Mac Mini Reviews

Just a note for those who are running benchmarks (ok, xbench anyway) on x86. Please do the following, as PPC does not have beam sync (same as vsync) enabled:

Open "/Developer/Applications/Performance Tools/Quartz Debug.app", choose "Tools -> Show Beam Sync Tools" and choose "Disable Beam Synchronization"

The other problem with some of these mini benchmarks is I think you need to really test the 1GB model. The reason being that you lose 80MB minimum, and I think everyone can attest that 512-80 is a bit low for memory in OS X. A valid criticism of Apple though, I do admit.

Well I went out and made an impulse buy and got a Core Solo Mini. I like how fast it feels. I am also glad that I can run mac os x x86 with all supported hardware. Now to get windows to load.... (j/k) I use it as a test computer in my IT dept. I am going to try to get into the EFI and do all that cool booting stuff and see how far I can get linux to load.

Well I went out and made an impulse buy and got a Core Solo Mini. I like how fast it feels. I am also glad that I can run mac os x x86 with all supported hardware. Now to get windows to load.... (j/k) I use it as a test computer in my IT dept. I am going to try to get into the EFI and do all that cool booting stuff and see how far I can get linux to load.

Well I picked up a Mac Mini Core Duo, 1GB of RAM and 100 GB HD. I have more information and thoughts on my website, http://www.mcquitty.net. I have been enjoying it. The old mini, which replaced my g5 Dual, had less stutters. But, its been a good machine so far. It just seems like some applications like to take a breather now, like Mail.app.

Perhaps I will reinstall. I rarely use the system as configured from Apple anyway.

I was considering getting a mini because of my strict budget. Are they really as good as Apple claims?

I've just hooked up my coreduo mini and I'm impressed!

I was running a macahack before on a p4 630, 2gb ram, intel D915GUX m/b, 250gb 7200rpm hdd and I can tell you its as fast if not faster.

the major plus is its quiet and small oh and supported via apple and not maxxuss

I was considering getting a mini because of my strict budget. Are they really as good as Apple claims?

Well it feels really fast and it boots way faster (about 30 sec) than XP x64 pro on my P-D 820 (1:20). I cant use the linux boot disk because it it tuned to the ati graphics rather then the intel. The intel gpu seems to be ok but I really hate intergrated graphics. I got this mac for 2 reasons. 1st my job requires that I have a mac for IT testing reasons. 2nd to try out all the cool dual booting stuff coming out for the mac.

Macworld have added their opinons to the host of reviews floating around : here (I'm a bit disturbed that although it shows today's date, it claims to be the May 2006 edition )

Basically they say nice things until it gets to the bit about Rosetta apps. The Duo is significantly faster than the Solo in every test they ran, but the Intel iMac is streets ahead of the mini (except in Photoshop, where the old G4 1.42 mini was much faster).

The closing comments:

As with other Intel Macs, non-native software performance for both models suffers when compared with previous models, and the integrated graphics chip diverts valuable system RAM. If you like to have many applications open at once or use RAM-intensive apps, we recommend one of the build-to-order upgrades.

If you’re concerned about the Intel minis’ shared-RAM strategy and lack of a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and if you want better performance over time without spending much more money, you may want to consider an Intel iMac.

I brought a new Intel mac mini core duo to replace my dual 2.5 G5. this unit has being function well, but I noticed that I am having trouble with only 512MB of RAM. My G5 has 3GB so I was use to stuff happening very quickly. Now I have a few seconds wait with applications opening up, sometimes just by draging windows around, i see the beach-ball often. Non-the-less, am planning on upgrading to 2GB in a few weeks.

i would like to know if anyone knows how to get to the EFI (or BIOS like feature).

Also I would like to know what is the speed of the hard drive. Is it a 5400rpm or 7200rpm.

thanks alot

... Also I would like to know what is the speed of the hard drive. Is it a 5400rpm or 7200rpm.

thanks alot

Thanks for the update, bhagiratha. The mini comes as standard with a 5400 Serial ATA disk which isn't blindingly fast.

anyone want to buy an iMac G5 so I can buy a Mac Mini? :-)

Thanks for the update, bhagiratha. The mini comes as standard with a 5400 Serial ATA disk which isn't blindingly fast.

Well, it's faster than the previous Mini's HD.

i have a feeling apple isnt gonna lower prices but is going to upgrade ram to 1gb on all macs by wwdc which will make it better because of integrated graphics and by then rosetta is gonna be way better and we'll probably see some universal adobe apps

I thought that Adobe wasn't supposed to release any apps until the end of '06 or early '07

Here goes....!

I have had my mac mini since last tuesday and I'm reaching the end of my tether! I went for the base line core duo, partly because I'm impatient and didn't want to wait 4 days for them to build me a better one!

Just to clarify this means I have 512 mb of ram, 256 for each core minus at least 40 from each core for the graphics memory meaning that when the OS sends a task to the cpu it has 1.66ghz and about 200mb of RAM! In general use I have on average about 16mb of free RAM

I realise now that going for this model was stupid but I assumed that Apple would at least make sure that the software they ship with their machines could run as intended. For example, whilst I was writing this post i pressed the menu button on my apple remote, front row took 26 seconds to load... I have installed very little on top of the base software.

Just a warning to anyone thinking of getting one - don't get one with 512mb of RAM!

If anyone has any ideas of what I could do regarding either upgrading (does that viod my waranty?) or complaining to Apple, getting my money back and buying one with more RAM, then I'd love to hear them.

Just so that the this isn't a complete moan, when doing processor intensive tasks such as decompressing archives etc. it's very fast!

I'd love to hear more peoples experiences.

