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
when Apple releases a “living-room” Mac they will tell us that is what they are releasing.
This is not designed by Apple to be a living room Mac. Pointing out its limitations as a living-room Mac is neither a fair nor an accurate criticism.
The major step forward here is the new networked version of Front Row. Now all we need is an A/V Airport Express w/ a tablet like remote which can be programmed to replace all your other remotes.
Ordinarily I think that this would be a good thing for the average consumer. After all, it should be cheaper and more efficient to buy more system ram that can be shared with the graphics card. Cram the box with ram, and you’ll have better graphics when you need it and a snappier computer in general…
…Trouble is, the DDR2 667mgz memory uses is expensive! $300 for one gig of memory and $600 to max it out at 2 gig. Compusa, Bestbuy, etc do not carry this memory, so no luck in getting it somewhere else cheaper.
With say, an iMac Core Duo, extra memory is beneficial. With the mini, it appears that it will essential for the graphics card to work sufficiently and leave some left for the rest of the computer (and keep the beach ball at bay). Most people say that 512 meg of ram is necessary to keep OS X happy.
I’m miffed that Apple didn’t either include more memory, or better yet, use slightly older memory that is much more affordable. It almost seems like a gotcha on Apple’s part. Hey, you want to buy this entry level machine for the low price, but to make it usable, you need to pay us the purchase price of the machine again for ram!
I was seriously salivating over this machine after the announcment, but the graphics card sucking down overpriced ram is causing me second thoughts. I think I’ll go with an iMac, which I can at least use with 512 meg of ram due to it’s graphics card with 128 meg of its own ram, or maybe a refurbished powermac dual core which I can cram with a lot more ram at the same price. My assessment may change once third parties can charge less for the same ram…
Al, I’m not saying it’s the greatest GPU in the world, but it is a step up from the previous in terms of performance…
I mean a dedicated 256 mb GPU would be awesome, but there is no way to do that and keep the price at $599… This is an entry level Mac, apart from games this GPU is plenty sufficient..
Case wrote,”invest at least $60 in an add-on card.”
Could I assume it is possible to add-on a ADD2+ to the new mini? Confused? Help…..
Clyde you have your pricing wrong… check again.
$300 maxes out the Ram and buys you TWO gigs of Ram not one.
mike K, why are you using my name?
Talking to 2x performance, my ISP just upped my broadband speed for free again. 4Mbps.
Oh yeah, the mini. It’s growing on me, probably thanks to the extra ports, and the improved audio. Still not too sure about the graphics, but then considering it finally comes with a 21st century processor, it’ll cope. It’ll be interesting to see whether one will be appearing with a Blu-Ray drive in the summer.
I still wish this Intel thing wasn’t happening mind. PowerPC never recovered from bloody Motoslower’s shitey slowdown in 2000.
Clyde where did you get your prices? It doesn’t cost $300 for a gig of Ram. That’s the price for 2 gigs.
Mac Mini $800
Monitor $250
Keyboard/Mighty Mouse $78
Upgrade HD to 120GB 5200rpm $125
Total $1253 (not including $150 for iSight)
iMac 17″ $1299
Has faster processor, 160GB 3.5″ 7200rpm drive, faster (and not integrated) graphics card, Built-in iSight cam
I think the $800 mac mini will be a bit harder to sell. I agree that the upgrades are cool. I think most of the disappointment though is the lack of PVR. Before anyone jumps all over this, just think about it:
If PVR had been added, a $599 PVR computer with a full-blown computer world-leading OS, virus-free email and web-surfing, and the best user-experience on the market, coupled with iPhoto-photocasting, Front Row, iTunes/iPod, etc., among the other cool apps, would have destroyed the market and captured 80%+ of the PVR/media center market in less than 18 months. I still think this is the game plan but PVR will currently canabalize efforts to get studios on to iTunes. The functionality has been there ever since firewire appeared on cable boxes. Apple obviously has a fully functioning PVR in their labs.
So if you have a keyboard, monitor, external HD, then the Mac Mini might be your cup of tea. Otherwise, go iMac.
Crucial Ram prices = $146.99 for one gig RAM.
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?Mfr+Productline=Apple+Mac+mini&mfr=Apple&tabid=AM&model=Mac+mini+(Intel+Core+Solo+-+1.5GHz)&submit=Go
Daniel-Sam
There is no doubt that the iMac is the best bang for the buck. However, if you already have a display and a keyboard, $799 is a pretty good deal for a duo-core processor with a dual layer Superdrive.
Daniel, Ordering ala carte always costs more than a complete meal..
I think “ridiculous” puts it very well; $800 for the 1.67Ghz Core Duo model is pretty nuts.
No keyboard or mouse, no possibility to play 3D games like World of Warcraft, no chance of playing 1080p HD video, no HDCP, no component video-out. Slow little 5400 rpm laptop hard drive. No included modem (extra $$)
It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad.
