Reason Quad Core Removed

[philipma1957]

How does trim work on the fusion drives?

So far the systems using are samsung ssds and the stock hdds have not faltered .

they are
a 1tb hdd+ 500gb ssd. oldest one 19 months
a 1tb hdd + 750gb ssd second oldest 13 months
a 1tb hdd + 1tb ssd third oldest 11 months

lastly building one now 1tb hdd + 750gb ssd should be ready soon.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

How does trim work on the fusion drives?

Good question!

 

[HurryKayne]

Well i'm with you ,i'm really disappointed so i won't buy the newmini.
Now the only thing i'm wondering is,when Intel will stop to build dual cores cpus?
Skylake?
Perhaps for that day i'll able to buy a MacBook Pro 13 with quad and retina plus a decent i-gpu and the thunderbolt 3 and maybe for that day we will see a quad back in the mini's.
I fear that if Intel will still build a dual core Skylake version then the next mini,will sport the same chip within,at least with better i-gpu and Tb3.
So Intel is to blame but clearly Apple hasn't shined this time,their slogan "its been too long" seems a message for us and for Intel,something like..ok,we hoped,we cannot,this is it,sorry users.
This won't excuse the soldering and the glue everywhere for their thin obsession.

 

[MacGuffin]

Except for the server stuff, that was just typical apologist crap. Here's my favorite ridiculous quote:

"If nothing else, the new entry level model is an opportunity to get people in the door then upsell them to the much better-equipped $699 model, which comes with a 2.6 GHz processor, 8 GB RAM, faster graphics and double the hard drive space. You're not paying $200 for memory - you're paying $200 for a lot more functionality all the way around."

We all know it's just an Apple money grab, and he applauds them for it. This guy should shut up.

Yep. He's a tiresome shill. It's galling to see these ass-kissers who think that Apple upselling innocent poor slobs is somehow of value to the rest of us as consumers.

All we asked is for them to refresh the Mini. Not lobotomize it.

 

[realuseless]

How does trim work on the fusion drives?

Easy enough. It works the same way as with any 3rd party SSD, fusioned or not. Trim Enabler.

i have a Sandisk SSD 256Gb along with the 1Tb stock spinner, fusioned to 1.25tb Fusion drive. Trim is enabled and everything is fast and awesome.

I too am an audio guy btw, and while i'd LOVE a mac pro, it cost too much. And you don't need GPUs for audio work. If apple made a MacPro with just one GPU (or even iGPU only) for Audio pros and trimmed $500 off the price... ...it'd still be way too expensive

Bare in mind that not everyone lives in the US. Where I'm from a base Mac Pro is roughly 6 avarage 'decent' salaries, 1) because median salaries are lower than in the US and ironically 2) because Macs here cost an avarage of 50% MORE than in the US. base nMP is around $3950 ina an authorised reseller here. MacMini is really the only viable Mac us and we can defo use that quad core chip.

I am also confident however this is due to intel and that it will be back (unless intel decides do **** us over) with either broadwell or skylake...

I also work for a software developer btw, and we have about 5-6mac minis as the go-to development machines for xcode. I think saying that the mac mini is a consumer only low-end mac is a bit myopic. It dfinitely has a lot of value to many buisness users and in large volumes, and I'm sure apple knows this.

sorry for the epic long post...

 

[Crosscreek]

Easy enough. It works the same way as with any 3rd party SSD, fusioned or not. Trim Enabler.

i have a Sandisk SSD 256Gb along with the 1Tb stock spinner, fusioned to 1.25tb Fusion drive. Trim is enabled and everything is fast and awesome.

I too am an audio guy btw, and while i'd LOVE a mac pro, it cost too much. And you don't need GPUs for audio work. If apple made a MacPro with just one GPU (or even iGPU only) for Audio pros and trimmed $500 off the price... ...it'd still be way too expensive

Bare in mind that not everyone lives in the US. Where I'm from a base Mac Pro is roughly 6 avarage 'decent' salaries, 1) because median salaries are lower than in the US and ironically 2) because Macs here cost an avarage of 50% MORE than in the US. base nMP is around $3950 ina an authorised reseller here. MacMini is really the only viable Mac us and we can defo use that quad core chip.

I am also confident however this is due to intel and that it will be back (unless intel decides do **** us over) with either broadwell or skylake...

