No Mini Refresh: What now?

[thekev]

2009 was a very long wait 575 days. which in our case was 4 years ago . I think we are going to wait that same said 575 days. which gets us to april. I believe they will go to oct a 700 plus day wait.

Minis are never the first thing released. I suspect you'll see a late Haswell release and Broadwell notebooks somewhere around there. The mini never surfaces as early as the notebooks, so a Broadwell refresh may go to next year on that model. The one disjointed problem I see right now is that it usually tracks the 13" at the low end and 15" notebooks for the higher tiers. In both cases the graphics are typically downgraded, but in this case it comes down to the actual cpu packages. They may hold some interest in keeping processor choices streamlined there, but it would mean a more expensive cpu on what is probably not one of their lower margin machines.

 

[tom vilsack]

One can Dream...

 

[SoCalReviews]

Haswell CPUs are still 22nm and other than incremental power savings and small bump in graphics performance they are not really that much different from the current 22nm Ivy Bridge design. The next Intel 14nm Broadwell design will the upgrade to be excited about. We probably will see the Mini refreshed in the next few months with Haswell chips because of their lower cost but it would be better for Mini users if Apple waited to refresh the 2014 Minis with the Broadwell design in mid to late 2014. In reality we will probably see a Broadwell based Mini refresh in 2015.

 

[Acorn]

im a little annoyed that the update is taking so long. at the current rate the mini will be a 2 generations behind. If there really is a redesign in the works then hopefully it will be worth the wait. I welcome a fresh out of the oven design.

 

[Crosscreek]

Haswell CPUs are still 22nm and other than incremental power savings and small bump in graphics performance they are not really that much different from the current 22nm Ivy Bridge design. The next Intel 14nm Broadwell design will the upgrade to be excited about. We probably will see the Mini refreshed in the next few months with Haswell chips because of their lower cost but it would be better for Mini users if Apple waited to refresh the 2014 Minis with the Broadwell design in mid to late 2014. In reality we will probably see a Broadwell based Mini refresh in 2015.

I agree - Broadwell would be worth the wait.

 

[jtwrace]

I'd hate to waste money but this wait stinks. I'm really thinking of a Mac Pro at this point. Get the 4 core and 16GB of RAM and be done. I'd think it would be better than what Mini might come out and most certainly better than my 2009 Mini.

 

[Rodster]

I made the jump and bought a Mini and I'm glad I did. In fact I like the little box so much that i'll keep it and get another one when they are refreshed.

 

[jtwrace]

I made the jump and bought a Mini and I'm glad I did. In fact I like the little box so much that i'll keep it and get another one when they are refreshed.

Yeah, I figure if I'm going to spend the money though I might as well go for it at this point.

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-mac/mac-pro

 

[Rodster]

Yeah, I figure if I'm going to spend the money though I might as well go for it at this point.

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-mac/mac-pro

If you need that kind of power then yeah go for it. A Mac Pro is definitely an overkill for me but they do look nice.

 

[Jambalaya]

Just got a Baseline mini today, after coming from a top spec last ten MBP.

Runs great, SSD would be nice but i'll throw a 128gb in at some point and a little more RAM.

But for everything i do its fine, even worked fine on some bigger Audio projects.

Just need to update your signature now

My 2009 machine is still going strong especially since 2->8gb ram and 750 HDD (didn't have funds for 256/500 SSD which is what I really wanted). If they do a decent refresh (Haswell plus decent ram/SSD specs) I'll look at it but given I use the optical drive and I have ram now there is a good chance I'll just save the cash and put in an SSD and keep using it with the HHS in an external case.

 

[hleewell]

Don't need a smaller Mini, or a slimmer Mini, or a flatter Mini. There is plenty of space on my desk for a thicker, more substantially specced Mini for my desk. Bring back the cube. Or a Mini with iMac-like spec, quieter all-SSD, with more connectivity, better shielding from internal RF interference (audio purposes).

 

[Freyqq]

One can Dream...

Image

Actually, this kind of design change is probably pretty likely based on the circumstances. However, the ports would probably mirror what they have now. Maybe 1 DP, 1 hdmi, and 4 USB 3.0.

 

[animatedude]

even the SSD option on apple.com for the mini is not the PCI SSD option for the iMac or Pro.

 

[Eightarmedpet]

After reading this and a few other threads this is where I think the Mac mini could end up... all flash storage, same footprint as the ATV and Airport, as it used to... excuse the quick and dirty mock...

 

[ioannis2005gr]

The teardown of the new Mac Pro reveals that it's highly serviceable and likely upgradeable.

Mac Pro is highly upgradeable but it is highly expensive, as well....I don't really need it!

I need a cheaper Mac (such as a Mini) to be highly upgradeable...Does APPLE think the same way?

I am looking in the near future (Q1/Q2 2014) to get my answer... you?

 

[philipma1957]

Mac Pro is highly upgradeable but it is highly expensive, as well....I don't really need it!

I need a cheaper Mac (such as a Mini) to be highly upgradeable...Does APPLE think the same way?

I am looking in the near future (Q1/Q2 2014) to get my answer... you?

my problem with the mac pro is the graphics.

now if apple pulled a card and offered a second pcie ssd as an option that would be good for me.

 

[50voltphantom]

After reading this and a few other threads this is where I think the Mac mini could end up... all flash storage, same footprint as the ATV and Airport, as it used to... excuse the quick and dirty mock...

If it kept the option to pop a 2nd SATA drive in addition to stock 128GB PCI-e and upgrade the RAM I would buy immediately.

 

[animatedude]

Apple isn't satisfied with iMacs sales and they are slowly shipping the new Mac Pros.

