Realistic CPU performance for updated Mac Mini?

[jimj740]

Apple can not use any processor higher than 45W power, that is the reason they do not use the i7-4960HQ with Intel Iris 5200 = 47W.

Upon what do you base this assertion? Certainly the current CPU has a power draw of 45 watts, but this only establishes that they can use at LEAST 45 watts in the current design, not at most. Furthermore, one of the technical differences of the Haswell line is the inclusion of onboard voltage regulators, which used to be discrete components with a separate power budget. Finally, there are many things that can be revised to account for a 2 watt change without a total redesign...

Sorry for sounding harsh, but things passed as absolute facts in rumor forums are often not.

I look forward to seeing what Apple really does!

-JimJ

 

[paulrbeers]

Apple can not use any processor higher than 45W power, that is the reason they do not use the i7-4960HQ with Intel Iris 5200 = 47W.
)

The 2011 Mac Mini i7 with the AMD discrete GPU was believed to be at least 47w if higher with the i7 used it in pulling 35w and the AMD GPU using at least 12 (some believed as high as 17).

So no, there would be no issue with using 47w processors.

Edit: Here's a webpage stating that the reference design would have used 26w (but I doubt this is what Apple would have used).

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpudb/327/radeon-hd-6630m.html

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Well those 3 kW you were talking about actually add up to over a little less than 9 euros each year which may sound not like much but that's a full month Xbox live right there.

But then again this is only if you're using it as a 24/7 server. I always pull the plug after shut down on my mini anyway, so it doesn't drain anything when I don't need it.

We're really arguing over 9 Euros a YEAR?!?! Holy god and that's only if running it full tilt 24x7?!?! If you are worried about 9 Euros A YEAR (at max), you really shouldn't be buying a Mac.....

Isn't that like 3 cups of coffee for an entire year?!?!

My point is, whether you buy an Ivy Bridge vs Haswell Mini (should there ever be one) power consumption should really NOT be your deciding factor.

 

[funaroma]

The energy savings is minimal though. At idle you are looking at a watt or maybe two. At full load it might be 5. So if you save 2 watts an hour it would take 500 hours to see even a kilowatt savings. Even at full tilt it would be 200 hours before you see 1 kW less. If you ran it a whole month at full speed you will only see a reduction of 3 kW off your bill.

Sure energy savings is nice, but it isn't some amazing energy savings that will be readily noticeable on your power bill. If you are really concerned about saving energy turn it off.

The energy savings most likely applies to those companies running hosting services with racks of these things. Aside from that, I agree 100% with this statement. I'm weary of hearing about the lower wattage of these processors... for the end user, leaving a light on in the house by accident for a day or so totally demolishes any savings an "energy efficient" new mini would provide.

 

[omnisphere]

jimj740!

Then why have apple not released a upgraded mac mini?

1: Because they can not use the current processors

2: They make a completely new Mac mini

If they make a new Mac mini then why have they not upgraded the current model with a i7-4960HQ while working on the new?

I think apple is loosing on not to upgrade the current model if they can?

 

[BJonson]

Actually that sounds a lot like the picture I found a few weeks back. I always thought it was nothing more than a cool mockup but I wonder how close it'll be to the real thing...

Umm, where did you find this picture? My source says that is it.

 

[paulrbeers]

jimj740!

Then why have apple not released a upgraded mac mini?

1: Because they can not use the current processors

2: They make a completely new Mac mini

If they make a new Mac mini then why have they not upgraded the current model with a i7-4960HQ while working on the new?

I think apple is loosing on not to upgrade the current model if they can?

Maybe because they continue to sell the current one, and outside of a faster GPU there is little advancement in switching from Ivy Bridge to Haswell?

 

[Crosscreek]

jimj740!

Then why have apple not released a upgraded mac mini?

1: Because they can not use the current processors

2: They make a completely new Mac mini

If they make a new Mac mini then why have they not upgraded the current model with a i7-4960HQ while working on the new?

I think apple is loosing on not to upgrade the current model if they can?