Michael

if that was with the core duo, i dont' want to see what happens with the core solo

Here goes....!

 

I have had my mac mini since last tuesday and I'm reaching the end of my tether! I went for the base line core duo, partly because I'm impatient and didn't want to wait 4 days for them to build me a better one!

 

Just to clarify this means I have 512 mb of ram, 256 for each core minus at least 40 from each core for the graphics memory meaning that when the OS sends a task to the cpu it has 1.66ghz and about 200mb of RAM! In general use I have on average about 16mb of free RAM

 

I realise now that going for this model was stupid but I assumed that Apple would at least make sure that the software they ship with their machines could run as intended. For example, whilst I was writing this post i pressed the menu button on my apple remote, front row took 26 seconds to load... I have installed very little on top of the base software.

 

Just a warning to anyone thinking of getting one - don't get one with 512mb of RAM!

 

If anyone has any ideas of what I could do regarding either upgrading (does that viod my waranty?) or complaining to Apple, getting my money back and buying one with more RAM, then I'd love to hear them.

 

Just so that the this isn't a complete moan, when doing processor intensive tasks such as decompressing archives etc. it's very fast!

 

I'd love to hear more peoples experiences.

 

Michael

Well, I didn't get the 512MB version, I picked up the !GB with 100 GB Hard drive, as they had it available for $150 more (which the RAM would have cost $125).

I have been getting the occasional hiccup. Its more like a non-optimization. I am assuming that things will improve with the next release.

Here's what I have noticed so far:

1. I tried to open Front Row. It took about 6 seconds. I haven't run it since the last reboot. It's a little slower that I would expect. But, once it loads it is responsive.

2. So long as I am not doing anything extensive in Rosetta, it works fairly well. The OCR software was a little slow to start, but worked well after it began running. Rosetta does slow the loading process.

3. Mail is running slower on the iMini than the old mini (Same ram, 1.25ghz processor, slower hard drive) with the same number of messages. It seems to "pause" from time to time.

4. I get more "pauses" and with few exceptions, I try to run only Intel software.

5. I have had more application quits with 10.4.5. I believe this is software and can be fixed.

6. When things aren't "pausing" it seems to work really well.

At this point, I a very tempted to remove all my applications to one of my external drives and format the puppy. I have had occasional issues with the default install before and have never really done a long term run with the Apple preinstalled configuration. I won't have time this week, as I leave tomorrow and won't be around.

Is it perfect? No. Am I glad I got 1 GB of Ram... absolutely. Is is adequate? Yes. But it is not quite there yet. I think 10.4.6 may help a bit. Hope it comes out soon.

Thomas

If a core duo has that kind of performance, do you think it would be worth getting a core solo?

Good post chipset, a lot of useful information.

I think a lot of the problems may be software related, and could well be solved in 10.4.6

colonels1020: There is no problem with processor speed on the duo, the only issue is RAM... if the problem with the duo is that the RAM is split in half accross the processors then for each thread you actually have more RAM on the solo. I really couldn't say for certain, it'd be worth reading around, I'm sure someone here must have one...

I'm gonna continue searching the web for useful intel builds! Oh, perhaps I'll do some work for tomorrow first!

thanks for the help

If a core duo has that kind of performance, do you think it would be worth getting a core solo?

I like my solo. It responds well while doing the usual: email, internet, word. I dont have anything really intese that I use it for however. I got the base 512mb ram dvd/cdrw drive and I really could not be happyer

Good post chipset, a lot of useful information.

 

I think a lot of the problems may be software related, and could well be solved in 10.4.6

 

colonels1020: There is no problem with processor speed on the duo, the only issue is RAM... if the problem with the duo is that the RAM is split in half accross the processors then for each thread you actually have more RAM on the solo. I really couldn't say for certain, it'd be worth reading around, I'm sure someone here must have one...

 

I'm gonna continue searching the web for useful intel builds! Oh, perhaps I'll do some work for tomorrow first!

First, I could be wrong, but I saw someone say that the video card will eat 40 MB of ram per CPU/Core. I don't think that is accurate. It uses a minimum of 40, but it shouldn't use 40 per core.

Second, I don't think the system looks at memory split per processor. The system has ram and each core has its own on chip memory, but the system memory wouldn't be split per processor. They may may share a MMU (I am not sure if they do or not) or they may have their own addressing space managed by a single MMU. However, its not to say that each core can only access half the memory.

Like I said, I don't think they are system issues. My CPUs aren't getting pegged except using MacPar, Handbrake and Toast. Everything else is pretty light weight. I think a software update would do wonders. Apple just hasn't had enough people bang on the Intel systems to fix the bugs.

would it be worth it to get a cheap mini, then buy a better processor for it?

I am an electronics engineer and just bought my first Mac - a coreduo mini with 1GB of ram. I've gotten sick of Windows machines - I used to do embedded systems (who needs a stinking OS?) - but working with Windows is like working in a shoebox - with dirty socks.

My primary use for the Mini is to consolidate music (with iTunes which I've been using on Windows for years) and photo storage - there's a big project there somewhere. I still need to get an HDMI TV (replace the existing analog) that can also perate as a monitor in a pinch and the plan is that this box will be virtually headless and packe right on top of the TiVo in the living room. It will supplant a Sony 300CD changer, which whereas much less expensive is much less functional than iTunes. I am not an audio nut 192kbs is just fine thank you.

At any rate, just the little experience I had taking this thing out of the box, configuring it and copying files from my other (Windows) systems - was so smooth and impressive -that I started to think of using the Mini (maybe get another one) as a computer and not just a media center.

The whole experience was like a breath of fresh air, the Mini is smaller than a shoe box and so far, no dirty socks!