It doesn't make sense sales-wise to release a newly magical redesigned Mac mini with PCI SSD now that will make the iMac and Mac Pro look very old in the eyes of the average consumer.

i wouldn't be surprised if we waited until April for a minor update with the same design, no PCI SSD and just Haswell.

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After reading this and a few other threads this is where I think the Mac mini could end up... all flash storage, same footprint as the ATV and Airport, as it used to... excuse the quick and dirty mock...

yes but this does look like the older white Mac mini.I say make a smaller size of the current design, it will make it look more appealing i think.

 

[63dot]

Haswell CPUs are still 22nm and other than incremental power savings and small bump in graphics performance they are not really that much different from the current 22nm Ivy Bridge design. The next Intel 14nm Broadwell design will the upgrade to be excited about. We probably will see the Mini refreshed in the next few months with Haswell chips because of their lower cost but it would be better for Mini users if Apple waited to refresh the 2014 Minis with the Broadwell design in mid to late 2014. In reality we will probably see a Broadwell based Mini refresh in 2015.

I will wait for 14nm Broadwell Mac mini as that will probably represent a measurable step up from what we had in 2012-1013 minis.

http://www.businessinsider.com/intel-shows-pc-using-broadwell-14nm-chips-2013-9

With a working prototype in September 2013, realistically speaking I would expect a mini before June this year but not much earlier. The wait will be painful.

This Broadwell chip draws 30% percent less power than Haswell and is still not what may be in the future with an alleged 10nm then 7nm technology from Intel with Skylake microarchitecture starting at 14nm then terminating at 10nm and what follows Skylake starting at 10nm and taking us to 7nm?? in 2018 (if there is a name yet). Past that would be 5 nm?? in 2020.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Tick-Tock

 

[Acorn]

One can Dream...

Image

im sure there are many that would hate this, but I would love to have that as a machine. if it has the same type of cooling as the mac pro then chances are it would inherit the nice noiseless design. they have done tests under load on the mac pro and its very quiet. if the mini was like that it would be fantastic. That is basically the only downside to the mini right now is its very loud under load. a redesign could fix that and I wouldnt care if it was slightly bigger to have that happen.

 

[Cape Dave]

After reading this and a few other threads this is where I think the Mac mini could end up... all flash storage, same footprint as the ATV and Airport, as it used to... excuse the quick and dirty mock...

That really could be close!

 

[SoCalReviews]

I will wait for 14nm Broadwell Mac mini as that will probably represent a measurable step up from what we had in 2012-1013 minis.

http://www.businessinsider.com/intel-shows-pc-using-broadwell-14nm-chips-2013-9

With a working prototype in September 2013, realistically speaking I would expect a mini before June this year but not much earlier. The wait will be painful.

This Broadwell chip draws 30% percent less power than Haswell and is still not what may be in the future with an alleged 10nm then 7nm technology from Intel with Skylake microarchitecture starting at 14nm then terminating at 10nm and what follows Skylake starting at 10nm and taking us to 7nm?? in 2018 (if there is a name yet). Past that would be 5 nm?? in 2020.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Tick-Tock

Broadwell will be a major advance. The problem with scaling down below 14nm to 5nm is that they are approaching quantum scales where the laws of physics start to change dramatically for the chip designs. The manufacturing technologies will have to undergo a quantum shift as well. This will be a theoretical brick wall that Intel and other chip manufacturers will have to overcome and the R&D will be expensive. I expect the emphasis to be on more cores with up to 16 cores for the mass market consumer designs in the coming years until they can do the required redesigns and develop and optimize the manufacturing technologies for further down scaling.

http://www.extremetech.com/computin...that-will-take-us-to-the-limits-of-moores-law

 

[Crosscreek]

Broadwell will be a major advance. The problem with scaling down below 14nm to 5nm is that they are approaching quantum scales where the laws of physics start to change dramatically for the chip designs. The manufacturing technologies will have to undergo a quantum shift as well. This will be a theoretical brick wall that Intel and other chip manufacturers will have to overcome and the R&D will be expensive. I expect the emphasis to be on more cores with up to 16 cores for the mass market consumer designs in the coming years until they can do the required redesigns and develop and optimize the manufacturing technologies for further down scaling.

http://www.extremetech.com/computin...that-will-take-us-to-the-limits-of-moores-law

I will be very content with a Broadwell Mini. It will be energy efficient and generate very little heat with a big improvement in graphics.

 

[63dot]

Broadwell will be a major advance. The problem with scaling down below 14nm to 5nm is that they are approaching quantum scales where the laws of physics start to change dramatically for the chip designs. The manufacturing technologies will have to undergo a quantum shift as well. This will be a theoretical brick wall that Intel and other chip manufacturers will have to overcome and the R&D will be expensive. I expect the emphasis to be on more cores with up to 16 cores for the mass market consumer designs in the coming years until they can do the required redesigns and develop and optimize the manufacturing technologies for further down scaling.

http://www.extremetech.com/computin...that-will-take-us-to-the-limits-of-moores-law

Time and money to switch out of silicon could make this bottleneck take a very long time. At the end of the day these are businesses that have to make money. Just like the G4 chip stalled due to some financial and time issues, I don't think Intel wants to be the guinea pig here.

I remember when Centrino came out and fans were saying how they could eventually get 100 cores into that architecture, if needed. Practicality may make the industry go with more cores instead of getting too small.

Speed was king at one time, then battery time, and now it may be number of cores.

 

[CtotheP]

They are trying to figure out how to combine the Mini and Apple TV into one device!