Mac Mini
Encyclopedia
The Mac Mini is a small form factor
Small form factor
A small form factor is a computer form factor designed to minimize the volume of a desktop computer. For comparison purposes, the size of an SFF case is usually measured in litres. SFFs are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including shoeboxes, cubes, and book-sized PCs...

 desktop computer manufactured by Apple Inc. Like earlier mini-ITX
Mini-ITX
Mini-ITX is a 17 x 17 cm low-power motherboard form factor developed by VIA Technologies in 2001. Mini-ITX is slightly smaller than microATX. Mini-ITX boards can often be passively cooled due to their low power consumption architecture, which makes them useful for home theater PC systems,...

 PC designs, it is uncommonly small for a desktop computer: 7.7 inches (19.7 cm) square and 1.4 inches (3.6 cm) tall. It weighs 2.7 pounds (1.22 kg). Prior to the mid 2011 revision, all models, except the mid 2010 server model, came with an internal optical disc drive. Models prior to 2010 used an external power supply
Power supply
A power supply is a device that supplies electrical energy to one or more electric loads. The term is most commonly applied to devices that convert one form of electrical energy to another, though it may also refer to devices that convert another form of energy to electrical energy...

 and were narrower but taller at 2 × 6.5 × 6.5 inches (50.8 × 165.1 × 165.1 mm). The Mac Mini is one of three desktop computers in the current Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...

 lineup, the other two being the iMac
IMac
The iMac is a range of all-in-one Macintosh desktop computers built by Apple. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its introduction in 1998, and has evolved through five distinct forms....

 and Mac Pro
Mac Pro
The Mac Pro is a workstation computer manufactured by Apple Inc. The machines are based on Xeon microprocessors, but are similar to the Power Mac G5 they replaced in terms of outward appearance and expansion capabilities...

, although it generally uses components usually featured in laptops, hence its small size.

The Mac Mini was the first consumer level Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...

 desktop since Apple's renewed success following the release of the iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...

 to ship without a keyboard, mouse, or display, 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 beginning 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
HDMI
HDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA...

 video port to connect to a television or other display, more readily positioning the unit as a (more expensive) home theater device alternative to the Apple TV.

Overview

A small form factor
Small form factor
A small form factor is a computer form factor designed to minimize the volume of a desktop computer. For comparison purposes, the size of an SFF case is usually measured in litres. SFFs are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including shoeboxes, cubes, and book-sized PCs...

 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
IPod shuffle
The iPod Shuffle is a digital audio player designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is the smallest model in Apple's iPod family, and was the first to use flash memory...

 at the Macworld Conference & Expo
Macworld Conference & Expo
Produced by Boston-based IDG World Expo, Macworld | iWorld is a trade-show with conference tracks dedicated to the Apple Macintosh platform. It is held annually in the United States, usually during the second week of January...

 and was described by Apple CEO Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...

 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. Because of the choice of components, this machine is somewhat slower and has less storage and memory than a full-sized desktop computer would have.

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
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...

 aluminum case designed to be easily opened for RAM access, and incorporated upgraded hardware, such as an HDMI port and Nvidia GeForce 320M
GeForce 300 Series
The GeForce 300 Series is a family of graphics processing units developed by Nvidia. The first card of this series was launched in November 2009. Similar to the GeForce 100 series, the GeForce 300 series consists of re-branded video cards from the previous generation available only for OEMs...

 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 most notable feature of the Mac Mini is its size. The original design measured only 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) by 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) by 2 inches (5.1 cm). 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
Memory-mapped I/O
Memory-mapped I/O and port I/O are two complementary methods of performing input/output between the CPU and peripheral devices in a computer...

 and vents for the cooling system. It had an external power supply.

The Mac Mini, updated on June 15, 2010, was fully redesigned, being even slimmer than the previous models at just 1.4 inches (3.6 cm) tall, but wider at 7.7 inches (19.7 cm) a side. The weight of the computer increased from 2.9 lbs (1.31 kg) to 3.0 lbs (1.37 kg), but the power supply is now internal as opposed to external. The chassis no longer has the polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
PolycarbonatePhysical PropertiesDensity 1.20–1.22 g/cm3Abbe number 34.0Refractive index 1.584–1.586FlammabilityV0-V2Limiting oxygen index25–27%Water absorption – Equilibrium0.16–0.35%Water absorption – over 24 hours0.1%...

 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 lb (1.22 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. Previous versions of the Mini were much more difficult to open. Some Mac Mini owners managed to use a putty knife
Putty knife
A putty knife is a specialized tool used when glazing single glazed windows, to work putty around the edges of each pane of glass. An experienced glazer will apply the putty by hand, and then smooth it with the knife...

 or a pizza cutter
Pizza cutter
A pizza cutter is a utensil that is used to cut pizzas. The use of a pizza cutter instead of a standard knife avoids the dislodging of loose toppings through the back-and-forth motion of the blade typical of a knife. Pizza cutters press their blade down vertically instead.-Varieties:There are two...

 to pry open the cases of older Mini models, thereby gaining access to the interior to install cheaper third party memory upgrades. In fact, the official Apple Service Source manual for Mac Mini describes this procedure in detail, even 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
Overclocking
Overclocking is the process of operating a computer component at a higher clock rate than it was designed for or was specified by the manufacturer, but some manufacturers purposely underclock their components to improve battery life. Many people just overclock or 'rightclock' their hardware to...

