With a more efficient CPU, Nvidia GeForce graphics, and a SuperDrive at the entry level, there’s never been a better time to buy a Mac mini.

The 2009 Mac mini value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.03.04.

Even with the cost of upgrades, it’s the value champion. Although the iMac is faster all around, the Mac mini provides plenty of power at half the price.

Mac mini the best value in desktop Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.08.25.

CPU can probably be replaced with a faster one.

Power supply: 85W internal power supply.

no internal modem external USB modem available.

IR receiver: supports Apple Remote (optional).

SuperDrive: optional external USB 2.0 drive.

SSD: uses same SSD modules as MacBook Air.

hard drives: 2.5″ 500 GB 7200 rpm SATA standard 750 GB hard drive and 256 GB SSD available on build-to-order basis.

Video out: Thunderbolt with resolution to 2560 x 1600, HDMI with resolution to and 1920 x 1200.

VRAM: 384 MB DDR3 SDRAM (shared with main memory).

RAM: 4 GB, expandable to 16 GB using two 1333MHz DDR3 SO-DIMMs.

Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility.

macOS 10.14 Mojave and later are not supported. Mac OS X includes support for remapping the Windows Alt and Option keys to Option and Cmd respectively. Apple says buyers can plug in their favorite USB keyboard and mouse – or buy Apple’s offerings. The Mac mini doesn’t include a keyboard or mouse.

The official maximum memory spec is 8 GB, but OWC has found that with the right modules, you can go to 16 GB. There are two memory sockets, both are filled with matching modules. Completing the back panel are a power button plus audio in and out ports. The Mini also includes an HDMI port, the industry standard for high definition TVs, and it supports two displays. The 2011 Mac mini can use the same $79 USB SuperDrive as the MacBook Air.Īs with the 2010 model, there are four USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 remains (FireWire 400 devices can be used with a FireWire 800-to-400 cable or adapter), and there’s the addition of Thunderbolt, which can be used to connect monitors, drives, or other peripherals. The Mac mini Server uses the same Intel HD Graphics 3000 as the entry-level consumer Mac mini. Not fast enough? You can also order with a 256 GB SSD and a 7200 rpm 750 GB hard drive – or even a pair of 256 GB SSDs! The 2011 Server ships with OS X 10.7 Lion Server and includes two 7200 rpm 500 GB hard drives.

This year’s Server is actually a much more powerful computer with a quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU, twice the number of cores found in the consumer Mini. Last year’s Mac mini Server was just a 2010 Mac mini with two hard drives and no SuperDrive.

Mac mini mid 2011 memory