Evidence that Next iMacs and Mac Minis to use NVIDIA Chipsets

[phasornc]

CORRECTION: Error in the original article

Okay I couldn't let this one go. The original aritcle states the reference was found in:

System -> Library -> IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext -> Contents -> PlugIns -> ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin.kext -> Contents -> Info.plist​

Before someone looks its up and says the file does not exist, ever good kext warrior know that the file is located here [my bold]:

System -> Library -> Extensions -> IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext -> Contents -> PlugIns -> ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin.kext -> Contents -> Info.plist​

Other than "Extensions.mkext", there have never been any files at the root of System -> Library.

And in case anyone is wondering, people mess around in these files all the time because they are working on video drivers for running Mac OS on unsupported PCs. In this case, I know that people are working on getting any generic PCs using the same NVidia chipset to run Mac OS. So the fact that people are playing around in these files isn't just to spy on what Apple is coming up with next, although why wouldn't you, if you were a news site trying to scoop the competition. File exploration is just the modern version of investigative journalism.

 

[gkarris]

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.

You have to buy an adapter. No, it will have an optical. The Ethernet port, I'd say, is another in question, at least in the "budget $499" model...

 

[JGowan]

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.

Thanks. I have am intel MacMini in my bedroom hooked up (w/HDMI adapter) to my 50" Vizio and have always loved it. Getting another Vizio* for the livingroom soon and didn't know what to put in there: another MacMini or an AppleTV. Thanks for helping me see the differences.


* Super great plasmas and LCDs for the money. Picture is super great and rivals most everything I've seen for much higher.

 

[dal20402]

You have to buy an adapter. No, it will have an optical. The Ethernet port, I'd say, is another in question, at least in the "budget $499" model...

It'll have an Ethernet port; there's not the same extreme lack of space there is on the Air.

The question in my mind is whether the optical will be optional. Lots of people use minis as servers. If you could "officially" replace the optical with another 2.5" hard drive -- or even better, put a 3.5" hard drive in the space where the optical AND the first 2.5" drive would normally fit -- the mini-as-server people will be overjoyed. (I would too!)

 

[infernohellion]

*craving for the new 17" unibody MBP w/ any graphic card that is better than 9600M GT*

 

[Joe The Dragon]

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

moving from ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB memory to 9400m useing system ram is a down grade and at $1,199.00 or more will just make apple look bad next to psystar.

The mac mini should have 9500 / 9600 or better in the $700 - $900 system.

 

[Warbrain]

It'll have an Ethernet port; there's not the same extreme lack of space there is on the Air.

The question in my mind is whether the optical will be optional. Lots of people use minis as servers. If you could "officially" replace the optical with another 2.5" hard drive -- or even better, put a 3.5" hard drive in the space where the optical AND the first 2.5" drive would normally fit -- the mini-as-server people will be overjoyed. (I would too!)

That would be great. And if absolutely necessary buy the external Superdrive and connect it over USB. I'd buy one.

 

[dXTC]

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.

I would expect a mini DisplayPort, sure, but as the Mac mini is an entry-level item, it may a bad idea for Apple to force the issue, and would keep away potential switchers hoping to use their current keyboard/mouse/monitor combo. Perhaps a MiniDP-to-DVI adapter tossed in for free?

Firewire might indeed be left off, as in the new MacBook. That might tick off the digital camcorder and pro audio crowd. But quite a few cam users are getting HD-or-Flash based video cameras nowadays, and pro audio enthusiasts are better off with an iMac or Mac Pro so they can run more softsynths and audio effects. I dabble in electronic music myself, and for this particular reason I chose my iMac over the mini.

Optical drive? Sure, leave it off. This would be a very smart move, in fact. Removing the internal optical drive would allow room for higher-capacity 3.5" hard drives. All Apple would have to do is allow the MacBook Air's Superdrive to be compatible with the new mini, for those who need to install applications from DVDs.

EDIT: I see that dal20402 and Warbrain were thinking along the same lines.

 

[rockdog]

I guess we will have to wait until January to see for sure, but reports of the mini's death now seem premature.