 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, however they switched to a non-socketed CPU with the 2009 model that did not allow for an easy upgrade. With the June 2010 revision, the case is designed to be readily opened by the user to add RAM.

Home theater

The Mac Mini can be used for home theater
Home cinema
Home cinema, also commonly called home theater, are home entertainment set-ups that seek to reproduce a movie theater experience and mood with the help of video and audio equipment in a private home....

 applications. The small footprint, multi-format video output, digital audio output
Digital audio
Digital audio is sound reproduction using pulse-code modulation and digital signals. Digital audio systems include analog-to-digital conversion , digital-to-analog conversion , digital storage, processing and transmission components...

, remote control
Remote control
A remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...

 IR receiver
Consumer IR
Consumer IR, consumer infrared, or CIR, refers to a wide variety of devices employing the infrared electromagnetic spectrum for wireless communications. Most commonly found in television remote controls, infrared ports are equally ubiquitous in consumer electronics, such as PDAs, laptops, and...

 and the relatively powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processors made it easy to use the Mac Mini as part of a home entertainment system.
It can be classified as a HTPC (Home Theater PC)
Home theater PC
A Home Theater PC or Media Center appliance is a convergence device that combines some or all the capabilities of a personal computer with a software application that supports video, photo, music playback, and sometimes video recording functionality...

 with some limitations. The Mac Mini does not include an integrated TV tuner card
TV tuner card
A TV tuner card is a kind of television tuner that allows television signals to be received by a computer. Most TV tuners also function as video capture cards, allowing them to record television programs onto a hard disk much like the Tivo digital video recorder does.-Variants: The interfaces for...

 and cannot be upgraded to install one internally; accessing TV requires external devices like Elgato's EyeTV
Elgato
ElgatoSystems is a hardware and software manufacturer that makes television viewing and recording products specifically for the Macintosh family of personal computers, including EyeTV software...

 USB adapter or SiliconDust's HDHomeRun
HDHomeRun
-General Details:There are currently 4 HDHomeRun models on the market: a single-tuner ATSC/clear QAM model, a dual-tuner ATSC/clear QAM model, a dual-tuner commercial ATSC/clear QAM model, and a dual-tuner DVB-T/unencrypted DVB-C model. All models are designed to receive unencrypted digital...

 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
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...

, HDMI
High-Definition Multimedia Interface
HDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA...

 (video only), SVGA, S-Video
S-Video
Separate Video, more commonly known as S-Video and Y/C, is often referred to by JVC as both an S-VHS connector and as Super Video. It is an analog video transmission scheme, in which video information is encoded on two channels: luma and chroma...

 and composite video
Composite video
Composite video is the format of an analog television signal before it is combined with a sound signal and modulated onto an RF carrier. In contrast to component video it contains all required video information, including colors in a single line-level signal...

 with the appropriate adapter. Sound is provided by a combination jack that uses both mini-RCA (analog) and optical fiber
TOSLINK
TOSLINK is a standardized optical fiber connection system. Also known generically as an "optical audio cable," its most common use is in consumer audio equipment , where it carries a digital audio stream from components such as MiniDisc, CD and DVD players, DAT recorders, computers, and modern...

 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
Graphics processing unit
A graphics processing unit or GPU is a specialized circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory in such a way so as to accelerate the building of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display...

 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 receiver
AV receiver
AV receivers or audio-video receivers are one of the many consumer electronics components typically found within a home theatre system. Their primary purpose is to amplify sound from a multitude of possible audio sources as well as route video signals to your TV from various sources. The user may...

s.

Because of the similar small form factor
Small form factor
A small form factor is a computer form factor designed to minimize the volume of a desktop computer. For comparison purposes, the size of an SFF case is usually measured in litres. SFFs are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including shoeboxes, cubes, and book-sized PCs...

, 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
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....

 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
H.264/MPEG-4 AVC
H.264/MPEG-4 Part 10 or AVC is a standard for video compression, and is currently one of the most commonly used formats for the recording, compression, and distribution of high definition video...

 format, whereas Mac Mini users employing the appropriate QuickTime
QuickTime
QuickTime is an extensible proprietary multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity. The classic version of QuickTime is available for Windows XP and later, as well as Mac OS X Leopard and...

 codec
Codec
A codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. The word codec is a portmanteau of "compressor-decompressor" or, more commonly, "coder-decoder"...

s can watch other video formats like Divx
DivX
DivX is a brand name of products created by DivX, Inc. , including the DivX Codec which has become popular due to its ability to compress lengthy video segments into small sizes while maintaining relatively high visual quality.There are two DivX codecs; the regular MPEG-4 Part 2 DivX codec and the...

