Apple Mac mini (Late 2014) vs Apple Mac mini (Mid 2011)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMac mini (Late 2014) | AppleMac mini (Mid 2011) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2014 | July 2011 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | Intel Core i5-4260U, Intel Core i5-4278U, Intel Core i5-4308U or Intel Core i7-4578U | Intel Core i5-2415M, Intel Core i5-2520M, Intel Core i7-2620M or Intel Core i7-2635QM |
| CPU cores | 2 | 2 or 4 |
| CPU threads | 4 | 4 or 8 |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 5000 or Intel Iris Graphics 5100 | Intel HD Graphics 3000 or AMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5) |
| Memory | 4 GB, 8 GB or 16 GB (better) | 2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB to 2 TB (better) | 256 GB to 1.5 TB |
| CPU | 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. | Consumer models have a 2.3 GHz dual-core Core i5-2415M or 2.5 GHz dual-core Core i5-2520M, with a 2.7 GHz dual-core Core i7-2620M option only on the 2.5 GHz model. The server has a 2.0 GHz quad-core Core i7-2635QM. Exact CPU identities are cross-checked with EveryMac; the i5-2415M's four threads come from its exact-model sheet because an individual current Intel sheet was unavailable. |
| GPU | 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 | The 2.3 GHz model has Intel HD Graphics 3000 with at least 288 MB shared memory; 2.5/2.7 GHz consumer configurations have AMD Radeon HD 6630M with 256 MB GDDR5. Server configurations have Intel HD Graphics 3000 with at least 384 MB shared memory. |
| Memory type | 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). | 1333 MHz DDR3 memory. The 2.3 GHz model has 2 GB, configurable to 4 or 8 GB; other configurations have 4 GB, configurable to 8 GB. The bottom cover provides access for memory replacement. |
| Storage type | 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. | The 2.3 GHz consumer model offers a 500 GB 5400 rpm or 750 GB 7200 rpm hard drive. The 2.5/2.7 GHz consumer models additionally offer a 256 GB SSD or a separate 256 GB SSD plus 750 GB hard drive. Server choices are two 500 GB or two 750 GB 7200 rpm hard drives, a single or two 256 GB SSDs, or a separate 256 GB SSD and 750 GB hard drive. Server hard-drive capacities in configurations are the total of two drives (1000/1500 GB), and 512 GB SSD means two 256 GB drives. Mixed SSD/hard-drive combinations are described here rather than assigned one misleading storage type; they are not Fusion Drives. |
| Expansion slots | – | No internal PCI Express expansion slot or optical drive; removable bottom cover for memory access. Optional external MacBook Air SuperDrive or DVD/CD Sharing from another computer. |
| Display | ||
| Screen | None built in | None built in |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × Thunderbolt 2, 4 × USB-A, HDMI, SD card slot, Ethernet, headphone jack | Thunderbolt, 4 × USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack |
| Ethernet | 1 Gb/s | 1 Gb/s |
| External displays | Up to 2 | Up to 2 |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | 802.11n |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Back ports | 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 | Thunderbolt up to 10 Gb/s, FireWire 800 up to 800 Mb/s, four USB 2.0 up to 480 Mb/s, HDMI, SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet and separate digital/analogue audio input and output minijacks. FireWire and the audio input are described here because the main port list has no fields for them. |
| External displays | 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. | Maker specifies dual display and mirroring; Thunderbolt up to 2560 × 1600 and HDMI up to 1920 × 1200. HDMI to DVI adapter included; Mini DisplayPort adapters optional. |
| Speakers | Built-in speaker; HDMI supports multichannel audio; supports Apple iPhone headset with microphone | Built-in speaker; digital/analogue headphone output, multichannel HDMI audio and support for an Apple iPhone headset with microphone |
| Keyboard and mouse | Power lead; monitor, keyboard and mouse sold separately | Display, keyboard and mouse are purchased separately; Apple Remote and external SuperDrive optional |
| Design and power | ||
| Type | Compact | Compact |
| Width × depth × height | 197 × 197 × 36 mm | 197 × 197 × 36 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| 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. | Consumer models weigh 1.22 kg; the server weighs 1.37 kg. Actual weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process; a shared weight is omitted. |
| Power supply | Integrated power supply; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; maximum continuous power 85 W | Internal supply; AC input 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz single phase; maximum continuous power 85 W |
| 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 | The consumer page's headline gives 16 dBA idle, while its model-specific table gives 13 dB for 2.3 GHz and 15 dB for 2.5 GHz at idle, with 16 dB during hard-drive access. The server page gives 17 dBA idle. Figures depend on configuration and measurement position; no single value is selected. |
| Materials | Recyclable aluminium enclosure; BFR-free and PVC-free with regional power-lead exceptions | Recyclable aluminium enclosure; BFR-free. PVC-free except China mainland, Korea and South Africa, where only internal cables are PVC-free. |
| In the box | 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. | Mac mini, HDMI to DVI adapter, power cord and documentation. OS X Lion and iLife included; server adds Lion Server with an unlimited-client licence. Lion Recovery and Internet Recovery support system restoration without a physical install disc. |
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