I think Texas Pro production is one problem with not keeping up with demand. Broadwell release on laptops is the next problem because Intel says they have too many Hasswel in inventory and will not release Broadwell for shipment until 2015. Third problem is competition with iMac and stock Pro which a newly released mini with Macbook Pro I7 may be as good in performance. I think Apple is sitting on it and may not be sure when they want to release it. IMHO

 

[Cloudsurfer]

Umm, where did you find this picture? My source says that is it.

Here's my quote from another thread:

Most likely a fake, but I certainly wouldn't mind the new mini to look like this

Image

Here's the blog, it's in japanese.

If this really turns out to be the new Mini it certainly does explain the long time between update.

 

[Dentifrice]

I really have the feeling Apple will completely change the mac mini

some times ago, people were starting to say that Apple doesn't innovate anymore.

What happened ? They rushed IOS 7 and came with the new Mac Pro with the famous quote "Can't innovate my ass". They are angry. They don't want to just update the current model.

I'm pretty sure their next step is the mini. Intel now sells their famous "NUC". They are coming with something similar....and probably less powerful and less upgradable too than the current mac mini but more powerful than the Intel NUC. Something like the Macbook Air but for desktop.

And I won't be surprised if they called it the "Mac Air" like they did with the ipad.

 

[philipma1957]

jimj740!

Then why have apple not released a upgraded mac mini?

1: Because they can not use the current processors

2: They make a completely new Mac mini

If they make a new Mac mini then why have they not upgraded the current model with a i7-4960HQ while working on the new?

I think apple is loosing on not to upgrade the current model if they can?

and what is true the competition to the 2012 quad core mac mini

Maybe because they continue to sell the current one, and outside of a faster GPU there is little advancement in switching from Ivy Bridge to Haswell?

that and the intel nuc that came out is loud and the gigabyte brix that came out is loud.

so real competition to the 2012 quads does not exist as of today.




AT THE FLAT MINI PHOTO POST:
I have to say a soldered ram with a soldered pcie ssd does not appeal to me. but faster thunderbolt could allow for an external large ssd like a 1tb samsung to be the booter.

just get the cheapest internal ram and internal pcie ssd with the best cpu.

performance wise you still have a very fast machine and hopefully very good graphics.

 

[Count Blah]

Actually that sounds a lot like the picture I found a few weeks back. I always thought it was nothing more than a cool mockup but I wonder how close it'll be to the real thing...

Great, the war against the consumer continues. Thinness at the expense of user upgradeability. Form over function.

SMH

 

[Cloudsurfer]

I'm having a hard time believing Apple will solder the ram to the new mini, no matter how thin it is. It seems all desktop Macs use socketed ram, user upgradeable or not. Why would the mini be an exception? There is plenty of room for socketed ram in a thinner mini.

 

[paulrbeers]

I'm having a hard time believing Apple will solder the ram to the new mini, no matter how thin it is. It seems all desktop Macs use socketed ram, user upgradeable or not. Why would the mini be an exception? There is plenty of room for socketed ram in a thinner mini.

Agreed and no other Mac desktop has soldered RAM. All are user upgradable with the exception of the 21.5" iMac.

 

[BigRed1]

User-serviceable ram is a must-have for me. If it's not, it's a deal-breaker. I don't care about the HD and whether that is replaceable, especially with TB and usb3 out there.

I'd hate to have to go hackintosh, but that might be my only option when it's time to replace my 2009 mini.

 

[opinio]

I heard from a reliable source that the next mini will use the same CPU as the MacBook Air and be the same size as the Apple TV maybe a tad bigger.

That's rediculous. You couldn't even fit the peripheral connections if it was the same as the ATV. It would look like a porcupine when fully connected. The APE perhaps, but not the ATV.

 

[skipjakk]

Actually that sounds a lot like the picture I found a few weeks back. I always thought it was nothing more than a cool mockup but I wonder how close it'll be to the real thing...

This is a bad Photoshop, anyone who looks at this closely can see all the artifacts, magnify and look at the right corner.

 

[BJonson]

That's rediculous. You couldn't even fit the peripheral connections if it was the same as the ATV. It would look like a porcupine when fully connected. The APE perhaps, but not the ATV.

 

[opinio]

Image

That's not the same size, it's more than twice than twice the size. Like I said...

Nice work on the graphics though.

