Mac Mini Info

Inside of the Mac Mini

The Mac Mini is the smallest desktop computer made by Apple at 6. inches wide, 6.5 inces deep and 2 inches tall and weighing just under 3 pounds. First releaseed in late January 2005 with the G4 Processor, it was updated in February 2006 to use the Intel processor along with the rest of the Apple line.

Components

The Mac Mini uses the notebook-sized 2.5 include hard disk drive. The earlier G4 models used ATA drivers while the Intel models use the newer SATA drives. The CPUs also borrowed from the laptop world, being cooler and more power saving.

Graphics

The integrated graphics chip is an Intel GMA950. While not considered by many to be a powerful chip, it is quite capable of driving all but the 30-inch monitors making it quite suitable for just about any work.

Current Specs

The current Mac Mini has an ethernet port, a single FireWire port, DVI output for the monitor, four USB 2.0 ports and the basic headphone port and line in port. It supports up to 2GB of memory and up to a 160GB hard drive.

Modifications

Unlike most desktop computers, the Mac Mini doesn't have an easy means of opening its case. However, a simple putty knife if about all it takes to pop it open. There is even an official Apple part number for a "modified putty knife". Opening the case won't violate the warranty, but care must be taken not to break the wires inside.

With a putty knife and a small screw driver, it is possible for the Mac Mini owner to upgrade the memory on their Mac Mini at home. With the switch to the Intel processors, Apple also started using a socketed CPU allowing that to be upgraded as well.