, Xvid
XviD
Xvid is a video codec library following the MPEG-4 standard, specifically MPEG-4 Part 2 Advanced Simple Profile . It uses ASP features such as b-frames, global and quarter pixel motion compensation, lumi masking, trellis quantization, and H.263, MPEG and custom quantization matrices.Xvid is a...

, and the Mkv
Matroska
The Matroska Multimedia Container is an open standard free container format, a file format that can hold an unlimited number of video, audio, picture or subtitle tracks in one file. It is intended to serve as a universal format for storing common multimedia content, like movies or TV shows...

 container without resorting to hacks. The current Intel models of Mac Mini can display video via the HDMI port at a maximum resolution of 1080p
1080p
1080p is the shorthand identification for a set of HDTV high-definition video modes that are characterized by 1080 horizontal lines of resolution and progressive scan, meaning the image is not interlaced as is the case with the 1080i display standard....

, compared to the Apple TV, which is limited to a maximum resolution of 720p
720p
720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan...

 without third-party modifications.

The Mac Mini can also run third-party front-end media player applications for , such as XBMC, Plex
Plexapp
Plex is a partially open-source freeware media player for Intel-based Apple Macintosh computers. It has a 10-foot user interface design for the living-room TV...

, or Boxee
BOXEE
Boxee is a cross-platform freeware HTPC software application with a 10-foot user interface and social networking features designed for the living-room TV...

, to be used as a HTPC (Home Theater PC). XBMC supports the older PowerPC-based Mac Mini, while the other applications will only run on the Intel-based Mac Mini with the latest versions of Mac OS X.

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
32-bit
The range of integer values that can be stored in 32 bits is 0 through 4,294,967,295. Hence, a processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 GB of byte-addressable memory....

 PowerPC
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...

 processors that have 512 KiB
Kibibyte
The kibibyte is a multiple of the unit byte for quantities of digital information. The binary prefix kibi means 1024; therefore, 1 kibibyte is . The unit symbol for the kibibyte is KiB. The unit was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 1999 and has been accepted for use...

 of on-chip L2 cache. The processor accesses memory through the front side bus
Front side bus
A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge....

, 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
GHZ
GHZ or GHz may refer to:# Gigahertz .# Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state — a quantum entanglement of three particles.# Galactic Habitable Zone — the region of a galaxy that is favorable to the formation of life....

. The computer supports an ATI
Ati
As a word, Ati may refer to:* Ati, a town in Chad* Ati, a Negrito ethnic group in the Philippines* Ati-Atihan Festival, an annual celebration held in the Philippines* Ati, a queen of the fabled Land of Punt in Africa...

 Radeon 9200
Radeon R200
The Radeon R200 is the second generation of Radeon graphics chips from ATI Technologies. The architecture features 3D acceleration based upon Microsoft Direct3D 8.1 and OpenGL 1.3, a major improvement in features and performance compared to the preceding Radeon R100 design. The GPU also includes 2D...

 graphics processor with 32 MiB
Mebibyte
The mebibyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. The binary prefix mebi means 220, therefore 1 mebibyte is . The unit symbol for the mebibyte is MiB. The unit was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 2000 and has been accepted for use by all major...

 of DDR SDRAM standard. The high-end model of the last revision comes with 64 MiB of video memory instead.

Memory

The Mac Mini G4 uses 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, allows a maximum of 1 GiB
Gibibyte
The gibibyte is a standards-based binary multiple of the byte, a unit of digital information storage. The gibibyte unit symbol is GiB....

 of memory, and has only one slot for random access memory. This restricts both the maximum amount of available memory, which can greatly reduce performance by forcing the system to run in virtual memory, 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.

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
Megabyte
The megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...

/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
Analog telephony adapter
An analog telephony adapter, or analog telephone adapter, is a device used to connect one or more standard analog telephones to a digital telephone system or a non-standard telephone system....

 cable that connects to the optical drive. A Combo drive
Combo Drive
A Combo drive is a type of optical drive that combines CD-R/CD-RW recording capability with the ability to read DVD media. The term is used almost exclusively by Apple Inc. as a name for the low-end substitute for their high-end SuperDrive, which was designed to both read and write DVD and DVD...

 was included as standard, while a SuperDrive
SuperDrive
SuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer....

 capable of writing 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
Fast Ethernet
In computer networking, Fast Ethernet is a collective term for a number of Ethernet standards that carry traffic at the nominal rate of 100 Mbit/s, against the original Ethernet speed of 10 Mbit/s. Of the fast Ethernet standards 100BASE-TX is by far the most common and is supported by the...

 and V.92 modem ports, while 802.11b/g
IEEE 802.11g-2003
IEEE 802.11g-2003 or 802.11g is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11 specification that extended throughput to up to 54 Mbit/s using the same 2.4 GHz band as 802.11b. This specification under the marketing name of Wi-Fi has been implemented all over the world...

 and Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...

