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

[Frank Dalton]

Too little, too late, too expensive.

 

[rhett7660]

OWC just sent out an email blast with the following pricing for the "New Mac Mini" ram prices:

16gb -$169.99
32gb - $329.99
64gb - $1079.99

There are also some savings to be had based on a trade in. Pre-orders available today.

 

[gugy]

Great update but prices are bit hard to swallow. Expensive.
The base model is pretty hard to justify with only 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. You'll need to upgrade these two to the next tier that puts the machine on the $1.2k range. Urghhh

 

[Spectrum]

OWC just sent out an email blast with the following pricing for the "New Mac Mini" ram prices:

16gb -$169.99
32gb - $329.99
64gb - $1079.99

There are also some savings to be had based on a trade in. Pre-orders available today.

Do you know if this for 2 or 4 sticks? I don't see which type Apple are using here.
[doublepost=1540930281][/doublepost]

Great update but prices are bit hard to swallow. Expensive.
The base model is pretty hard to justify with only 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. You'll need to upgrade these two to the next tier that puts the machine on the $1.2k range. Urghhh

Maybe...but the performance upgrade from the SSD will be huge compared to the original base models with an HDD.
The base i3 is comparable to the outgoing 2012 top tier quad i7 in performance - which up until today was still highly sought after.
The best budget machine is by far the i3 model, then add a cheap external USB-3 HD for your storage needs.

 

[anson42]

For you memory hogs, macsales.com (OWC) already announced a pre-order for new Mac mini DIMMS:

16GB $169.99
32GB $329.99
64GB $1079.99 (yikes)

Other memory sellers are out there, of course.

 

[Zdigital2015]

It does look like RAM is upgradeable, although I'd really like to see that officially confirmed somewhere. It's not mentioned specifically on the tech spec page from what I could tell.

But at about $1700 for a suped-up one that I upgrade that RAM on this could make a compelling upgrade from my 2009 Mac Pro. It'd be faster in every way and 1/50th the size. As a software developer this would certainly be "pro" enough as I don't really care about GPU as long as it can run 4K/5K which it can.

It says SO-DIMM right in the Tech Specs - https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/specs/ - also, go to the main page - https://www.apple.com/mac-mini/ - and scroll down to the Climb In, Geek Out section and then scroll through until it does the cutaway of the mini with TWO SO-DIMM slots.

 

[D.T.]

Do you know if this for 2 or 4 sticks? I don't see which type Apple are using here.
[doublepost=1540930281][/doublepost]
Maybe...but the performance upgrade from the SSD will be huge compared to the original base models with an HDD.
The base i3 is comparable to the outgoing 2012 top tier quad i7 in performance - which up until today was still highly sought after.
The best budget machine is by far the i3 model, then add a cheap external USB-3 HD for your storage needs.

It appears that the new Mini uses two sticks (like previous, user upgradable Minis), so I'd assume that's total RAM capacity with 2 sticks (already plenty of 3rd party sources for under $250 for 2x16GB DDR4 SODIMM)

 

[Zdigital2015]

Do you know if this for 2 or 4 sticks? I don't see which type Apple are using here.
[doublepost=1540930281][/doublepost]
Maybe...but the performance upgrade from the SSD will be huge compared to the original base models with an HDD.
The base i3 is comparable to the outgoing 2012 top tier quad i7 in performance - which up until today was still highly sought after.
The best budget machine is by far the i3 model, then add a cheap external USB-3 HD for your storage needs.

Two slots in the Mini - 32GB SO-DIMMs just appeared on the scene a few weeks ago to bump up mini-ITX motherboards with two SO-DIMM slots to house 64GB of DRAM now.

 

[Spectrum]

People are saying this is expensive...but if you compare it to a MBPro:

Mac mini i7 6-core 12 thread 4.6Ghz boost, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD = £2329
MBPro i9 6-core 12 thread 4.9Ghz boost, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD = £3689

So, that is £1350 (>50% extra) for a dedicated GPU and portability.

I think this is great.

 

[Spock]

When I look at the Dell website, and price the OptiPlex 3060 micro form factor PC to be close to the Mac mini its around $708 and does not include Bluetooth 5 or any USB-C/Thunderbolt ports and it runs Windows 10. I don't think the price is any worse than any other Mac.

 

[Zdigital2015]

How does the Command-R work for the desktop Macs? I have never had one just MacBooks.

Command-R works the same on desktop Macs as it does for portable Macs. I do not understand the context of your question.

 

[Spectrum]

It appears that the new Mini uses two sticks (like previous, user upgradable Minis), so I'd assume that's total RAM capacity with 2 sticks (already plenty of 3rd party sources for under $250 for 2x16GB DDR4 SODIMM)

Two slots in the Mini - 32GB SO-DIMMs just appeared on the scene a few weeks ago to bump up mini-ITX motherboards with two SO-DIMM slots to house 64GB of DRAM now.

Thanks - that is what I was wondering. I couldn't see any 32GB DDR4 SO-DIMMs on Crucial, so I was thinking (hoping) it meant 4 slots.

 

[rhett7660]

Do you know if this for 2 or 4 sticks? I don't see which type Apple are using here.

Sorry it doesn't say, it only has a picture of two sticks of ram, but it looks more like a stock picture and not necessarily a representation of what you will get. When you click on the add, it doesn't show the new MM as of yet. It just showed up in my inbox. It does mention pre-orders happening today, but so far they are not listed on the site.

 

[Sabelonada]

Command-R works the same on desktop Macs as it does for portable Macs. I do not understand the context of your question.

I was just wondering how well it worked with Bluetooth keyboards.

