Mac Mini

Mac mini

2011 Unibody Mac mini
Manufacturer	Apple Inc.
Type	Desktop & Server
Release date	October 23, 2012 (current release) January 22, 2005 (original release)
Introductory price	US $599-$799
Media	CD/DVD drive (pre-July 2011 models), Digital distribution (post-July 2011 models)
Operating system	OS X
Power	84 W PSU (7 A@12 V)
CPU	Intel Core i5 & Core i7 (current release) PowerPC G4 (original release)
Storage capacity	500 GB (i5 model), 1 TB (i7 model), or two 1TB hard drives (i7 server model)
Memory	4, 8, 16 GB DDR3-1600MHz
Display	None included
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, FireWire, USB 3 (current release), HDMI, SDXC, Thunderbolt
Dimensions	1.4 inches (36 mm) H 7.7 inches (196 mm) W 7.7 inches (196 mm) D
Weight	2.7 pounds (1.2 kg)
Related articles	iMac, Mac Pro
Website	Apple – Mac mini Apple – Mac mini Server

The Mac Mini (marketed as Mac mini) is a small form factor desktop computer manufactured by Apple Inc. Like earlier mini-ITX PC designs, it is 7.7 inches (196 mm) square and 1.4 inches (36 mm) tall. It weighs 2.7 pounds (1 kg). Before the mid-2011 revision, all models, except the mid-2010 server model, came with an internal optical disc drive. Models pre-2010 used an external power supply and were narrower but taller at 2.0×6.5×6.5 inches (51×170×170 mm). The Mac Mini is one of three desktop computers in the current Macintosh lineup, the other two being the iMac and Mac Pro, although it generally uses components usually featured in laptops, hence its small size.

The Mac Mini was the first consumer level Macintosh desktop to ship without a display, keyboard, or mouse since Apple's success following the release of the iMac, with Apple marketing it as BYODKM (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse) to reinforce this fact. The primary intended market for the Mac Mini was users switching from a traditional Windows PC to a Mac who might already own a compatible display, keyboard and mouse, though these could be easily purchased if needed. A special Server version of the computer is also intended for use as a server in a small network, and starting with the mid-2010 revision, all Server models include the Server edition of the OS X operating system.

The updated unibody Mac Mini is notable as Apple's first computer to include an HDMI video port to connect to a television or other display, more readily positioning the unit as a home theater device alternative to the Apple TV.

Overview

A small form factor computer had been widely speculated and requested long before the release of the Mac Mini. Rumors predicted that the "headless iMac" would be extremely small, include no display, and would be positioned as Apple's entry-level desktop computer. On January 10, 2005, the Mac Mini was announced alongside the iPod shuffle at the Macworld Conference & Expo and was described by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the time as the "most affordable Mac ever".

The Mac Mini is an entry-level computer intended for budget-minded customers. Until the 2011 release, the Mac Mini had much less processing power than the other computers of the Macintosh lineup. Unlike normal desktop computers, which use standard-sized components such as 3.5-inch hard drives, Apple uses lower power laptop components in the Mac Mini to fit all the necessary components into the small case and to prevent overheating, common in such compact spaces. Previously, with the choice of components on the older models, the machine was considered somewhat slower than standard desktop computers. It also had less storage and memory than comparable desktops. However, the 2011 upgrade addressed many of these previous complaints.

In general, the Mac Mini has been praised as a relatively affordable computer with a solid range of features. However, the press also agrees that it is relatively high priced for a computer aimed at the lower segment of the market. It is possible to buy small form factor computers at the same price with faster processors, better graphics card, more memory, and/or more storage. Nevertheless, the small form factor has made the Mac Mini particularly useful as a home theater solution.

On October 22, 2009, Apple introduced a new server version of the Mac Mini along with revisions of the computer. This model lacks an optical drive, but contains a second hard drive in its place. This version is marketed as an affordable server for small businesses and schools.

A new model of the Mini was introduced on June 15, 2010. The new model was thinner, with a unibody aluminum case designed to be easily opened for RAM access, and incorporated upgraded hardware, such as an HDMI port and Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics. An update announced July 20, 2011 dropped the internal CD/DVD optical drive from all versions and introduced a Thunderbolt port, Intel Core i5 processor, and either Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated graphics or AMD Radeon HD 6630M dedicated graphics. The server model was upgraded to a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor.