 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
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...

 port. Adaptors are also available for VGA, S-Video
S-Video
Separate Video, more commonly known as S-Video and Y/C, is often referred to by JVC as both an S-VHS connector and as Super Video. It is an analog video transmission scheme, in which video information is encoded on two channels: luma and chroma...

, and composite video
Composite video
Composite video is the format of an analog television signal before it is combined with a sound signal and modulated onto an RF carrier. In contrast to component video it contains all required video information, including colors in a single line-level signal...

. 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
Daughterboard
A daughterboard, daughtercard or piggyback board is a circuit board meant to be an extension or "daughter" of a motherboard , or occasionally of another card...

 was upgraded to accommodate the AirPort Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology onto one chip. In previous 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 previous models did) but rather a proprietary Apple one.

Specifications

Component PowerPC G4
PowerPC G4
PowerPC G4 is a designation used by Apple Computer to describe a fourth generation of 32-bit PowerPC microprocessors. Apple has applied this name to various processor models from Freescale, a former part of Motorola....

Model Early 2005 Mid 2005 Late 2005
Release date January 11, 2005 July 26, 2005 September 27, 2005
Model Numbers M9686*/A M9687*/A M9686*/B M9687*/B M9971*/B M9687*/B M9971*/B
Machine Model PowerMac10,1 PowerMac10,2
Model ID A1103
Graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....

ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32 MiB of DDR SDRAM. ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32 MiB or 64 MiB of DDR SDRAM.
Hard drive 40 GB or 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 4200-rpm 40 GB or 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 5400-rpm
Processor
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...

1.25 GHz or 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A) 1.33 GHz or 1.5 GHz PowerPC G4 (7447A)
Cache
Cache
In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere...

64 KB L1, 512 KB L2 (1:1)
Front Side Bus
Front side bus
A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge....

167 MHz
Memory
one RAM slot
256 MiB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM
DDR SDRAM
Double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory is a class of memory integrated circuits used in computers. DDR SDRAM has been superseded by DDR2 SDRAM and DDR3 SDRAM, neither of which are either forward or backward compatible with DDR SDRAM, meaning that DDR2 or DDR3 memory modules...


Expandable to 1 GiB
512 MiB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM
DDR SDRAM
Double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory is a class of memory integrated circuits used in computers. DDR SDRAM has been superseded by DDR2 SDRAM and DDR3 SDRAM, neither of which are either forward or backward compatible with DDR SDRAM, meaning that DDR2 or DDR3 memory modules...


Expandable to 1 GiB
AirPort Extreme Optional or Integrated 802.11b/g
IEEE 802.11
IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...

Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....

10/100 Base-T
Optical drive 8× DVD read, 24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW recording, 8× DVD±R read Combo drive
Combo Drive
A Combo drive is a type of optical drive that combines CD-R/CD-RW recording capability with the ability to read DVD media. The term is used almost exclusively by Apple Inc. as a name for the low-end substitute for their high-end SuperDrive, which was designed to both read and write DVD and DVD...

 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
SuperDrive
SuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer....

8× DVD read, 24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW recording Combo drive
Combo Drive
A Combo drive is a type of optical drive that combines CD-R/CD-RW recording capability with the ability to read DVD media. The term is used almost exclusively by Apple Inc. as a name for the low-end substitute for their high-end SuperDrive, which was designed to both read and write DVD and DVD...

 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
SuperDrive
SuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer....

Minimum operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...

 required
Mac OS X 10.3.7 Mac OS X 10.4.2
Maximum Operating System Mac OS X 10.5.8
Weight 2.9 pound
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...

s / 1.32 kg
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...

Dimensions 2 × 6.5 × 6.5 inches / 50.8 × 165.1 × 165.1 mm


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
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...

 architecture. For example, a user can easily install the AmigaOS-compatible MorphOS
MorphOS
MorphOS is an Amiga-compatible computer operating system. It is a mixed proprietary and open source OS produced for the Pegasos PowerPC processor based computer, PowerUP accelerator equipped Amiga computers, and a series of Freescale development boards that use the Genesi firmware, including the...

. Debian
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...

 or Ubuntu Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...

 can also be installed. Unlike the Intel models of Mac Mini, the G4 versions are still capable of running Classic emulation, thus they are compatible with older Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...

 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 versions come as standard with a mobile dual-core 64-bit
64-bit
64-bit is a word size that defines certain classes of computer architecture, buses, memory and CPUs, and by extension the software that runs on them. 64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1970s and in RISC-based workstations and servers since the early 1990s...

 Intel Core i5 processor that runs at 2.3 or 2.5 GHz
GHZ
GHZ or GHz may refer to:# Gigahertz .# Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state — a quantum entanglement of three particles.# Galactic Habitable Zone — the region of a galaxy that is favorable to the formation of life....

