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Apple Mac mini (Late 2012) 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 2012)AppleMac mini (Mid 2010)
Overview
ReleasedOctober 2012June 2010
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core i5-3210M, Intel Core i7-3615QM or Intel Core i7-3720QMIntel Core 2 Duo P8600 or Intel Core 2 Duo P8800
CPU cores2 or 42
CPU threads4 or 8–
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 4000NVIDIA GeForce 320M (shared memory)
Memory4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB
Storage256 GB to 1 TB320 GB to 1 TB
CPU2.5 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.Consumer 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 HD Graphics 4000 on all configurations; no discrete graphics optionNVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics with at least 256 MB DDR3 memory shared with main memory
Memory type4 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)Two 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 type500 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.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
PortsThunderbolt, 4 × USB-A, HDMI, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jackDisplayPort, 4 × USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack
Ethernet1 Gb/s1 Gb/s
External displaysUp to 2Up to 2
Wi-Fi802.11n802.11n
Bluetooth4.02.1 + EDR
Back portsThunderbolt 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 receiverOne 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 displaysUp 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.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 speaker; HDMI supports multichannel audio; supports Apple iPhone headset with microphoneDigital/analogue headphone output, multichannel audio over HDMI and support for an Apple iPhone headset with microphone
Keyboard and mousePower lead and HDMI to DVI adapter; monitor, keyboard and mouse sold separatelyDisplay, keyboard and mouse purchased separately; Apple Remote optional
Design and power
TypeCompactCompact
Weight1.22 kg–
Width × depth × height197 × 197 × 36 mm197 × 197 × 36 mm
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailDimensions and weight are for the computer only; actual weight varies by configuration and manufacturing processConsumer 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 supplyIntegrated power supply; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; maximum continuous power 85 WInternal power supply; AC input 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz single phase; maximum continuous power 85 W
NoiseApple'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 configurationConsumer 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.
MaterialsRecyclable aluminium enclosure; BFR-free and PVC-free with regional power-lead exceptionsRecyclable 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, HDMI to DVI adapter and power lead; OS X Mountain Lion and iLife includedMac 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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