Apple Says Mac Mini Is ‘World’s Most Efficient Desktop’

Apple introduced a redesigned Mac mini on 15  June that it’s calling the world’s most energy-efficient desktop.

The discrete, monitor-free mini measures 7.7 inches square by 1.4 inches thick and features an integrated power supply, eliminating the need for an external power adapter. All that’s left to clutter a desktop now is its white power cord. 
 
Packed into that little box — which is CNC-milled from a single piece of aluminum — is twice the graphics performance of the earlier mini, courtesy of the 48 processing cores of the Nvidia GeForce 320 graphics processor.

The same graphics processor included in Apple’s new MacBook Pro, it’s said to be the fastest integrated graphics processor on the market. The mini also offers a choice of Intel processors but comes standard with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, paired with a 320GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM.

25 Percent Less Energy

Also new to the desktop are an HDMI output, for connecting to an HDTV, and an SD card slot. The new mini also requires 25 percent less power than its predecessors, and “less than half the power required by competing systems,” says Apple. Other feel-good stats include the Mac’s highly recyclable aluminum enclosure, its Energy Star 5.0 and EPEAT Gold status, its PVC-free components and cables, and that Apple’s left out any brominated flame retardants.

The Mac mini ships with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, and includes Apple’s iLife application suite. 
 
“The sleek, aluminum Mac mini packs great features, versatility and value into an elegant, amazingly compact design,” Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, said in a statement. “With twice the graphics performance, HDMI support and industry-leading energy efficiency, customers are going to love the new Mac mini.”

HDMI Support

For a starting price of $699 (£649.00 in the UK), the standard Mac mini includes, among other features, the 2.4GH Intel processor, 2GB of 1,066MHz DDR3 (double-data rate) 3 SDRAM (expandable up to 8GB); integrated Nvidia GeForce graphics; a slot-loaded 8X SuperDrive optical drive; and a 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5,400rpm. There’s also 802.11n wireless and Bluetooth 2.1, gigabit Ethernet, four USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port and digital audio line in and headphone out ports.

For $999 (£929 in the UK), the Intel Core 2 Duo processor jumps to 2.66GHz and there’s 4GB of 1,066MHz DDR3 SDRAM and two 500GB Serial ATA hard drives running at 7,200rpm.
 
The Mac mini begins shipping in the US and UK on 15 June 15 from the Apple Store.

In addition to its April redesign of its MacBook Pro line, Apple recently introduced the iPad and iPhone 4 and iOS 4. Fans of the super-light MacBook Air, however, are still awaiting news of an annual refresh.