Design

The original Mac Mini before the 2010 re-design

Inside of an Intel Mac Mini circa 2007

The most notable feature of the Mac Mini is its size. The original design measured only 2.0×6.5×6.5 inches (51×170×170 mm). The exterior of the original Mac Mini was made of aluminum capped with polycarbonate plastic on the top and bottom. The original design had no visible screws and was not meant to be upgraded by the user. The back of the machine contains the I/O ports and vents for the cooling system. It had an external power supply.

The Mac Mini, updated on June 15, 2010, was fully redesigned, being slimmer than the prior models at only 1.4 inches (36 mm) tall, but wider at 7.7 inches (196 mm) a side. The weight rose from 2.9 to 3.0 pounds (1.3 to 1.4 kg). The power supply is now internal as opposed to external. The chassis no longer has the polycarbonate plastic on the top or bottom. The newer model, introduced July 20, 2011 has the same physical dimensions but is slightly lighter, at 2.7 pounds (1.2 kg), presumably because it lacks an internal CD/DVD drive.

The current Mac Mini is designed to be opened using a round cover on the bottom of the computer. Prior versions of the Mini were much more difficult to open. Some Mac Mini owners used a putty knife or a pizza cutter to pry open the cases of older Mini models to gain access to the interior for installation of cheaper third party memory upgrades. The official Apple Service Source manual for Mac Mini describes this procedure in detail, including an official Apple part number for a "modified putty knife". It's also possible to use wires to pull the white plastic bottom case out of the metal top case. While opening the case does not actually void the Mac Mini warranty, anything broken while the case is open is not covered. Other modifications include hard disk upgrades, overclocking the processor (G4 only), and upgrading the wireless networking (for older models) to 802.11n. The 2009 model can have its SuperDrive replaced with a second SATA hard drive. The removal of the optical drive in the 2011 models leaves internal space for a second internal hard drive or SSD, which can be ordered as a BTO option from Apple.

With the switch to the Intel Core Solo and Duo line, Apple initially used a socketed CPU in the Mac Mini that allowed the processor to be replaced. They switched to a non-socketed CPU with the 2009 model that did not allow an easy upgrade. With the June 2010 revision, the case can be readily opened to add RAM.

Home theater

The Mac Mini can be used for home cinema (theater) applications. The small footprint, multi-format video output, digital audio output, remote control IR receiver and the relatively powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processors make it easy to use the Mac Mini as part of a home entertainment system.

A 2008 Mac Mini as a home theater PC demonstrating the Front Row application. Current models include an HDMI port for easy connection with modern televisions and home theater receivers.

It can be classified as a home theater PC (HTPC) with some limits. The Mac Mini does not include an integrated TV tuner card and cannot be upgraded to install one internally; accessing TV requires external devices like Elgato's EyeTV USB adapter or SiliconDust's HDHomeRun networked TV tuner which will encode and manage broadcast television from a cable or satellite receiver. The July 2011 model lacks a built in CD/DVD player and OS X Lion no longer supports FrontRow remote control software.

Pre-2009 Mac Mini models had a video connector which was compatible with DVI, HDMI (video only), SVGA, S-Video and composite video with the appropriate adapter. Sound is provided by a combination jack that uses both mini-RCA (analog) and optical fiber cables (digital). Unlike the Apple TV, the Mac Mini is backward compatible with televisions that have only composite or S-Video inputs. As of the July 2011 revision of the Mac Mini, the computer sports an Intel HD3000 graphics processor with an optional Radeon graphics processing unit available and Thunderbolt which makes decoding high-resolution video much quicker and efficient. The addition of an HDMI port simplifies connecting the Mini to high-definition televisions and home theater AV receivers.

Because of the similar small form factor, HDMI port, remote control IR receiver, and media browser interface, some users see the Mac Mini as an Apple TV alternative. It has both iTunes for media rental, purchase, and management, and a native user interface with Front Row, based on the user interface of the original Apple TV. The Apple TV is limited to video in the MP4 format, whereas Mac Mini users employing the appropriate QuickTime codecs can watch other video formats like Divx, Xvid, and the Matroska (Mkv) container, or almost all other formats using an open source player such as VLC, without resorting to hacks. The current Intel models of Mac Mini can display video via the HDMI port at a maximum resolution of 1080p.

The Mac Mini can also run third-party front-end media player applications for Mac OS X, such as Plex or XBMC, to be used as a home theater PC (HTPC).