 (with an optional mobile dual core Intel Core i7 2.7 GHz also being available). While the server model has a mobile quad-core 64-bit Intel Core i7 processor, that runs at 2.0 GHz. Each CPU, has on-chip L3 cache which is shared between the cores and GPU (if in use). Previous revisions used a "Penryn" Intel Core 2
Intel Core 2
Core 2 is a brand encompassing a range of Intel's consumer 64-bit x86-64 single-, dual-, and quad-core microprocessors based on the Core microarchitecture. The single- and dual-core models are single-die, whereas the quad-core models comprise two dies, each containing two cores, packaged in a...

 Duo processor, "Merom"-based Core 2 Duo
Intel Core 2
Core 2 is a brand encompassing a range of Intel's consumer 64-bit x86-64 single-, dual-, and quad-core microprocessors based on the Core microarchitecture. The single- and dual-core models are single-die, whereas the quad-core models comprise two dies, each containing two cores, packaged in a...

 and "Yonah"-based Core Duo
Intel Core
Yonah was the code name for Intel's first generation of 65 nm process mobile microprocessors, based on the Banias/Dothan-core Pentium M microarchitecture. SIMD performance has been improved through the addition of SSE3 instructions and improvements to SSE and SSE2 implementations, while integer...

 and Solo chips.

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
Ati
As a word, Ati may refer to:* Ati, a town in Chad* Ati, a Negrito ethnic group in the Philippines* Ati-Atihan Festival, an annual celebration held in the Philippines* Ati, a queen of the fabled Land of Punt in Africa...

 Radeon 9200
Radeon R200
The Radeon R200 is the second generation of Radeon graphics chips from ATI Technologies. The architecture features 3D acceleration based upon Microsoft Direct3D 8.1 and OpenGL 1.3, a major improvement in features and performance compared to the preceding Radeon R100 design. The GPU also includes 2D...

 32 MiB graphics card over the integrated graphics included in many budget PCs. The Intel GMA
Intel GMA
The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, or GMA, is a series of Intel integrated graphics processors built into various motherboard chipsets....

 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
Dual-channel architecture
Multi-channel architecture is a technology that increases the transfer speed of data between the RAM and the memory controller by adding more channels of communication between them. Theoretically this multiplies the data rate by exactly the number of channels present. Dual-channel memory employs...

 for memory. The original Intel-based Mac Mini uses 667 MHz DDR2
DDR2 SDRAM
DDR2 SDRAM is a double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory interface. It supersedes the original DDR SDRAM specification and has itself been superseded by DDR3 SDRAM...

 SDRAM
SDRAM
Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs...

, while models beginning with the early 2009 revision uses 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM. The current mid 2010 revision supports up to 8 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 previously used Ultra ATA/100 to the newer Serial ATA
Serial ATA
Serial ATA is a computer bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives...

 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
Terabyte
The terabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. The prefix tera means 1012 in the International System of Units , and therefore 1 terabyte is , or 1 trillion bytes, or 1000 gigabytes. 1 terabyte in binary prefixes is 0.9095 tebibytes, or 931.32 gibibytes...

 of storage. A Combo drive
Combo Drive
A Combo drive is a type of optical drive that combines CD-R/CD-RW recording capability with the ability to read DVD media. The term is used almost exclusively by Apple Inc. as a name for the low-end substitute for their high-end SuperDrive, which was designed to both read and write DVD and DVD...

 was initially offered as standard, with the SuperDrive
SuperDrive
SuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer....

 being an option, but through the 2010 models, all models that have an optical drive contain the SuperDrive
SuperDrive
SuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer....

 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

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
Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet is a term describing various technologies for transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second , as defined by the IEEE 802.3-2008 standard. It came into use beginning in 1999, gradually supplanting Fast Ethernet in wired local networks where it performed...

 port and an integrated 802.11b/g AirPort card. Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...

 was also made standard. External displays are supported through a DVI
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...

 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
TRS connector
A TRS connector is a common family of connector typically used for analog signals including audio. It is cylindrical in shape, typically with three contacts, although sometimes with two or four . It is also called an audio jack, phone jack, phone plug, and jack plug...

 that support both analog audio input and output as well optical digital S/PDIF
S/PDIF
S/PDIF is a digital audio interconnect used in consumer audio equipment over relatively short distances. The signal is transmitted over either a coaxial cable with RCA connectors or a fiber optic cable with TOSLINK connectors. S/PDIF interconnects components in home theaters and other digital high...

 input and output.

The I/O
I/O
I/O may refer to:* Input/output, a system of communication for information processing systems* Input-output model, an economic model of flow prediction between sectors...

 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
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...

 was also upgraded from 2.0 to 2.1. Instead of a single full-size DVI
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...

 port, a mini-DVI
Mini-DVI
The Mini-Dvi connector is used on certain Apple computers as a digital alternative to the Mini-VGA connector. Its size is between the full-sized DVI and the tiny Micro-DVI...

 port was added along with a mini DisplayPort
Mini DisplayPort
The Mini DisplayPort is a miniaturized version of the DisplayPort digital audio-visual interface. Apple, Inc. announced the development in the fourth quarter of 2008, and now applies it in the LED Cinema Display and in all new Macintosh computers: MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini,...

 connection, which allows dual display support. Unlike the DVI
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...

