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Possible i3 Coffee Lake Mac Mini ?
- Thread starter Helpfixit
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I am not too knowledgeable about cpu codes and such, but it does line up with my expectations of Apple keeping the mini as a low power/lower cost Mac, and pushing those who want more power into the iMac/MacBook Pro/Mac Pro redesign.
My personal expectation was that the Mac mini would get discontinued, but after Tim Cook's email last month I have changed my mind. I am now expecting basically a re-cased fanless Macbook equivalent without a display, propabaly released before back to school 2018 timeframe.
Is the coffee lake cpu mentioned able to run fanless?
My personal expectation was that the Mac mini would get discontinued, but after Tim Cook's email last month I have changed my mind. I am now expecting basically a re-cased fanless Macbook equivalent without a display, propabaly released before back to school 2018 timeframe.
Is the coffee lake cpu mentioned able to run fanless?
The desktop Coffee lake CPU's require more power for the additional cores, i3 desktop coffee lake is now quad core. Im not sure about mobile coffee lake. Possibly a fan-less mobile, but not for desktop.
I believe Apple has put laptop chips (GPU chips if I remember) in desktop computers before. I would guess if they are thinking of entry level performance for the new Mac mini, they would prefer to use a common laptop cpu chip in both the MacBook/iMac for easier logistics/pricing power.
Of course, throw all this out the window if Apple uses the Mac mini as a public test bed for a transition away from Intel to Apple designed cpu chips.
Either way, interesting times.
Of course, throw all this out the window if Apple uses the Mac mini as a public test bed for a transition away from Intel to Apple designed cpu chips.
Either way, interesting times.
I’ve actually thought about this recently and concluded that it actually makes a lot of sense (but not for marketing).
The performance would be better than the 8th gen 15/28W i5s and i7s, and it could actually be less expensive. But there are issues with it, one being the marketing of having a desktop i3 vs a mobile i5/i7. While the i3 may be more powerful, the i5 and i7 will always look better and be perceived as more powerful to consumers.
Overall I think it’s more likely that we’ll see the mobile processors in the Mac mini. It’s possible that the i3 will be used in a 21.5” iMac configuration.
The performance would be better than the 8th gen 15/28W i5s and i7s, and it could actually be less expensive. But there are issues with it, one being the marketing of having a desktop i3 vs a mobile i5/i7. While the i3 may be more powerful, the i5 and i7 will always look better and be perceived as more powerful to consumers.
Overall I think it’s more likely that we’ll see the mobile processors in the Mac mini. It’s possible that the i3 will be used in a 21.5” iMac configuration.
I dont think mac mini will get desktop processors unless they are insipired somewhat by the hp z2 mini.
It would be nice though. A i3/i5 choice.
4/4, and 6/6 options.
It would be nice though. A i3/i5 choice.
4/4, and 6/6 options.
Have you seen how small the 12-inch MacBook's logic board is?
Imagine an Apple TV 3, but made of Aluminium. Put a similar logic board inside with a low-power, passively-cooled CPU. Use the aluminium body as the heatsink.
Throw in a HDMI port, a 3.5mm audio connector, a couple of USB ports and two USB-C ports.
Get rid of the internal power supply, and include a MacBook style USB-C power adapter.
Call it "The New Mac Mini". Completely silent. Capable of 4K at 60Hz.
Imagine an Apple TV 3, but made of Aluminium. Put a similar logic board inside with a low-power, passively-cooled CPU. Use the aluminium body as the heatsink.
Throw in a HDMI port, a 3.5mm audio connector, a couple of USB ports and two USB-C ports.
Get rid of the internal power supply, and include a MacBook style USB-C power adapter.
Call it "The New Mac Mini". Completely silent. Capable of 4K at 60Hz.
What's the CPU like (performance) compared to the quad cores inside the late 2012 mac minis?
I think, from Apple's point of view, that the 2012 quad core was "a mistake". It's clear that they don't ever intend to do that again. They want to limit the Mini to push people towards the more expensive iMac and Mac Pro line.
They did the same thing with the iPad Mini 2. It had exactly the same power as the bigger iPad Air, and it was cheaper. When they updated the iPad line, the Mini 3 didn't get the CPU upgrade that the bigger iPad did. And they've never been "on a par" since.
They did the same thing with the iPad Mini 2. It had exactly the same power as the bigger iPad Air, and it was cheaper. When they updated the iPad line, the Mini 3 didn't get the CPU upgrade that the bigger iPad did. And they've never been "on a par" since.
It probably started with the 2011 Sandy Bridge quad core. It was such a leap in performance from the previous generation. But it still had USB 2.0. The 2012 with Thunderbolt, USB 3 and FireWire was the Swiss Army knife of Macs.
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I've been shopping for a new Mac Mini. I would buy an i3 Coffee Lake Mini. As long as it came standard with 8GB of RAM and an SSD.
I hope so. If iPad Pros now come with 4GB of RAM it’s not unreasonable to have a minimum of 8GB RAM.