£699 inc VAT
(this model)
£529 inc VAT
(base model)
Contact
• apple.com/uk
Read more
• tinyurl.com/3udsn8s
Specification
2.5GHz Intel Core
İ5-2520M; 3MB L3 cache;
Mac OS X 10.7 Lion; 4GB
(2 x 2GB) DDR3-1333 RAM;
500GB 5,400rpm 2.5in
SATA HDD; AMD Radeon
HD 6630M graphics with
256MB GDDR5 RAM;
802.11a/nb/g/n; gigabit
ethernet; Bluetooth 4.0;
4 x USB 2.0; SD/SDHC/
SDXC slot; HDMI; HDMI-to-
DVI adaptor; Thunderbolt/
Mini DisplayPort; FireWire
800; 3.5mm audio input
with Toslink S/PDIF;
3.5mm audio output/
headphones with Toslink
S/PDIF; mono speaker;
infrared remote control
receiver; i Life 11;
197x197x36mm; 1.2kg
WorldBench 6 score: 123
Unveiled on the same day Apple unleashed Lion (see page 48), the Mac mini has had an overhaul. Whereas last year's line-up had middle-aged Intel Core 2 Duos clocked at 2.4GHz or 2.66GHz, the new gang sports second-generation Intel Core-series processors. And those Sandy Bridge chips don't half make a difference. The mini now uses faster 1,333MHz RAM in place of the previous model's 1,066MHz memory, and the storage capacity has also increased to 500GB, up from 320GB. The SATA bus is specified for 6 gigabits per second (Gbps) operation. Apple will exchange the disk (and an extra £480) for a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD), but we're not sure whether this will also be 6Gbps-enabled. Even shunting data at close to 3.5Gbps per second looks sedentary though, when you realise what the mini's new digital output is capable of. It looks suspiciously similar to Apple's familiar Mini DisplayPort, but a lightning strike symbol gives away its true identity: Thunderbolt. Developed by Intel with input from Apple, Thunderbolt is the incarnation of a hyper-speed conduit with huge potential. Based on PCI Express, only hot-swappable, it's a 21st-century FireWire, built to hook up external devices in such a way that the wires don't become the bottleneck, as they do with FireWire, USB, SATA and ethernet. Shame, then, that products bearing such ports are still thin on the ground. Apple has launched a Thunderbolt monitor, and Sony a Light Peak laptop (see page 11). Other new features Bluetooth has skipped a generation - from 2.1 to 4.0, missing out 3.0 - which could lead to quicker file transfers for those who still zap data using this short-distance technology. Increased power efficiency is also mooted in this revision. ^ t L L Z » — ^ !l 1 1 i I I İ S B BB J Two Mac mini models are offered: the cheaper option - which now costs even less at £529 rather than £649 - includes a 2.3GHz Intel Core İ5-2415M CPU. It's built for laptops, but still features Intel's Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost technologies. We tested the next model up, which has a 2.53GHz Intel Core İ5-2520M processor (3.2GHz with Turbo Boost). This mini costs £699, but offers double the 2GB memory quota and better graphics. The key difference between the two mini models is the graphics engine. In common with the 13in MacBook Pro, Apple has saddled the cheapest Mac mini with Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics. Provided that all you need is a machine capable of performing regular PC duties - up to and including playing HD video - you won't notice the shortfall. The previous generation fielded nVidia GeForce 320M graphics, and was capable of decent gaming provided that you didn't use a game's maximum detail settings. Here, Intel graphics offer great fuel economy - heat is reduced, meaning less fan annoyance - but gaming is a no-no. On the 2.53GHz Mac mini, Apple has snuck in a discrete card from ATI, a Radeon HD 6630M with 256MB of GDDR5 memory. The optical drive has been removed in the most recent revision. Like the slotless server model introduced last year, every mini now has a plain front, save for the infrared sensor and a small LED that denotes power on and sleep. Now Apple distributes its software online, including the Lion OS, that's not such a problem. If you still enjoy DVDs or Blu-rays from the original silver disc, you'll need to find an external drive. Performance By skipping a generation of CPUs, the performance delta looks particularly impressive. We tested the Mac mini with our usual benchmarks running Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. Last year's 2.4GHz model with an Intel P8600 processor scored w 93 points in our WorldBench 6 test, indicating a relatively quick PC that could take on some workload. This Mac has dramatically raised its game, all the way to 123 points in WorldBench 6. That 32 percent increase moves this desk-hugging slug of aluminium into the performance-PC realm. We tried the venerable Fear game to test the ATI HD 6630M's mettle, setting the detail to Maximum. It offered a smooth 53fps framerate, up from the 29fps of the previous mini's nVidia chip. Stalker: Call of Pripyat was used to test DirectX 11.0 gaming. At our preset low settings (1280x720 pixels and Medium detail), the Mac mini averaged a decent 32fps. Increasing the resolution and detail slowed the action: our 1920x1080-pixel Ultra test recorded an unplayable 14fps. Nevertheless, this ATI processor, successor to the ATI HD 5650 in high-end laptops, proved a worthy graphics-wrangler for gaming. It even managed our lo-spec Crysis test (1024x768 pixels, High quality, DirectX 9) at 27fps. For OS X benchmarking, Geekbench gave a six-run average of 7,049 points. That suggests close to a 40 percent increase in memory and processor performance over last year's comparably clocked MacBook Pro 15in (2.53GHz Core İ5-540M, Geekbench score: 5,073). The mini consumed only 11W of power when idle, rising to 57W when playing Crysis. Verdict We're always looking for a contender to take on the Mac mini as the perfect mini-desktop PC, or a stylish, compact and quiet media-centre machine for the lounge. It still escapes its rivals, and the latest slew of updates only serves to widen the gap.
