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# Mac mini (Mid 2011)

Essentials

Family: Mac mini

Codename: ?

Gestalt ID: 406

Minimum OS: 10.7

Maximum OS: 10.10.4

Introduced: July 2011

Processor

CPU: Intel Core i5 Mobile ("Sandy Bridge")

CPU Speed: 2.3/2.5 GHz (2.7GHz Core i7 BTO)

CPU Cores: 2

FPU: integrated

Bus Speed: 5 GT/s (DMI)

Register Width: 64-bit

Data Bus Width: 64-bit

Address Bus Width: 64-bit

Level 1 Cache: 32 kB data, 32 kB instruction

Level 2 Cache: 256 kB per-core (512 kB total)

Level 3 Cache: 3 MB on-processor

ROM: EFI

RAM Type: PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM

Minimum RAM Speed: 1333 MHz

Onboard RAM: 0 MB

RAM slots: 2

Maximum RAM: 8 GB

Expansion Slots: SDXC card

Video

GPU: Intel HD Graphics 3000 / AMD Radeon HD 6630M

VRAM: 288 MB shared (see notes) / 256 MB GDDR5

Max Resolution: 1920x1200 via HDMI, 2560x1600 via Thunderbolt

Video Out: HDMI, Thunderbolt

Storage

Hard Drive: 2.5" 500 GB 7200 RPM

ATA Bus: Serial ATA

Input/Output

USB: 4 (2.0)

Firewire800: 1

Thunderbolt: 1

Audio Out: stereo 24 bit mini, Optical S/PDIF, HDMI, HDMI via Thunderbolt

Audio In: stereo 24 bit mini, Optical S/PDIF

Speaker: mono

Networking

Ethernet: 10/100/1000Base-T

Wi-Fi: 802.11a/b/g/n

Bluetooth: 4.0

Miscellaneous

Power: 85 Watts

Dimensions: 1.4" H x 7.7" W x 7.7" D

Weight: 2.9 lbs.

Notes

The 2.3 GHz Mac mini's graphics chipset used a portion of main memory as VRAM. Though reported as a 288 MB graphics system, this was actually a minimum. Actual usage varied with graphics load, resulting in slightly less RAM available for system use.

Introduced in July 2011, the Mac mini (Mid 2011) shipped without an optical drive, as part of Apple's strategic shift away from optical media for software installation. It improved on Mac mini (Mid 2010) with the inclusion of the "Sandy Bridge" architecture, a Thunderbolt high-speed interconnect port, and discrete graphics on the high-end model. The Mac mini (Mid 2011) shipped in two configurations:

- 2.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive, 288 MB of shared VRAM, for $599
- 2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB hard drive, 256 MB of discrete VRAM, for $799

Build-to-order options included up to 8 GB of RAM, a 750 GB 7200 RPM hard drive or a 250 GB SSD (or both), and a 2.7GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7 processor for the high-end model.

Picture Credits:
Apple, Inc.