Mac Mini G4

The specifications below are from Apple's "tech specs" page, except where noted.

Processors

The Mac Mini G4 uses single-core 32-bit PowerPC processors that have 512 KB of on-chip L2 cache. The processor accesses memory through the front-side bus, which is clocked at 167 MHz. The chips in these models of Mac Mini run at 1.25, 1.33, 1.42, or 1.5 GHz. The computer supports an ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM standard. The high-end model of the last revision comes with 64 MB of video memory instead.

Memory

The Mac Mini G4 uses 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, allows a maximum of 1 GB of memory, and has only one desktop DIMM slot for random-access memory. This restricts both the maximum amount of available memory, which can greatly reduce performance by forcing the system to page to the hard disk, and, since the system is unable to take advantage of dual channels, maximum bandwidth. This issue was addressed in the Intel models of Mac Mini by using two notebook DIMM slots.

Storage

The Mac Mini G4 uses a single 2.5-inch Ultra ATA/100 hard drive, which offers a maximum transfer rate of 100 MB/s. Because of its sealed enclosure, it is not possible to upgrade the hard drive without opening the enclosure and possibly voiding the warranty of the system. The Mac Mini G4 also contains a second ATA cable that connects to the optical drive. A Combo drive was included as standard, while a SuperDrive able to write to DVDs was also an option.

External connectivity

The original Mac Mini includes two USB 2.0 and one FireWire 400 port. Networking is supported with 10/100 Ethernet and V.92 modem ports, while 802.11b/g and Bluetooth were additional build-to-order options. The modem was later omitted from the Mac Mini, but an external modem remained an option. External displays are supported via a DVI port. Adaptors are also available for VGA, S-Video, and composite video. The system contains a built-in speaker and an analog 1/8-inch stereo Mini jack for sound out at the back of the case.

In the last revision of the Mac Mini G4, the internal mezzanine board was upgraded to accommodate the AirPort Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology onto one chip. In prior models, the Mac Mini included an AirPort Extreme card taped to the mezzanine board and a separate Bluetooth module. This new Wi-Fi card also no longer uses an MMCX-Female connector for the antenna (as the prior models did) but rather a proprietary Apple one.

Specifications

Component	PowerPC G4
Model	Early 2005	Mid 2005	Late 2005
Release date	January 11, 2005	July 26, 2005	September 27, 2005
Order number	M9686*/A, M9687*/A	M9686*/B, M9687*/B, M9971*/B	M9687*/B, M9971*/B
Machine model	PowerMac10,1		PowerMac10,2
Model number	A1103
Processor	1.25 GHz or 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A)		1.33 GHz or 1.5 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A)
Cache	64 KB L1, 512 KB L2 (1:1)
Front-side bus	167 MHz
Memory one RAM slot	256 MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM Expandable to 1 GB		512 MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM Expandable to 1 GB
Graphics	ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM.		ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32 MB or 64 MB of DDR SDRAM.
Hard drive	40 or 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 4200-rpm		40 or 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 5400-rpm
Optical drive	8× DVD read, 24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW recording, 8× DVD±R read Combo drive or 8× DVD±R read, 8× DVD±R writes, 4× DVD±RW writes or 2.4× DVD±R writes, 24× CD read, 24× CD-R, and 16× CD-RW recording SuperDrive	8× DVD read, 24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW recording Combo drive or 8× DVD±R read, 4× DVD±R writes or 2× DVD±RW writes, 24× CD read, 16× CD-R, and 8× CD-RW recording SuperDrive
AirPort Extreme	Optional or Integrated 802.11b/g
Ethernet	10/100 Base-T
Maximum operating system	OS X 10.5 "Leopard"
Weight	2.9 pounds (1.3 kg)
Dimensions	2.0 inches (51 mm) H × 6.5 inches (170 mm) W × 6.5 inches (170 mm) D

Notes:
¹ The serial number and specifications sticker on the underside of the latest revision do not carry the actual specs of the upgrade. For example, on a 1.5 GHz model, 1.42 GHz is listed. The product packaging also did not reflect the upgrade. Apple did not revise the official specifications on their web site.

Alternative operating systems

The Mac Mini G4 can run different operating systems designed for the PowerPC architecture. For example, users can easily install the AmigaOS-compatible MorphOS, or Linux distributions such as Debian or Ubuntu.

