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The new Mac mini is almost certainly coming

bennibeef said:
.....
But the real question is: Who is getting there sooner? ARM to get the perfomance to the level of Intel's top class processors or Intel to get their processor down to the efficient processors ARM is currently making.

To be honest I think the ladder(what ever this means for Ax processors). Intel is making big steps in that direction
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The latter has already happened for the most part. Look at early and now recent Chromebook systems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromebook#Chromebook_models

ARM isn't the massive barbarian horde sweeping over the walls. So far 2014 only ARM models is Samsung (which has vested interest in selling Exynos since limited set of others buying them. )


Intel doesn't have to go all the way down to replacing ARM in phones and phablets to blunt ARMs move up into classic laptop/desktop space. All Intel has to do is vigorously defend the low end desktop/laptop range. If ARM can't crack that they aren't going to spend much of anything on models to go into the md-upper range.

Bay Trail M ( in a couple of the most recent Chromebooks )


http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2014/...30_more_Bay_Trail-M_chips_are_on_the_way.html


Bay Trail T isn't doing as well yet ( Intel ) but is a border defense on the lower cost range ( sub $50 )

http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2014/2014051001_Intel_refreshes_Atom_Z3700_lineup.html


If Apple wanted a "A8" performance now with cheaper prices they could just use a one of the Bay Trails now without any app recompiles and dual/fat binary distribution issues.
 
Mago said:
So basically means just Haswell-Iris/Iris Pro added to the formula, unlikely a new form factor, just new internals updated as on current iMac (please Apple surprise us with dGPU or at least Iris pro )
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This is essentially what I'm guessing.

I had been expecting:

  • Haswell i5 CPU
  • Iris 5100 graphics
  • 4GB base RAM
  • 802.11ac wireless
  • same old enclosure

But now I'm expecting:
  • Haswell i5 CPU
  • Iris 5100 graphics
  • 8GB base RAM
  • 802.11ac wireless
  • redesigned enclosure

CPU: It would be nice if quad-core i5 was standard, with i7 available. But I wouldn't be too surprised to see dual-core i5 on the base model.

graphics: I don't think a dedicated GPU has any chance at all. Iris Pro 5200 is possible.

RAM: I wouldn't have thought they'd set the base at 8GB, but the recent MacbookPro refresh changed my mind. (But I have no clue if it would be SO-DIMMs or soldered.)

wi-fi: I would hope that Apple wouldn't ship a new model with 802.11n, but it's possible.

enclosure: I changed my mind because if they were staying with the same case design I think there would have been some credible leaks by now, at least if "mid 2014" is to be believed. A redesigned case could be manufactured in Texas (alongside the MacPro case) with perhaps no leaks.
 
Last edited:
imanidiot said:
Whether or not the new Mac mini ever comes or not, this thread will continue today and tomorrow and the next day and the next, it's taken on a life of it's own quite apart from the hypothetical new Mac mini, and doesn't need a new Mac mini to continue and continue and continue and...

I predict that this thread will still be going long after everyone has forgotten what a Mac mini was.
Click to expand...

It has become self aware.
 
tuc said:
This is essentially what I'm guessing.

enclosure:....... A redesigned case could be manufactured in Texas (alongside the MacPro case) with perhaps no leaks.
Click to expand...

Remember no leak warn on new Mac Pro...

Perhaps,

Plausible new mac mini:

Same form factor, with minimal review (swap firewire for another Thunderbolt).

No upgradable ram

Cpu same as on current iMac with hd5000/Iris 5100

No discrete gpu

Updated wireless same as latest rMBP.

Storage single spinner HDD upto 1.5tb plus Pci-e SSD as option, no Mac mini server so no provisions for a 2nd hdd .

Now possible (for Apple maybe not for us) Mac mini.

Redesigned form factor, without sd slot neither firewire, but one extra Thunderbolt port. Mac Pro and Airport influence on the new design, maybe passive cooling. No noise.

Cpu same options/part as on the rMBP.

Gpu iris/Iris pro or dGpu gforce paired with Intel hd5000.

Storage, single 3,5hdd or upto dual 2.5hdd plus or optional Pci-e ssd.
 
Mago said:
... but one extra Thunderbolt port.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping for extra thunderbolt ports too but the interesting thing about thunderbolt ports is that you theoretically would only need one if your peripherals have more than one port since you can daisy chain all your peripherals. The real problem is the lack of devices with thunderbolt ports so you have to end up using expensive converters (ethernet, HDMI, etc..) for the one thunderbolt port available.