I also work for a software developer btw, and we have about 5-6mac minis as the go-to development machines for xcode. I think saying that the mac mini is a consumer only low-end mac is a bit myopic. It dfinitely has a lot of value to many buisness users and in large volumes, and I'm sure apple knows this.

sorry for the epic long post...

So are you using Yosemite and if you are have you disabled the security feature that allows Trim Enabler to work with third party SSD?

 

[realuseless]

So are you using Yosemite and if you are have you disabled the security feature that allows Trim Enabler to work with third party SSD?

Yes, and yes, but I consider myself and expert user/power user and as such am fine with Mavericks level security (which is essentially what the result is). I would hazard a guess that most people willing to tear open a Mac Mini and put in a custom SSD would also fall under the more knowlegable user category and be fine with the still exceptional slightly lower level of security...

if you really want the security you could just leave trim off and get an SSD with really good garbage collection. I would guess a good one will last you the life of the machine even without trim...

 

[qcmacmini]

I hope the quad core comes back in the future, but I agree with some that it was lucky to get such a powerful mac mini in the first place.

For me a 2012 2.3 i7 is a perfect compromise for now, but when we see much better integrated graphics and a newer quad core processor I'll be upgrading.

 

[philipma1957]

I hope the quad core comes back in the future, but I agree with some that it was lucky to get such a powerful mac mini in the first place.

For me a 2012 2.3 i7 is a perfect compromise for now, but when we see much better integrated graphics and a newer quad core processor I'll be upgrading.

yeah this is the key . MY OPINION for what it counts is Apple decided that the 2012 i7 quad core was simply too good and too easy to turn into a killer machine for Audio at professional levels.

The refurbs or a good sale and it was 700 usd a 500 gb ssd on sale could be 200 usd and 16gb ram could be 85 usd. the owc kit 30 bucks so 1015 to 1050 bucks = beast machine ..


with the ability to go back to stock setup easy.

No apple machine in 2014 does this.

 

[qcmacmini]

yeah this is the key . MY OPINION for what it counts is Apple decided that the 2012 i7 quad core was simply too good and too easy to turn into a killer machine for Audio at professional levels.

Not just audio, you can do lots of graphic work with it too, not every task needs GPU power.

Look at how they have crippled the iPad mini 3 when they could easily give it the A8X and better colour gamut. Downgrading specs to achieve the right marketing mix is pretty clear across certain aspects of the entire Apple range.

 

[Cape Dave]

Not just audio, you can do lots of graphic work with it too, not every task needs GPU power.

Look at how they have crippled the iPad mini 3 when they could easily give it the A8X and better colour gamut. Downgrading specs to achieve the right marketing mix is pretty clear across certain aspects of the entire Apple range.

It really does seem like they did this and I hate to think that they would but again, it sure seems like they have. Personally, I do not think a 4 core i7 could be that much of a threat to a dual XEON Dual video card machine, but I do not use all that power so I would not know.

I simply like my programs to open fast and I like alot of them open!

I pretty much think the low end of EVERY product made should be eliminated as by simply hitting a price point usually too much has been taken away, generally speaking. Cars, for example.

The $499 mini is a total joke. Total. Not worth buying for anyone. For any reason. Save a few more $$$ and get the mid and you will be much happier

 

[philipma1957]

It really does seem like they did this and I hate to think that they would but again, it sure seems like they have. Personally, I do not think a 4 core i7 could be that much of a threat to a dual XEON Dual video card machine, but I do not use all that power so I would not know.

I simply like my programs to open fast and I like alot of them open!

I pretty much think the low end of EVERY product made should be eliminated as by simply hitting a price point usually too much has been taken away, generally speaking. Cars, for example.

The $499 mini is a total joke. Total. Not worth buying for anyone. For any reason. Save a few more $$$ and get the mid and you will be much happier

well and I am annoyed at them. the 499 mini works if you have a need for a tv/media machine.(the 5000 graphics stream a better picture then the 4000 do ) but and this is huge you need to already own a thunderbolt ssd that will be the booter for the new mini.

The external ssd will make the mini very fast. you won't need more ram since page outs to an ssd are way faster then payouts to a hdd. so you lay out 499 and down the road use the same external ssd/thunderbolt in the next mini. think of it as a great monitor that you keep and change out the pc. So far Apple seems to be forcing us to own an external booting ssd. Just look at what they charge for an internal ssd that you can't access.

 

[SoCalReviews]

For me a 2012 2.3 i7 is a perfect compromise for now, but when we see much better integrated graphics and a newer quad core processor I'll be upgrading.

