Product Description
Mac mini features third-generation Intel Core processors, faster
integrated graphics, Thunderbolt, and plenty of ports. Expect big
things. With third-generation Intel Core processors, Mac mini keeps up
with computers twice its size. You can choose a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel
Core i5. Or go for an even more powerful 2.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
for up to two times the performance of the previous-generation dual-core
Mac mini. When you're using processor-intensive applications, Turbo
Boost 2.0 increases the clock speed up to 3.6GHz. Hyper-Threading lets
each core run two threads, so OS X multitasks even more efficiently. And
an integrated memory controller connects fast 1600MHz memory directly
to the processor, so it gets right to work on your data. In short, Mac
mini is a little box of vroom. Intel HD Graphics 4000 delivers up to 65
percent more pixel-pushing performance than the previous generation of
integrated graphics. So the video you watch and the games you play are
smoother and more responsive. Flipping through photo albums is a breeze.
And you've got all the power you need to edit your HD video into a film
worthy of a red carpet premiere.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #108 in Personal Computers
- Brand: Apple
- Model: MD388LL/A
- Dimensions: 4.50 pounds
- CPU: Intel Core i7 2.3 GHz
- Memory: 4GB SDRAM
- Hard Disk: 1024GB
- Processors: 2
Features
- 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.3GHz) with 6MB L3 cache
- 4 GB (two 2GB) of 1600MHz DDR3 memory
- 1 TB (5400-rpm) hard drive
- Intel HD Graphics 4000
- Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
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Customer Reviews
I'm an IT professional and I've been a computer enthusiast since the days of the Atari 400 (circa 1980). To date I have never been as impressed with a desktop computer as I am with the late 2012 Mac Mini. It's fast. It's refined. It's quiet. It's sleek. It's solid. The thing is just beautiful to behold. OS X 10.8.2 is a delight to work with. And, if you really need to, this little machine runs Windows far better than any PC I've ever owned.
This machine runs spectacularly right out of the box, but I knew that I could squeeze even more out of it for a little more money, so for another $300, I "maxed it out" by replacing the 1TB HDD with a Samsung 830 series 256GB SSD and bumping the memory from 4GB to 16GB ('Crucial' brand memory works great in Macs). By the way, bumping the memory to 16GB also yields an extra 256MB video RAM - not sure how that works, but I'll take it. Now the thing just screams. I bought a 2.5" USB 3.0 SATA enclosure here on Amazon to put the original HDD into, so now I have a handy little portable terabyte that I can carry around with me in case I want to transfer mass data to...whatever. I'm also using the original drive to back up the Mini via OS X's built-in "Time Machine" backup utility. Works like a charm.
I'm running my new Mini on two 24" Dell Ultrasharp monitors. Fantastic. I'm also using the Apple wireless Magic Mouse (another Apple gem) and a full-size Apple USB keyboard that came with my 2008 (or so) iMac. Since the new Mini's don't have optical drives, I also bought a Samsung SE-506 Blu-Ray burner (I don't like the Apple USB SuperDrive because there is no activity light or eject button). I love this setup.
I suppose it should be noted that the 2012 Mini's have integrated Intel 4000 GPU's, and I don't think there's any way to add any video hardware, so this might not be the right choice for core gamers or pro video editors. If you're not one of those, I cannot recommend this machine highly enough.
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When this new Mac Mini was announced this week, I wondered if I should upgrade my 2011 Mini. However, when I saw that I could get a solid quad core processor in the mid-level Mini, I jumped. In terms of appearance, this year's Mac Mini looks exactly like last year's. The only differences are internal. Here are the big differences between the 2011 and 2012 Mac Mini: (1) the processors are faster (as you would guess); (2) the mid-level Mac Mini now comes with a very fast quad core processor instead of a dual core; (3) the USB ports have been updated to USB 3 (which is much faster than USB 2); and (4) all models of the 2012 Mac Mini come with an integrated graphics card; there is no option for getting a discrete graphics card like last year (more on this later).
Both the mid-level Mac Mini and the server version have the same quad core processor, but the entry level Mac Mini is still a dual core. Why stick with a dual core processor desktop when you can have one with a quad core processor? So I got the mid-level model because I don't need a server, and other than the server's two hard drives, the mid-level Mini and the server model are exactly the same (e.g., same processor and same graphics card).
More on the graphics card: as noted earlier, ALL of the Mac Minis this year come with an integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics card. This is a much better card than last year's Intel HD 3000 graphics card, although some might want a discrete card for gaming. One thing I noticed about the Intel HD 4000 card in this year's Mac Mini is that it gives you 512 mb of video ram with only 4 GB of RAM installed. To my knowledge, all other Apple computers need at least 8 GB of RAM installed to get 512 mb of video ram from the HD 4000 card. This is a nice surprise. When I noticed this, I thought beef up the RAM to 8 GB and see if that increases the video ram--and it does. Installing 8 GB or more of RAM in this year's mid level Mac Mini (and I assume the same is true for the server Mini since these two machines are nearly identical) gives you 768 mb of video ram. I'd be willing to bet Apple increased the amount of maximum video ram from the HD 4000 card in this year's Mac Mini to compensate for removing the discrete graphics card option.