Support for pre-OS X Mac applications

Unlike the Intel models, the Mac Mini G4 can, if running Mac OS X Tiger or earlier, run older pre-OS X "classic" Mac applications. The Classic Environment was removed in Mac OS X Leopard, so a Mac Mini G4 running Leopard cannot run those applications.

Intel-based Mac Mini

The specifications below are from Apple's "tech specs" page, except where noted.

Processors

The current non-server Mac Mini is available in two versions, one with a mobile dual-core 64-bit Intel Core i5 processor that runs at 2.5 GHz and one with a choice of a mobile quad-core Intel Core i7 2.3 GHz or a quad-core Core i7 2.6 GHz; the server model has a choice of the same processors as the faster non-server model. The CPU in the slower non-server model has a 3MB on-chip L3 cache, and the CPUs available for the faster non-server model and the server model have a 6MB on-chip L3 cache; the cache is shared between the cores and GPU (if in use). Prior revisions used a "Penryn" Intel Core 2 Duo processor, "Merom"-based Core 2 Duo and "Yonah"-based Core Duo and Solo chips.

The 2006 and 2007 Mac Minis that come standard with a 32-bit Intel Core Duo processor can be changed to an Intel 64-bit Core 2 Duo processor through a simple upgrade. Since the 2006 and 2007 "Merom"-based Mac Minis came with socketed processors, the 32-bit processor can easily be removed, and replaced with a compatible 64-bit Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The following processors are compatible: 2.00 GHz Intel T7200 SL9SF, 2.16 GHz Intel T7400 SL9SE, 2.33 GHz Intel T7600 SL9SD. The more recent 2009 and later Mac Minis have the processors soldered onto the logic board and thus are not upgradable. Once the 2006/2007 Mac Mini has been upgraded to a 64 bit Core 2 Duo processor, and RAM is upgraded to at least 2GB, it can run OS X Lion through a minor modification by editing or deleting the platformsupport.plist file. Many users have found that such upgrades can make the 2006/2007 Mac Minis' performance even better than the 2009 Mac Mini models. Geekbench scores have shown that the 2.33Ghz Core 2 Duo fitted Mac Mini with 2GB of RAM has a score of 3060 whereas a late 2009 Mac Mini with 2GB of RAM has 3056 making the two machines fairly comparable.

While the Mac Mini G4 contained a separate graphics processor, all revisions of the Intel-based Mac Mini contain integrated GPUs, except in the 2011 version where the 2.5 GHz model contains a separate AMD Radeon GPU. In Apple's early marketing of the Mac Mini G4, it touted the superiority of the use of a discrete ATI Radeon 9200 32 MB graphics card over the integrated graphics included in many budget PCs. The Intel GMA that was built into the Mac Mini was criticized for producing stuttering video, despite supporting hardware accelerated H.264 video playback, and disappointing frame rates in graphics-intensive 3D games.

Memory

Unlike the Mac Mini G4, the Intel-based Mac Mini uses a dual-channel architecture for memory. The original Intel-based Mac Mini uses 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, while models starting with the early 2009 revision use 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM. From the 2011 revision the Mac Mini supports up to 16 GB of memory. The current model also features a removable bottom panel, so that the memory can be replaced by the user. Since the integrated graphics processor does not have its own dedicated memory, the system shares some of the main system memory with it.

Storage

The Intel-based Mac Mini moves away from the formerly used Ultra ATA/100 to the newer Serial ATA interface, which offers a maximum 3 Gbit/s transfer rate, however all models of Intel Mac Mini have been limited to 1.5 Gbit/s even though the SATA standard supports a transfer of 3 Gbit/s. All models continue to use 2.5-inch hard drives as opposed to the 3.5-inch drives used in standard desktops. A server edition of the Mac Mini was introduced in October 2009, which omits the optical drive in favor of a second hard drive for a total of 1 TB of storage. A Combo drive was initially offered as standard, with the SuperDrive being an option, but through the 2010 models, all models that have an optical drive contain the SuperDrive as standard. The 2010 standard version of the Mac (without Server) comes with a 300 GB or on 2.66 GHz 500 GB of storage.