 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
Apple Remote
The Apple Remote is a remote control made for use with Apple products with infrared capabilities released after October 2005. The device was announced by Steve Jobs on October 12, 2005. The remote is largely based on the interface of the first generation iPod Shuffle and has only six buttons...

 is no longer included with the Mac Mini.

Specifications

Component Intel Core
Intel Core
Yonah was the code name for Intel's first generation of 65 nm process mobile microprocessors, based on the Banias/Dothan-core Pentium M microarchitecture. SIMD performance has been improved through the addition of SSE3 instructions and improvements to SSE and SSE2 implementations, while integer...

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
Model Numbers 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 ID A1176 A1283
Graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....


shared with main memory
Intel GMA 950 using 64 MiB of DDR2
DDR2 SDRAM
DDR2 SDRAM is a double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory interface. It supersedes the original DDR SDRAM specification and has itself been superseded by DDR3 SDRAM...

 SDRAM
SDRAM
Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs...

 (up to 224 MiB in Windows through Boot Camp)
Nvidia
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...

 GeForce
GeForce
GeForce is a brand of graphics processing units designed by Nvidia. , there have been eleven iterations of the design. The first GeForce products were discrete GPUs designed for use on add-on graphics boards, intended for the high-margin PC gaming market...

 9400M using 128 MiB or 256 MiB of DDR3 SDRAM
Nvidia
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...

 GeForce
GeForce
GeForce is a brand of graphics processing units designed by Nvidia. , there have been eleven iterations of the design. The first GeForce products were discrete GPUs designed for use on add-on graphics boards, intended for the high-margin PC gaming market...

 9400M using 256 MiB of DDR3 SDRAM
Hard drive
5400-rpm unless specified
60 GB or 80 GB Serial ATA
Serial ATA
Serial ATA is a computer bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives...


Optional 100 GB or 120 GB
60 GB or 80 GB Serial ATA
Optional 100 GB, 120 GB, 160 GB
80 GB or 120 GB Serial ATA
Optional 160 GB
120 GB or 320 GB Serial ATA
Optional 250 GB
160 GB or 320 GB Serial ATA
2 × 500 GB on server model
Optional 500 GB
Processor
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...

1.5 GHz Intel Core Solo (T1200) or 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo (T2300) 1.66 GHz (T2300) or 1.83 GHz (T2400) Intel Core Duo 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
Cache
In computer engineering, a cache is a component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster. The data that is stored within a cache might be values that have been computed earlier or duplicates of original values that are stored elsewhere...

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
Front side bus
A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge....

667 MHz 1067 MHz
Memory
two RAM slots
512 MiB (2 × 256 MiB) of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
DDR2 SDRAM
DDR2 SDRAM is a double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory interface. It supersedes the original DDR SDRAM specification and has itself been superseded by DDR3 SDRAM...


Expandable to 2 GiB
1 GiB (2 × 512 MiB) of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Expandable to 4 GiB but about 3 GiB is addressable
1 GiB (1 × 1 GiB) or 2 GiB (2 × 1 GiB) of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
DDR3 SDRAM
In computing, DDR3 SDRAM, an abbreviation for double data rate type three synchronous dynamic random access memory, is a modern kind of dynamic random access memory with a high bandwidth interface. It is one of several variants of DRAM and associated interface techniques used since the early 1970s...


Expandable to 8 GiB (4 GiB supported by Apple)
2 GiB (2 × 1 GiB) or 4 GiB (2 × 2 GiB) of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
DDR3 SDRAM
In computing, DDR3 SDRAM, an abbreviation for double data rate type three synchronous dynamic random access memory, is a modern kind of dynamic random access memory with a high bandwidth interface. It is one of several variants of DRAM and associated interface techniques used since the early 1970s...


Expandable to 8 GiB (4 GiB supported by Apple)
AirPort Extreme Integrated Atheros 802.11b/g
IEEE 802.11
IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...

 (some models may unofficially support 802.11a as well)
Integrated Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/draft-n
IEEE 802.11
IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...

Integrated Broadcom 802.11a/b/g/n
IEEE 802.11
IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...

Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....

10/100/1000 Base-T
Optical drive 8× DVD read,
24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW recording Combo drive
Combo Drive
A Combo drive is a type of optical drive that combines CD-R/CD-RW recording capability with the ability to read DVD media. The term is used almost exclusively by Apple Inc. as a name for the low-end substitute for their high-end SuperDrive, which was designed to both read and write DVD and DVD...


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
SuperDrive
SuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer....

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
SuperDrive
SuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer....

