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Apple Mac mini (Late 2006) vs Apple Mac mini (Mid 2010)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMac mini (Late 2006)AppleMac mini (Mid 2010)
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2006June 2010
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core Duo T2300 or Intel Core Duo T2400Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 or Intel Core 2 Duo P8800
CPU cores22
GraphicsIntel GMA950NVIDIA GeForce 320M (shared memory)
Memory512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB
Storage60 GB to 160 GB320 GB to 1 TB
CPU1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo T2300 or 1.83 GHz Core Duo T2400, both dual-core, with 2 MB L2 cache and 667 MHz frontside bus; exact identities cross-checked with EveryMacConsumer model has a 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo P8600, configurable to 2.66 GHz P8800. Server model has a 2.66 GHz P8800. Both have two physical cores, 3 MB shared L2 cache and a 1066 MHz frontside bus; exact identities are cross-checked with EveryMac. Individual current Intel pages were unavailable, so optional chip launch dates and thread figures are omitted.
GPUIntel 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 configurationNVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics with at least 256 MB DDR3 memory shared with main memory
Memory type512 MB standard as two modules of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300); factory options 1 or 2 GB and maximum 2 GBTwo SO-DIMM slots for 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM. Consumer configuration has 2 GB, configurable to 4 or 8 GB; server has 4 GB and supports up to 8 GB. Removable bottom cover provides memory access.
Storage type1.66 GHz model has a 60 GB 5400 rpm SATA hard drive, configurable to 80, 120 or 160 GB; 1.83 GHz model has 80 GB, configurable to 120 or 160 GB. Lower model Combo drive reads DVDs and burns CDs; higher model 8x SuperDrive burns DVDs with 2.4x double-layer support.Consumer models offer a 320 or 500 GB Serial ATA hard drive and an 8x slot-loading SuperDrive supporting double-layer DVD writing. Server has two 500 GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA hard drives (1000 GB total in configurations) and no internal optical drive. No unsupported storage/processor cross-pairings with the server are listed.
Expansion slots–No internal PCI Express expansion slots; bottom cover permits memory access
Display
ScreenNone built inNone built in
Connections
Ports4 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jackDisplayPort, 4 × USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack
Ethernet1 Gb/s1 Gb/s
External displaysUp to 1Up to 2
Wi-Fi802.11g802.11n
Bluetooth2.0 + EDR2.1 + EDR
Back portsFour 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.One Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, four USB 2.0 ports up to 480 Mb/s, one FireWire 800 up to 800 Mb/s, SD card slot, Gigabit Ethernet with jumbo frames and separate digital/analogue audio input and output minijacks. The main DisplayPort count represents Mini DisplayPort; FireWire and line input are described here because the main port list has no fields for them.
External displaysDVI 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.Extended desktop and mirroring across Mini DisplayPort and HDMI; Mini DisplayPort up to 2560 × 1600, HDMI up to 1920 × 1200. HDMI to DVI adapter included; Mini DisplayPort VGA/DVI adapters optional.
SpeakersBuilt-in speakerDigital/analogue headphone output, multichannel audio over HDMI and support for an Apple iPhone headset with microphone
Keyboard and mouseApple Remote and DVI-to-VGA adapter; display, keyboard and mouse sold separatelyDisplay, keyboard and mouse purchased separately; Apple Remote optional
Design and power
TypeCompactCompact
Weight1.31 kg–
Width × depth × height165.1 × 165.1 × 50.8 mm197 × 197 × 36 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detail–Consumer model weighs 1.37 kg; server page gives 1.29 kg. Actual weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process; a shared weight is omitted.
Power supplyMaximum continuous power 110 W; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz single phaseInternal power supply; AC input 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz single phase; maximum continuous power 85 W
Noise–Consumer page's headline gives 14 dBA idle, while its model-specific table gives 13 dB for 2.4 GHz and 15 dB for 2.66 GHz at idle, 14/15 dB during hard-drive access and 20 dB during optical access on the 2.4 GHz model. The server page gives 15 dBA idle. No single value is selected across configurations.
Materials–Recyclable aluminium enclosure; BFR-free and PVC-free internal cables. Server page says external cables are PVC-free in North America only.
In the boxMac 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, power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Consumer includes Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife; server includes Snow Leopard Server with an unlimited-client licence.

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