Apple Mac mini (Early 2006) vs Apple Mac mini (Late 2014)

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Mac mini (Early 2006) compared with Mac mini (Late 2014)

	AppleMac mini (Early 2006)	AppleMac mini (Late 2014)
Overview
Released
Released	February 2006	October 2014
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core Solo T1200 or Intel Core Duo T2300	Intel Core i5-4260U, Intel Core i5-4278U, Intel Core i5-4308U or Intel Core i7-4578U
CPU cores
CPU cores	1 or 2	2
CPU threads
CPU threads	–	4
Graphics
Graphics	Intel GMA950	Intel HD Graphics 5000 or Intel Iris Graphics 5100
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 2 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	1.4 GHz dual-core Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.7 GHz), 2.6 GHz dual-core Core i5 (up to 3.1 GHz), or 2.8 GHz dual-core Core i5 (up to 3.3 GHz). The two higher models can be configured with a 3.0 GHz dual-core Core i7 (up to 3.5 GHz). Exact processor identities are recorded by Geekbench; Ars Technica tested the Core i5-4278U and Macworld tested the Core i5-4308U.
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 5000 in the 1.4 GHz model; Intel Iris Graphics 5100 in the 2.6 GHz, 2.8 GHz and optional Core i7 models
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	1600 MHz LPDDR3 soldered to the logic board; 4 GB configurable to 8 GB or 16 GB on the 1.4 GHz model, and 8 GB configurable to 16 GB on the higher models. Memory cannot be upgraded after purchase (Ars Technica).
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.	1.4 GHz model has a 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive or 1 TB Fusion Drive. The 2.6 GHz model has a 1 TB hard drive, 1 TB Fusion Drive or 256 GB SSD. The 2.8 GHz model has a 1 TB Fusion Drive, later 2 TB Fusion Drive option, or 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB SSD. Core i7 configurations retain the storage choices of their original base model; deduplicated configurations combine these supported choices. Macworld reports the 2 TB Fusion Drive option was added after launch; it is included in Apple's current specification.
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	4 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	2 × Thunderbolt 2, 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	802.11ac
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.	Two Thunderbolt 2 ports up to 20 Gb/s each, 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, 3840 × 2160 at 30 Hz or 4096 × 2160 at 24 Hz. DVI, VGA and dual-link DVI require the appropriate 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; monitor, keyboard and mouse sold separately
Design and power
Type
Type	Compact	Compact
Weight
Weight	1.31 kg	–
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	–	197 × 197 × 36 mm; 1.19 kg for the 1.4 GHz model, 1.20 kg for the 2.6 GHz model and 1.22 kg for the 2.8 GHz model. Weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process; no common weight is assigned.
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 specifies 12 dBA sound pressure at idle; its acoustic test configuration is the 2.8 GHz Core i5 with 8 GB memory and 1 TB Fusion Drive
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 and power lead; shipped with OS X Yosemite at launch. The current support sheet's macOS Mojave wording reflects a later software update.