Mac Mini Teardown Provides Real-World Look at M1 Chip on Smaller Logic Board

thebeans said:
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. 😀
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The soldered RAM and SSD are off-putting. My last Mac mini I easily upgraded the RAM and SSD. With all that extra space, I hope Apple opens up their systems more for user upgradable internals. I understand they may want to control the hardware more for a seamless experience but I can’t imagine approved third party RAM and SSD would negatively impact silicon Mac’s. I hate that they solder in these components and then charge much more for the same parts. It also baffles me that Apple claims to be eco conscious when their systems are increasingly soldered together thus decreasing longevity as opposed to allowing users to extend the longevity. Macs have always benefitted from RAM increases and as OS X/macOS evolved more RAM absolutely made a difference. I’d rather have the option to upgrade simple components than have to decide on buying a new computer.
 
jazz1 said:
I thought the MacMini could drive two monitors??? Somewhere I read three, but I’m having a hard time believing that is true.
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yah it can drive 2 monitors. Makes sense, the MacBook Air and Pro drive 2 monitors, 1 built-in and 1 external. Not bad for an entry level chip that beats modern i9s. (but alas some people gotta complain about something, it doesn't drive 3 monitors, what a dud!). This is from the Apple web site:

1605724678460.png
 
CJ Dorschel said:
The soldered RAM and SSD are off-putting. My last Mac mini I easily upgraded the RAM and SSD. With all that extra space, I hope Apple opens up their systems more for user upgradable internals. I understand they may want to control the hardware more for a seamless experience but I can’t imagine approved third party RAM and SSD would negatively impact silicon Mac’s. I hate that they solder in these components and then charge much more for the same parts. It also baffles me that Apple claims to be eco conscious when their systems are increasingly soldered together thus decreasing longevity as opposed to allowing users to extend the longevity. Macs have always benefitted from RAM increases and as OS X/macOS evolved more RAM absolutely made a difference. I’d rather have the option to upgrade simple components than have to decide on buying a new computer.
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Truth! Most people do not upgrade their computers. And given TB3/USB 4 speeds, an external drive is very fast. So really not an issue. But yah, for $699 why not have the CPU upgradeable, Ram upgradeable, SSD upgradeable (oh, it get more vulnerable to security hacks if it can be removed and read easily)
 
Loving this new Mac mini so far...wonderfully snappy web browsing. Have it mounted to the back of my 4k TV.
 
President-Elect Beachball said:
Yes, but if it was easy to do so most people would find expandable storage in a entry-level Mac mini more useful than, say, extra thunderbolt ports.

Remember how easy it was do add ram in that same chassis till 2012? That round bottom panel used to turn open. Just like that, no screws, no nothing.
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I remember, I loved it, but the VAST majority of people who buy computers (any computer, not just macs) do NOT open their machines. They’re afraid to, which is why I’m consistently employed.

So I get it, I’m in favor of user accessibility into systems, but I understand that’s a vanishingly small audience to cater to.
 
Maybe I'm being an idiot here (and apologies if this has been asked and answered), but if the RAM and SSD aren't user-upgradeable, what's the point in retaining the easy-open black bottom?
 
MauiPa said:
Truth! Most people do not upgrade their computers. And given TB3/USB 4 speeds, an external drive is very fast. So really not an issue. But yah, for $699 why not have the CPU upgradeable, Ram upgradeable, SSD upgradeable (oh, it get more vulnerable to security hacks if it can be removed and read easily)
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A lot of people do but most Mac owners don’t as they cannot. I know many who have kept their 2012 Mac mini’s as they can update them easily by sliding the back cover open. They even have room for two SSD’s.

Apple’s claims of improved security with the SSD and T2 system aren’t really that strong especially as you can add M.2 blades in the Mac Pro albeit they won’t be boot drives. It’s simply a reason to upcharge customers. I’ve gotten years of usage out of my Mac Pro’s over my MacBook Pro‘s for that reason.

Not to mention the recent security issues discovered with T2 chips that can’t be fixed.
 
NT1440 said:
I remember, I loved it, but the VAST majority of people who buy computers (any computer, not just macs) do NOT open their machines. They’re afraid to, which is why I’m consistently employed.

