a bto option of a brick psu to get quad + gpu

[philipma1957]

Okay simple question 2012 mac mini A BTO with an external power supply. This allows a quad core and a discrete graphics card . would you buy it. yes or no. Please I have posted about this and have had some very strong opinions for and against. Right now the design will not allow for both the quad core and a discrete graphics card.

Two reasons you need about 100 watts PSU the current psu is 85 watts. The psu bleeds heat about 10 percent. so an 85 watt psu maxed will bleed 8.5 watts of heat. The old psu was 110 watts and it kept the heat out of the mini.

going back to it wrapping it in the same aluminum. allow it to plug into your wall socket directly and putting a pass through socket so you do not lose both plugs is all easy to do. making a connector that only allows it to go into the bro mini is also possible.

As of today no quad cpu discrete graphics card combo uses the required power for the current psu. So I bring this up as a simple poll. Would you want it. remember the current machine does plug into the wall. So a power cord is needed one way or the other.

 

[Ice Dragon]

Despite my opinions on what I don't need now... I would buy a brick as a built to order with a discrete GPU only to play Diablo III at Ultra settings. Of course we all know Diablo III won't be out before the 2012 Mac Minis amirite?

I will say that you will not see a better discrete GPU in the Mini than you will in the iMac even with the brick.

 

[lickitysplit]

Despite my opinions on what I don't need now... I would buy a brick as a built to order with a discrete GPU only to play Diablo III at Ultra settings. Of course we all know Diablo III won't be out before the 2012 Mac Minis amirite?

I will say that you will not see a better discrete GPU in the Mini than you will in the 13" MacBook Pro even with the brick.

Fixed, on the server that is.

 

[shortcut3d]

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Hopefully Ivy Bridge will bring the performance promised at lower TDP. I'd prefer to see mSATA added as default.

 

[philipma1957]

in order to run a brick less mini with a quad plus a descrete gpu of any value the quad needs to pull 30 watts and the gpu would need to max at 16 watts. it would be nice but not going to happen.

they get away with the i7 dual core machine only because the graphics card has 256gb ram. it maxs around 11-12 watts plus the 35 watts of the cpu and it runs really hot when pushed.


If the 2012 cpu quad can pull only 35 watts if you put more ram inside the graphics card it would pull 14 watts maybe 16 watts.

brings you to 51 watts with just the 2 devices the cpu and the better 512mb ddr5 gpu (2012 design) that would be higher then the 45-47 watts pulled buy the current i7 Discrete mini. So if the ivy bridge quad plus 35 watts as claimed you are still stuck with a cr@ppy discrete graphics card of 256MB that will pull the 11 watts max. why bother?

they will charge a lot and it will run really hot and the graphics will still be weak.

 

[paulrbeers]

So the entire point of this thread, is that you believe that if the heat created by the Power supply was moved outside the unit, then there would be adequate cooling to run both a quad core processor and a discrete GPU? Even if this was the case, I guess my question is, why would Apple re-engineer their mac mini just so they could sell a few "high end" Mac Mini's. The Mac Mini is not designed to go head to head with the Mac Pro which is pretty much what you are asking it to do.

 

[theSeb]

So the entire point of this thread, is that you believe that if the heat created by the Power supply was moved outside the unit, then there would be adequate cooling to run both a quad core processor and a discrete GPU? Even if this was the case, I guess my question is, why would Apple re-engineer their mac mini just so they could sell a few "high end" Mac Mini's. The Mac Mini is not designed to go head to head with the Mac Pro which is pretty much what you are asking it to do.

No. He is asking for a Mini which runs head-to-head with a 15" MBP. It is not an unreasonable request.

 

[philipma1957]

No. He is asking for a Mini which runs head-to-head with a 15" MBP. It is not an unreasonable request.

MY REASONS; iMacs have a 27 inch screen.

My HTPC screen is 46 inches if I hook my mac mini to it it is far better then an iMac for movies but I would not be able to play a good game. My ht has plenty of places to hide a brick. It does not have the ability to hide a mac pro. I am certain that this niche is not small. A ht with a big screen for games and or movies. Hooking up a macbook pro such as this


http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MD318LL/A?select=select&product=MD318LL/A


is not realistic and is not what I want or need. This macbook pro would cover most of my needs if it were a mac mini. Right now this is an empty space that apple is not covering. Playing a game on a big tv with really good sound is something a lot of people want.

 

[Ice Dragon]

Fixed, on the server that is.

13" MacBook Pro? I don't think we'll ever see a discrete GPU option in one of those though I could be wrong.

 

[theSeb]

MY REASONS; iMacs have a 27 inch screen.

My HTPC screen is 46 inches if I hook my mac mini to it it is far better then an iMac for movies but I would not be able to play a good game. My ht has plenty of places to hide a brick. It does not have the ability to hide a mac pro. I am certain that this niche is not small. A ht with a big screen for games and or movies. Hooking up a macbook pro such as this


http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MD318LL/A?select=select&product=MD318LL/A


is not realistic and is not what I want or need. This macbook pro would cover most of my needs if it were a mac mini. Right now this is an empty space that apple is not covering. Playing a game on a big tv with really good sound is something a lot of people want.

I understand your form factor needs. I was merely clarifying that you are not looking for the power of a mac pro in a mini body, but the power of the MBP with discrete graphics in a mini body.

 

[philipma1957]

I understand your form factor needs. I was merely clarifying that you are not looking for the power of a mac pro in a mini body, but the power of the MBP with discrete graphics in a mini body.

yes exactly.