External connectivity

Back panel of a mid 2007 2,1 model Mac Mini. From left to right, first row: power button, 10 ventilation holes, Kensington lock slot, audio in, audio out. Second row: DC in, gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 400, DVI, 4 USB 2.0 ports

Back panel of a late 2009 3,1 model Mac Mini. From left to right, first row: power button, 10 ventilation holes, Kensington lock slot, audio in, audio out. Second row: DC in, gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 800, mini DVI, mini-DisplayPort, 5 USB 2.0 ports

The original Intel-based Mac Mini includes four USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port. Networking is supported with a built-in Gigabit Ethernet port and an integrated 802.11b/g AirPort card. Bluetooth was also made standard. External displays are supported through a DVI port. While the Mac Mini G4 supports only analog audio output, the Intel-based Mac Mini has separate mini-TOSLINK/1/8" (3.5 mm) mini-jacks that support both analog audio input and output as well optical digital S/PDIF input and output.

The I/O ports were changed with the early 2009 revision. A fifth USB 2.0 port was added and the FireWire 400 port was replaced with a FireWire 800 port. The AirPort card was upgraded to 802.11a/b/g/draft-n and later to 802.11a/b/g/n. Bluetooth was also upgraded from 2.0 to 2.1. Instead of a single full-size DVI port, a mini-DVI port was added along with a Mini DisplayPort connection, which allows dual display support. Unlike the DVI port, the Mini DisplayPort supports external displays with a resolution up to 2560 × 1600, which allows use of the 30-inch Cinema Display with the Mac Mini. As of this revision, the Apple Remote is no longer included with the Mac Mini.

The Mac Mini 2009 model gave access to 3 different USB busses on the back. Port 2 shares a USB bus with the IR connection. Ports 1+5 and 3+4 are each on their own USB bus. So it should be possible to get a throughput of 3x480=1440 Mbit/s.

Specifications

Component	Intel Core		Intel Core 2 Duo
Model	Early 2006	Late 2006	Mid 2007	Early 2009	Late 2009
Release date	February 28, 2006	September 6, 2006	August 7, 2007	March 3, 2009	October 20, 2009
Order number	MA205*/A, MA206*/A	MA607*/A, MA608*/A	MB138*/A, MB139*/A	MB463*/A, MB464*/A	MC238*/A, MC239*/A, MC408*/A
Machine model	Macmini1,1		Macmini2,1	Macmini3,1
Model number	A1176			A1283
Processor	1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo (T1200) or 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo (T2300) Upgradable up to an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 Ghz processor.	1.66 GHz (T2300) or 1.83 GHz (T2400) Intel Core Duo Upgradable up to an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz processor.	1.83 GHz (T5600) or 2.0 GHz (T7200) Intel Core 2 Duo	2.0 GHz (P7350) Intel Core 2 Duo Optional 2.26 GHz (P8400) Intel Core 2 Duo	2.26 GHz (P7550) or 2.53 GHz (P8700) Intel Core 2 Duo Optional 2.66 GHz (P8800) Intel Core 2 Duo
Cache	2 MB on-chip L2 cache		2 MB (1.83 GHz), 4 MB (2.0 GHz) shared	3 MB on-chip L2 cache
Front-side bus	667 MHz			1067 MHz
Memory two RAM slots	512 MB (2 × 256 MB) of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM Expandable to 2 GB		1 GB (2 × 512 MB) of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM Expandable to 4 GB	1 GB (1 × 1 GB) or 2 GB (2 × 1 GB) of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM Expandable to 8 GB (4 GB supported by Apple)	2 GB (2 × 1 GB) or 4 GB (2 × 2 GB) of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM Expandable to 8 GB (4 GB supported by Apple)
Graphics shared with main memory	Intel GMA 950 using 64 MB of DDR2 SDRAM (up to 224 MB in OS X with sufficient RAM or Windows through Boot Camp)			Nvidia GeForce 9400M using 128 MB or 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM	Nvidia GeForce 9400M using 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM
Hard drive 5400-rpm unless specified	60 or 80 GB Serial ATA Optional 100 GB or 120 GB	60 or 80 GB Serial ATA Optional 100 GB, 120 GB, 160 GB	80 or 120 GB Serial ATA Optional 160 GB	120 or 320 GB Serial ATA Optional 250 GB	160 or 320 GB Serial ATA 2 × 500 GB on server model Optional 500 GB
Optical drive	8× DVD read, 24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW recording Combo drive or 8× DVD±R read, 4× DVD±R writes or 2× DVD±RW writes, 24× CD read, 16× CD-R, and 8× CD-RW recording SuperDrive			8× DVD±R read, 6× DVD±R-DL writes, 8× DVD±R writes or 6× DVD±RW writes, 24× CD read, 24× CD-R and CD-RW recording SuperDrive	8× DVD±R read, 6× DVD±R-DL writes, 8× DVD±R writes, 6× DVD-RW writes, 8× DVD+RW writes, 24× CD read, 24× CD-R and CD-RW recording SuperDrive No optical drive on server model
AirPort Extreme	Integrated Atheros 802.11b/g (some models may unofficially support 802.11a as well[citation needed])			Integrated Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/draft-n	Integrated Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/n
Ethernet	10/100/1000 Base-T
Maximum operating system	OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" Runs OS X Lion through a workaround after Core 2 Duo upgrade.		OS X 10.7 "Lion"	OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion"
Weight	2.9 pounds (1.3 kg)
Dimensions	2.0 inches (5.1 cm) H × 6.5 inches (17 cm) W × 6.5 inches (17 cm) D

