I'm still 99.9% sure the 2 fan version of the iMac were designed for a M1x/M1Pro (or whatever) which turned out not to be ready at that time.
So the question really is, will they add it now or with the spec-bump next year.
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New High-End Mac Mini: Everything Rumors Say We Can Expect
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I'm still 99.9% sure the 2 fan version of the iMac were designed for a M1x/M1Pro (or whatever) which turned out not to be ready at that time.
So the question really is, will they add it now or with the spec-bump next year.
You're talking about memory upgrades for the Intel models that use standard DIMM modules, not the on-package, unified memory on the Apple Silicon Macs. Right now Apple charges $200 just to go from 8GB to 16GB on the M1 Mac mini and they aren't going to give you 8GB for nothing (going from 8GB to 16GB). Worse case (which I don't expect) you'd have to pay $200 for each increment of 8GB, so going from 8GB to 32GB could be as much as $600.
Plus, look at the pricing of the current high-end Intel Mac mini with 32GB of memory, that's what an M1X Mac mini will be replacing. Those systems start at around $1900.
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Opposite for me - the reason I'm interested in the Mini is so that I can choose my own display(s) and/or re-use what I already have. If you're happy with what Apple are offering display-wise at the time then getting one built in to an iMac tends to be a no-brainer value wise... and Apple's external displays tend to be short on alternative inputs etc. which limits their usefulness with unspecified future systems.
It does sound as if Apple needs to up their game on 3rd party display support, though.
For me, I have one 32" monitor on my desk which serves my Mac Mini, my Xbox and my work PC (as well as being an occasional secondary display for my MBP and iPad Pro). If the iMac supported video input from other sources, I'd be all over it, even if it meant downsizing to a 27" screen, but currently the iMac just doesn't make sense for me.
I really think Apple are missing are trick here.
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Nope - it's $200 for each extra 8GB pretty much across the entire Mac range, whether it is standard DIMM modules, LPDDR soldered to the motherboard or LPDDR integrated on the M1 package.
The cost of BTO RAM and SSD options have nothing to do with bill-of-materials and everything to do with strategic pricing.
Edit: as I said earlier - if, as speculated, there's a jump between 16 GPU core (M1 Pro?) and 32 GPU core (M1 Max?) that could complicate the upgrade pattern a bit.
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Same situation for me. Theres talk of a 30" coming out, that would be interesting.
It really depends on how hobbled the mini is vs the iMac/macbook.
I will let my M1 Mac Mini live at least a couple more years before changing to at least let it show its full potential. I don't like that they changed the power adapter and the old chassis was not broken so never needed to be changed.
I am not for me either, but the spouse needs a new one to replace her 2013 MBP with a bulging battery. I will be interested in seeing how it is once she gets it. Maybe 2022 or 2023 for me. I am not in desperate need right now.
...but that bandwidth is provided by the GPU in the form of (probably) embedded DisplayPort lanes. It's quite independent of the PCIe bandwidth used for storage etc. over Thunderbolt or USB. (One of my beefs about Thunderbolt/USB-C is that it creates an artificial bottleneck by funnelling otherwise independent resources like DisplayPort and PCIe through the same physical connector).
I'm guessing that the M1/M1X SoCs have, in addition to thunderbolt, pins outputting eDP that goes to the internal display on MacBooks & iMacs or to the HDMI port on Minis. Or maybe, like some Intel chips, they have a bunch of universal I/O lanes that can be configured as various permutations of USB, PCIe, NVME (& maybe Thunderbolt or eDP?) when the system is built. As I've said, I haven't heard of anybody getting the skinny on the exact specs of the M1.
I hope the USB-C ports are further apart than in that render - get one or two plugs that aren't super skinny, and suddenly you can't actually plug in 4 things.
Okay, I stand corrected about he price difference, but it's still $200 per 8GB (as I stated) and someone is going to have to show me how that means you'll be able to get an M1X Mac mini with 32GB of memory for just $1499 or even $1699 (which is the price some have been suggesting).
In any case, I'm not expecting a new Mac mini today, but when the M1X mini is announced and if you can get a system with 32GB of memory for just $1699 ($1499 would be insane) then I'll be first in line to buy one. More likely it will be near $2000, maybe $1899 on the low end.
Sure, but all 3 (or 4) USB3/TB ports should be useable for a monitor something that the GPU would have to provide (aka 5 screens on a laptop with 4 ports).
There is also the question on how IO (GFX or not) works down in the M1, doubt it is really PCIe lanes in any form.
LTT had an interesting video testing how the M1-Mini deals with having it's IO loaded on all ports.
Yes, I've already spent $$$ on an OWC hub 
Works fine, but I'd rather more ports on the computer itself like my 2015 iMac (updated ports of course).
Works fine, but I'd rather more ports on the computer itself like my 2015 iMac (updated ports of course).Because I have the last 27” iMac that could be used as a monitor by any computer or device. It’s been incredibly useful.
My hardware ranges outside Apple. I’m sure a new big iMac will have a lovely screen, and I’ll be tempted to add another iMac in a row that stretches back to bondi blue (and arguably the Mac Plus). But crippling that lovely screen by only being driven by a Mac you bought way back in 2022 is not something that is acceptable to me any more.
$1099 (price of current i5 Intel Mac Mini, which was always $300 more than the entry model and is now $400 more than the M1) which will need 24GB ($200 x 3) of BTO RAM to get to 32GB. Or, the $1099 gets a long overdue bump to 16GB (which happened to the 4-port MBPs a while back) bringing that down to $1499 for 32GB.
The version with the bigger GPU cores is anybody's guess - it's not even a like-for-like replacement for the i7 which still had a the same feeble GPU as the rest of the range.
Now, the launch is starting so hopefully the speculation will soon be over (although I'm not holding my breath for the Mini)
Edit: glad I didn't hold my breath.
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Oh well! Absolutely nothing at this keynote for me. A Mac Mini Pro was all I wanted. On the bright side though my bank account lives to see another day.
Prosser and his plexi glass got it wrong…AGAIN.
Prosser and his plexi glass got it wrong…AGAIN.
New High-End Mac Mini: Everything Rumors Say We Can Expect in 2022
Fixed the title for you.
Going to assume here that it is a case of not having enough chips and more focus on the MBP.
Having said that I do like that new MBP, $1,999 start price though. I am not averse to spending the money just not sure that is justified. But then it's a little more than the 13" with 16GB Ram so it probably does represent a fair deal.
Having said that I do like that new MBP, $1,999 start price though. I am not averse to spending the money just not sure that is justified. But then it's a little more than the 13" with 16GB Ram so it probably does represent a fair deal.
Yeah, I was disappointed too, but I am in no rush to replace my 2012 i7 Mac Mini yet. I don't plan to do so until next year, either in the spring or summer, so that's plenty of time.