New Mac Mini is out. Is (almost) everyone happy now?

[Covfefe]

Given it said 8th gen i3 3.6GHz, we're talking 65W desktop processor: i3 8100
So $799 is not a bad starting price.
Performance wise it's comparabl to the fastest quad core 2012 macmini:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compar...tel-i7-4578U-vs-Intel-i3-8100/895vs2345vs3103

Anyone else notice the CPU is socketed too, so we can upgrade the CPU later on

These are very curious claims. Any actual sources to back these up?

AFAICT, based on the published specs and info, the three cpus used in the new mini would appear to be

https://ark.intel.com/products/135936/Intel-Core-i3-8109U-Processor-4M-Cache-up-to-3_60-GHz
https://ark.intel.com/products/134892/Intel-Core-i5-8500B-Processor-9M-Cache-up-to-4_10-GHz
https://ark.intel.com/products/134905/Intel-Core-i7-8700B-Processor-12M-Cache-up-to-4_60-GHz

the i3 being a 28W part and the hexacore i5 and i7 being 65W parts. All of them are mobile chips and none of them are socketed.

Also, just based on the product images alone, it would seem that the SSD is most likely soldered on the logic board and hence non-upgradeable. This is not yet 100% confirmed, though.

EDIT: turns out the i3-8109U is a 2C/4T chip, so it cant be the one Apple is using. It could be some variation of Core i3-8100H, which would be a 45W part.

 

[ktecac]

I'm very happy with it. Couple things could have made it better yeah but all in all was better than expecting and I can work with this. I'm lucky I could hold out as long as I did and that the specs of the Mac Mini suit exactly what what I was after yes but Apple's retained me as a customer (assuming these things don't blow up - will wait for some reviews of the higher end ones)

 

[Mol1n]

2666 MHz, apparently. It says so on their site.

https://ark.intel.com/products/126688/Intel-Core-i3-8100-Processor-6M-Cache-3-60-GHz-

I also don't see a reason why Apple would choose the 8100 over the 8300.

Do they usually announce it when they use custom processors?

 

[strawbale]

These are very curious claims. Any actual sources to back these up?

AFAICT, based on the published specs and info, the three cpus used in the new mini would appear to be

https://ark.intel.com/products/135936/Intel-Core-i3-8109U-Processor-4M-Cache-up-to-3_60-GHz
https://ark.intel.com/products/134892/Intel-Core-i5-8500B-Processor-9M-Cache-up-to-4_10-GHz
https://ark.intel.com/products/134905/Intel-Core-i7-8700B-Processor-12M-Cache-up-to-4_60-GHz

the i3 being a 28W part and the hexacore i5 and i7 being 65W parts. All of them are mobile chips and none of them are socketed.

Also, just based on the product images alone, it would seem that the SSD is most likely soldered on the logic board and hence non-upgradeable. This is not yet 100% confirmed, though.

You're wrong - look at Apple's specs sheet:
https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/specs/

Its says i3 3.6 GHz (so NO hyper threading), so this can only be the i3-8100 65W
Also the 8109u has iris plus 655, whereas the mac mini specs says uhd 630

And it's very unlikely that the i5 and i7 would be the mobile version instead of desktop version as that would mean using a different socket => all three are desktop cpu's

 

[Kurri]

Does the mini not come with keyboard and mouse?

 

[strawbale]

Does UHD 630 support 10-bit color?

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Is it worth it to upgrade the Ethernet to 10 Gigabit for $100?

If you have a 10 GBit/s NAS: Yes!

 

[StellarVixen]

These are very curious claims. Any actual sources to back these up?

AFAICT, based on the published specs and info, the three cpus used in the new mini would appear to be

https://ark.intel.com/products/135936/Intel-Core-i3-8109U-Processor-4M-Cache-up-to-3_60-GHz
https://ark.intel.com/products/134892/Intel-Core-i5-8500B-Processor-9M-Cache-up-to-4_10-GHz
https://ark.intel.com/products/134905/Intel-Core-i7-8700B-Processor-12M-Cache-up-to-4_60-GHz

the i3 being a 28W part and the hexacore i5 and i7 being 65W parts. All of them are mobile chips and none of them are socketed.

Also, just based on the product images alone, it would seem that the SSD is most likely soldered on the logic board and hence non-upgradeable. This is not yet 100% confirmed, though.

