Apple Announces New Space Gray Mac mini With 4-Core or 6-Core Intel Processor and Up to 64GB RAM, Starting at $799

[Sabelonada]

I've noticed an increase to pretty much 100% reliability in storage since Apple moved to SSDs instead of mechanical hard drives. We have several labs full of iMacs and numerous Macbooks in our department and there have been zero SSD storage failures.

I think the reason Apple has gone this way is because their SSDs are reliable enough that storage failure is no longer a real concern. They probably use high quality flash storage and overprovision the drives enough that it's just not an issue anymore like it was with spinning rust. They certainly charge enough for it!

My main issue is it's not just the SSD which has to be reliable. Now ANY failure basically means the data is lost.

This has just caused me to rethink my storage paradigm. Now, I will go for less storage and invest in the QNAP TB3 NAS and external SSDs. The access speeds of TB3, USB3, and 10Gb Ethernet make it functionally fast enough.

Now, the system storage is just that, my data will be external.

 

[TallManNY]

$4,199 for the Maxed out mini! While I'm hopeful that the ram will be upgraded via third party ram (read $1,000 less!), the fact is the SSD is Apple proprietary and so either you upgrade when you order or your pretty stuck until used minis start showing up on eBay.

Unfortunately, I feel Apple is losing touch with reality and that Tim Cook has surrounded himself with rich "yes" people, as the mini was originally made so the "poor" could afford a entry level computer, today that stopped as $800 is not affordable compared to entry level PC's, this logic also applies to iPads. Apple needs to introduce a sub-$500 entry level computer that would allow the masses to embrace. Ie, the mini default ram should be 16 and 8 for a true entry level $499 (today's offer is an insult to anyone with any computer knowledge!!)

Long Live Steve Job and I hope he visits Tim Cook in his dreams to wake Tim up to the masses that need better access... (Tim, this is why Android is still around, offer an actual affordable, true lowend product for the poor!!)

Why would you need 2TB installed in a mini when you can do external? That seems like a luxury decision. So Apple charges a bit for the luxury.

I think I’m getting this instead of iMac. Will be the first time in over a decade I’ve bought a Mac Desktop for well under $2k. I expect it to last me five years. Seems great!

 

[brentsg]

It is fraud. You can not replace the storage or extend it. And it is flash so it has a short life time.

"Short" SSD life is way overstating it. You would need quite the workload to wear out the storage on a Mini.

 

[Sabelonada]

Yes, it kinda sucks, but with 4 TB3 ports, I can expand the storage with external SSD as much as I want.

My thoughts as well. In the end it's probably smarter anyhow.

 

[bakerzdosen]

There are ONLY two ports + the 3.5 mm headphone jack that we've been told is old tech that should be replaced with bluetooth.

You're in the wrong place. This is a Mac Mini thread.

 

[cyberc]

You’ll need the Apple thunderbolt 2/3 adapter and it should work without issue.

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

https://store.apple.com/xc/product/MMEL2AM/A

Arh Thanks for the info.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

Great update, base price is Meh considering it’s got an i3.

Is the i3 that bad? I’m considering it as I’m not doing anything graphically intensive. But the price of SSD upgrade is huge.
[doublepost=1540917198][/doublepost]

I believe so. I was shocked at the price

I’m not shocked by Apple’s high prices anymore.

 

[opeter]

The big question is: if the soldered SSD dies, can the computer boot from the external SSD?

Or will you need to change the logic/motherboard, because it will simply refuse to boot up?

 

[ATC]

This has probably been brought up already but will Intel's UHD 630 in the new mac mini have any issues driving the LG 5K display?

 

[nbritton]

According to Geekbench Browser, the six core i7 version appears to finally be faster then my dual processor Xeon X5690 2012 Mac Pro. I think it's sporting an Intel i7-8700. The four thunderbolt 3 ports really peeked my interest, I'm considering buying this and connecting it to four eGPUs with Radeon VEGA Frontier Edition GPUs so I can start experimenting with machine learning. Unfortunately the i7-8700 only supports a max of 64GB of memory, my Mac Pro 2012 already has 128GB of memory, so I would have to drop half my memory to move to this new Mac Mini.

 

[JGIGS]

I guess I'm weird with this item. I think it made more sense before Apple TV existed. The price seems kinda high for the specs i3? ouch. I just don't know how many people are in the market for an low powered desktop these days. I just figure most are drawn to laptops or high powered editing desktops like an mac pro or iMac pro.

I guess it's nice to have this option at least but I personally am not interested. I think I'd even rather an Apple TV for less $'s but with smart tv's that even seems unnecessary.

