Yesterday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the company’s new Intel-based Mac mini which features, among many other things, Intel GMA950 graphics processor with 64MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory. Back in May 2005, when the Intel GMA950 debuted, Loyd Case took a look at the integrated graphics processor’s performance for ExtremeTech.
Case wrote, “The rendering engine supports all the texture modes you’d expect from a modern 3D engine, including cube map support, various texture blending modes, and S3TC texture compression. New this time around is support for anisotropic filtering. Note that vertex shaders are handled by the host processor, so the faster the CPU, the faster the vertex processing. The new core logic’s support for DDR2/667 should mean more available free bandwidth for the graphics processor. Still, integrated graphics is a balancing act between memory fetches for graphics and memory accesses for the CPU. How that arbitration is handled is the key to balanced performance. Another interesting feature of the GMA950 is the add-on digital video output card. Dubbed “ADD2+”, the card can use 4 or 8 lanes of x16 PCI Express and support up to two displays in multimonitor mode. Alternatively, it can work together to support one very high resolution display. The GMCH can also output S-Video. In addition to the 3D capabilities of the integrated core, Intel has built in a video engine with full hardware motion compensation, MPEG2 hardware decode, subpicture support (e.g., for closed captions), and dynamic de-interlacing.”
Case wrote, “We can state flatly that if you buy a system using Intel’s GMA950 integrated graphics and want to play 3D games, invest at least $60 in an add-on card. If what you want is simply a system that can run standard office software, plus maybe play some DVD movies, then Intel’s new graphics core is probably suitable.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Note: We are checking with Apple regarding whether or not the Mac mini contains the “ADD2+” card. If anyone has information regarding this, please email: . Apple does state on their Mac mini web page, “Mac mini features a graphics processor integrated into the system, and one that’s no slouch, to boot. The Intel GMA950 graphics supports Tiger Core Graphics and the latest 3D games. It shares fast 667MHz memory with the Intel Core processor, for an incredible value proposition.”
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Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple’s new Mac mini: perfect for HDTV – March 01, 2006
Videos of Steve Jobs introducing Mac mini, iPod Hi-Fi – March 01, 2006
Analyst: Apple’s new Mac mini ‘a good first step into the living room’ – February 28, 2006
Old Apple Mac mini G4 vs. new Mac mini’s graphics and video specs – February 28, 2006
Apple introduces new Intel-based Mac mini – February 28, 2006
Ugh… I still don’t feel good about this decision from Apple. How is this really different than a Dell Dimension 2400 with a different CPU, for $200 more? I understand that it’s Apple’s bottom-feeder, or entry-level equipment, but that’s not really the point. We’re losing any sense of differentiation between Macs and any other damned Intel box. OS X is far superior, but trying to convince a customer that it’s $100, 200, 500 better than Windows, all hardware being basically equal? oy…
Why do companies continue to make such garbage for integrated gfx solutions. Use the old gfx chip from the Game Cube or Xbox as an integrated chip; something.
I can tell you right now it doesn’t have the ADD2+ card. Not that I know for sure, I just think you’re reaching here, hoping that the card is somehow better than it really is.
In fact, no it really is a crappy integrated card.
However it will be fine for video playback and running iLife apps, which is what the Mini is for. The Mini is not a games machine.
Steve knows that the mini is really marketed for the mom and pop who already have a computer that is three years old, feel the need to get a new one and only use their computer for simple things, not for playing games. There is a bigger market for these mac minis that most people that post on this website really care to think about.
Most people that are in the market for a mac mini are not in the demographic community of most of us that will read about it on MDN.
I think Steve knows what he is doing by not forcing every mac to be on the cutting edge of graphics technology or with all the latest gizmos like a DVR.
MDN Magic Word: best, as in not everyone needs the best (except everyone does need the best OS)
Card specs here
http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/gma950/
I can’t believe all this fuss over the graphics capabilities. Do you really think that Joe Public, in the market for a cheap PC, cares a jot about integrated graphics versus a graphics card? Or that anyone who wants to use this as a web browser, emailer, word processor, or (gasp!) a media player will care? Only game players should care – because nobody else is affected, at all. And who buys a mac mini to play hard core Doom?
Look it is a $599 PC, with a remote control, 4 USB ports, wireless, bluetooth, firewire, digital audio in/out, iLife, Front Row, can access 64MB of DDR2 RAM for video, wirelessly streams video/music, photos around the house with zero configuration, and handles all of Tiger’s requirements and HD video. What else does it need to do? Good lord! Get a grip! If you don’t like it go and buy an iMac. What a load of whining fishwives you all are.
Am I missing something but it clearly states in apple.com
“Memory available to Mac OS X may vary depending on graphics needs. Minimum graphics memory usage is 80MB, resulting in 432MB of system memory available.”
That is 80MB minimun but what about maximum? Can the GPU use like 128MB memory if it needs to? Or even more if you have more RAM to share?
3D gaming across Apple’s entire product line would be a big step towards increasing sales.
Present 3D games don’t need much CPU performance, a dual core is great, but tons of video card performance is needed.
Also another thing is with HDCP and DRM to monitors coming, computers may become less upgradeable because the video card will have to be sold/tied with the computer as one unit.
