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Apple Mac mini (Mid 2011)

Apple · Mac mini

Mac mini (Mid 2011)

Released July 2011

A compact Intel desktop with Thunderbolt and HDMI, offered with integrated or discrete graphics and a quad-core server configuration.

Model history · 8 models, 2005–2011
  1. 2005Mac mini (2005)Compare
  2. 2006Mac mini (Early 2006)Compare
  3. 2006Mac mini (Late 2006)Compare
  4. 2007Mac mini (Mid 2007)Compare
  5. 2009Mac mini (Early 2009)Compare
  6. 2009Mac mini (Late 2009)Compare
  7. 2010Mac mini (Mid 2010)Compare
  8. 2011Mac mini (Mid 2011)
Type
Compact
Processor
Intel Core i5 or i7
Memory
2 GB – 8 GB
Storage
256 GB – 1.5 TB
Screen
–
Weight
–

What reviewers say

Reviewers praised the compact construction, quiet operation, stronger processor performance and Thunderbolt connectivity. Macworld found the standard hard drive slow and the rear SD slot awkward. The lack of an optical drive drew criticism, particularly from Engadget. Ars valued its flexibility as a home-theatre computer but noted the absence of Blu-ray.

From macworld.com, arstechnica.com and engadget.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Performance

Processor
Intel Core i5-2415M, Intel Core i5-2520M, Intel Core i7-2620M or Intel Core i7-2635QM
CPU cores
2 or 4
CPU threads
4 or 8
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 3000 or AMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Memory
2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB
Storage
256 GB to 1.5 TB
CPU
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
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
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
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

Connections

Ports
Thunderbolt, 4 × USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card slot, headphone jack
Ethernet
1 Gb/s
External displays
Up to 2
Wi-Fi
802.11n
Bluetooth
4.0
Back ports
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
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; digital/analogue headphone output, multichannel HDMI audio and support for an Apple iPhone headset with microphone
Keyboard and mouse
Display, keyboard and mouse are purchased separately; Apple Remote and external SuperDrive optional

Design and power

Type
Compact
Width × depth × height
197 × 197 × 36 mm
Operating system
macOS
Size and weight detail
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
Internal supply; AC input 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz single phase; maximum continuous power 85 W
Noise
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. PVC-free except China mainland, Korea and South Africa, where only internal cables are PVC-free.
In the box
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.

Configurations

ProcessorMemoryStorageStorage typeGraphics
Intel Core i5-2415M2 GB500 GBHard driveIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i5-2415M2 GB750 GBHard driveIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i5-2415M4 GB500 GBHard driveIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i5-2415M4 GB750 GBHard driveIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i5-2415M8 GB500 GBHard driveIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i5-2415M8 GB750 GBHard driveIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i5-2520M4 GB500 GBHard driveAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2520M4 GB750 GBHard driveAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2520M4 GB256 GBSSDAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2520M8 GB500 GBHard driveAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2520M8 GB750 GBHard driveAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i5-2520M8 GB256 GBSSDAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2620M4 GB500 GBHard driveAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2620M4 GB750 GBHard driveAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2620M4 GB256 GBSSDAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2620M8 GB500 GBHard driveAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2620M8 GB750 GBHard driveAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2620M8 GB256 GBSSDAMD Radeon HD 6630M (256 MB GDDR5)
Intel Core i7-2635QM4 GB1 TBHard driveIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i7-2635QM4 GB1.5 TBHard driveIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i7-2635QM4 GB256 GBSSDIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i7-2635QM4 GB512 GBSSDIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i7-2635QM8 GB1 TBHard driveIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i7-2635QM8 GB1.5 TBHard driveIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i7-2635QM8 GB256 GBSSDIntel HD Graphics 3000
Intel Core i7-2635QM8 GB512 GBSSDIntel HD Graphics 3000

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Thunderbolt and HDMI support two displays
  • Memory can be replaced through the removable bottom cover
  • Quad-core processor available in the server configuration

Cons

  • No built-in optical drive
  • USB ports are limited to USB 2.0
  • Discrete graphics and the quad-core processor are separate configurations

Closest rivals

Model
TypeProcessorMemoryStorageScreenWeightReleased
AppleMac mini (Mid 2010)
CompactIntel Core 22 GB – 8 GB320 GB – 1 TB––Jun 2010
AppleMac mini (Late 2012)
CompactIntel Core i5 or i74 GB – 16 GB256 GB – 1 TB–1.22 kgOct 2012
AppleiMac (21.5-inch, Late 2011)
All-in-oneIntel Core i32 GB – 8 GB250 GB21.5″8.8 kgAug 2011

Previous model: Mac mini (Mid 2010). Newer model: Mac mini (Late 2012).

Sources

  1. support.apple.com/en-gb/112007
  2. support.apple.com/en-gb/112006
  3. apple.com/uk/newsroom/2011/07/20Apple-Updates-Mac-mini
  4. everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/specs/mac-mini-core-i5-2.3-mid-2011-specs.h…
  5. everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/specs/mac-mini-core-i5-2.5-mid-2011-specs.h…
  6. everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/specs/mac-mini-core-i7-2.0-mid-2011-server-…

Photo: cdsassets.apple.com

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