EDIT: turns out the i3-8109U is a 2C/4T chip, so it cant be the one Apple is using. It could be some variation of Core i3-8100H, which would be a 45W part.

i3 8100H can go up to 3.0Ghz only, and it has no TurboBoost. There is only one 8th generation i3 which can go up to 3.6 GHz and that is i3-8100.

Therefore, all other CPUs are also desktop ones.

 

[Covfefe]

You're wrong - look at Apple's specs sheet:
https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/specs/

Its says i3 3.6 GHz (so NO hyper threading), so this can only be the i3-8100 65W
Also the 8109u has iris plus 655, whereas the mac mini specs says uhd 630

While there is no mention about hyper-threading in the specs, the i3 is definitely a quad core so it can't be the 8109U. However, the Core i3-8100H (https://ark.intel.com/products/149160) might just about fit the bill, so that would be my current guess. Also we know that Intel has done custom chips for Apple in the past, so I wouldn't rule that out either.

And it's very unlikely that the i5 and i7 would be the mobile version instead of desktop version as that would mean using a different socket => all three are desktop cpu's

Using cpus with two different sockets would indeed be very unlikely, hence all of them are likely to be FCBGA1440 parts.

Don't get me wrong, Apple using LGA-socketed cpus would be a wonderful surprise. It's just that the chances of that actually happening are practically zero - not least because it would go against everything they have been doing for the past 10 years. They have been consistently pushing to use BGA parts wherever possible (iMac, remember?) and it would be quite a departure from all previous designs to now suddenly jump back to LGA sockets with no apparent reason.

For now, when it comes to socketed cpus in Macs - I'll believe it when I see it.
[doublepost=1540935632][/doublepost]

i3 8100H can go up to 3.0Ghz only, and it has no TurboBoost. There is only one 8th generation i3 which can go up to 3.6 GHz and that is i3-8100.

Therefore, all other CPUs are also desktop ones.

I'd be so happy to be wrong on this one, but maybe we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[philipma1957]

While there is no mention about hyper-threading in the specs, the i3 is definitely a quad core so it can't be the 8109U. However, the Core i3-8100H (https://ark.intel.com/products/149160) might just about fit the bill, so that would be my current guess. Also we know that Intel has done custom chips for Apple in the past, so I wouldn't rule that out either.

Using cpus with two different sockets would indeed be very unlikely, hence all of them are likely to be FCBGA1440 parts.

Don't get me wrong, Apple using LGA-socketed cpus would be a wonderful surprise. It's just that the chances of that actually happening are practically zero - not least because it would go against everything they have been doing for the past 10 years. They have been consistently pushing to use BGA parts wherever possible (iMac, remember?) and it would be quite a departure from all previous designs to now suddenly jump back to LGA sockets with no apparent reason.

For now, when it comes to socketed cpus in Macs - I'll believe it when I see it.
[doublepost=1540935632][/doublepost]
I'd be so happy to be wrong on this one, but maybe we'll just have to wait and see.

if they went back to sockets it would mean they finally figured out that "what's a computer" was the worst commercial in the history of apple.

I would love to see them with sockets. I could pull the i7 8700t out of my dell optiplex micro and drop it into a base model mac mini

 

[Martyimac]

Does the mini not come with keyboard and mouse?

No it doesn't. Never has AFAIK.

 

[Moolani]

I am happy with the update. A lot of money, but you get a lot more than previous Mini's. Just need to figure out how I want to configure it.

All signs point to user accessible RAM, but I can wait for a hands on review to confirm before I order.

 

[LeeW]

The only thing I would say about the upgradeable ram is that it looks unlikely you can do it without removing the fan. I sniff a warranty repair being avoided because they see different ram and you probably caused damage by removing the fan...

 

[Pearple]

Does the mini not come with keyboard and mouse?

Tim wants to squeeze the lemon.

You are the lemon.

 

[LeeW]

Tim wants to squeeze the lemon.

You are the lemon.

Things quiet over at the Windoze forums?

 

[Pearple]

Things quiet over at the Windoze forums?

I am not windows. I will buy the Mac mini and of course also the black mouse and keyboard.

I am the lemon too.


We should all get T-shirts saying “I am lemon“

 

[redheeler]

Tim wants to squeeze the lemon.

You are the lemon.

Mac mini has never come with a keyboard and mouse, this is nothing new. It was BYODKM from the very beginning.

