How quiet is the 2010/11 minis? I had the 2009 version and it was definitely noticeable in a room, I would like an absolutely quiet computer for running downloads in the background, might consider a fanless old cube for this. But I also thought the new minis are all aluminium, so maybe they use heat dissipation instead of relying on the fan, also the fan vents seem much smaller than on the old design.
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Mini quietness
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I've got both the 2.4 2010 and the 2.5 2011 (needed the Sandy Bridge for the higher data throughput).
Both default to 1800 rpm and you cannot hear that speed.
Unfortunately.... the 2010 model stays just below 50C with 18-20% load continously but the 2011 is about 20C hotter (same application, about 8% load) which imho is too hot: many manufacturers specify 65C environment temperature as a max. (eg memory) Even Intel specifies (cannot find the link now) to run their CPU's not continously at a temperature above 80C. To get the 2.5 2011 to a similar temperature as the 2010 you'll have to increase the minimum speed to approx 2200 rpm. (I use only windows and MacFan0_65 can be used for that).
edit: links:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/253029-32-heat
http://www.pcpower.com/technology/optemps/
http://www.intel.com/content/dam/doc/guide/2nd-gen-core-lga1155-socket-guide.pdf
http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-028869.htm?wapkw=(thermal+management+i5+processor)
in other words: those who say that temperatures above 80C are totally acceptable ignore the Intel specifications and recommendations. Similar stuff can be found for the RAM and other parts like the capacitors and resistors. It does not help that the logic board is mounted "upside down" which makes for even more heating up of the parts on the board (and is recommended against on overclocker's websites).
The 2011 server defaults to 2300 and that's audible - about the same level as the rattle / noise of the hdd.
I would suggest to get the 2010 and put a SSD in there - you have to be within 6 inches to hear the fan.
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I believe the aluminum minis use the same exact fan as the old ones, so it's still there and will likely sound the same. When my 2010 mini is idle, though, I hear the hard drive more than the fan usually (and my external 3.5" drive masks both).
I have to disagree with MJL. The temperature of my MM for normal use (5+) programs like Adium, Skype, Chrome, Sparrow, iA Writer, calculator, TextEdit and iTunes does not increase beyond 55°C. The fan also stays at 1800-2200 so you can't really hear it. If you open flash websites the temperature increases of course and so does the fan speed.
In the end it really comes down to what programs you will use.
In the end it really comes down to what programs you will use.
This doesn't answer your question, but I have two 2009 Minis. One is totally silent even 2 feet from it. The other has a hard drive that can be heard, but I've never heard its fans even when 2 feet from it.
I recently bought a 2011 Mac Mini base and the unit is virtually silent. Incredibly, the faint buzz from my monitor is louder than the Mini. I couldn't believe it after having used a custom-built PC for so long that a computer could be this quiet.
The 2011 minis with a discrete GPU would probably create the most potential for noise as they tend to run a bit warmer than their integrated GPU brethren when activated. There are programs to keep the GPU fixed on a particular setting, so don't let that dissuade necessarily. Also, the fan noise will be directly related to the load put on the CPUs, intensive programs will heat up the i5's and i7's pretty well, and the side effect will be the fans ramping up.
I just traded my 2010 to my Brother. The 5 months that I used it on the desk and later hooked up to the TV never heard it at. Only the start up chime... Great little Mac my Brother loves it, 27" ACD 2010 model wireless keyboard, track pad and the Mac Mini with 8gs of OWC ram for a cool 1992 Jeep Cherokee, He now has a great Mini and I have a cool 4X4......
I have a 2011 2.7 mini with 7200 disk. Sits on top of an HD TiVo (not the new Premier). The mini is definitely quiter than the TiVo so I can't say if it really makes any noise. But granted, unless I'm walking by or fiddling with something else on that shelf, I'm usually 6+ feet away from it.
I used SMCfancontrol last night... I was getting varying temperatures of about 39 - 45 degrees Celsius at the default of 1,800 rpms or less.
My Gen 1 ATV didn't make much noise as I remember correctly so the potential for the mini to be louder is higher. That said, it depends which model Mini and what you plan to do with it. My 2.0 QC Server is silent most of the time except under heavy stress where the CPU is chugging along.
My base 2011 Mini is usually almost silent sitting next to monitor. Hard drive very quiet. In total normally not heard at all especially with any other room sounds.
I found the fan speed does not increase above 1800 rpm even with a significant CPU load and temperature 75F (wi-fi streaming a HD sports event for 2 hours fullscreen).
I thought this might be too hot so I got the "Fan Control" app by Lobotomo to automatically raise the fan speed more aggressively when hot. This definitely helps lower the CPU temperature. The fan is only slightly noisy at higher speeds like 4000 because it is a larger diameter than in my old notebook computer which has 2 small diameter fans that must turn at higher speeds like maybe 9000. So the Mini fan just makes a low "whoosh" noise at high speed, compared to the annoying louder noise from my old notebook.
Although "Fan Control" is supposed to leave the minimum speed at 1800 rpm the speed now never seems to go below 1900, which is a bit of a mystery and hopefully not a problem.
I found the fan speed does not increase above 1800 rpm even with a significant CPU load and temperature 75F (wi-fi streaming a HD sports event for 2 hours fullscreen).
I thought this might be too hot so I got the "Fan Control" app by Lobotomo to automatically raise the fan speed more aggressively when hot. This definitely helps lower the CPU temperature. The fan is only slightly noisy at higher speeds like 4000 because it is a larger diameter than in my old notebook computer which has 2 small diameter fans that must turn at higher speeds like maybe 9000. So the Mini fan just makes a low "whoosh" noise at high speed, compared to the annoying louder noise from my old notebook.
Although "Fan Control" is supposed to leave the minimum speed at 1800 rpm the speed now never seems to go below 1900, which is a bit of a mystery and hopefully not a problem.
The 2.7 mini I have is completely silent when idle. My 2.0 quad mini I have I can hear the fan when idle but it's not loud. I'm guessing the quad runs the fan higher to keep the second drive cool.
The 2.7 seemed louder at full load than the mini does though. Both are very noticeable when running at full load.
The 2.7 seemed louder at full load than the mini does though. Both are very noticeable when running at full load.