You would think if thunderbolt is such a great innovation, Apple would do more to push it's adoption, like licensing it out for free. I realize that it might not replace USB because it is so universal, but at least perhaps it could live side-by-side with USB and instead totally displace HDMI, displayport, VGA, etc...

I dunno.. i guess I see it going the way of firewire or perhaps, it'll be used just for a/v professionals.
 
squirrrl said:
I'm hoping for extra thunderbolt ports too but the interesting thing about thunderbolt ports is that you theoretically would only need one if your peripherals have more than one port since you can daisy chain all your peripherals. The real problem is the lack of devices with thunderbolt ports so you have to end up using expensive converters (ethernet, HDMI, etc..) for the one thunderbolt port available.

You would think if thunderbolt is such a great innovation, Apple would do more to push it's adoption, like licensing it out for free. I realize that it might not replace USB because it is so universal, but at least perhaps it could live side-by-side with USB and instead totally displace HDMI, displayport, VGA, etc...

I dunno.. i guess I see it going the way of firewire or perhaps, it'll be used just for a/v professionals.
Click to expand...
I disagree, Thunderbolt will last for long time, right now it's just a baby, as was usb on early days, I remember the prime that cost an usb printer and people crying for that parallel port....

I agree on that Thunderbolt licensing must go cheaper, no way it to be be widely adopted.

Dual Thunderbolt ports on the Mac mini has the same convenience as on the rMBP (which also has hdmi) you can plug an de display on one Thunderbolt and use the second on a dock or external raid, having freedom to unplug, daysichaining always has the same inconvenient : you need to unplug all the chain just to isolate one node, this was the first coaxial network gone obsolete, it's a potential nightmare.
 
Sigh .. rebuilt my MacMini1,1 Core Duo 1.83 2006 vintage again today after another HDD incident. Its HandBraking through video conversion at 5.4 frames per second and has a faint whiff of bakelite about it.

All i know is that in this house, one way or another, 'a' new mac mini is almost certainly coming, because this one probably won't survive much longer.
 
Get over it. The Mac mini will NEVER have a discrete GPU. I really cannot understand why everyone still thinks this would even be a possibility. It is an entry level computer.

That said, I do hope it has Iris 5200 :)
 
tuc said:
this is essentially what i'm guessing.

I had been expecting:

  • haswell i5 cpu
  • iris 5100 graphics
  • 4mb base ram
  • 802.11ac wireless
  • same old enclosure

but now i'm expecting:
  • haswell i5 cpu
  • iris 5100 graphics
  • 8mb base ram
  • 802.11ac wireless
  • redesigned enclosure

cpu: It would be nice if quad-core i5 was standard, with i7 available. But i wouldn't be too surprised to see dual-core i5 on the base model.

graphics: I don't think a dedicated gpu has any chance at all. Iris pro 5200 is possible.

ram: I wouldn't have thought they'd set the base at 8mb, but the recent macbookpro refresh changed my mind. (but i have no clue if it would be so-dimms or soldered.)

wi-fi: I would hope that apple wouldn't ship a new model with 802.11n, but it's possible.

enclosure: I changed my mind because if they were staying with the same case design i think there would have been some credible leaks by now, at least if "mid 2014" is to be believed. A redesigned case could be manufactured in texas (alongside the macpro case) with perhaps no leaks.
Click to expand...

8mb ram????????
 
tuc said:
enclosure: I changed my mind because if they were staying with the same case design I think there would have been some credible leaks by now, at least if "mid 2014" is to be believed. A redesigned case could be manufactured in Texas (alongside the MacPro case) with perhaps no leaks.
Click to expand...

Lack of a leak could mean Texas production. Lack of a leak could also mean lack of any [new] production.

OTOH, Texas production gives another explanation for the delay. Waiting for Mac Pro production to catch up with demand so mini production doesn't slow it down and has room of its own.
 
Crosscreek said:
I'm not sure of the Y specs but it seems gto55 has max RAM at 8 which would be fine for a Y series as it is the least powerful of Broadwell.

I use 8gb in my 2012 Mini and use a RAM scrubber so when RAM reaches 50mb
the ram is scubed and replenished so it never writes to the HD.

Apple would provide 16 gb for I5 and I7 Broadwell.
Click to expand...
Can you tell me more about these scrubbers - which one do you use ?
 
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