What a lot of us want a Mini for is to use to put our EyeTV content, etc on our HDTV without some huge tower. The addition of Front Row with Zero Configuration Networking (Bonjour) is a huge plus, as is the remote. Using a cheap Intel GPU is taking the low road.
The Fanboys can sell it all they want, it’s a low-ball white box graphics chip. If MDN had mentioned this same method of producing video last year they would be making all kind of smarmy remarks about e-Machines and the like, but now they seem to be selling it. I prefer Macs, but the Apple PR Department has got a lot of spinning to do on this one.
If a Windows PC maker made a computer like this, you think PC people would buy it? I doubt it.
———-
And there lies another fundamental difference between Windows and Apple computers. One can build one´s own Windows PC; can´t do that with Apple.
Nick, for the things you are looking to do, you shouldn’t be considering an entry level Mac..
Sounds like an iMac or PowerMac are what you need.
Sorry nick you need to read the specs.
It has a SATA drive that runs at 7200 RPMs that means it is very fast. Component video out is a waste of time and space. It also has a faster bus than before I bet it will handle games very well with enough ram.
The impression I get from all the posts here is that the Mac Mini is not the computer most people here actually want. Not that it isn’t a good computer for what it does. It is a very good entry level machine. The trouble is that in Apples lineup the next desktop available is the Power Mac tower. (I consider the iMac in a class by itself) This leaves a big hole in Apples product range. What I would like, and I think many others, is a Mac Midi, probably twice the size of the mini but with at least a 1.8ghz duo, 2 or 4 Ram slots, at least 2 PCI slots for expansion, configurable graphics card like the Power Macs have, 4 USB ports with one on the front, FireWire 400/800. Make this for about $1000. This would give a mid range desktop that people can configure as they need but that is not as imposing as the Power Mac tower. Leave the mini as the entry level and the midi as the HD video center.
I went to the Apple store and under accessories, checked memory. There were no options for the new mac mini, but the iMac Core Duo uses the same memory. This CLEARLY lists $300 for 1 gig and $600 for 2 gig. This was after I looked under the Mac Mini pages and the memory section of the apple store for a quote.
300 1 gig, 600 2 gig. Sorry guys, but I stand by my facts until proven otherwise.
From one of the other threads…
For 1280×720 (720p) video at 24-30 frames per second:
QuickTime 7 for Mac OS X:
* 1.8 GHz PowerMac G5 or faster Macintosh computer; 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo or faster
* At least 256MB of RAM
* 64 MB or greater video card
For 1920×1080 (1080p) video at 24 frames per second:
QuickTime 7 for Mac OS X:
* Dual 2.0 GHz PowerMac G5 or faster Macintosh computer; 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo or faster
* At least 512MB of RAM
* 128MB or greater video card
Since the integrated graphics chip has special capabilities for handling video does anyone think that this chip will offload some of the work the processor would normally do so the above specs don’t apply to the mini? They chose the speed for a reason even though there are high Mhz Duos available…
Furthermore what is all the crap about the integrated graphics chip…except for the Power Macs is not like anyone was ever going to switch out the graphics card in the IMacs and PowerBooks, Ibooks…
“Jeremiah Hawkins”:
I got my information from Apple’s specs. The Mac mini has a 2.5″ laptop hard drive operating at 5400 rpm. There is no 7200 rpm option.
It will not handle games with enough RAM. It has poopy integrated graphics that gets you (at best) 10 frames per second in UT2004, according to Extreme Tech’s benchmarks.
“Mike K”:
So if people want to get online with a modem, play 2 year-old computer games, watch some HD video and have a hard drive that is faster than what ships in an iBook, the Mac mini is not for them? Why pay $800 for it then?
Copy pasted from Apple Store… I rest my case!
Memory
More memory (RAM) increases performance and enables your computer to perform faster and better. Choose additional 667MHz DDR2-SDRAM (PC2-5300) options for your Mac mini.
Learn more
512MB 667 DDR2 SDRAM – 2×256
1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM – 2×512 [Add $100]
2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM – 2x1GB [Add $300]
Jeremiah Hawkins
Uhhhh no… it is 5400 RPMs SATA HD read the specs again !
http://www.apple.com/macmini/whatsinside.html
Since when is spending $1253 “entry level?”
Mac Mini $800
Monitor $250
Keyboard/Mighty Mouse $78
Upgrade HD to 120GB 5200rpm $125
Total $1253 (not including $150 for iSight)
Yes, these specs are certianly “entry level,” but the price certainly is not. How is Apple expecting switchers to come aboard when their PR dept. touts this as “entry level,” but PC users see $1000+ for a complete package as mid-high level?
In the world of sub $500 “entry level” “complete package” PC’s, this just doesn’t fly.
Okay, okay. I figured out where everyone else was getting their facts. It is $300.00 for 2 gigs. I guess it’s $600.00 to max out the new iMac.
I’ll take my crow with some stuffing, thank you very much.