------------------- SPIN
Undraped on the selfsame day Apple unleashed Cat (see attender 48), the Mac mini has had an maintenance. Whereas live twelvemonth's line-up had middle-aged Intel Core 2 Duos clocked at 2.4GHz or 2.66GHz, the new group sports second-generation Intel Core-series processors. And those Blonde Circuit chips don't half play a disagreement. The mini now uses faster 1,333MHz RAM in space of the previous example's 1,066MHz memory, and the hardware ability has also redoubled to 500GB, up from 320GB. The SATA bus is such for 6 gigabits per support (Gbps) action. Apple will work the plate (and an unneeded £480) for a 256GB solid-state locomote (SSD), but we're not sure whether this testament also be 6Gbps-enabled. Symmetrical shunting accumulation at
finish to 3.5Gbps per endorsement looks sedentary tho', when you harmonise what the mini's new digital outturn is susceptible of. It looks suspiciously quasi to Apple's familiar Mini DisplayPort, but a lightning strike symbol gives forth its even identity: Surprise. Matured by Intel with signal from Apple, Lightning is the embodiment of a hyper-speed conduit with immense possibility. Supported on PCI Transport, only hot-swappable, it's a 21st-century FireWire, collective to crotchet up outside devices in specified a way that the wires don't get the narrowing, as they do with FireWire, USB, SATA and ethernet. Dishonor, then, that products supporting much ports are still
diaphanous on the percept. Apple has launched a Bolt supervise, and Sony a Illuminate Acme laptop (see author 11). Opposite new features Bluetooth has skipped a breeding - from 2.1 to 4.0, nonexistent out 3.0 - which could strip to quicker line transfers for those who console zap accumulation using this short-distance profession. Exaggerated knowledge efficiency is also mooted in this transformation. ^ t L L Z » - ^ !l 1 1 i I I İ S B BB J Two Mac mini models are offered: the cheaper deciding - which now costs steady little at £529 kinda than £649 - includes a 2.3GHz Intel Core İ5-2415M CPU. It's shapely for laptops, but relieve features Intel's Hyper-
Threading and Turbo Elevate technologies. We reliable the close worthy up, which has a 2.53GHz Intel Nucleus İ5-2520M processor (3.2GHz with Turbo Raise). This mini costs £699, but offers twofold the 2GB memory quota and wagerer graphics. The key number between the two mini models is the graphics engine. In familiar with the 13in MacBook Pro, Apple has saddled the cheapest Mac mini with Intel HD 3000 desegrated graphics. Provided that all you pauperization is a organisation adequate of performing rhythmic PC duties - up to and including playing HD video - you won't respond the shortfall. The previous beginning fielded nVidia GeForce 320M graphics, and was competent of sufficient diversion provided that you didn't use a gamey's maximum item settings. Here, Intel graphics engage great gas scheme - change is reduced,
content fewer fan vexation - but gaming is a no-no. On the 2.53GHz Mac mini, Apple has snuck in a discrete greeting from ATI, a Radeon HD 6630M with 256MB of GDDR5 store. The optical cross has been distant in the most recent rewriting. Equivalent the slotless computer interpret introduced measure period, every mini now has a unadorned forepart, economize for the infrared device and a slender LED that denotes country on and death. Now Apple distributes its software online, including the Cat OS, that's not specified a job. If you noneffervescent savour DVDs or Blu-rays from the innovative ribbon disc, you'll need to
ascertain an extraneous propulsion. Performance By skipping a reproduction of CPUs, the show delta looks peculiarly imposing. We tried the Mac mini with our regular benchmarks operative Windows 7 Housing Payment 64bit. Ending assemblage's 2.4GHz representation with an Intel P8600 processor scored w 93 points in our WorldBench 6 attempt, indicating a relatively hurried PC that could traverse on many workload. This Mac has dramatically increased its gritty, all the way to 123 points in WorldBench 6. That 32 percent increment moves this desk-hugging hit of metal into the performance-PC realm. We reliable the venerable Value occupation to trial the ATI HD
6630M's nerve, environs the point to Extremum. It offered a creaseless 53fps framerate, up from the 29fps of the early mini's nVidia droppings. Stalker: Demand of Pripyat was victimized to judge DirectX 11.0 play. At our preset low settings (1280x720 pixels and Psychic detail), the Mac mini averaged a enough 32fps. Accelerando the deciding and point slowed the sue: our 1920x1080-pixel Ultra essay prerecorded an unplayable 14fps. Withal, this ATI processor, compeer to the ATI HD 5650 in high-end laptops, tested a worthwhile graphics-wrangler for gaming. It yet managed our lo-spec Crysis effort (1024x768 pixels, Broad
caliber, DirectX 9) at 27fps. For OS X benchmarking, Geekbench gave a six-run figure of 7,049 points. That suggests tightlipped to a 40 proportion amount in memory and processor show over worst assemblage's comparably clocked MacBook Pro 15in (2.53GHz Set İ5-540M, Geekbench assess: 5,073). The mini consumed exclusive 11W of force when lackadaisical, travel to 57W when playing Crysis. Verdict We're e'er hunting for a contender to endure on the Mac mini as the perfect mini-desktop PC, or a snazzy, wedge and quiet media-centre machine for the loaf. It still escapes its rivals, and the latest slew of updates only serves
to widen the gap.
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