Apple Mac mini (Early 2009) vs Apple Mac mini (Late 2014)

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Mac mini (Early 2009) compared with Mac mini (Late 2014)

	AppleMac mini (Early 2009)	AppleMac mini (Late 2014)
Overview
Released
Released	March 2009	October 2014
Performance
Processor
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 or Intel Core 2 Duo P8400	Intel Core i5-4260U, Intel Core i5-4278U, Intel Core i5-4308U or Intel Core i7-4578U
CPU cores
CPU cores	2	2
CPU threads
CPU threads	–	4
Graphics
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (shared memory)	Intel HD Graphics 5000 or Intel Iris Graphics 5100
Memory
Memory	1 GB, 2 GB or 4 GB	4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	120 GB to 320 GB	256 GB to 2 TB (better)
CPU
CPU	2.0 GHz dual-core Core 2 Duo P7350, configurable to 2.26 GHz P8400; 3 MB shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz frontside bus. Exact identities are cross-checked with EveryMac; optional unpublished chip thread and launch figures are omitted.	1.4 GHz dual-core Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.7 GHz), 2.6 GHz dual-core Core i5 (up to 3.1 GHz), or 2.8 GHz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	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics shares at least 128 MB DDR3 memory with a 1 GB system configuration, or at least 256 MB with 2 GB; available system memory varies with graphics use.	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	Two SO-DIMM slots for 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, with 1 or 2 GB standard and maker factory upgrades up to 4 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	120, 250 or 320 GB 5400 rpm Serial ATA hard drive and slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with double-layer DVD support. The launch press release also mentions an 80 GB order option, which the current support sheet omits; that conflicting option is not listed in configurations.	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.
Expansion slots
Expansion slots	No internal PCI Express expansion slot	–
Display
Screen
Screen	None built in	None built in
Connections
Ports
Ports	DisplayPort, 5 × 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 2	Up to 2
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	802.11n	802.11ac
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	2.1 + EDR	4.0
Back ports
Back ports	Five USB 2.0 ports up to 480 Mb/s, FireWire 800, Mini DisplayPort, Mini-DVI, Gigabit Ethernet and combined optical digital/analogue audio input and output minijacks. The main DisplayPort count represents Mini DisplayPort; Mini-DVI, FireWire and audio input are described here because the main port list has no fields for them. Optional external Apple USB Modem.	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	Extended desktop and mirroring; Mini-DVI up to 1920 × 1200 for DVI/VGA, Mini DisplayPort up to 2560 × 1600 using an optional dual-link DVI adapter. Mini-DVI to DVI adapter included; VGA and Mini DisplayPort adapters optional.	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; combined optical digital audio output/headphone minijack and optical digital audio input/line-in minijack	Built-in speaker; HDMI supports multichannel audio; supports Apple iPhone headset with microphone
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Display, keyboard and mouse purchased separately; Apple Remote optional	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	External 110 W adapter; AC input 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz single phase; maximum continuous power 110 W	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 and polycarbonate enclosure; BFR-free and PVC-free internal cables	Recyclable aluminium enclosure; BFR-free and PVC-free with regional power-lead exceptions
In the box
In the box	Mac mini, Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, 110 W power adapter and cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Mac OS X Leopard and iLife '09 included.	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.