Unibody Mac Mini

Back panel of a mid 2010 4,1 model unibody Mac Mini. From left to right, first row: power button, AC power supply plug, Gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 800, HDMI, mini-DisplayPort, 4 USB 2.0 ports, SDXC card slot. Second row: ventilation holes, audio in, audio out.

Structure

Starting from the mid-2010 revision, there is a removable panel on the bottom, enabling the user to upgrade the RAM. The new Mac Mini has an all-aluminium enclosure, called unibody. The unibody manufacturing process was originally developed for the MacBook Air and later also used in the MacBook & MacBook Pro before being introduced into the Mac Mini range.

The built-in power supply negates the need for an external power supply "brick" used on prior models.

There have been other changes in the 2011 revision. They include the elimination of both the Kensington Security Slot, as well as the optical drive. While the fifth USB 2.0 port was also removed, this has given space for an SD card slot to be included on the back of the machine.

Like the 2009 version, a Mini DisplayPort (which allows for a VGA connection, via a non-included cable) is included. An HDMI port, which Apple describes as being HDMI 1.4 compliant, replaces the mini-DVI port on the prior models as one of the main video connection methods. The HDMI port supports up to 1080p on HDMI connections and 8 channel 24-bit audio at 192 kHz, Dolby Surround 5.1 and stereo output. With the included HDMI to DVI adapter, for those currently using a DVI interface, the HDMI port will work with resolutions up to 1920 × 1200 pixels, while the Mini DisplayPort can concurrently support up to a resolution up to 2560 × 1600 pixels.

