Mac Mini updated in two new flavors, at $599 for i5 dual-core and $999 for i7 quad-core server modelFor informational purposes, this is the low-end of the 2014 Mac Mini systems with a 1.4 Ghz Dual-core Intel Core i5. A-Tech 16GB (2x8GB) RAM for Apple MacBook Pro (Mid 2012), iMac (Late 2012, Early/Late 2013, Late 2014, Mid 2015), Mac Mini (Late 2012) DDR3 1600MHz. Geekbench 5 scores are calibrated against a baseline score of 1000 (which is the score of an Intel Core. The data on this chart is gathered from user-submitted Geekbench 5 results from the Geekbench Browser. Benchmark results for the Mac mini (Late 2014) with an Intel Core i5-4308U processor can be found below. Mac mini (Late 2014) Benchmarks.But that newborn product didn't enter Apple's ecosystem alone. iFixit opens up new Mac Mini, has no trouble putting it all back together againOctober 23rd was mostly the iPad mini's coming out party an event with one major headliner. Save extra with No Cost EMI. 84,900 Save 4,910 (6) Save extra with No Cost EMI.
And we're not just saying that figuratively, either. It's the tech equivalent of an irresistibly cute baby the kind of hardware that stops passers-by, prompting compliments. No matter your sworn brand allegiance, you'd be hard-pressed to deny the Mac mini's simple, refined build. Just who is the Mac mini for? Is it the go-anywhere, portable desktop best integrated in yachts, airports, automobiles and living rooms? Or, with a starting price of $599, is it the perfect, low-cost migration assistant (pun intended) for consumers making the switch from a Windows desktop? Follow on to see which hat this not-quite-an- HTPC wears best.Let's not beat around the bush here - there's a reason Apple plays proud host to a knighted Head of ID: ridiculously gorgeous design. Perhaps most interestingly, it's now offering a hybrid storage option, the so-called FusionDrive, which combines flash memory with a SATA HDD.One quirk still remains, though: the product's demographic leanings. Addressing criticisms of last year's model, Apple added USB 3.0 ports, upgraded to third-generation Ivy Bridge Core processors and boosted the standard RAM allotment to 4GB (you can configure it with up to 16 gigs). At 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches, it retains the basic square shape of its two predecessors. Much of this is due to the unit's diminutive dimensions, which remain unchanged since the mini was redesigned back in 2010. (It's alright, you can keep it to yourself if you like.)Boiled down to its essence, the mini's brushed aluminum enclosure has a wallflower appeal that's at home in a variety of settings a dash of modernism that should work in many environments. So fill up the comments below with the inevitable accusations of fanboyism, but know that we know that you know that we're right. Instead, we again received the lone HDMI to DVI adapter and that, folks, is just history repeating itself.Similarly, Apple remains unmoved in its determination to make just one aspect of the Mac mini swappable, and that would be the unit's expandable memory. Last year, we criticized the company for not including a Thunderbolt dongle in the box, but that critique apparently fell on deaf ears. Otherwise, the ports read from left to right exactly as they did on the 2011 model: power (still integrated), Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, full-sized HDMI, Thunderbolt, 4 x USB 3.0, SDXC slot, audio-in and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Though a quick glance at its back panel might mislead consumers into believing it's business as usual, there's actually a very significant change at play here - namely, the addition of high-speed USB 3.0. For what's it's worth, you can flip the device on its side should you be faced with space restrictions and need to squeeze it in amongst other office or A/V equipment, but it probably won't look as nice with its circular lid showing.As much as things change, they seem to stay the same, and that's quite true of this Mac mini refresh. Users interested in purchasing the optional Apple remote for home entertainment purposes will be glad to know this unit still features an IR receiver. This features the same clock speed, graphics solution and memory allotment, but for a lower price of $599. Consumers with more basic computing needs can opt for the base unit with a dual-core i5 CPU and a 500GB hard drive. Our $799 review unit packs a a quad-core i7 clocked at 2.3GHz along with an (optional) 1TB FusionDrive and Intel HD 4000 graphics and 4GB RAM. Other than that, this compartment also houses the WiFi radio (AirPort Extreme 802.11n), Bluetooth 4.0 antennas and the cooling fan.Making the leap from last year's Sandy Bridge processors, the 2012 Mac mini now runs on Intel's third-generation Ivy Bridge Core i5 and i7 CPUs. However, should you require monstrous amounts of RAM, the mini now supports up to 16GB - so, there's that to smile about. The rest is inaccessible (unless you're the DIY type, in which case, have at it!). The only time we ever heard a peep from it was when we added Steam and Blizzard game downloads to the active processes load. In all instances but one, the unit remained relatively cool to the touch and surprisingly quiet. Our jobs depend on this level of multitasking and we're pleased to say that the mini managed that processor strain with a graceful silence. In Geekbench, meanwhile, it delivered a result of 10,748. As you can see in the table above, it yielded average overall Xbench scores of 454, with an average CPU score of 270 and an average thread score of 1,418. OS X BenchmarksMac mini (late 2012, 2.3GHz Core i7, Intel HD Graphics 4000)Mac mini (mid 2011, 2.3GHz Core i5, Intel HD Graphics 3000)Mac mini (mid 2010, 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, NVIDIA GeForce 320M)Benchmark testing backed up our anecdotal assessment: the machine nearly doubles the 2011 model's scores. Note, we didn't have the time to engage clusters of baddies (about 50 to 60 onscreen at a time) to truly tap out the system, but with more than a dozen characters onscreen, we observed a frame rate that peaked around 42 fps. With every quality option set to high (Texture, Physics, Shadow, etc.), resolution at 1,280 x 1,024 and fps at 60, we didn't encounter any slowdown or drops in the frame rate. Indeed, we've noticed incompatibility with most newer titles thanks to Apple's choice of graphics chip, but for the sake of this review we fired up Diablo III to get a sense of how the Intel HD 4000 GPU fares. Ram For 2014 Mini 1080P Films AndOf course, you can always go the more traditional route and attach it to your HDTV, but if you're aching to make use of that vast DVD library (sorry, Blu-ray owners), then prepare to spring for a SuperDrive. We did, however, encounter Bluetooth audio sync issues with our Jambox, forcing us to depend on the mini's able, but far-from-powerful internal speaker. Mind you, that included 1080p films and TV shows, but also streamed content from Hulu, Netflix and YouTube. It works like this: from the moment you take it out of the box and start it up, your Mac mini will boot, run and store files using this volume, lending every action that surface speediness. So, what is it exactly? Buzzy marketing term aside, this setup pairs 128GB of flash storage with 1TB of traditional HDD storage. Then again, if a media focus is your bent, you could also go the Apple TV route for a more palatable $99.Apple's quite pleased with the mini's newest feature, the FusionDrive, even though hybrid storage solutions have been in use for quite some time now.
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