So I get it, I’m in favor of user accessibility into systems, but I understand that’s a vanishingly small audience to cater to.
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I think it's a self-fulfilled prophecy. The reason that demographic is vanishing is because Apple and other manufacturers are openly hostile to people opening their computers. You need nerves of steel to open many of those devices today, and of course that scares most people off. Make it easy to do and people will do it. I don't remember it being too uncommon for people adding ram to their own, as opposed to employer-issued, computers back in the early-Intel Mac era. Even batteries, you could just buy them and replace them yourself, as opposed to have it sent in to be serviced.
 
chucker23n1 said:
Why do multiple engineering challenges at a time when you don't have to?

Odds are the Air and mini will both receive a redesign in the next two or so years.

Both the 68k-to-PowerPC nor the PowerPC-to-Intel transitions came with mostly identical cases:

  • the 6100 was the same cases as the 660AV
  • the 8100 as the 840AV
  • the 7100 was a little different to the 650, I believe
  • the MacBook Pro was virtually identical to the PowerBook G4 except for things like adding a webcam
  • the (Intel) iMac looked just like the iMac G5
  • the Mac mini was identical
  • the MacBook that came after a few months was a noticeable change from its preceding iBook
So, we might see a model or two next year that looks noticeably (but not drastically) different. The iMac would be one obvious choice.
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This is one half of why Apple reuse cases across transitions.
I explain the other reason they do so here:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1329105328684769280
 
President-Elect Beachball said:
I think it's a self-fulfilled prophecy. The reason that demographic is vanishing is because Apple and other manufacturers are openly hostile to people opening their computers. You need nerves of steel to open many of those devices today, and of course that scares most people off. Make it easy to do and people will do it. I don't remember it being too uncommon for people adding ram to their own, as opposed to employer-issued, computers back in the early-Intel Mac era. Even batteries, you could just buy them and replace them yourself, as opposed to have it sent in to be serviced.
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Absolutely! I Kept my 2012 Mac Mini as I can easily update the RAM and SSD’s. My Mac Pro‘s have lasted years over my MacBook Pro’s, which were more user upgradable at one time. I know many people who would like to upgrade their Mac’s but simply can’t which is why some people claim less people are updating their systems now - it’s simply because they can’t.

I recently updated my 2012 12-Core Mac Pro with genuine Apple parts - Broadcom WiFiac+BTLE4, SATA III PCIe SSD boot, SATA III internal drives, Sapphire Radeon PULSE 8GB GPU, USB-C 3.1, 64 GB RAM, etc. It’s running as fast as my 2014 trash can Mac Pro’s yet even those I can’t only update the RAM and SSD, possibly the CPU but the AMD D700 GPU’s are there for good.

It takes more work to design a system that can’t be upgraded than to keep previously existing upgradable system components in place. Soldering in components in a form factor that has the extra room is Apple’s way of charging more for RAM and drives. I remember when Apple sold RAM online and you could buy more for your Mac’s right from Apple if you wanted to pay their prices.
 
kirbyrun said:
Maybe I'm being an idiot here (and apologies if this has been asked and answered), but if the RAM and SSD aren't user-upgradeable, what's the point in retaining the easy-open black bottom?
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To save time and money on not having to design and manufacture something different.
 
mr.steevo said:
And, they won’t include the power cable.
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Eh, that's unlikely. The power cable for the Minis is going to stay with the Minis. It's just not the same. (Although I say this as someone who has a couple leftover from my old mini and dead AppleTV 2.)

I get the change on the iPhones. At this point, I keep the chargers in the original boxes when I upgrade. I have so many USB-A power adapters since forever... plus I've got power bricks with them and even a few of the outlets in my house have been changed out. It's become such a standard that everyone has it at this point. (Heck, I even have a couple pairs of EarPods in the original packaging in my "random cables" bin.)

I mean, I actually like that Apple is reducing this stuff. What I dislike is that their commitment to environmental issues is a marking ploy more than anything else. It's still a kinda/sorta win because less plastic waste is a Good Thing™ in my opinion. However, I wish Apple had a more holistic/legitimate approach to environmental consciousness. They're definitely leaps and bounds over Amazon, but... their stance on repairs, for instance, is very anti-environment.

I get why RAM is part of the SoC—there's a legitimate case to be made for performance and power consumption. However, I don't get why the SSDs are glued/soldered in. Same with batteries. It's ridiculous. It takes some nasty solvents to remove that stuff for repair and often they don't even repair, they just replace.
 
CJ Dorschel said:
Absolutely! I Kept my 2012 Mac Mini as I can easily update the RAM and SSD’s. My Mac Pro‘s have lasted years over my MacBook Pro’s, which were more user upgradable at one time. I know many people who would like to upgrade their Mac’s but simply can’t which is why some people claim less people are updating their systems now - it’s simply because they can’t.