Was really hoping for new Airpods.

 

[redfirebird08]

Oh! I didn’t know Thunderbolt 3 == USB-C. That’s nice! Why do companies do this terminology dance, it only confuses consumers, stick to one name dammit!

Thunderbolt 3 is faster than USB-C, but Thunderbolt 3 is also backwards compatible with USB-C. Those ports are the best of both worlds.

 

[TallManNY]

Well, I like the Space Grey...

And the specs are good, well, once you bump the RAM & storage up a notch...

But at that point, if you add in an Apple keyboard & mouse, and an Apple-approved 27" LG TB3 display, AND an Apple-approved Blackmagic Design Vega 56 eGPU; well at that point the base iMac Pro is actually cheaper...

Yes, that is the point. The iMac is quite cheap for what you get. The problem is it all fails pretty much at the same time and then you have to toss it all. This product is for folks willing to live without a retina screen, basically. And no need for GPU.

But I think that is going to work for me.

 

[Schnooder]

Oh no! I just got off the phone with apple and the rep told me the RAM was not user upgradable. Says it's soldered in there. Can someone else confirm this horrendous news?

 

[neander]

Will wait for Ifixit teardown.. but looks really expensive if you want at least 256gb and I5 cpu maybe..

 

[saxofunk]

1TB NVMe SSD is like $200-300, but Apple wants an extra $600? I'm losing faith in the brand when Cook's agenda is to just stamp luxury all over everything but not actually offer increased value. A mild disappointment on the pricing, but otherwise looks like a good product.

 

[Schnooder]

Will wait for Ifixit teardown.. buy looks really expensive if you want at least 256gb and I5 cpu maybe..

Thank you. Good idea!

 

[opeter]

Is the i3 that bad? I’m considering it as I’m not doing anything graphically intensive.

The i3 in the new Mac minis is on par with the i5-7500 or even better, than you can find in the 2017 iMacs 4k and entry level 5k.

If it is this CPU or similar:

Intel Core i3-8100:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3-8100+@+3.60GHz&id=3103

Intel Core i5-7500:
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-7500+@+3.40GHz&id=2910

 

[Mizouse]

Yesss gonna replace my 2012 quad core Mini!

 

[Juggar]

Is the i3 that bad? I’m considering it as I’m not doing anything graphically intensive. But the price of SSD upgrade is huge.

NO! The i3 is a quad core chip! Historically quad core was only for i5's. In fact, this is the first generation that the i3 has ever been a true quad core chip. So, for example, if we were still using 7th gen intel terminology, this would be an "i5".

This i3 is clocked the same as the i3-8100 @ 3.6GHz a quick search would show:
Passmark of: 8095 and single thread rating of : 2103

The best quad core ever offered previously was the i7-3720QM.
Passmark of: 8123 and single thread rating of: 1817

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3-8100+@+3.60GHz&id=3103
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-3720QM+@+2.60GHz&id=895

So you are at worst equal to the previous best processor ever offered and your single thread power would be 14.59% better.

For a base CPU, its pretty damn good.

The 6 core i5 option is a massive step up at almost 50% faster overall, very likely the sweet spot for these macs.

I would order: i5, 8gb ram(upgrade later for cheap) and as much storage as you can afford or feel adequate with.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-8500+@+3.00GHz

 

[762999]

so an i7 mini with 8gb 512gb SSD is 1500$
and an AMD ryzen 2700x, 32gb ram, 500gb ssd, gtx 1060 +other parts : 1250$

Can you see the light?

 

[wdwpsu]

I know many are saying this is overpriced, but alot depends on your configuration.
Putting the 3.2Ghz 6-core Intel i7, 16GB DDR4, and 256GB SSD Storage is a solid workhorse computer for only $1499. I can always add on external USB-C SSD Drives or go with a NAS solution.

 

[Sabelonada]

Yes, that is the point. The iMac is quite cheap for what you get. The problem is it all fails pretty much at the same time and then you have to toss it all. This product is for folks willing to live without a retina screen, basically. And no need for GPU.

But I think that is going to work for me.

Or who have a multiple monitor setup which they prefer. Or who don't like the glossy iMac screen. Or who want a headless machine running somewhere. Or who want to connect it to a TV. Or...

 

[MrGuder]

I can’t believe that no one has mentioned they removed the “audio in” jack. I use this all the time when I import music from my turntable (vinyl records) on my 2012 Mac mini.

Why would they remove audio in jack?

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

Ordered a full spec version. Looking forward to it.