

- Upgarding late 2012 mac mini upgrade#
- Upgarding late 2012 mac mini pro#
- Upgarding late 2012 mac mini software#
The Mac mini, however, uses a standard hard drive, while the MacBook Air has speedy flash memory. The $499 Mac mini actually has the same processor, RAM setup, and graphics subsystem as the MacBook Air, so you might expect the $499 Mac mini and the MacBook Air to perform similarly. The $499 Mac mini uses the Intel HD Graphics 5000 integrated graphics processor, which is slightly better than the Intel HD Graphics 4000 found in the previous Mac mini, but it's not as good as Iris Graphics.

If you like to play games, you'll find better video performance from the Intel Iris Graphics used in the $699 and $999 Mac minis. With the new 2014 Mac mini, Apple decided to use dual-core processors in all three models. The two 2012 Mac mini standard configurations also had a dual-core processor in the low-end models, but a quad-core processor in the high end 2012 Core i7 model. If you work in professional-grade apps that can take advantage of multiple processing cores-video editors, audio editors, 3D animation, Mathematica, for example-skip the Mac mini and get a quad-core iMac or make the investment into a Mac Pro. The reason why is simple: It doesn't have as many processing cores as before.
Upgarding late 2012 mac mini software#
However, if you're using high-end professional-level software that uses more than one processing core, the new Mac mini takes a big performance hit. For web access, email, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, and most apps you use, the Mac mini works well.Ī deeper look at performance using the GeekBench benchmark tool shows that in single-core performance-most consumer apps are single-core apps, meaning they use one processing core on a computer's CPU-the new $999 2.8GHz Core i5 Mac mini performs slightly better than the previous 2012 high-end 2.6GHz Core i7 Mac mini. The Mac mini isn't among the fastest Macs Apple offers, but it has enough power for people who use consumer-level software everyday. All the 2014 Mac mini models have dual-core processors. The $999 Mac mini has a 2.8GHz Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB Fusion Drive. The $699 Mac mini has a 2.6GHz Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB hard drive. The $499 Mac mini has a 1.4GHz Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive.
Upgarding late 2012 mac mini upgrade#
However, the small size and the low prices come with compromises in performance and your ability to upgrade the computer in a couple of years. Measuring 7.7 by 7.7 by 1.4 inches, the Mac mini's small size allows it to fit in almost anywhere, which can lead to some unique uses besides desktop computing, such as a server or home entertainment component.
Upgarding late 2012 mac mini pro#
By comparison, Apple's lowest-priced iMac is $1099, the lowest-priced MacBook Air is $899, and the lowest-priced MacBook Pro (non-Retina) is $1099.Īnother reason to consider about the Mac mini is its size. The most affordable Mac mini is $499, and there are two other models, priced at $699 and $999. The main reason why you would consider a Mac mini is its price. In this guide, we'll go over the key decisions you'll need to make when shopping for a Mac mini.

When shopping the Apple Store, it helps to understand the differences of all three models in the Mac mini line and how they compare to Apple's other Mac offerings, and to know what you're getting for your money. Its combination of affordability, compactness, and performance makes the Mac mini an ideal computer for new and experienced users alike.Īpple offers three models of the Mac mini. While that may be true, the Mac mini isn't just a computer for newbies. Whenever Apple talks about the Mac mini-like at the October event in Cupertino-the company always mentions how the Mac mini is a favorite with first-time Mac users.
