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Tech Specs

Mac mini Server (Late 2012)

LEM Staff - 2012.10.23

The 2011 Mac mini Server was a normal Mac mini with two hard drives, a quad-core i7 CPU (vs. dual-core CPUs in regular Minis), and OS X Server installed. The 2012 Server is essentially the same as the top-end consumer model, but with OS X Server installed and two hard drives instead of one. You can also order it with a 256 GB SSD and a 7200 rpm 750 GB hard drive – or even a pair of 256 GB SSDs!

Way More Power?

2011 Mac mini

Apple claims the Late 2012 Mac mini has “way more power”. Well, that’s far more true of the consumer model than the Server. The new sever model is based on Intel’s Ivy Bridge chipset and uses a quad-core 2.3 GHz i7 – it has the highest Geekbench score ever for a Mini at 10642 (vs. 8530 for last year’s 2.0 GHz quad-core i7 server), which is an impresive 25% better. And if that’s not enough power, a 2.6 GHz build-to-order option ($100 additional) should boost performance another 13% or so.

The Server is not available with Apple’s new Fusion Drive technology. It normally ships with two 1 TB 5400 rpm hard drives and can also be ordered with one or two 256 GB SSDs.

rear panel of the 2012 Mac miniThis is the first time the Mac mini has USB 3, which is up to 10x as fast as USB 2.0, and the Mac mini uses the same $79 USB SuperDrive as the MacBook Air and Retina MacBook models. There are four USB 3 ports, along with Thunderbolt, FireWire 800 (FireWire 400 devices can be used with a FireWire 800-to-400 cable or adapter), ethernet, HDML, and SDXC for memory cards.

This was the last Mac mini to include built-in FireWire support.

The 2012 Mac mini uses Intel HD Graphics 4000 instead of the 3000 found in last year’s Mac mini Server.

4 GB of memory is standard, expandable to 16 GB. For power users, the i7 model can be ordered with a 2.6 GHz CPU for $100 additional.

The Mac mini doesn’t include a keyboard or mouse. Apple says buyers can plug in their favorite USB keyboard and mouse – or buy Apple’s offerings. Mac OS X includes support for remapping the Windows alt and option keys to option and cmd respectively.

Details

  • Introduced 2012.10.23 at US$999; 2.6 GHz i7 build-to-order option adds $100. Replace by Haswell-based Late 2014 Mac mini on 2014.10.16.
  • Part no.: A1347
  • Model Identifier: Macmini 6,3 (Server)

Mac OS

  • Requires Mac OS X 10.8.2 or later
  • Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility
    • AirPlay Mirroring is supported.
    • AirDrop is supported.
    • Power Nap is not supported.

Core System

  • CPU: 2.3/2.6 GHz quad-core i7
  • L2 cache: 6 MB
  • Bus: 1600 MHz
  • RAM: 4 GB, expandable to 16 GB using two 1600 MHz DDR3 SO-DIMMs
  • Performance, Geekbench 3:
    • 32-bit single core: 2685 (2.3 GHz), 2908 (2.6 GHz)
    • 32-bit multicore: 10394 (2.3 GHz), 11293 (2.6 GHz)
    • 64-bit single core: 3004 (2.3 GHz), 3258 (2.6 GHz)
    • 64-bit multicore: 11692 (2.3 GHz), 12688 (2.6 GHz)

Video

  • GPU: Intel HD 4000 Graphics
  • VRAM: 288 MB DDR3 SDRAM (shared with main memory)
  • Video out: Thunderbolt with resolution to 2560 x 1600, HDMI with resolution to and 1920 x 1200. HDMI-to-DVI adapter included.

Drives

  • drive bus: 6 Gbps SATA
  • Hard drive: 2.5″ 500 GB 5400 rpm SATA on 2.5 GHz dual-core, 1 TB on 2.3 GHz quad-core
  • SSD: uses same SSD modules as MacBook Air
  • SuperDrive: optional external USB drive

Expansion

  • Thunderbolt: 1 port
  • USB 3: 4 ports
  • FireWire 400 ports: 0
  • FireWire 800 ports: 1
  • Ethernet: 10/100/gigabit
  • WiFi: 802.11n AirPort Extreme built in
  • Bluetooth: BT 4.0 built in
  • SD Card slot: yes
  • IR receiver: supports Apple Remote (optional)
  • no internal modem; external USB modem available
  • Microphone: none

Physical

  • size: 1.4 x 7.7 x 7.7 in/36 x 197 x 197 mm
  • Weight: 2.7 lb./1.22 kg
  • Power supply: 85W internal power supply
  • PRAM battery: 3V CR2032 lithium

Upgrades

  • Soldered CPU, upgrades not possible.

Online Resources

searchword: macminiserver2012