I recently updated my 2012 12-Core Mac Pro with genuine Apple parts - Broadcom WiFiac+BTLE4, SATA III PCIe SSD boot, SATA III internal drives, Sapphire Radeon PULSE 8GB GPU, USB-C 3.1, 64 GB RAM, etc. It’s running as fast as my 2014 trash can Mac Pro’s yet even those I can’t only update the RAM and SSD, possibly the CPU but the AMD D700 GPU’s are there for good.

It takes more work to design a system that can’t be upgraded than to keep previously existing upgradable system components in place. Soldering in components in a form factor that has the extra room is Apple’s way of charging more for RAM and drives. I remember when Apple sold RAM online and you could buy more for your Mac’s right from Apple if you wanted to pay their prices.
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I think more to the point is that back in the day even people who were not computer-heads were still open to upgrading their devices.

Computer is sluggish? Here, bam, some more ram, easy-peasy. Hard drive is full? Here, behind this little detachable panel, replace the hard drive with a larger one. Not so easy as you'd still have to backup and reinstall the OS, but easy enough.

Today: computer is sluggish? Hard drive is too small? Buy a new device and shove the old one into a drawer.
 
Maybe it’s me because I am partially colorblind, but that board sure looks like a different color than the 2018 mini. Not that it makes any difference, it’s just the first thing I noticed.

2018 board (iFixit)
 
All that space and they could not make the SSD upgradeable, provide more ports or make it at least passively cooled by cramming in a big heatsink.

Who wants to bet that next year it's "We built our smallest Mac Mini yet" with the same ********?
 
Very tempted to get a Mini, as honestly I simply don't use Laptops despite having a Chromebook and a PC Laptop
I just don't have the lifestyle to require such a device, and I LOVE the BIG screen at home.

My only thought is this......

The current chip A14 +++++++ is really a very tweaked iPad Chip, to get the ball rolling.
I know it's looking like it's great. BUT....

I'm really wondering. what the M2 will be like in next years Mini, will is be much more designed for the desktop?

Or am I wrong, and the M1 will simply stay in the Mini for 2 or 3 years before the mini ever gets another update?
 
President-Elect Beachball said:
I think it's a self-fulfilled prophecy. The reason that demographic is vanishing is because Apple and other manufacturers are openly hostile to people opening their computers. You need nerves of steel to open many of those devices today, and of course that scares most people off. Make it easy to do and people will do it. I don't remember it being too uncommon for people adding ram to their own, as opposed to employer-issued, computers back in the early-Intel Mac era. Even batteries, you could just buy them and replace them yourself, as opposed to have it sent in to be serviced.
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That’s not my experience in 20 years of computer support (10 professionally).

Let me put it this way, the same type of person that can’t change a spark plug or do an oil change out of fear of “messing something up” is the same person who is afraid of even removing a side panel on a desktop that is CLEARLY designed to be removed.

People are afraid of changing physical items they don’t understand. That’s the vast majority of people. It’s sad because I KNOW the average person is capable of these things, they just feel the need to “let the professionals” handle it.
 
TravelsInBlue said:
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.
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Well they could've made even more by charging more! This mini is more powerful than the macs they are still
charging $2000-$4000 for! We don't yet know if this memory is more efficient, maybe we don't need
as much memory now? Hell of a deal for $700 if you ask me.
 
CJ Dorschel said:
The soldered RAM and SSD are off-putting. My last Mac mini I easily upgraded the RAM and SSD. With all that extra space, I hope Apple opens up their systems more for user upgradable internals. I understand they may want to control the hardware more for a seamless experience but I can’t imagine approved third party RAM and SSD would negatively impact silicon Mac’s. I hate that they solder in these components and then charge much more for the same parts. It also baffles me that Apple claims to be eco conscious when their systems are increasingly soldered together thus decreasing longevity as opposed to allowing users to extend the longevity. Macs have always benefitted from RAM increases and as OS X/macOS evolved more RAM absolutely made a difference. I’d rather have the option to upgrade simple components than have to decide on buying a new computer.
Click to expand...
Apple is going for the “use less” option with these. Those logic boards are tiny, probably smaller than the MacBook ones. This is using the minimal resources to achieve the same thing as a machine with a lot more parts.

It’s not the progress we’d LIKE, but this thing is probably very recyclable to get the raw materials back when it’s life is done.
 
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