Just a note -- all Intel Minis have at least a 60GB Drive (even the CoreSolo mini) and all have built in Airport/Bluetooth -- so you'll get that even if you don't want it on an intel Mini.
wtb mac mini intel
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Check the refurbs, frequently and early in the morning works best for me.
If I remember well, the firsts minis (G4) had BT and AP as an option, but when they release the Intel based mini, they made them built-in, but removed the dedicated video graphics card. Was it a real bonus?Just a note -- all Intel Minis have at least a 60GB Drive (even the CoreSolo mini) and all have built in Airport/Bluetooth -- so you'll get that even if you don't want it on an intel Mini.
Bit of a sour trade off if you ask me -- the AP/BT could at least be added on the G4's... with the Intels, you can't add a Graphics Card if you want/need one.If I remember well, the firsts minis (G4) had BT and AP as an option, but when they release the Intel based mini, they made them built-in, but removed the dedicated video graphics card. Was it a real bonus?
...mind you, I read that the Radeon 9600 graphics chip in the G4 did NOT support core video, where the GMA950 does.
Can anyone confirm that?
Still, there's two great motherboard chipsets from ATI and nVidia with X1300 and 7300 graphics (respectively) that still beat the pants off of GMA950/3000. They still use some system RAM, but RAM is so cheap, they should just make 2GB standard. (Not their inflated price. Even Dell gave away tons of "free" RAM while it was super-cheap.) But it wouldn't have increased the cost more than $50, or so.... factoring in that I'm sure Intel gave them a smashing deal as well as help developing a smaller-than-picoBTX proprietary motherboard.
If there was room, adding a changeable mobile graphics chip would be a huge asset! GMA3000 base video, but an upgradeable option for those who want more - it'd be the Cube all over again.
But the mini is designed to be that - a simpler machine that WON'T cannibalize sales from iMac or PowerMac. PowerMac will likely remain the only Apple with high-end graphics as an option.
...hey.... any reports of anyone changing the video in the 24" original iMac from the 7300/7600GT to something even bigger? That would be awesome!
24-inch iMac not as 3D-upgradable as you might think - Alpha Blog - alpha.cnet.com
Oops. Apparently not.
Well... maybe.... googling "imac" and "MXM" now. There's some hope...
...nope. The vBIOS forbids it. How silly! XX)
Can anyone confirm that?
Still, there's two great motherboard chipsets from ATI and nVidia with X1300 and 7300 graphics (respectively) that still beat the pants off of GMA950/3000. They still use some system RAM, but RAM is so cheap, they should just make 2GB standard. (Not their inflated price. Even Dell gave away tons of "free" RAM while it was super-cheap.) But it wouldn't have increased the cost more than $50, or so.... factoring in that I'm sure Intel gave them a smashing deal as well as help developing a smaller-than-picoBTX proprietary motherboard.
If there was room, adding a changeable mobile graphics chip would be a huge asset! GMA3000 base video, but an upgradeable option for those who want more - it'd be the Cube all over again.
But the mini is designed to be that - a simpler machine that WON'T cannibalize sales from iMac or PowerMac. PowerMac will likely remain the only Apple with high-end graphics as an option.
...hey.... any reports of anyone changing the video in the 24" original iMac from the 7300/7600GT to something even bigger? That would be awesome!
24-inch iMac not as 3D-upgradable as you might think - Alpha Blog - alpha.cnet.com
Oops. Apparently not.
Well... maybe.... googling "imac" and "MXM" now. There's some hope...
...nope. The vBIOS forbids it. How silly! XX)
The 9600 did support Core Video but the G4 Mac mini shipped with a Radeon 9200 which didn't support Core Video....mind you, I read that the Radeon 9600 graphics chip in the G4 did NOT support core video, where the GMA950 does.
Can anyone confirm that?
If there was room, adding a changeable mobile graphics chip would be a huge asset! GMA3000 base video, but an upgradeable option for those who want more - it'd be the Cube all over again.
I was hoping Apple was going to put the GMA3000 in the mini. I just thought Apple should make one version with a set CPU (1.83) and get rid of the Combo drive model since the DVD-rw are pretty cheap now.
Thanks for the correction. And I agree - I'm also surprised the latest mini didn't use GMA 3000/3100.
Yeah, there have been lots of stories of people getting a nice bonus RAM or HD upgrade when buying the refurbed products from Apple. One should never expect it... but when it happens (apparently frequently) it's a nice surprise.
Congrats on your purchase. Mac Minis are wonderful machines. (I've owned two of them -- G4 and now CoreSolo as an HTPC).
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