Future mini hardware

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
Does anyone know if there are any Mac mini changes in the future? Processor changes, enclosure, etc.? If so, what is the anticipated time frame?
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 29
    Well, I would like to see a REAL graphics card in one,

    My integrated graphics suck
  • Reply 2 of 29
    nobody knows...apple never reveals info about new hardware before it's released
  • Reply 3 of 29
    Maybe at Paris Expo? or Macworld?
  • Reply 4 of 29
    My guess is that the Mac mini will get Core 2 when Apple has a sufficient supply. I don't see a graphics card because of the size factor, but I understand that Intel is going to improve the integrated graphics in 07 with a new chipset - seem to have read that somewhere.
  • Reply 5 of 29
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by kenaustus


    My guess is that the Mac mini will get Core 2 when Apple has a sufficient supply. I don't see a graphics card because of the size factor, but I understand that Intel is going to improve the integrated graphics in 07 with a new chipset - seem to have read that somewhere.



    i agree about the core 2 duo, but why no graphics card...they were able to do it in the PPC minis, so why not these
  • Reply 6 of 29
    backtomacbacktomac Posts: 4,579member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by luv2playtenis


    i agree about the core 2 duo, but why no graphics card...they were able to do it in the PPC minis, so why not these



    COST.
  • Reply 7 of 29
    ya, i guess...maybe the could make it a special option
  • Reply 8 of 29
    ionyzionyz Posts: 491member
    I see a Core 2 Duo Mobile or whatever they are calling it, (Merom) and Intel's more advanced intergrated graphics. The Merom you can pop into an exisiting Mac mini yourself if your careful. Video will always be lack luster. The onboard now is Core Graphics enabled, while the previous dedicated GPU (Radeon 9200) was not.



    In Quake 4 between a 1.4 GHz G4 and a 1.5 GHz solo I get similar numbers. So dedicated is kinda meh if they don't back it up with a DECENT dedicated and VRAM to match. Best we can hope for is better onboard. Yippie.
  • Reply 9 of 29
    backtomacbacktomac Posts: 4,579member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by IonYz


    I see a Core 2 Duo Mobile or whatever they are calling it, (Merom) and Intel's more advanced intergrated graphics. The Merom you can pop into an exisiting Mac mini yourself if your careful. Video will always be lack luster. The onboard now is Core Graphics enabled, while the previous dedicated GPU (Radeon 9200) was not.



    In Quake 4 between a 1.4 GHz G4 and a 1.5 GHz solo I get similar numbers. So dedicated is kinda meh if they don't back it up with a DECENT dedicated and VRAM to match. Best we can hope for is better onboard. Yippie.



    I don't think the mini wil ever be a gaming machine.
  • Reply 10 of 29
    well, obviously it will never be good for the games of today, but simple games are fine
  • Reply 11 of 29
    sc_marktsc_markt Posts: 1,402member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by JakeTheRock


    Well, I would like to see a REAL graphics card in one,

    My integrated graphics suck



    Absolutly agree 1000%! Integrated graphics is cheesy cheap crap best left to the windows world.



    I almost bought a new intel mac mini but I found out they came with integrated graphics so I changed my mind.



    - Mark
  • Reply 12 of 29
    marcukmarcuk Posts: 4,442member
    Merom sucks ass. Its 90% more transistors and gives <10% performance over core duo. They would have been better putting two core duos together for a quad core. Almost same amount of transistors, >70% performance benefit.
  • Reply 13 of 29
    mac nano... black enclosure. even smaller. glowing apple logo on top.
  • Reply 14 of 29
    zandroszandros Posts: 537member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MarcUK


    Merom sucks ass. Its 90% more transistors and gives <10% performance over core duo. They would have been better putting two core duos together for a quad core. Almost same amount of transistors, >70% performance benefit.



    And twice the heat, twice the power draw.
  • Reply 15 of 29
    ionyzionyz Posts: 491member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by backtomac


    I don't think the mini wil ever be a gaming machine.



    Nor would I, did I say that? Its funny the reactions I get when I put "Mac mini" as my clan name and they say, "your using a Mac mini!?" Haha. It's not fast, but its an interesting challenge as a gamer.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MarcUK


    Merom sucks ass. Its 90% more transistors and gives <10% performance over core duo. They would have been better putting two core duos together for a quad core. Almost same amount of transistors, >70% performance benefit.



    If a Merom 2.1 GHz doesn't outbench a Core Duo I won't get it. If it is based on Core 2 Duo, and THAT outbenches Core Duo I don't see how it couldn't. Merom even out yet?
  • Reply 16 of 29
    Mac Mini is for my mom. If you want power, get a mac pro, renob.
  • Reply 17 of 29
    carniphagecarniphage Posts: 1,984member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by JakeTheRock


    Well, I would like to see a REAL graphics card in one,

    My integrated graphics suck



    Yeah it sucks that it can only run Motion, Final Cut Pro and Shake.

    It sucks that it can playback video at 1080p.



    Must be dreadful for ya.



    C.
  • Reply 18 of 29
    backtomacbacktomac Posts: 4,579member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by IonYz


    Nor would I, did I say that? Its funny the reactions I get when I put "Mac mini" as my clan name and they say, "your using a Mac mini!?" Haha. It's not fast, but its an interesting challenge as a gamer.





    If a Merom 2.1 GHz doesn't outbench a Core Duo I won't get it. If it is based on Core 2 Duo, and THAT outbenches Core Duo I don't see how it couldn't. Merom even out yet?



    Merom is modestly (~10% overall) faster than Yonah clock for clock. Sometimes more, sometimes less. See link below for thorough comparisson of Merom to yonah.



    http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...spx?i=2808&p=1
  • Reply 19 of 29
    MarvinMarvin Posts: 15,326moderator
    I'd rather see better graphics in the Mini before a new processor. Why use the GPU alone to sell higher end machines when they can use both the processor and the GPU?



    low end = Core Duo + dedicated 64MB decent but not great card

    high end = Core 2 Duo + 128-256MB good GPU



    Using faster chips limits the use of the Mini to the likes of developers rather than being a good all-round machine.



    Even if they used something like the Geforce fx 5200 go that is in the powerbook I'm using. If they can put it in a laptop, they can put it in a Mini. That GPU doesn't support core video so it would probably be better getting a dedicated GPU that does.
  • Reply 20 of 29
    ionyzionyz Posts: 491member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marvin


    I'd rather see better graphics in the Mini before a new processor. Why use the GPU alone to sell higher end machines when they can use both the processor and the GPU?



    Most consumer computers in this class use onboard video. IMHO we will only see better onboard, or maybe a dedicated chip but low-end.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marvin


    low end = Core Duo + dedicated 64MB decent but not great card

    high end = Core 2 Duo + 128-256MB good GPU



    With those specs it would eat into the iMac sales wouldn't it?



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marvin


    Using faster chips limits the use of the Mini to the likes of developers rather than being a good all-round machine.



    Even if they used something like the Geforce fx 5200 go that is in the powerbook I'm using. If they can put it in a laptop, they can put it in a Mini. That GPU doesn't support core video so it would probably be better getting a dedicated GPU that does.



    The onboard GMA950 supports Core though. It may be a surprise but outside of games, my 1.5 GHz Core Solo and GMA950 is faster then my 1.4 GHz G4 with dedicated Radeon 9200. So in this case, its better for all around users that they used onboard. And I'm sure Apple loves it because its cheaper for them that means more profit.



    Would I love a Radeon X1600 Mobility in the next Mac mini? Yeah! But will we see a Radeon X1600 Mobility in the next one? Hahaha
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