- #Is applecare worth it mac mini upgrade
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#Is applecare worth it mac mini upgrade
That’s a lot of jargon but the bottom line is that Apple made a range of intelligent tweaks that enable more efficient processing to make sure you get the most out of the M1 chip depending on what you are doing.īut because the RAM is now soldered on the SoC, you can’t upgrade it yourself which raises serious long-term concerns.
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So for instance, if you are playing a game, the Mac mini can channel the memory between the CPU and GPU as needed - as opposed to pre-assigning a specific portion of the RAM to each. In addition, the M1 chip can dynamically adjust memory portions for individual components. In layman’s terms, this means that the CPU and GPU have faster access to the memory which potentially will lead to better performance. Its “unified memory” structure places a single pool of RAM on the same substrate as the CPU and GPU. Therefore, down the line, if your workflow demands more graphical horsepower, you’ll be out of luck.Ī key highlight of the M1 SoC is how Apple has engineered the memory. The built-in SSD is configurable up to 2TB.Īnother first-gen downside: the new Mac mini doesn’t support external GPUs. You only have two options for now: 8GB and 16GB (the 2018 Mini can be outfitted with 64GB), as Apple looks to test the waters before offering more powerful specs with the M1 chip. The signs of a first-gen release are first clear when you scroll down to the memory section. There’s also a 16-core Neural Engine dedicated to machine learning tasks. It’s paired with an eight-core integrated GPU and, unlike the MacBook Air, the Mac mini can fire all eight of those cores if needed. That might sound like a step-down but the M1 SoC is anything but.įor starters, the M1 processor houses an eight-core CPU (even on the base model) with four performance cores and four configured for efficiency. The cornerstone of this refresh is Apple’s new M1 chip, which is based on the same architecture that powers an iPhone or iPad. Most of the new Mac mini’s upgrades are on the inside. If you often play music on your computer’s speakers, you’ll have to invest in an external pair. Even for casual YouTube playback, I found myself casting the output to my Google Home instead of using the built-in speakers. There’s no way around it: the Mac mini’s built-in speakers are tiny, shallow, and downright embarrassing for a 2020 computer. The speakers are the second major compromise Apple made to bring down the price. So even though I like the Mac mini’s minimalistic look, I do wish Apple had fitted the audio jack and maybe an extra USB port on the front.
Unfortunately, as the audio port is situated on the back, I have to run the earphones’ wire to the rear, which can often create desk clutter. I regularly plug in a wired pair of earphones while working from home because I find them the most reliable for video and voice calls.
The Mac mini, as you may know, doesn’t have a microphone. My only complaint is the placement of the audio jack.
#Is applecare worth it mac mini Bluetooth
Bluetooth performance has been flawless as well and I was able to work with three Bluetooth-enabled devices (headphones, keyboard, and mouse) at the same time.
#Is applecare worth it mac mini plus
On the plus side, the M1 Mac mini’s wireless connectivity is of the highest quality, courtesy of the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology. Other than that, you’ll find a pair of USB-A ports, an HDMI input, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.įor most buyers, these changes won’t be deal-breakers but they’re still worth keeping in mind especially if you intend to use your Mac mini for the next four or five years. It’s also not configurable to 10GB Ethernet, which means network speeds will top out at 1GBps. On top of that, it supports a maximum of two external screens - the Intel Mac mini can handle three - and only one of them can be hooked via Thunderbolt. Although all of the inputs are neatly clustered at the back on a black plastic strip, as they were before, the M1 Mac mini loses a handful of ports that were available on its two-year-old Intel sibling.įor starters, the new Mac mini has just two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C slots, compared to the Intel version’s four. One of the areas where Apple cut corners to bring down the cost is the port selection. As teardowns revealed, that weight loss is the result of a more closely packed SoC, which we’ll get to in more detail later. Another minor alteration Apple made is apparent as soon as you take the new Mac mini out of its box: it’s 0.3 pounds lighter.
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