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Mac Mini With Graphics Card??

D

Drew Davis

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 12, 2014
10
0
Hello,

I'm going to be buying a new computer soon, and I was wondering if the soon to be released 2014 mac mini might have a graphics card? If not I'm going to opt for a macbook pro.

Thanks!
 
It might.

(Nobody here knows Apple internal info like release schedules or details about unannounced hardware.)
 
Unlikely. There has been once... when the Intel integrated graphics just weren't up to chop.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love one. But it ain't gonna happen! [I think.]


Drew Davis said:
Hello,

I'm going to be buying a new computer soon, and I was wondering if the soon to be released 2014 mac mini might have a graphics card? If not I'm going to opt for a macbook pro.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
Fanless Core Processors coming this fall.

fhall1, Intel says that the next mobile Core line of CPUs will be able to run fanless. Should be out sometime this fall.

I have heard some rumors that it will be the same basic design as the Mac Pro only much smaller. I don't see why they couldn't squeeze in a discreet graphics but it is unlikely since Intel's Iris is a pretty good graphics solution.
 
Last edited:
Drew Davis said:
Hello,

I'm going to be buying a new computer soon, and I was wondering if the soon to be released 2014 mac mini might have a graphics card? If not I'm going to opt for a macbook pro.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

As already stated, the only Mac Mini released that had a dGPU was the 2011 Mid-Mini. That was when Apple switched from Nvidia chipsets (since Nvidia couldn't make chipsets for Intel processors with integrated memory controllers) to Intel and the HD3000 was such a step back. Remember, that many Macbook Pros now come with ONLY Integrated GPU. In fact, if I am not mistaken the only Macbook Pro to come with a dGPU is the High End 15", the rest all come with Intel Iris or Iris Pro which really are pretty darn good for all but high end gaming, but again they are not dGPU's.
 
No. Mac Minis have always been targetted as media storage/server computers. They are essentially headless notebooks. I wouldn't be surprised if the Mac Mini was one of the first Apple computers to shift to ARM. Mac Minis have never been graphical powerhouses, and that is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Matt
 
Given the past discreet GPUs used in the mini (Geforce 320M and Radeon 6630M), I think Intel has gotten to the point where integrated graphics do about the same job, if not a better one.

I had the 2010 mini with the 320M, man it wasn't exactly stellar, but the GPU wasn't integrated in the CPU at that time and a 320M was better than Intel's previous line (the GMA X4500 or whatever it was).
 
crsh1976 said:
Given the past discreet GPUs used in the mini (Geforce 320M and Radeon 6630M), I think Intel has gotten to the point where integrated graphics do about the same job, if not a better one.

I had the 2010 mini with the 320M, man it wasn't exactly stellar, but the GPU wasn't integrated in the CPU at that time and a 320M was better than Intel's previous line (the GMA X4500 or whatever it was).
Click to expand...

The 320m was not a discrete GPU. It was part of Nvidiad chipset for core2duos. It was not a separate GPU. The only dGPU in the mini in the intel era was the 2011.

Edit: here's an article talking about the iGPU that was the 320m
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/macbook-macbook-pro-320m-igp-mbp,10200.html
 
Would the performance be as good as the fully upgraded retina matchbook pro 15in? It seems to have the same specs expect the graphics card. Also, do you have a link to one?

Thanks!
 
I doubt the Mac Mini will ever see dedicated graphics ever again; it's just not aimed at high end GPU use.

That said though, in the mobile/compact space integrated graphics are getting very competitive; chances are the high end Mac Minis will be getting Iris Pro graphics either as standard or as an option, and the 128mb Crystalwell cache does a good job of closing the gap in memory performance vs a dedicated chunk of GDDR memory, the actual GPU is good too, and set to get better with Broadwell which are probably what the Mac Minis are waiting for right now.

So I guess it depends how much GPU power you really need; I'm currently on a NVidia 8800GT on my 2008 Mac Pro, but the Iris Pro GPU will outperform it on most real-world tasks thanks to more powerful shader support, more modern features etc. The dedicated card in that case only really wins if I need maximum memory transfer speeds. While newer dedicated GPUs are of course miles ahead of my 8800GT, if you're not into high end gaming or heavy video processing, then the Iris Pro should be plenty IMO.

On the other hand, if GPU performance is a big concern for you, then is it for gaming? If so, then you may be better off sticking with the cheaper Mac Mini with graphics that are good enough for desktop use, and investing the money you save by not getting a Macbook Pro, and spending that on an actual gaming machine, as you can easily build one that will outperform the Macbook Pro (it is a laptop after all).
 
The laptop line has moved on to using the iGPU, I don't see apple changing course and adding one to the Mini.

The current crop of integrated GPUs from intel are quite stout and are only getting better once Broadwell is released. Its within Apple's ability to put an Iris Pro into a Haswell based Mini so if they want to they could provide something that some pep to it
 
mad3inch1na said:
Mac Minis have always been targetted as media storage/server computers.
Click to expand...

That is actually not true. The Mac Mini has always been tarted as a less expensive computer to get users into the Apple ecosystem. The Mac Mini server was not even released until 2009.
 
brand said:
That is actually not true. The Mac Mini has always been tarted as a less expensive computer to get users into the Apple ecosystem. The Mac Mini server was not even released until 2009.
Click to expand...

My point was that it is not for heavy graphics work. I would still argue that the Mac Mini has always been most useful for media storage and as a server, just because it is small form factor with upgradable RAM and very little graphics power. To each his own.

Matt
 
Video processing aside.
I would just want something where video doesn't share system bandwidth for RAM. :mad:
 
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