Teardown of Apple's new Mac Mini reveals space for second hard drive
A teardown of Apple's just-released Mac Mini reveals a similar design to the previous generation, though with the addition of the new processor, Thunderbolt controller and Bluetooth 4.0, while the company's decision to remove the optical drive made room for a second storage drive.
Apple released the latest version of the Mac Mini on Wednesday, adding next-generation Intel processors, improved graphics for up to twice the performance, and the high-speed Thunderbolt port. The company also released Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, new MacBook Airs and a Thunderbolt LED Cinema Display.
The teardown specialists at iFixit have taken apart the 2.3GHz Core i5 version of the new diminutive desktop, noting that the innards "look rather identical to the previous model."
As is often the case with the company, Apple has given and taken away. This time around, the Mac maker has made the controversial decision to remove the optical drive. But, with the centimeter and a half of extra space gained, the company has made room for a second hard drive or solid state drive.
The publication suggests that users may be able to install a second hard drive by themselves, with the only deterrent being "the availability of a second SATA hard drive-to-logic board cable." Apple does offer dual hard drive build-to-order options for its more expensive 2.5GHz i5 model and the quad-core 2.0GHz i7 server version comes standard with two 500GB HDDs, but iFixit's teardown appears to show that users can add a second drive to the low-end model on their own.
According to the report, the Mac Mini utilizes a similar Thunderbolt port controller to that found in the Early 2011 iMac. The desktop also contains the same Bluetooth 4.0 chip as the one discovered in the MacBook Air earlier
Apple released the latest version of the Mac Mini on Wednesday, adding next-generation Intel processors, improved graphics for up to twice the performance, and the high-speed Thunderbolt port. The company also released Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, new MacBook Airs and a Thunderbolt LED Cinema Display.
The teardown specialists at iFixit have taken apart the 2.3GHz Core i5 version of the new diminutive desktop, noting that the innards "look rather identical to the previous model."
As is often the case with the company, Apple has given and taken away. This time around, the Mac maker has made the controversial decision to remove the optical drive. But, with the centimeter and a half of extra space gained, the company has made room for a second hard drive or solid state drive.
The publication suggests that users may be able to install a second hard drive by themselves, with the only deterrent being "the availability of a second SATA hard drive-to-logic board cable." Apple does offer dual hard drive build-to-order options for its more expensive 2.5GHz i5 model and the quad-core 2.0GHz i7 server version comes standard with two 500GB HDDs, but iFixit's teardown appears to show that users can add a second drive to the low-end model on their own.
According to the report, the Mac Mini utilizes a similar Thunderbolt port controller to that found in the Early 2011 iMac. The desktop also contains the same Bluetooth 4.0 chip as the one discovered in the MacBook Air earlier
Comments
Uhm... The mini has an option for two drives, at least the 2.5ghz model.
But doesn't come with the connecting cable for the second drive if you only buy it with one, is what it's saying.
Uhm... The mini has an option for two drives, at least the 2.5ghz model.
You beat me to it! How is it that an article like this is published, when a simple check on the Apple Store tells you its a feature! I'm going to buy one, and add a 3rd party SSD, still cant decide if the i7 is worth the $160 NZD upgrade...
You beat me to it! How is it that an article like this is published, when a simple check on the Apple Store tells you its a feature! I'm going to buy one, and add a 3rd party SSD, still cant decide if the i7 is worth the $160 NZD upgrade...
The article actually points out that Apple sells the mini with an option for 2 hard disks, but that the space is there in the low-end model for folks to add their own second HD.
The article actually points out that Apple sells the mini with an option for 2 hard disks, but that the space is there in the low-end model for folks to add their own second HD.
But the cable to do so also isn't there.
The article actually points out that Apple sells the mini with an option for 2 hard disks, but that the space is there in the low-end model for folks to add their own second HD.
Yes, NOW it does. They changed the article without stating that it was changed, which is poor journalism.
Uhm... The mini has an option for two drives, at least the 2.5ghz model.
That has been true for some time. In fact, I have a previous generation Mini Server on my desk which has 2 hard drives and no optical drive.
But the cable to do so also isn't there.
I can see MCE Tech or some other company offering their own version of such a cable in a few months, or some other retailer maybe selling Apple's part.
Apple is all over the place with Mac repairs and upgrades. You can't upgrade the hard drive in an iMac but you can screw with all the parts in the Mini.
It's simplified, but it still takes about 5 steps to get the drive out, and 5 to get it back in again. Maybe simpler than an iMac, but not something I'd recommend for very many people. I think a lot of people can do it pretty easily if they set their mind to it, but it's still a somewhat delicate operation.
Would have liked to have seen the teardown of the model with the discrete graphics card. Specifically, is it upgradeable in the future or just a soldered on chip?
How are you going to upgrade any laptop's GPU? Because that's what this is.
This is totally ridiculous. I can see a 3rd party market for outfits like OWC, Newer, and Belkin* to make port extenders that stack under the Mini and provide a USB, FW and HD card ports in the faking front where they'll be used!
* Like this: Belkin hub
unfamiliarity with the way Apple designs things
You're new to this whole thing, aren't you?
WTF did Apple decide to put the SD card slot in the fscking rear of the Mini? Oh sure, that's where all the port h/w is already located but how the heck are we users supposed to reach around under our monitor and snake our hands between the rat's nest of cable to insert the SC card?
This is totally ridiculous. I can see a 3rd party market for outfits like OWC, Newer, and Belkin* to make port extenders that stack under the Mini and provide a USB, FW and HD card ports in the faking front where they'll be used!
You want the ports and card slot on the front? Turn it around!
WTF did Apple decide to put the SD card slot in the fscking rear of the Mini? Oh sure, that's where all the port h/w is already located but how the heck are we users supposed to reach around under our monitor and snake our hands between the rat's nest of cable to insert the SC card?
This is totally ridiculous. I can see a 3rd party market for outfits like OWC, Newer, and Belkin* to make port extenders that stack under the Mini and provide a USB, FW and HD card ports in the faking front where they'll be used!
* Like this: Belkin hub
yep, it's really dumb. it was discussed on these boards when they launched this design.
Apple has an annoying tendency to sometime put form before function, which is of course very bad design.
Another recent example was the original unibody MacBook Pros which had the mini displayport to the right of the USB ports because it looked better there, even though it meant that if you had a monitor plugged in it meant that the USB ports were blocked. At least they addressed this with the 2nd gen case design and swapped the ports...
WTF did Apple decide to put the SD card slot in the fscking rear of the Mini? Oh sure, that's where all the port h/w is already located but how the heck are we users supposed to reach around under our monitor and snake our hands between the rat's nest of cable to insert the SC card?
This is totally ridiculous. I can see a 3rd party market for outfits like OWC, Newer, and Belkin* to make port extenders that stack under the Mini and provide a USB, FW and HD card ports in the faking front where they'll be used!
* Like this: Belkin hub
I'm going to sit my mac mini underneath my HP LP2475w and run a single cable up to the monitor. It will be 35 inches away from me. Real tough to slide in one of those cards. Of course, I have no current use for them. I'll have the RAID/Thunderbolt set up before I have a need for an SD card, but that doesn't change the fact it's painfully easy to get to it.
Apple shouldn't care that your set up is a tangle of cables. That's your problem to resolve.
You want the ports and card slot on the front? Turn it around!
Why should this be necessary? A card slot in the back is awkward, and having all the cables face the user is even more awkward. Your response just doesn't make any sense unless you're trying to parody an Apple apologist.