Agree... I really like the current Mini form factor and I don't want to go with the Mac Pro black ashtray FF and premium pricing if I can avoid it.

 

[phrehdd]

Decent article worth reading. I'm sure it'll get some of you frothing at the mouth.

http://www.imore.com/nsfw-shut-about-new-mac-mini-already

FYI its not actually NSFW unless you're offended by reasonable subjective thinking.

I'm referring to your link here -

The author is spewing drivel. First, no Mac is a low profit item other than quantity sold. They all have fairly high mark up (Apple Tax) other than (surprisingly) the newest Mac Pro. The notion of having to create two mobo is a pathetic argument in that Apple could have just as easily gone the other right and make all of their Mini machines quad core. As for soldered RAM, if Apple would stop over charging for more RAM many people wouldn't mind so much the soldered RAM but alas, Apple does charge ridiculous sums for RAM and that has been proven time and time again with people going to 3rd party venders for upgrades.

The entire premise of that article smacks of fanboy silliness. The logic used is beyond myopic and falls into the definition of being "precious."

Last - if the argument about people not knowing the difference between any of the Mini models and builds, then it wouldn't have hurt Apple to have systems that are "more than what they need now but might be great next year" instead of anemic and wimpy bottom end system and a 2 step backward top of the line model. All in all that article reminds me of self aggrandizing dolts in the early days of Windows who insisted that reboots are "normal" on a regular basis and that the filing system doesn't need to be defragmented (we all know they were wrong). In short, people can rationalize just about any marketing move and hold their special place as a fan boy.

 

[BJonson]

This thread is really hitting it on the head. Apples whole plan of attack on its customers revolves around upselling. The mac mini was too much of a good product so they had to dumb it down and try to force us into an imac or a mac pro. The ipad mini, same story, force you into an ipad air and last but not least the iphone 6, to force you into an iphone 6+ by leaving out the better camera. Its a dumb tactic that will end up hurting them in the end. I bet a penny saved is a penny earned is their motto now. Too bad its not true.

 

[spiderpumpkin]

This thread is really hitting it on the head. Apples whole plan of attack on its customers revolves around upselling. The mac mini was too much of a good product so they had to dumb it down and try to force us into an imac or a mac pro. The ipad mini, same story, force you into an ipad air and last but not least the iphone 6, to force you into an iphone 6+ by leaving out the better camera. Its a dumb tactic that will end up hurting them in the end. I bet a penny saved is a penny earned is their motto now. Too bad its not true.

Great post that summarizes Apple currently.

 

[Cherish]

I don't think the Mini will ever move out of the U class processor SKUs.

Broadwell will have no quad core U series chips from what I have seen of the SKU leaks. There is too little known of the U Broadweel yet but I did see one I5 processor with Iris Pro at 28 watts TPD so IGPU performance should increase significantly.

Skylake will offer the greatest increase inTDP performance and maybe significant enough to include quad cores back into the Mini.

Based on this 2 articles, we might not see quad core even on Skylake if Apple sticks to U series chips which they most probably will. If there is any chance of a quad core on low power chips, it will be on Cannonlake at the earliest.

http://www.kitguru.net/components/c...lake-chips-to-feature-tens-of-models-in-2015/
http://wccftech.com/intel-10nm-skyl...-yseries-unveiled-quad-core-gt4e-gpu-95w-tdp/

 

[Crosscreek]

Based on this 2 articles, we might not see quad core even on Skylake if Apple sticks to U series chips which they most probably will. If there is any chance of a quad core on low power chips, it will be on Cannonlake at the earliest.

http://www.kitguru.net/components/c...lake-chips-to-feature-tens-of-models-in-2015/
http://wccftech.com/intel-10nm-skyl...-yseries-unveiled-quad-core-gt4e-gpu-95w-tdp/

I seen that chart a while back and had forgot where I had seen it. Thanks.

I really don't think we will see quad core again in the Mini. Unless Apple releases a mid level headless desktop machine like a xMac our only choices for quad core desktops will be iMacs.

 

[6r4ff3r]

The base model is good for basic tasks. In this case why do you need to spend 200 more dollars/euros to waste more energy in a computer that probably will not last more than 5-6 years?

I still use my P4 540J with only 2.5 gbs RAM for basic tasks, so stop saying the base model is a waste of money.

Although Mac mini had quad-cores, i have always seen Mini as a low-entry energy efficient computer. Not a performer.

And today people care about energy consumption. Electricity is more and more expensive, for who pays the bills...