 

[apfelmann]

Umm, where did you find this picture? My source says that is it.

Hey, so your source says the upcoming Mac mini cannot be upgraded by the user (2 bays for SSD, RAM)?

if your source is sure about this, I have to hurry to get the old mini ...

 

[Karlitr0s]

Hey, so your source says the upcoming Mac mini cannot be upgraded by the user (2 bays for SSD, RAM)?

if your source is sure about this, I have to hurry to get the old mini ...

I don't think that the price of the old mini will go up any more than it is right now if the new one is non-upgradeable. I think you'll be able to make a decision when the new one's announced and not lose any cash.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009XCJ4QM/ref=dra_a_cs_lb_hn_it_P1400_1000?tag=dradisplay0bb-21 - An i5 for £427 delivered for the UK!

 

[apfelmann]

I don't think that the price of the old mini will go up any more than it is right now if the new one is non-upgradeable. I think you'll be able to make a decision when the new one's announced and not lose any cash.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009XCJ4QM/ref=dra_a_cs_lb_hn_it_P1400_1000?tag=dradisplay0bb-21 - An i5 for £427 delivered for the UK!

I am not so sure ... Amazon Germany is totally sold out of all minis

 

[willgreene99]

If the suggested mockups from Bjohnson or Cloudsurfer are realized at launch, then I will choose to go with the current model.

The bad thing about waiting to confirm if those rumors are true is that, if it is, then it will be too late to get one ordered from the online Apple store.

Unless I run down to the local store immediately the day of launch and beg for the old model, if they have any left.

I'm hoping for an upgraded current design, because I want the dual drives and the ports on the back. I really wanted to see a better GPU, whether Iris, Iris Pro, or other and a CPU upgrade as well. But if they go with those rumored routes, then good for some, just not for me.

Oh well, decisions, decisions.

 

[Schnort]

There will be plenty of refurbs available for quite a while. I bought a like new 2011 just before Christmas.

 

[paulrbeers]

If the suggested mockups from Bjohnson or Cloudsurfer are realized at launch, then I will choose to go with the current model.

The bad thing about waiting to confirm if those rumors are true is that, if it is, then it will be too late to get one ordered from the online Apple store.

Unless I run down to the local store immediately the day of launch and beg for the old model, if they have any left.

I'm hoping for an upgraded current design, because I want the dual drives and the ports on the back. I really wanted to see a better GPU, whether Iris, Iris Pro, or other and a CPU upgrade as well. But if they go with those rumored routes, then good for some, just not for me.

Oh well, decisions, decisions.

Apple moves all of their "old" models to their refurb store when the new ones come out. There is generally quite a lot of stock there not long after the announcement (it isn't always that day, but usually with the in few days after the announcement).

 

[paulrbeers]

I'm going to squelch the "Macbook Air" CPU's right now...

Here's the cost of the i5 in the 2013 Macbook Air:
http://ark.intel.com/products/75028/ - $315

Here's the cost of the i5 in the 2012 Mac Mini
http://ark.intel.com/products/67355/intel-core-i5-3210m-processor-3m-cache-up-to-3_10-ghz-rpga - $225 (and yes this was the cost when released over a year ago)

Here's the cost of the i7 in the 2013 Macbook Air:
http://ark.intel.com/products/75114/ - $426

Here's the i7 in the 2012 Mac Mini:
http://ark.intel.com/products/64900/Intel-Core-i7-3615QM-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_30-GHz - $378

Are you really saying that Apple would either A. Eat the $100 difference on the Base Mini or B. Raise the Base Mini to $700 to cover the difference?

I say BS. Apple may often make design over function choices, but especially under Tim's watch they are going to be more financially responsible.

Even the Mid-Mini they would have to either eat $50 or again raise the end cost by at least $50 (and with Apple it would probably be more of a $100 increase just to stay consistent).

No. These rumors about using the Macbook Air processors are just ludicrous. Looking at it from a simple cost perspective, it makes no sense to use more expensive processors in their CHEAPEST Mac.

EDIT: And before anyone says it, yes Apple gets processors below MSRP sure, but that reduction of cost would be across all their processors so the MBA i5 might be $250, but then the Mac Mini might only be $150.