Apple Mac mini (Early 2006) vs Apple Mac mini (Late 2012)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

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Mac mini (Early 2006) compared with Mac mini (Late 2012)

	AppleMac mini (Early 2006)	AppleMac mini (Late 2012)
Overview
Released
Released	February 2006	October 2012
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core Solo T1200 or Intel Core Duo T2300	Intel Core i5-3210M, Intel Core i7-3615QM or Intel Core i7-3720QM
CPU cores
CPU cores	1 or 2	2 or 4
CPU threads
CPU threads	–	4 or 8
Graphics
Graphics	Intel GMA950	Intel HD Graphics 4000
Memory
Memory	512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB	4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	60 GB to 120 GB	256 GB to 1 TB (better)
CPU
CPU	1.5 GHz single-core Intel Core Solo T1200 or 1.66 GHz dual-core Core Duo T2300, with 2 MB L2 cache and 667 MHz frontside bus; exact identities cross-checked with EveryMac	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	Intel GMA950 shares 64 MB DDR2 with main memory; maker footnote specifies minimum 80 MB graphics/setup usage, leaving 432 MB available from a standard 512 MB configuration	Intel HD Graphics 4000 on all configurations; no discrete graphics option
Memory type
Memory type	512 MB standard as two modules of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300); factory options 1 or 2 GB and maximum 2 GB	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	Core Solo has a 60 GB 5400 rpm SATA hard drive, configurable to 80, 100 or 120 GB; Core Duo has 80 GB, configurable to 100 or 120 GB. Solo Combo drive reads DVDs and burns CDs; Duo 8x SuperDrive burns DVDs with 2.4x double-layer support.	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	4 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	Thunderbolt, 4 × USB-A, HDMI, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	1 Gb/s	1 Gb/s
External displays
External displays	Up to 1	Up to 2 (better)
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11g	802.11n
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	2.0 + EDR	4.0
Back ports
Back ports	Four USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 port at 8 W, DVI output, Gigabit Ethernet, combined optical digital/analogue audio input and combined optical digital/headphone output. DVI, FireWire and audio input described here because the main port list has no fields for them; no HDMI or DisplayPort.	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	Apple Remote and DVI-to-VGA adapter; display, keyboard and mouse sold separately	Power lead and HDMI to DVI adapter; monitor, keyboard and mouse sold separately
Design and power
Type
Type	Compact	Compact
Weight
Weight	1.31 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	–	Dimensions and weight are for the computer only; actual weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process
Power supply
Power supply	Maximum continuous power 110 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, Apple Remote, power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Mac OS X Tiger, iLife '06 and Front Row; Rosetta translates compatible PowerPC applications.	Mac mini, HDMI to DVI adapter and power lead; OS X Mountain Lion and iLife included