Mini - Help me understand the difference...

[Wingnut330]

Hello all,

I'm admittedly super technical so I may not be picking up on the more subtle, or even not so subtle differences in the new Mini versus the old Mini...

Old Specs:
2.0Ghz C2D
1GB RAM
120GB HD

New Specs:
- 5x USB
- 1x FireWire 800
- 1x mini DVI
- 1x Display poort
- Nvidia chipset (like the newest MacBook)
- starting at Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 Ghz
- 1 of 2 GB DDR3 memory (max 4 GB)
- 120 GB hard disk (max 320 GB)

So to me it looks like more USB, a new chipset, the options for more RAM and the options for a larger hard drive. Is that it? I just want to make sure I'm comparing Apples to Apples (no pun intended).

Is the new chipset much better than the old?

I remember a year or so ago getting advice that the iMac was more powerful than the Mini, will that still be the case or has the Mini caught up?

Thanks in advance for the clarification!

 

[gkarris]

Oooooh yea, the nVidia 9400M is equivalent to the Intel x4500MHD, which is 2 generations (the GMA950, then the X3100) later than the Mini's GMA950...

Both the nVidia 9400M and intel x4500MHD can play 1080p without any stress on the main CPU...

Not to mention support up to 4 Gigs RAM rather than the old ones with 2 Gigs RAM.

Now your also talking extra USB ports, FW800 (can use FW400 with an adapter), and support for 2 displays, rather than just one...

The iMac will always be more powerful, they're just updating the Mini as it usually has the same specs as the budget MacBook.

 

[robotartfashion]

well it'll be a newer chipset, not the socket m of the prev generation

and that will allow more ram (4 gb at least)

2.0 will probable be the low end of 2, so 2.4 maybe? check the mac mini predictions for that

better fsb as well i would think?

also, night and day for the graphics upgrade alone

at this point, anything is better than nothing at all

 

[ADent]

Those are not the specs of the new mini.

I'll eat my hat if it has both mini-DVI and mini-DisplayPort. Plus I doubt FW800.

--

But things Apple better include: Full 4GB suport (today's mini uses just of 3GB or RAM with 4GB installeD). Much better video. Assuming mini-DisplayPort you will get the ability to drive a 30" monitor. And the ability to use faster CPUs when Apple decides to.

 

[PeterQC]

Oooooh yea, the nVidia 9400M is equivalent to the Intel x4500MHD, which is 2 generations (the GMA950, then the X3100) later than the Mini's GMA950...

The 9400m is way better then the x4500MHD. While the 4500 bring HD viewing, it would have given only 2x the speed of the x3100, while the 9400m, giving the same advantages, is around 5-7x time faster then the 3500 if I can remember.

 

[gkarris]

^^^ you are right, which is why Apple chose nVidia over Intel.

I was talking generations, though, not performance/feature set...

 

[opeter]

Those are not the specs of the new mini.

I'll eat my hat if it has both mini-DVI and mini-DisplayPort. Plus I doubt FW800

Than start eating it...

 

[pantherman007]

I fear I know the answer, but figure it's worth asking. All I want to do is use a Mac Mini as an HTPC, sending out the signal over HDMI (video + audio). I know the industry DisplayPort spec supports audio, but Apple's mini-DP setup is more vague. The DVI is video only. I'd want to handle HD audio, so S/PDIF is out.

Is there some combination of cables and setup, either now or in the future from MonoPrice, that would allow the new box to output a HDMI signal with video and audio? Or do I need to write off the Mini for good as an HD HTPC device.