Specifications

Component	Intel Core 2 Duo		Intel Core i5 & i7
Model	Mid 2010		Mid 2011			Late 2012
Release date	June 15, 2010		July 20, 2011			October 23, 2012
Order number	MC270XX/A	MC438XX/A (server model)	MC815XX/A	MC816XX/A	MC936XX/A (server model)	MD387LL/A	MD388LL/A	MD389LL/A (server model)
Machine model	Macmini4,1		Macmini5,1	Macmini5,2	Macmini5,3	Macmini6,1	Macmini6,2
Model number	A1347
Processor	2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (P8600) Optional 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (P8800)	2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (P8800)	2.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (i5-2415M Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz)	2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (i5-2520M Turbo Boost up to 3.2 GHz) Optional 2.7 GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 (i7-2620M Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz)	2.0 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (i7-2635QM Turbo Boost up to 2.9 GHz)	2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (i5-3210M Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz)	2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (i7-3615QM Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz) Optional 2.6 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (i7-3720QM Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz)
Frequency (Turbo Boost)	2.4 GHz 2.66 GHz with P8800	2.66 GHz	2.3 GHz (2.9 GHz)	2.5 GHz (3.2 GHz) 2.7 GHz (3.4 GHz) with i7-2620M	2.0 GHz (2.9 GHz)	2.5 GHz (3.1 GHz)	2.3 GHz (3.3 GHz) 2.6 GHz (3.6 GHz) with i7-3720QM
Cores (threads)	2		2 (4)		4 (8)	2 (4)	4 (8)
Cache	3 MB on-chip L2		3 MB on-chip shared L3	3 MB on-chip shared L3 4 MB on-chip shared L3 with i7-2620M	6 MB on-chip shared L3	3 MB L3	6 MB L3
Front-side bus	1.07 GHz		DMI
Memory two RAM slots	2 GB (2 × 1 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM Expandable to 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM	4 GB (2 × 2 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM Expandable to 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM	2 GB (2 × 1 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 Optional 4 (2 × 2 GB) or 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM	4 GB (2 × 2 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 Optional 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM		4 GB (2 × 2 GB) 1600 MHz DDR3 Optional 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) or 16 GB (2 × 8 GB) 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
	Unofficially 16 GB (2 × 8 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, via non-Apple suppliers		Unofficially 16 GB (2 × 8 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, via non-Apple suppliers
Graphics shared with main memory	Nvidia GeForce 320M using 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM		Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 288 MB of DDR3 SDRAM	AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics processor with dedicated 256 MB of GDDR5 memory	Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 384 MB of DDR3 SDRAM	Intel HD Graphics 4000
Hard drive	320 GB 5400-rpm SATA HDD Optional 500 GB 5400-rpm SATA HDD	2 × 500 GB 7200-rpm SATA HDD	500 GB 5400-rpm SATA HDD Optional 750 GB 7200-rpm SATA HDD	500 GB 5400-rpm SATA HDD Optional 750 GB 7200-rpm SATA HDD, 256 GB SSD, or 1 × 256 GB SSD + 1 × 750 GB 7200-rpm SATA HDD	2 × 500 GB 7200-rpm SATA HDD Optional 2 × 750 GB 7200-rpm SATA HDD, 1 or 2 × 256 GB SSD(s), or 1 × 256 GB SSD + 1 × 750 GB 7200-rpm SATA HDD	500 GB 5400-rpm SATA HDD	1 TB 5400-rpm SATA HDD Optional 1 TB Fusion Drive or 256 GB SSD	2 × 1 TB 5400-rpm SATA HDD Optional 1 or 2 × 256 GB SSD(s)
Optical drive	SuperDrive (writes: 6× DVD±R-DL, 8× DVD±R, 6× DVD-RW, 8× DVD+RW; reads: 8× DVD±R, 24× CD, 24× CD-R and CD-RW	None included (Optional External Macbook Air Superdrive)				None included (Optional External Superdrive)
Connectivity	10/100/1000 Base-T Gigabit Ethernet port built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1+EDR IR receiver		adds Bluetooth 4.0			same as Mid 2011
Peripheral connections	1 × HDMI Port (Includes HDMI to DVI Adapter) 1 × Mini DisplayPort 1 × SDXC card slot 1 × Firewire 800 port 4 × USB 2.0 ports 1 × 3.5 mm Line out/Headphone jack 1 × 3.5 mm Line in jack		replaces 1x Mini DisplayPort with 1 × Thunderbolt Port			replaces 4 × USB 2.0 ports with 4 × USB 3.0 ports
Operating system	OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" OS X 10.7 "Lion" OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion"	OS X Server 10.6 "Snow Leopard Server" OS X Server 10.7 "Lion Server" OS X Server 10.8 "Mountain Lion Server"	OS X 10.7 "Lion" OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion"		OS X Server 10.7 "Lion Server" OS X Server 10.8 "Mountain Lion Server"	OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion"		OS X Server 10.8 "Mountain Lion Server"
Noise at idle	13 dBA (2.4 GHz) 15 dbA (2.66 GHz)	15 dBA	16 dBA		17 dBA	12 dBA	15 dBA	16 dBA
Power
Greenhouse gas emissions	270 kilograms (600 lb) CO2e	710 kilograms (1,600 lb) CO2e	280 kilograms (620 lb) CO2e		1,130 kilograms (2,500 lb) CO2e	290 kilograms (640 lb) CO2e		1,020 kilograms (2,200 lb) CO2e
Weight	3.0 pounds (1.4 kg)	2.8 pounds (1.3 kg)	2.7 pounds (1.2 kg)		3.0 pounds (1.4 kg)	2.7 pounds (1.2 kg)		2.9 pounds (1.3 kg)
Dimensions	1.4 inches (36 mm) H × 7.7 inches (196 mm) W × 7.7 inches (196 mm) D

Mac Mini Server

Apple offers a configuration of the Mac Mini preloaded with OS X Server and additional server components. This machine also has a second hard drive in place of the optical drive. As of November 5, 2010, the Mac Mini Server, along with the Mac Pro Server, is the replacement for Apple's Xserve line, which was discontinued on January 31, 2011.

See also

• Dell Studio Hybrid
• Dell Inspiron 400 (Zino HD)
• ASUS Eee Box
• Acer Aspire Revo
• MSI Wind PC
• Small form factor, Nettop
• Apple TV

External links

• Official website
• Apple – Mac mini Server