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
Minimum operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...

 required
Mac OS X 10.4.5 Mac OS X 10.4.7 Mac OS X 10.4.10 Mac OS X 10.5.6 Mac OS X 10.6.1 or Mac OS X Server 10.6.1
Maximum Operating System Mac OS X 10.6.8 Latest release of Mac OS X
Mac OS X Lion
Mac OS X Lion is the eighth and current major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers....

Weight 2.9 pound
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...

s / 1.32 kg
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...

Dimensions 2 × 6.5 × 6.5 inches / 50.8 × 165.1 × 165.1 mm

Unibody Mac Mini

Structure

Starting from the mid-2010 revision, there is a removable panel on the bottom, enabling the user to upgrade the RAM
Ram
-Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another...

. The new Mac Mini has an all-aluminium enclosure, called unibody. The unibody manufacturing process was originally developed for the MacBook Air
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air family is a line of Apple ultraportable Macintosh notebook computers.The first-generation MacBook Air was a 13.3"-only model, previously promoted as the World's Thinnest Notebook, introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 15, 2008. It featured a custom Intel Merom CPU...

 and later also used in the MacBook
MacBook
The MacBook was a brand of Macintosh notebook computers built by Apple Inc. First introduced in May 2006, it replaced the iBook and 12-inch PowerBook series of notebooks as a part of the Apple–Intel transition. Positioned as the low end of the MacBook family, the Apple MacBook was aimed at the...

 & MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is a line of Macintosh portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple. It replaced the PowerBook G4 and was the second model, after the iMac, to be announced in the Apple–Intel transition...

 before being introduced into the Mac Mini range.

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

There have been other changes in the 2011 revision. They include the elimination of both the Kensington Security Slot
Kensington Security Slot
A Kensington Security Slot is part of an anti-theft system designed by Kensington Computer Products Group,Ltd....

, as well as the optical drive. Whilst the fifth USB 2.0 port was also removed, this has given space for an SD card
Secure Digital
Secure Digital is a non-volatile memory card format developed by the SD Card Association for use in portable devices. The SD technology is used by more than 400 brands across dozens of product categories and more than 8,000 models, and is considered the de-facto industry standard.Secure Digital...

 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
HDMI
HDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA...

 port, which Apple describes as being HDMI 1.4 compliant, replaces the mini-DVI
Mini-DVI
The Mini-Dvi connector is used on certain Apple computers as a digital alternative to the Mini-VGA connector. Its size is between the full-sized DVI and the tiny Micro-DVI...

 port on the previous 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, whilst 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
Release date June 15, 2010 July 20, 2011
Model Numbers MC270XX/A MC438XX/A (server model) MC815XX/A MC816XX/A MC936XX/A (server model)
Machine Model Macmini4,1 Macmini5,1 Macmini5,2 Macmini5,3
Model ID A1347
Graphics
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....


shared with main memory
Nvidia GeForce 320M
GeForce 300 Series
The GeForce 300 Series is a family of graphics processing units developed by Nvidia. The first card of this series was launched in November 2009. Similar to the GeForce 100 series, the GeForce 300 series consists of re-branded video cards from the previous generation available only for OEMs...

 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
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
Gigabyte
The gigabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage. The prefix giga means 109 in the International System of Units , therefore 1 gigabyte is...

 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
Processor
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...

2.4 GHz (P8600) Intel Core 2 Duo
Optional 2.66 GHz (P8800) Intel Core 2 Duo
2.66 GHz (P8800) Intel Core 2 Duo 2.3 GHz dual-core (Intel Core i5-2415M) 2.5 GHz dual-core (Intel Core i5-2520M)
Optional 2.7 GHz dual-core (Intel Core i7-2620M)
2.0 GHz quad-core (Intel Core i7-2635QM)
Cache
CPU cache
A CPU cache is a cache used by the central processing unit of a computer to reduce the average time to access memory. The cache is a smaller, faster memory which stores copies of the data from the most frequently used main memory locations...

3 MB on-chip L2 3 MB 4 MB 6 MB on-chip shared L3
Front Side Bus
Front side bus
A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge....

1.07 GHz DMI
Direct Media Interface
The Direct Media Interface is the link between an Intel northbridge and an Intel southbridge on a computer motherboard. It was first used between the 9xx chipsets and the ICH6, released in 2004. Previous chipsets had used the Hub Interface to perform the same function. Server chipsets use a...

Memory
two RAM slots
2 GB (2 × 1 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
DDR3 SDRAM
In computing, DDR3 SDRAM, an abbreviation for double data rate type three synchronous dynamic random access memory, is a modern kind of dynamic random access memory with a high bandwidth interface. It is one of several variants of DRAM and associated interface techniques used since the early 1970s...


Expandable to 8 GB (2 × 4 GB)
4 GB (2 × 2 GB) 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM
DDR3 SDRAM
In computing, DDR3 SDRAM, an abbreviation for double data rate type three synchronous dynamic random access memory, is a modern kind of dynamic random access memory with a high bandwidth interface. It is one of several variants of DRAM and associated interface techniques used since the early 1970s...