How does the new mid-level Mini perform? Well, I installed an SSD drive and 8 GB of RAM, and this thing just screams. Everything happens almost instantaneously when I click the mouse. No rainbow wheels, and one bounce at most from icons in the dock (often there is no bounce at all since things happen so fast). I compared my upgraded Mac Mini to last year's 27 inch iMac, and my Mac Mini seems much faster and snappier. Finally, Apple is starting to give the Mini some long overdue respect. The Mini is now becoming a machine people WANT instead of SETTLE FOR. To me, upgrading to this year's Mac Mini is well worth it.
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Editorial Reviews
The Apple Mac mini packs even more power,
thanks to the latest dual-core and quad-core Intel processors. It also
comes with integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000, Thunderbolt, USB 3, and OS
X Mountain Lion--the latest release of the world's most advanced
desktop operating system.
The powerhouse Mac mini (view larger).
Plenty of ports, including USB 3, HDMI, and Thunderbolt (view larger).
This
version of the Mac mini (model MD388LL/A) features a 2.3 GHz Intel Core
i7 quad-core processor as well as 4 GB of RAM (expandable to 16 GB) and
1 TB of hard drive storage (see full specifications below). It also
comes with the iLife software suite, which includes the latest versions
of iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand.
Key Features
Small Footprint, Excellent Versatility
The
Mac mini features a precisely constructed unibody enclosure that even
houses its own integrated power supply into the 7.7-inch square aluminum
enclosure (that's also 1.4 inches thin)--eliminating the need for an
external power brick. Additionally, the Mac mini helps contain your
environmental footprint with a 10 watt power consumption.
Despite
its smaller size, the Mac mini offers a full range of ports for
connecting to your existing peripherals--from keyboards and mice to
external hard drives and displays (via the Thunderbolt and HDMI ports).
And when you're ready to add more memory, the Mac mini's bottom
removable panel makes the upgrade process a breeze.
Revolutionary Thunderbolt Technology
Developed
by Intel with collaboration from Apple, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O
(input/output) technology delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second of
transfer speeds in both directions. Built into the Mac mini, the
Thunderbolt port allows you to connect to new Thunderbolt-compatible
peripherals as well as existing USB and FireWire peripherals using
simple adapters. You'll be able to move data up to 20 times faster than
with USB 2.0 and more than 12 times faster than with FireWire 800, and
you can daisy-chain up to six high-speed devices without using a hub.
Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and
works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI, and VGA displays.
USB 3
With
USB 3 built into the Mac mini, you can connect your external hard drive
and transfer large files in seconds instead of minutes. Every Mac mini
comes with four USB 3 ports--with speeds up to 10 times faster than USB
2--and you can connect all your USB-compatible devices, including your
iPhone, iPad, iPod, or digital camera.
Intel HD Graphics 4000
Intel
HD Graphics 4000 delivers up to 65 percent more pixel-pushing
performance than the previous generation of integrated graphics. So the
video you watch and the games you play are smoother and more responsive.
Flipping through photo albums is a breeze. And you've got all the power
you need to edit your HD video into a film worthy of a red carpet
premiere.
Specifications
| Apple Mac mini (model MD388LL/A) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz) with 6 MB L3 cache | |
| Storage | 1 TB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM) | |
| Memory | 4 GB (two 2GB) of 1600 MHz DDR3 memory (maximum of 16 GB) | |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 4000 | |
| Video | Thunderbolt digital video output (native Mini DisplayPort output); compatible with DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI output using optional adapters | |
| Audio | Audio line in minijack (digital/analog); audio line out/headphone minijack (digital/analog); HDMI port supports multichannel audio output; support for Apple iPhone headset with microphone; built-in speaker | |
| Connections | ||
| and Expansion |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking (802.11a/b/g compatible); Bluetooth 4.0; Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) | |
| Size and Weight | 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches (WxDxH); 2.7 pounds | |
Just add your own display, keyboard, and mouse (display and peripherals not included; view larger).
What's in the Box
Mac mini, HDMI to DVI adapter, power cord, printed and electronic documentationNote: The Mac mini does not come with an optical drive, however OS X Mountain Lion offers the convenient DVD or CD Sharing feature, which lets you wirelessly "borrow" the optical drive of a nearby Mac or PC. So you can install applications from a DVD or CD and have full access to an optical drive without having to carry one around. Additionally, you can connect an optional optical drive (such as the Apple USB SuperDrive) via one of the USB ports.
Limited Warranty And Service
The Mac mini comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a 1-year limited warranty, which can be extended to 3 years with the AppleCare Protection Plan.Installed Software
| OS X Mountain Lion | Mac App Store, Safari, Mail, Messages, Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, Notes, Time Machine, FaceTime, Photo Booth, Game Center, iTunes, and more |
|---|
| Apple iLife suite | iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand |
|---|
