Can you imagine what great products Apple could make if they really did “make the best products we can for our customers “. The M1 seems like a truly amazing development. Now imagine it packaged in a Mini or other small chassis with upgradable SSD, RAM and space for a huge onboard spinner for mass storage just in case the user wanted. We can dream I guess. 😀
A teardown of the new Mac mini has surfaced on the forum eGPU.io (via Reddit), providing us with a real-world look at Apple's new M1 chip, which is soldered onto a much smaller logic board than the one found in the 2018 model of the computer. (Note: At the time of publishing, the eGPU.io forum appears to be experiencing downtime.)
The M1 is the silver chip labeled with APL1102, housing the 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, I/O controllers, and more all in one. The unified system memory is also visible on the right side of the chip, and takes up far less space than the standalone RAM modules used in the previous Mac mini, contributing to the smaller logic board.
As expected, the switch to unified system memory also means that there is no user-upgradeable RAM, as there was with the previous Mac mini, so choose wisely between 8GB or 16GB of memory when configuring the Mac mini on Apple's online store. The SSD also remains soldered to the logic board, so there is no user-upgradeable storage either.
A video teardown of the new Mac mini has also surfaced, revealing that the overall disassembly process is similar to the 2018 model:
There's also a video teardown of the new MacBook Air, providing a peek inside the notebook, although many components are covered with shielding. We'll have to wait on iFixit for its more in-depth teardowns of the new Macs for a closer look.
Article Link: Mac Mini Teardown Provides Real-World Look at M1 Chip on Smaller Logic Board
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Mac Mini Teardown Provides Real-World Look at M1 Chip on Smaller Logic Board
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Probably kept the same footprint for the server farms rack enclosures.
I just got my M1 Mac mini with 16GB and 1TB SSD yesterday. You will love it! I ordered mine within a few minutes of the Apple Announcement, so I got in line early. Hope your Mac mini comes sooner than they estimated, so you can begin enjoying it! I also figured that the 16GB model would be best because I plan to use it for video editing.
Interesting to see that they keep the same chip shape as the A12X, with the 2 memory modules outside the metal lid of the SoC. However, I wonder why that shape, like it was cut to put the memory, instead of giving it the same shape to the lid on the 4 sides...
That's a DTS unit. Today's DTS are more compact in Mac Mini enclosure contained A12.
The meta lid only serves to protect the die and transferring the head from the cores to the memory modules is actually not a good idea. Im not engineer but this may be the answer to this very curios soc design.
Several reasons for keeping the previous case design:
- No additional engineering (Cost management)
- Already reasonably small (How much more small could it be? None, none more smaller ...)
- Hosting/co-los that depend on the form factor
- Peripherals designed for the form factor
- Expansion room in the same case for the next gen (both internally, and on the rear panel for ports).
And finally, and clearly the main driver: no need to change the icon on Apple.com
I did find it interesting they went back to the natural silver finish vs. the 2018 space gray. Maybe the latter was introducing unnecessary manufacturing headaches (I know some people reported some funky pitting in the finish). However, I also wonder if the entry level model being silver means they may do a "Pro" model, with the M1/M1X/M2 (8, 12, 16+ perf cores, 16+ GPU cores, 4 TB ports) and use the space gray again to sort of [visually] differentiate the models.
- No additional engineering (Cost management)
- Already reasonably small (How much more small could it be? None, none more smaller ...)
- Hosting/co-los that depend on the form factor
- Peripherals designed for the form factor
- Expansion room in the same case for the next gen (both internally, and on the rear panel for ports).
And finally, and clearly the main driver: no need to change the icon on Apple.com
I did find it interesting they went back to the natural silver finish vs. the 2018 space gray. Maybe the latter was introducing unnecessary manufacturing headaches (I know some people reported some funky pitting in the finish). However, I also wonder if the entry level model being silver means they may do a "Pro" model, with the M1/M1X/M2 (8, 12, 16+ perf cores, 16+ GPU cores, 4 TB ports) and use the space gray again to sort of [visually] differentiate the models.
It is pretty interesting that they could totally do this. It would lack some ports, but there's an interesting future ahead of the Mac lineup.
Value-Engineered late in development
“Think how much extra margin we can make by combining the ram chips with the CPU?”
This move to make their own silicon was all about bottom line. Sure there’s some benefits to ARM as well, but even just looking at the tear-down, it’s obvious it’s a steam lined build.
These mac mini are often used in servers farms and as VMs. Keeping the fan, even if not needed in case of larger heatsink is probably a good idea. Imagine this M1 working 24/7 at 100% in closed enviernment.
I’m guessing apple used thermal pads instead of thermal grease. Buying higher end thermal pads might improve thermal performance. LOL, I forgot, these aren’t intel chip! 😂
but I love to know what apple used between the heat sink and M1.
but I love to know what apple used between the heat sink and M1.