Home builders of computers may be delegated to the sidelines by all the DRM schemes coming.
Intel created all these, EFI, Trusted Computing and HDCP etc, Apple had to play ball or we won’t be able to watch any HD content.
I’m right there with you Tommo… For $599 this machine rocks!
Tommo_UK –
Don’t get confused by the shouting. The fuss is not that anyone here thinks this thing should be a graphics powerhouse. There are two issues fueling this furor:
1) They slapped a price increase on a performance decrease. That’s crap, and everyone knows it.
2) The tech media are hailing this thing as “perfect for HDTV” and “a great step into the digital living room,” and Apple hasn’t corrected them. Given what we know about it, it is no such thing, and allowing the misinformation to become widespread could lead to massive consumer disappointment. On a machine that’s supposed to be the gateway switcher system, we the Apple community (boosters and stockholders alike) can’t afford to have it making promises it can’t keep — that’s bad for business.
BOO Apple. BOO mini.
It says on intel.com
“Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) 3.0 supports up to 224MB of video memory; system memory is allocated where it is needed dynamically.”
so that is 224 MB video memory maximum so quit whining!!!
MacDude,
That’s why you shouldn’t be looking at an entry level $599 Mac if you are a gamer.
The graphics card is the only thing concerning me about buying this machine.
I wish Apple had designed the top model to also include an improved video card.
Still I will probably get one as I do not play games on my Mac.
PC Apologist…
They did NOT SLAP A PRICE INCREASE.
All they did was take away the $499 base model without WiFI and Bluetooth.
If you bought the old mini two days ago with WiFI and Bluetooth is still cost $599..
Today’s model just happens to have a ton of additional upgrades..
how about this excerpt from apple.com: “an Intel Core Solo or Duo processor, room for up to 2GB main memory, an Intel GMA950 integrated graphics chip with 96MB shared memory.” thats not 64!! here is the link: http://www.apple.com/macmini/design.html
just remember you heard it from emax first
Nick, unless you plan on playing the latest 3D games, this graphics card will handle whatever you throw at it.
Believe it or not, this graphics engine is much better than the previous mini. At least it can handle core graphics… The old mini couldn’t.
IT’S GOT AN AUDIO INPUT!
Finally the MacMini has an audio input on board. You can do Garageband without buying an external USB audio input.
Thank you Steve
I’ve used a couple of PC’s that had shared memory graphics boards. I used one of them to do several Photoshop projects for a client. They were not blazing but they were totally useable.
I think too many folks have spent too much time pouring over the specs of older Lame-oh Gateway offerings with integrated graphics.
Don’t slam the new Mini until you’ve tried it, and quit comparing it to a PowerMac, it’s a cheap consumer computer.
http://www.macsonly.com/
Just more fuel for the fire!
I’m very confused…
Assuming that the SPEC_Int and SPEC_fp scores published by Apple are correct, then even the Core Solo version of the Mac mini must be around twice as fast as, in chip terms, as the G4 version.
That, plus more USB ports and FrontRow and the ability to stick in 2GB of DDR2 RAM, sound like a major upgrade to me – yet everyone is focussing on the the shared graphics thing, without actually seeing it in action first, and saying that the machine is a downgrade.
Like I said, confused.
Oh, and the audio in/out thing as well.
PC Apologist..
Exactly what performance decrease are talking about?
Do you mean the 2-5 x faster processor? Or the 4 times faster front side bus? Or the new 5400 rpm hard drive vs. the old 4200 rpm hard drive? Or the faster DDR Ram? Or the new gigabit ethernet port? Or the additional usb ports? Or the new remote control and front row software? Or the new digital in and out? Or the new GPU that can handle core image?
I’m confused
MDN is a joke. Am I the only one who is scratching my head at MDN’s latest comments when only months earlier, MDN is laughing it up about how integrated video is ONLY for “DULL” winblows machines.
MDN, get some journalistic integrity and stop changing your tune everytime SJ capitulates to the wintel crowd.
What will it be next week…apple’s inclusion of a FM tuner in its ipods is a GREAT IDEA?
Mike K: It has one major downgrade…the integrated video
Fine, it is not a gaming machine. However, even the review above states it is good for “maybe play some DVD movies, then Intel’s new graphics core is probably suitable.”
To attach it to your plasma TV and play non-HD DVD’s and approach the max of the graphics card is not a good thing. The previous G4 based mini could NOT handle 720p HD. I want to be able to watch 1080p video without any frame drops and without a performance hit on the rest of the mini.
I do not believe this is a lot to ask. This looks more like an Intel designed POS rather than a well thought out Apple Box. Granted the G4 mini lacked some features, but overall it compared well to all of Apple’s other computers.
Do you people realize that in the benchmark the 6200TC, which blows away the Intel 950 is a very lowend $40 card??!!
Quite simply, this is unacceptable for an $800 machine with NO mouse, KB, and monitor.
People ask “how is this different from a big, loud Dell with none of the extras and no software bundle and a miserable OS and a slower processor”?
What do you say to that?
If people actually think ONE feature being the same means that EVERYTHING is the same, then there’s nothing at the top of their spinal cord.
Mac Mini is light years away from Dell. And Core Solo is a generation ahead of Pentium 4 in performance per watt AND per GHz.