 

[kazmac]

I am okay with it. Other priorities come first. I’ll read reviews, get some testing at the Apple store in and go from there.

The intergrated GPU and the T2 chips are a little worrisome, but we’ll see. Need to research displays too. I would like 6 core, but need to hear how the new cooling system works under load.

Unless Apple release an iMac I can draw on, or has a lot of bang for the buck, I think I might finally go Mini.

 

[Wandering Wastrel]

I'm now planning on getting a Mac Mini next year sometime. My main wish was for support of 4K, and that is now supported. There are sufficient CPU, memory, and storage capacities to meet my modest needs. Sure it's more expensive than I'd like it to be, but that's hardly a surprise.

The main thing for me, though, is that now I know there is a path within the Apple ecosystem that going forward seems to match up with what I want. I'm willing to pay the extra cost in order to not have to go back to Windows.

 

[neander]

Given it said 8th gen i3 3.6GHz, we're talking 65W desktop processor: i3 8100
So $799 is not a bad starting price.
Performance wise it's comparabl to the fastest quad core 2012 macmini:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compar...tel-i7-4578U-vs-Intel-i3-8100/895vs2345vs3103

highest spec cpu 2012/lowest spec cpu 2018
CPU Mark, 8123 / 8095

So its no real update from my quad core 2012 2.6ghz... meh. Have to go up a bit and its getting really expensive then. Have 16gb Ram as well no we are up to really substantial prices.. and need to add extra external storage etc.

 

[kevink2]

Yes. Options for 64GB RAM and 10GB ethernet? Looks like they are finally taking the mini seriously. There's finally an option for us desktop users who want a lot of power, don't want an all-in-one, and don't want to pay for a Mac Pro.

I'm passing on the 10GB ethernet due to nothing else here at my house that supports it. I think if I need more than 16GB at some point in the future, I can follow some guide on how to upgrade. I've done it on previous mini models, a pain, and if it is similar, always the risk that something breaks like the bluetooth wire

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I know this may come as a shock to many users but you'll have to use...an adapter.

Or a hub.

 

[mightyjabba]

Does the mini not come with keyboard and mouse?

Originally the mini was positioned as a low-cost computer for switchers (people switching to the Mac from Windows), and the idea was that they would already have a monitor, keyboard and mouse from their old computer, so they could use those, and it would lower the price and barrier to entry. And assuming we actually see some price savings from their exclusion, I'm perfectly happy not getting them since I already have nice peripherals that I would be using with it.

 

[jeremiah256]

$1300 for hexa core i5, 8GBs RAM (to be upgraded later to 32GBs as needed), 512GBs storage. Not bad at all for a home workstation/server. Could actual drop the price to $1100 since it'll be hooked up by default to external storage and I could go with 256GBs...

Not going to lie, I'm so glad I put off all my purchasing decisions until today, but my wallet is so confused. XR or XS? MacBook Pro or combo MacBook Air and Mac Mini?

 

[kevink2]

Sorry, no. Wednesday the 10th. Didn't mean to imply any sooner than announced availability.

Mine scheduled for the 7th. 16GB, i5, 256GB storage.
[doublepost=1540940747][/doublepost]

Wow $2000 just to upgrade the drive from 128 GB to a 2 TB drive? Holy crap!

Some of this is that the speed is much higher than the SATA speeds of the 2.5" models that are significantly cheaper. And I assume that the builtin encryption provided by the T2 chip is faster than using the CPU to encrypt storage on an external drive.

So I went with the 256GB internal option for OS/Applications, and I'll put my home directory on an external drive. If I had gone with the existing model, it would have been an inexpensive computer just to run MacOS (and sync my photos, music, etc), and probably been a fusion drive. By going only SSD, Apple kept me from doing that.
[doublepost=1540940808][/doublepost]

The RAM is in slots, but it doesn't appear to be user-replaceable, meaning upgrades require a partial teardown of the Mac mini and may possibly void the warranty. Will definitely be interested in the iFixit teardown findings after the new Mac mini starts shipping.

So probably little different than the old Mini I bought years ago. Doable, but not fun.
[doublepost=1540940956][/doublepost]

Not going to lie, I'm so glad I put off all my purchasing decisions until today, but my wallet is so confused. XR or XS?

I would want to see the Xr in person, but if it looks good enough, I would probably go the Xr route if I upgraded from my X. Usability wise, lose the 2nd 2X camera. 128GB is plenty.