Apple Mac mini (2005) vs Apple Mac mini (Late 2012)

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Mac mini (2005) compared with Mac mini (Late 2012)

	AppleMac mini (2005)	AppleMac mini (Late 2012)
Overview
Released
Released	January 2005	October 2012
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G4 7447A (1.25 GHz) or PowerPC G4 7447A (1.42 GHz)	Intel Core i5-3210M, Intel Core i7-3615QM or Intel Core i7-3720QM
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	2 or 4
CPU threads
CPU threads	–	4 or 8
Graphics
Graphics	ATI Radeon 9200	Intel HD Graphics 4000
Memory
Memory	256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB	4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	40 GB to 80 GB	256 GB to 1 TB (better)
CPU
CPU	1.25 or 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 512 KB L2 cache and 167 MHz system bus; EveryMac identifies the single-core 7447A processor, cross-checked with the Freescale fact sheet hosted by NXP	2.5 GHz dual-core Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz; 2.3 GHz quad-core Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz, configurable to a 2.6 GHz quad-core Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz. Macworld and Ars Technica identify the standard chips; Geekbench identifies the optional Core i7-3720QM.
GPU
GPU	ATI Radeon 9200 with 32 MB dedicated DDR SDRAM and AGP 4X support	Intel HD Graphics 4000 on all configurations; no discrete graphics option
Memory type
Memory type	One slot for 333 MHz PC2700 DDR SDRAM, up to 1 GB. Original January models had 256 MB standard; Apple raised standard memory to 512 MB on 26 July 2005. Configurations include original and later memory options.	4 GB (two 2 GB modules) of 1600 MHz DDR3, configurable to 8 GB or 16 GB; two SO-DIMM slots accessed through the removable bottom cover (Engadget)
Storage type
Storage type	1.25 GHz model has a 40 GB Ultra ATA hard drive, configurable to 80 GB; 1.42 GHz models have 80 GB. Combo drive reads DVDs and burns CDs; optional 4x SuperDrive writes DVDs. July 2005 added a standard SuperDrive model at 1.42 GHz.	500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive on the Core i5 model; 1 TB 5400-rpm hard drive on the Core i7 model, configurable to a 256 GB SSD or 1 TB Fusion Drive. Separate Mac mini Server dual-drive configurations are outside this entry.
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	Thunderbolt, 4 × USB-A, HDMI, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	0.1 Gb/s	1 Gb/s (better)
External displays
External displays	Up to 1	Up to 2 (better)
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Optional 802.11g	802.11n
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	Optional internal Bluetooth	4.0
Back ports
Back ports	Two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 (8 W), DVI, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet and headphone/audio line output. No audio input. Modem standard on original models; July 2005 lower model retains it, higher models make it optional.	Thunderbolt up to 10 Gb/s, FireWire 800 up to 800 Mb/s, four USB 3 ports up to 5 Gb/s, HDMI, SDXC slot, Gigabit Ethernet, separate digital/analogue audio input and headphone/line output; IR receiver
External displays
External displays	DVI digital output up to 1920 × 1200; included VGA adapter supports up to 1920 × 1080. Optional Apple DVI to Video Adapter provides S-video/composite output.	Up to two displays at 2560 × 1600; native Mini DisplayPort output over Thunderbolt. HDMI supports 1080p at up to 60 Hz; DVI, VGA and dual-link DVI require the applicable adapter.
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in speaker	Built-in speaker; HDMI supports multichannel audio; supports Apple iPhone headset with microphone
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Display, keyboard and mouse sold separately; DVI-to-VGA adapter included	Power lead and HDMI to DVI adapter; monitor, keyboard and mouse sold separately
Design and power
Type
Type	Compact	Compact
Weight
Weight	1.32 kg	1.22 kg (better)
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	165.1 × 165.1 × 50.8 mm	197 × 197 × 36 mm
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Maker weight 1.32 kg; Apple notes variation by configuration and manufacturing process	Dimensions and weight are for the computer only; actual weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum continuous power 85 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phase	Integrated power supply; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; maximum continuous power 85 W
Noise
Noise	–	Apple's specification overview states 12 dBA idle for the dual-core model and 15 dBA for the quad-core model; its acoustic table instead lists 14 dB idle for the 2.3 GHz quad-core configuration
Materials
Materials	–	Recyclable aluminium enclosure; BFR-free and PVC-free with regional power-lead exceptions
In the box
In the box	Mac mini, power adapter, install DVDs and documentation. January models ship with Mac OS X Panther and iLife '05; July configurations use Tiger. AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth optional at launch, standard on the July 1.42 GHz models.	Mac mini, HDMI to DVI adapter and power lead; OS X Mountain Lion and iLife included