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Mac mini Late 2018 Teardown

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Re: Mac mini Late 2018 Teardown

#21

Post by [deleted] »

iwasakabukiman wrote: post #4
OskarS wrote: post #2

A bit disappointing to see that the storage is not user-upgradable. I guess it matters less on a device like this where you could more easily use external storage, but still. I wish Apple stopped soldering in stuff and just made things a centimeter taller if that was the tradeoff.

My understanding is that Apple pairs the individual hard drive in any given unit with the "Secure Enclave" that they use for TouchID within the same unit. So they are paired and one cannot be replaced without also replacing the other. Not excusing it, just explaining.

[deleted]

Re: Mac mini Late 2018 Teardown

#22

Post by mbel »

TremendousJudge wrote: post #12
xienze wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course, but then how could you charge 2-3x for storage upgrades that way? Edit: wow, really struck a nerve there. I take it back, Apple is in no way motivated to massively overcharge for storage upgrades.

Console manufacturers never seem to have any issue with it, and hard drives are user upgradable

Console manufacturers have a different revenue model. They get money from games sold for their platform, this allows them to sell hardware with low margin or even at loss.

Re: Mac mini Late 2018 Teardown

#23

Post by jws »

sanketskasar wrote: post #19
OskarS wrote: post #2

A bit disappointing to see that the storage is not user-upgradable. I guess it matters less on a device like this where you could more easily use external storage, but still. I wish Apple stopped soldering in stuff and just made things a centimeter taller if that was the tradeoff.

I think it's more because of the PCIe interface, and access control and encryption through the T2 chip. The PCIe interfaces SSDs that Apple's been using allow really fast speeds of upto 3Gbps, which is almost double those offered by other interfaces like M2 or even more faster than SATA. What's disappointing is the base storage. 128GB in 2019 is so ridiculous. I would't otherwise mind a soldered SSD when I can just u…

The two I installed this week are using 70GB and 90GB all set up for development with my files. I think there are plenty of people who needn’t spend on an extra 128GB. Especially since the USB ports are plenty fast for bulk, non speed critical storage should you decide to archive something locally.

Re: Mac mini Late 2018 Teardown

#24

Post by xienze »

spacenick88 wrote: post #5
OskarS wrote: post #2

A bit disappointing to see that the storage is not user-upgradable. I guess it matters less on a device like this where you could more easily use external storage, but still. I wish Apple stopped soldering in stuff and just made things a centimeter taller if that was the tradeoff.

Maybe Apple should build SSD storage thingies that are exactly the same size as the mini so they can be stacked. They're already stacking them for demos and it would definitely look cool. Especially if you get Thunderbolt cables that exactly match 1-4 mini heights (since it got 4 Thunderbolt ports) + daisy chaining.

Those already exist but it's kind of missing the point. An NVMe SSD is the size of a stick of gum, I'd much rather plug one of those in than have to stack a box the size of the Mini on top of my Mini and connect it with TB3. In the end you've got something more expensive, probably slower, and less portable than the obvious solution.

Re: Mac mini Late 2018 Teardown

#25

Post by SmellyGeekBoy »

mbel wrote: post #22
TremendousJudge wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Console manufacturers never seem to have any issue with it, and hard drives are user upgradable

Console manufacturers have a different revenue model. They get money from games sold for their platform, this allows them to sell hardware with low margin or even at loss.

Is this not the idea behind the Mac App Store?

Re: Mac mini Late 2018 Teardown

#27

Post by OskarS »

iwasakabukiman wrote: post #4
OskarS wrote: post #2

A bit disappointing to see that the storage is not user-upgradable. I guess it matters less on a device like this where you could more easily use external storage, but still. I wish Apple stopped soldering in stuff and just made things a centimeter taller if that was the tradeoff.

My understanding is that Apple pairs the individual hard drive in any given unit with the "Secure Enclave" that they use for TouchID within the same unit. So they are paired and one cannot be replaced without also replacing the other. Not excusing it, just explaining.

That does make more sense than the size thing. Still wish Apple didn't do it, but that's a better excuse.

Re: Mac mini Late 2018 Teardown

#28

Post by riobard »

OskarS wrote: post #2

A bit disappointing to see that the storage is not user-upgradable. I guess it matters less on a device like this where you could more easily use external storage, but still. I wish Apple stopped soldering in stuff and just made things a centimeter taller if that was the tradeoff.

Because of T2 being the SSD controller, chances are those soldered SSD chips are actually raw flash, in which case even if they use M.2 slot, you won’t find any 3rd party raw flash M.2 drive (without controller) anyway.

Re: Mac mini Late 2018 Teardown

#29

Post by riobard »

I really hope someone could figure it out if Mac mini with the i3-8100B CPU can work with ECC memory. According to Intel the CPU is ECC-capable, but I’m not sure about the mobo. If it works with ECC, it would be a truly mini Mac Pro.

The higher-end configs with i5 and i7 CPU are not ECC-capable, only the entry-level i3 CPU is ECC-capable.

Re: Mac mini Late 2018 Teardown

#30

Post by mcphage »

SmellyGeekBoy wrote: post #25
mbel wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Console manufacturers have a different revenue model. They get money from games sold for their platform, this allows them to sell hardware with low margin or even at loss.

Is this not the idea behind the Mac App Store?

Not really, no. Most of Apple's money comes from hardware sales.
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