Evidence that Next iMacs and Mac Minis to use NVIDIA Chipsets

[MacRumors]

Configuration files buried within some versions of Mac OS X show evidence that the next iMac and Mac Mini will indeed be based on the NVIDIA MCP79 chipset. Apple recently switched their MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models to the NVIDIA chipsets in October. Amongst other benefits, the new notebooks have much improved graphics card capabilities, which make them more suitable to take advantage of OpenCL technologies coming in Snow Leopard.

Apple will apparently be bringing these improvements to both the new iMac and Mac mini. While many have expected the iMac to receive these upgrades, the fate of the Mac mini has been less certain.

A configuration file found in the Mac OS X version that ships with the new MacBook and MacBook Pros reveal entries referencing an unreleased "MacMini3,1" and "iMac9,1" models. The relevant lines have been excerpted here:

<dict>
<key>Desc-Key</key>
<string>CFG_MCP79</string>
<string>Macmini3,1</string>
</dict>

<dict>
<key>Desc-Key</key>
<string>CFG_MCP79</string>
<key>model</key>
<string>iMac9,1</string>
</dict>

The CFG_MCP79 appears to refer to the NVIDIA MCP79 chipset found in the newest laptops. The findings were originally described in a forum post that we've subsequently verified.

Article Link: Evidence that Next iMacs and Mac Minis to use NVIDIA Chipsets

 

[Konradx]

Have had the money saved up and waiting for a long time for the mini! The second it comes out i'll be ordering it! Finally a mini with a vid card!

 

[xUKHCx]

Ohh updated Mac Mini. I sincerely hope this is true. I have been holding off buying one (and getting a few other people to buy one) for a very very very long time.

 

[alphaod]

Oh Mac Mini. I can't wait.

Of course I'm to wonder why people surf kext files for fun.

Too bad I already bought a MSI Wind to install OS X on.

I guess I'll hold for revision 2 (in another year? )

 

[shikimo]

IKNEWITIKNEWITIKNEWIT!!!!!

Fie upon all of you who insisted the mini is dead! I never lost faith...

 

[PeterQC]

Only a 9400m for the iMacs? I hope not. It need at least a 9800 for the high end.

 

[Akitakoi]

Yea I'll be picking one of those up too. I took my TV back recently it was just to limited.

 

[colmaclean]

It goes without saying that I hope the new hardware comes with 10.6 or if not, a "free upgrade" guarantee (yeah, right!)...

 

[ditzy]

Only a 9400m for the iMacs? I hope not. It need at least a 9800 for the high end.

I'm assuming whether rightly or wrongly that the iMacs will have similar cards to the MBP while the minis will have the same as the macbooks. I could be completely wrong though. But if I am wrong there would be no good reason to buy an imac over a mini.

 

[Motley]

Have had the money saved up and waiting for a long time for the mini! The second it comes out i'll be ordering it! Finally a mini with a vid card!

Finally the return of a mini with a vid card (or at least not integrated graphics).

 

[tonyl]

That's excellent news, couldn't wait to get rid of my G4 Mini!

 

[talkingfuture]

Mini with better graphics will be good. Lets just hope it has some other exciting features too.

 

[tonyl]

Finally the return of a mini with a vid card (or at least not integrated graphics).

Probably integrated, same as Macbook, but it'll be better than Intel one.

 

[Maxington]

Good news indeed if it tis true.

 

[JGowan]

Quick Question…

Aside from the slick menus to download movie rentals and watch Flickr, are there any other REAL benefits from getting an AppleTV over a MacMini?

 

[richard.mac]

1. New Mac Minis coming!
2. Big Phily will release Mac Minis at Macworld 09
3. Who the hell finds this stuff?

 

[CalmEnvy]

Finally, took them forever to update the damn mini lol. Anyways, the iMac will most likely have the same graphics setup as the MBP, mini as the MB. Hopefully they will announce them at Macworld '09.

 

[brop52]

Buying the mini for my mom's work when it comes out. As you can see from my sig it will be quite the upgrade from the iMac G3.

 

[gkarris]

OMG

People are actually disecting OS X code to try to find evidence of upcoming computers...

LOL..

The Mini is AWESOME. People I recommended it to back when it was a PPC still have theirs and love them...

The new ones with nVidia and Aluminum Unibody(?) are gonna be sweet...

 

[jaw04005]

Aside from the slick menus to download movie rentals and watch Flickr, are there any other REAL benefits from getting an AppleTV over a MacMini?

Hummmm.

1. $370 less than low-end Mac mini.
2. Has HDMI and Component ports.
3. Outputs correct resolutions for your HDTV.
4. Has HD movie rentals (not available on Mac/PC).
5. Built-in iTunes store (not in Front Row).
6. Built-in Podcasts streaming (not in Front Row).
7. iPhone remote support.

 

[MvdM]

Have had the money saved up and waiting for a long time for the mini! The second it comes out i'll be ordering it! Finally a mini with a vid card!

And also a mini with a mini display port, which can not directly be connected to your current display.
And also a mini with no firewire.
I wouldn't be surprised if it also lacks an optical drive and replaces the Apple TV.

 

[Fidgetyrat]

At least the iMac will have plenty of room for cooling the 9600. Maybe it won't hit 100C like it does in my MBP.

This also does fit nicely with apple possibly Demoing grand central.

 

[himansk]

thats a much more solid evidence of mac mini updates coming soon, cant wait to get my hands on it.

 

[aries2580]

Only a 9400m for the iMacs? I hope not. It need at least a 9800 for the high end.

I totally agree. What is the deal with these subpar cards...
For god sake apple sort it out. Im sick of last Gen. graphics hardware.

Need to keep up to date with the latest graphical hardware...

A 9400... 9400!!!! WTF.

Also i bet some of you are thinking ok then, get a MacPro yeah?
With what...? an 8800GT? holy hell that is old.

Anyone else with me?

 

[fleshman03]

thats a much more solid evidence of mac mini updates coming soon, cant wait to get my hands on it.

That's exactly why I logged in.

Rock solid proof of hardware updates