Expandable to 8 GB (2 × 4 GB)
2 GB (2 × 1 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 memory
Optional 4 (2 × 2 GB) or 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 memory

(Unofficially 16 GB (2 × 8 GB) via non-Apple suppliers, for all models)
4 GB (2 × 2 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 memory
Optional 8 GB (2 × 4 GB) 1333 MHz DDR3 memory

(Unofficially 16 GB (2 × 8 GB) via non-Apple suppliers, for all models)
Connectivity
Database connection
A database connection is a facility in computer science that allows client software to communicate with database server software, whether on the same machine or not. A connection is required to send commands and receive answers....

10/100/1000 Base-T Gigabit Ethernet port
built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
10/100/1000 Base-T Gigabit Ethernet port
built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 4.0
Optical drive SuperDrive
SuperDrive
SuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer....

 (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
(Non-server models; no optical drive on server model) None included
(Optional External Macbook Air Superdrive)
Operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...

Mac OS X v10.6.3 (Snow Leopard) Mac OS X Server v10.6.3 (Snow Leopard Server)

Mac OS X v10.6.4 was released one day after the Mac Mini to resolve graphics and SDXC card issues.
Mac OS X Lion
Mac OS X Lion
Mac OS X Lion is the eighth and current major release of Mac OS X, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers....

Mac OS X Lion & Mac OS X Lion Server
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
1 × HDMI Port (Includes HDMI to DVI Adapter)
1 × Thunderbolt Port
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
Power
(Non-Server Model)
Mode 100 V
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...

 
115 V 230 V
Off 0.23 W
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...

 
0.24 W 0.26 W
Sleep 1.39 W 1.45 W 1.42 W
Idle 9.13 W 9.14 W 9.44 W
(Server Model)
Mode 100 V 115 V 230 V
Off 0.19 W 0.26 W 0.31 W
Sleep 1.18 W 1.18 W 1.28 W
Idle 9.78 W 9.78 W 9.97 W
(Non-Server Models)
Mode 100 V 115 V 230 V
Off 0.21 W 0.21 W 0.23 W
Sleep 1.16 W 1.14 W 1.16 W
Idle 12.97 W 12.97 W 12.85 W
(Server Model)
Mode 100 V 115 V 230 V
Off 0.20 W 0.21 W 0.25 W
Sleep 1.02 W 1.02 W 1.11 W
Idle 11.98 W 12.02 W 12.36 W
Weight 3.0 pound
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...

s / 1.37 kg
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...

2.8 pounds / 1.29 kg 2.7 pounds / 1.22 kg 3.0 pounds / 1.37 kg
Dimensions 1.4 × 7.7 × 7.7 inches / 36 × 197 × 197 mm
Greenhouse Gas Emissions 270 kg CO2e 280 kg CO2e

Mac Mini Server

Starting with the Mac Mini (Late 2009), Apple offers a configuration of the Mac Mini preloaded with Mac OS X Server
Mac OS X Server
Mac OS X Server is a Unix server operating system from Apple Inc. The server edition of Mac OS X is architecturally identical to its desktop counterpart, except that it includes work group management and administration software tools...

. The machine has a second hard drive in place of the optical drive. As of November 5, 2010, along with the Mac Pro Server, the Mac Mini Server, is the replacement for Apple's Xserve
Xserve
Xserve was a line of rack unit computers designed by Apple Inc. for use as servers. When the Xserve was introduced in 2002, it was Apple's first designated server hardware design since the Apple Network Server in 1996...

 line, which was discontinued on January 31, 2011.

See also

  • Apple rumor community
    Apple rumor community
    The Apple rumor community is concerned with Apple Inc. and its products, including the Macintosh, the iPhone, the iPod and the iPad. In recent years, a subculture has developed around rumors about new products and services from Apple. The company enjoys a cult-like following for its Macintosh...

  • Dell Studio Hybrid
  • Dell Inspiron 400 (Zino HD)
  • ASUS Eee Box
    ASUS Eee Box
    Asus EeeBox PC is a nettop computer line from ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated, and a part of the Asus Eee product family. First released on August 11, 2008 , the Asus EeeBox PC series is marketed as a small, light, inexpensive and energy-efficient counterpart to the Asus Eee PC netbook / subnotebook...

  • Acer Aspire Revo
  • MSI Wind PC
    MSI Wind PC
    The MSI Wind Notebook is a family of subnotebooks / netbooks designed by Micro-Star International . Wind stands for "Wi-Fi Network Device". The first model was announced at CeBIT 2008, and first listed for pre-orders on May 9, 2008. While initially 8.9- and 10.1-inch screen versions existed, as...

  • Small form factor
    Small form factor
    A small form factor is a computer form factor designed to minimize the volume of a desktop computer. For comparison purposes, the size of an SFF case is usually measured in litres. SFFs are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including shoeboxes, cubes, and book-sized PCs...

    , Nettop
    Nettop
    Nettop may refer to:*Nettop, a type of computer*NetTop, a NSA project...


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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