 

[D.T.]

I dig on the machine, I think the prices are fine, I'm definitely a buyer (max CPU/512GB, do my own RAM, eventually go eGPU), but I wonder why no i9 option[?]

 

[Spectrum]

People are saying this is expensive...but if you compare it to a MBPro:

Mac mini i7 6-core 12 thread 4.6Ghz boost, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD = £2329
MBPro i9 6-core 12 thread 4.9Ghz boost, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD = £3689

So, that is £1350 (>50% extra) for a dedicated GPU and portability.

I think this is great.

Plus...with the mini, if you can live with a 128GB boot drive, the entry price is tiny:

Mac mini i7 6-core 12 thread 4.6Ghz boost, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD = £1069.

Then add 32GB RAM for £250, and external 1TB Samsung T5 USB-C data drive for £250 (or an NVMe for £500). Total price around £1500-1700 for an amazing system.

 

[ahireasu]

Lol... guys like me have been asking for exactly this for years. I knew apple was going to raise the price of the mini. I don't care. I plan to get one and an external GPU so I can dual boot into windows for gaming. Really happy with this upgrade. I can toss in more RAM myself for much less than apple charges and we will see in a week or so whether I can do the same with my own SSD.

Well I'm happy for you, but we forget that the Mac mini was the affordable Mac for people to try the macOS without having to spend 1000-2000$ ,this is why it's "bring your own screen keyboard mouse" Moto .
If they want to have a high end model then they should but they should also keep a 500$ model in play.

 

[Spectrum]

I dig on the machine, I think the prices are fine, I'm definitely a buyer (max CPU/512GB, do my own RAM, eventually go eGPU), but I wonder why no i9 option[?]

I agree...I want to replace an i7 2011 quad that has 16GB RAM and a pair of internal 256+512 GB SATA SSD drives. This mini looks solid, and not at all over-priced.

I think I'll probably go with the upgraded i7 6-core (to get 12 threads), with 8GB RAM, with 256 GB boot SSD, then use my current SATA SSDs from the 2011 mini with a USB3 or USB-C enclosure/cable. And buy 32 GB RAM from crucial (this is already double what I currently have).

This is a perfect upgrade path (in my opinion).

 

[HandsomeDanNZ]

People are saying this is expensive...but if you compare it to a MBPro:

Mac mini i7 6-core 12 thread 4.6Ghz boost, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD = £2329
MBPro i9 6-core 12 thread 4.9Ghz boost, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD = £3689

So, that is £1350 (>50% extra) for a dedicated GPU and portability.

I think this is great.

Plus screen, mouse and keyboard...

 

[baryon]

No discreet GPU really sucks. An external GPU costs like 10 times the price that it should be. It's weird that the MacBook Pro gets to have a GPU while the Mac Mini doesn't, when it's a desktop. I believe that a computer without a discreet GPU is not really meant to be taken seriously, and this should reflect in the price.

 

[Spectrum]

Plus screen, mouse and keyboard...

Which I already have...(But I get your point!)
But previously this was the problem: One of the (few) upgrade options i was considering was buying an expensive MBPro (as an upgrade for a 2011 mac mini) to then just use it tethered 100% of the time. The new mini finally gives me a much better option!

My only real concern with the 2018 mini is the UHD 630 graphics....
I don't need 3D. I just want smooth UI animations on a 27 inch + 24 inch monitor
Hopefully the 630 is significantly better than the outgoing HD3000 I have in the 2011 mini.
[doublepost=1540932984][/doublepost]

No discreet GPU really sucks. An external GPU costs like 10 times the price that it should be. It's weird that the MacBook Pro gets to have a GPU while the Mac Mini doesn't, when it's a desktop. I believe that a computer without a discreet GPU is not really meant to be taken seriously, and this should reflect in the price.

Yes...this is a little concern of mine...but then again, I've been living with an HD3000 for 6 years, so this has to be better than that, right?

What is the cheapest eGPU solution? Links anyone?

 

[DVD9]

How much is 512 GB of PCIe NVME storage anyway? Apple's prices are not that off.

Samsung 860 EVO 500GB M.2 SATA Internal SSD (MZ-N6E500BW) $107.99

 

[StellarVixen]

Which I already have...(But I get your point!)
But previously this was the problem: One of the (few) upgrade options i was considering was buying an expensive MBPro (as an upgrade for a 2011 mac mini) to then just use it tethered 100% of the time. The new mini finally gives me a much better option!

My only real concern with the 2018 mini is the UHD 630 graphics....
I don't need 3D. I just want smooth UI animations on a 27 inch + 24 inch monitor
Hopefully the 630 is significantly better than the outgoing HD3000 I have in the 2011 mini.
[doublepost=1540932984][/doublepost]
Yes...this is a little concern of mine...but then again, I've been living with an HD3000 for 6 years, so this has to be better than that, right?

What is the cheapest eGPU solution? Links anyone?

If you are looking for the enclosure only, then definitely Akitio Node


https://www.akitio.com/expansion/node
[doublepost=1540933655][/doublepost]

Samsung 860 EVO 500GB M.2 SATA Internal SSD (MZ-N6E500BW) $107.99

Enough with those intrusive fonts, I am not blind.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Is it 2 or 4 RAM slots?

To me this looks like a great update...apart from for those that still wanted a low cost entry machine.

Two slots. 32GB SO-DIMMs were released recently (couple of weeks ago).

 

[Peperino]

Welcome to the new line of Apple disposable computers!

If your drive fails you can throw your computer in the trash.

Way to go Apple that claims to be environmentally responsible...