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Gigabyte has a model[1] with the Intel Iris Pro 5200 graphics which includes a 128 MB L4 DRAM cache. The Iris Pro is a big jump up[2] from the Iris 5000 graphi

by wffurr 12y ago

Gigabyte has a model[1] with the Intel Iris Pro 5200 graphics which includes a 128 MB L4 DRAM cache. The Iris Pro is a big jump up[2] from the Iris 5000 graphics. [1]: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4888 http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4888 [2]: http://www.anandtech.com/show/8175/gigabyte-brix-pro-a-second-look-at-the-intel-i74770r-with-iris-pro-hd-5200 http://www.anandtech.com/show/8175/gigabyte-brix-pro-a-secon...

Alupis 12y ago
And it's still cheaper than the best new Mac Mini, and it will way way out perform it. That BRIX you linked to has a quad core with hyper threading (8 threads), and Iris Pro graphics (you can do some gaming with this, not just hi-def video). And when outfited with 16GB of RAM, and a 240GB SSD, this puppy is what the new Mac Mini should have been. (only this is cheaper!) http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1671221 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemLi... And according to this review, it sips about 82w at full throttle: http://www.missingremote.com/review/gigabyte-brix-pro-gb-bxi7-4770r-mini-pc http://www.missingremote.com/review/gigabyte-brix-pro-gb-bxi... So, it uses less power than the Mac Mini, busting Apple's claim that their new Mac Mini is the "lowest power computer in the world". All-in-all, you'd have to be a fool to buy the new Mini. Especially given we can expect the current (new) Mini hardware to be the same for another 2-3 years without a refresh, and given the difficulty you will have trying to upgrade it with more RAM, HDD, etc.
- wffurr 12y ago
  Only missing feature is the ability to run Mac OS X without a bunch of weird hacks and instability. :(
  - Alupis 12y ago
    who says I want to run Mac OS X? ;-P I would of bought the mini then wiped it anyways. I've found Linux to be a much better home server/build server anyways. And now that Steam is on Linux, I could game on the same box. Great setup.
    - wffurr 12y ago
      Maybe you don't, but people considering a Mac Mini probably do. I tried running a Hackintosh, and gave up after the third instance of unrecoverable disk corruption. :(
marcocampos 12y ago
Yes, I know. I had one of those. It uses a "special" 65W TDP desktop class CPU. The cooling solution is pretty crappy and noisy as hell.
- wffurr 12y ago
  Sounds like a fault in the cooling solution. I'm sure Apple could find a way to dissipate 65W in a Mac Mini chassis. There's also 47/55W mobile processors with Iris Pro, one of which Apple uses in the 15" rMBP. Several historical unibody Mac Mini models had a 45 W processor.

by wffurr 12y ago

Alupis 12y ago

And it's still cheaper than the best new Mac Mini, and it will way way out perform it. That BRIX you linked to has a quad core with hyper threading (8 threads), and Iris Pro graphics (you can do some gaming with this, not just hi-def video). And when outfited with 16GB of RAM, and a 240GB SSD, this puppy is what the new Mac Mini should have been. (only this is cheaper!) http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1671221 http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemLi... And according to this review, it sips about 82w at full throttle: http://www.missingremote.com/review/gigabyte-brix-pro-gb-bxi7-4770r-mini-pc http://www.missingremote.com/review/gigabyte-brix-pro-gb-bxi... So, it uses less power than the Mac Mini, busting Apple's claim that their new Mac Mini is the "lowest power computer in the world". All-in-all, you'd have to be a fool to buy the new Mini. Especially given we can expect the current (new) Mini hardware to be the same for another 2-3 years without a refresh, and given the difficulty you will have trying to upgrade it with more RAM, HDD, etc.

wffurr 12y ago
Only missing feature is the ability to run Mac OS X without a bunch of weird hacks and instability. :(
- Alupis 12y ago
  who says I want to run Mac OS X? ;-P I would of bought the mini then wiped it anyways. I've found Linux to be a much better home server/build server anyways. And now that Steam is on Linux, I could game on the same box. Great setup.
  - wffurr 12y ago
    Maybe you don't, but people considering a Mac Mini probably do. I tried running a Hackintosh, and gave up after the third instance of unrecoverable disk corruption. :(

marcocampos 12y ago

Yes, I know. I had one of those. It uses a "special" 65W TDP desktop class CPU. The cooling solution is pretty crappy and noisy as hell.

wffurr 12y ago
Sounds like a fault in the cooling solution. I'm sure Apple could find a way to dissipate 65W in a Mac Mini chassis. There's also 47/55W mobile processors with Iris Pro, one of which Apple uses in the 15" rMBP. Several historical unibody Mac Mini models had a 45 W processor.