 

[Srai-W]

Photos next please!

Ok, so there is a new mini. Yay... I am now waiting for the standard blurry photos to arrive. Come on - we only have a few weeks!!!

 

[iAthena]

This is exciting news, although I expected this to be the case for the iMac update. If they put the graphics chip in the mini though, this will breathe new life into the product and open up a lot more applications for the device.

 

[Eidorian]

I'm a little surprised we didn't get this earlier. This isn't the first time we've seen new models and configurations in these files.

 

[Kar98]

Ok, so there is a new mini. Yay... I am now waiting for the standard blurry photos to arrive. Come on - we only have a few weeks!!!

There ya go:

No optical drive, no remote, no remote sensor, no firewire, the slowest hard drives Apple can scrounge up, 1 GB of RAM soldered to the board

 

[macaco74]

very excited about the mac mini - have been waiting over a year to get one -

 

[fhall1]

Excellent.....hopefully it'll support dual monitors.....and at least 6 GB RAM....that would be super!

 

[~Shard~]

I thought it would be interesting if Apple combined the Mac mini, Apple TV and Time Capsule into a single product, but with this reference to "Mac Mini" specifically, I doubt this will be the case as they probably wouldn't use that name for such a 3-in-1 device. Regardless, nice to see the Mini isn't dead!

 

[VoR]

I thought it would be interesting if Apple combined the Mac mini, Apple TV and Time Capsule into a single product, but with this reference to "Mac Mini" specifically, I doubt this will be the case as they probably wouldn't use that name for such a 3-in-1 device. Regardless, nice to see the Mini isn't dead!

I'm kind of surprised all macs cant 'do' apple tv and time capsule at the moment.

 

[r0d3nt]

I'm hoping that the Firewire 400 sticks around on the Mac Mini! I've got an older Firewire iSight, and if the current system that this iSight is on dies, I'd rather go to a Mac Mini. No Firewire 400 would suck big time...

 

[diamond.g]

I'm kind of surprised all macs cant 'do' apple tv and time capsule at the moment.

AFAIK, all macs can share a drive for Time Machine use (dunno if you would call that Time Capsule per se). Isn't the Front Row interface gotten from AppleTV?

 

[mmccaskill]

I have the new MacBook Pro Unibody, and I can't find the evidence claimed in the article.

 

[LukeW16]

i hope the imacs get Geforce 9800 GX2 or the Geforce GTX 260/280 graphics cards. Or maybe the new graphics cards released by Nvdia in January? Does this seem likely or?

 

[Digital Skunk]

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

Hopefully this will be for the 20" base level $999 iMac only. Ever since we lost the white coating, Apple has been pushing up the base price for all of their systems.

Having an iMac with an integrated chip and low end dual core processor at around $899 (hopefully) or $999 (likely) would be great.

Personally, I would love to see the Mini with more Apple TV features, or at least a Mini with more headless desktop features.

 

[Rorikynn]

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?

Calm down. The NVIDIA MCP79 chipset is an integrated component that serves as the southbridge and has a GPU integrated with it. So any computer using the MCP79 automatically has a 9400M tagging along with it. Yes, the iMac will have a 9400M but that doesn't mean it won't have a discrete GPU either. IMHO, the low-end iMac should have the best Performance graphics and the high-end models should have enthusiast cards. I mean, come on Apple, $3000 for a high-end iMac and we get yesterday's performance cards.

 

[diamond.g]

i hope the imacs get Geforce 9800 GX2 or the Geforce GTX 260/280 graphics cards. Or maybe the new graphics cards released by Nvdia in January? Does this seem likely or?

The cards you listed draw over 100W by themselves. With Apples move towards thinness stuffing a GTX 2x0 or even a GX2 is pretty unlikely.

 

[Umbongo]

i hope the imacs get Geforce 9800 GX2 or the Geforce GTX 260/280 graphics cards. Or maybe the new graphics cards released by Nvdia in January? Does this seem likely or?

Not a chance. Those cards put out too much heat for the iMac to handle.