it did happen, so if you need to get one now, go for it. If you still want to wait, wait until Ivy Bridge in 2012, where we'll see a more sizable jump in performance, along with lower TDPs that may allow for discrete graphics with quad-core chips.

 

[spacepower7]

Not going to happen, the mini is the most neglected Mac.

 

[Mj13young]

There will be no change in the lineup for at least 6 months.

 

[DisMyMac]

Did today give us hope for a similar spec bump? Or will iMacs be next?

 

[mdgm]

Would expect iMacs to be next to get a spec bump (if they do get one) perhaps even this year, with the Mac Mini possibly to get a spec bump early next year. The spec bump CPUs cost the same as the older ones so it would make sense to have a spec bump at some point, just not yet as it's too close to when the Minis were last updated.