I'd love to see a pro version that allows for more RAM. Was hoping, with the lower power draw, there would be an option to power the mini over USB-C! Would love plugging it into a a USB-C/Thunderbolt monitor and get data AND power over the one cable.
What is the expected life of the SSD? I run a MacMini from late 2009. I did a user upgrade on both RAM and HDD. It doesn’t run Catalina or Big Sur but still works fine. I just ordered an M1 version but can’t see it lasting as long if I can’t replace the soldered on storage.
A teardown of the new Mac mini has surfaced on the forum eGPU.io (via Reddit), providing us with a real-world look at Apple's new M1 chip, which is soldered onto a much smaller logic board than the one found in the 2018 model of the computer. (Note: At the time of publishing, the eGPU.io forum appears to be experiencing downtime.)
The M1 is the silver chip labeled with APL1102, housing the 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, I/O controllers, and more all in one. The unified system memory is also visible on the right side of the chip, and takes up far less space than the standalone RAM modules used in the previous Mac mini, contributing to the smaller logic board.
As expected, the switch to unified system memory also means that there is no user-upgradeable RAM, as there was with the previous Mac mini, so choose wisely between 8GB or 16GB of memory when configuring the Mac mini on Apple's online store. The SSD also remains soldered to the logic board, so there is no user-upgradeable storage either.
A video teardown of the new Mac mini has also surfaced, revealing that the overall disassembly process is similar to the 2018 model:
There's also a video teardown of the new MacBook Air, providing a peek inside the notebook, although many components are covered with shielding. We'll have to wait on iFixit for its more in-depth teardowns of the new Macs for a closer look.
Article Link: Mac Mini Teardown Provides Real-World Look at M1 Chip on Smaller Logic Board
Exactly, people disappointed about lack of a cosmetic redesign should keep this in mind.
I believe this is 100% intentional in order to drive home the idea "this transition is seamless".
As far as major CPU architecture changes go, casual consumers barely noticing anything different is a good thing.
History suggests redefines will come after the CPU transition is complete across the lineup.
Apple Engineered anti-intrusion, anti-modification, and guaranteed obsolescence that keeps Apple as a major profitable business.
Specially engineered fasteners, adhesives, sealants, and assembly procedures to keep you out and Apple the only repair or modification option no matter your particular level of engineering skills. By this method can Apple assure you will not have the capability to successfully add/modify ram, processors, add/modify onboard devices or make any kind of repair/mod of Apple products. “You Shall Not Pass!!!”
As Apple’s devices age they are dropped from future OS upgrades, seven to ten or so years. Either you are satisfied with the last OS upgrade or you buy a new Apple device. Apple devices are simply throw-aways. Apple is counting on you to keep coming back for their latest and greatest.
I enjoy the newest hardware and innovation but I have a difficult time of relinquishing a reliable trouble free machine and dropping another 4-6k on a new machine just because Apple decided my current machine was DOA.
Specially engineered fasteners, adhesives, sealants, and assembly procedures to keep you out and Apple the only repair or modification option no matter your particular level of engineering skills. By this method can Apple assure you will not have the capability to successfully add/modify ram, processors, add/modify onboard devices or make any kind of repair/mod of Apple products. “You Shall Not Pass!!!”
As Apple’s devices age they are dropped from future OS upgrades, seven to ten or so years. Either you are satisfied with the last OS upgrade or you buy a new Apple device. Apple devices are simply throw-aways. Apple is counting on you to keep coming back for their latest and greatest.
I enjoy the newest hardware and innovation but I have a difficult time of relinquishing a reliable trouble free machine and dropping another 4-6k on a new machine just because Apple decided my current machine was DOA.
If there was more bandwidth we would have 4 TB3 ports instead of 2 as that would give access to more external screens. Clearly there is a limit to the number of PCIe lanes the M1 has. And if they did give it more PCIe lanes those would be given to TB3 rather than internal M.2 that only a fraction of a percent of users would use.
Why change something, that works?
Also, some companies are using these computers for server/render/whatever farms.
Macminicolo - Mac mini hosting - Dropcam
Only a fraction? If there is a computer that can alway benefit from expandable storage that's a desktop computer. Heck, they could even engineer nifty little doors that even a toddler could use to install the drives. Why would anyone plonk big money on clunky external thunderbolt storage if they could do just that?
Of course they can. But no one is struggling to fit these things on their desks so there’s no compelling reason to do so.
Plus, Macstadium (one of the largest customers for Mac mini) has tons of these already in purpose built racks and has just ordered hundreds of the M1. Easier to sell in volume if the industrial design doesn’t change.