The $799 Mac mini has four processing cores, two more than in the previous models. Click to enlarge.īecause Apple has changed the marketing message with the new Mac mini, its multi-core performance will draw more attention than before. Higher scores/longer bars indicate better performance. However, Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz is available in the 3.0GHz 6-core Core i5 processor that’s spec’d for the $1,099 Mac mini. Note that this particular Mac mini’s CPU doesn’t support Turbo Boost, a feature that allows for a processor to run faster than its stated frequency if the processor is running under its limits for power, current, and temperature. This is a quad-core processor that offers two more processing cores than the chip in the previous Mac mini. The CPU in the $799 Mac mini is a 3.6GHz Core i5. Apple says the new Mac mini is up to five times faster than the previous one (which, after all, was released in October 2014). With that in mind, Apple upgraded the CPU with eighth-generation Intel Core processors-desktop CPUs, not mobile CPUs.

Inside the Mac mini: CPU, SSD, RAM, T2ĭuring a briefing, Apple told us that faster Mac mini performance was at the top of customers’ wishlists. The main drawback is that there’s no longer a sub-$500 price tag in Apple’s Mac lineup (though the $799 Mac mini is $300 cheaper than the entry-level 21.5-inch iMac).

It’s still a good Mac for the general consumer, and in fact, it offers considerable bang for the buck. Apple’s Mac mini website calls the new Mac “All workhorse” and the whole “switcher” messaging of the original Mac mini is gone.īut that doesn’t mean the mini is no longer for switchers and everyone else. In response, Apple changed its Mac mini message, targeting professionals and touting the mini’s performance instead of its affordability. It’s been popular with software developers and content creators, and has even found a home in co-location data centers. The Mac mini has proven to be popular with general consumers and demanding professionals alike.īut as it turned out, the Mac mini found a market with pro users thanks to its small footprint.

2017 mac mini quad core