iMac, Mac Mini Ripe For Macworld Refresh

After a drastic revamp to the MacBook line during last week’s special Notebook event, Apple stands to upgrade the iMac and Mac Mini come Macworld with the same energy saving Nvidia technology shipping in the company’s latest products and enhanced graphics. The unibody manufacturing process could be Applied to the iMac and allow for a new enclosure to the Mac Mini.

The iMac was last updated in March with an over-clocked version of the same Penrynn CPU used in previous models and the MacBook Pro. The Mac Mini however has gone much longer without a refresh and has slowly drifted from being a viable entry model Mac to a poor option for potential PC switchers. But what cripples the Mini besides its price is the continued use of Intel’s 945GM chipset providing a horrendous experience for serious multimedia tasks and instead positions itself as a barely able media center Mac.

Apple could delay the Mini’s long rumored death through Nvidia’a MCP79 Chipset which was introduced in Apple’s latest MacBooks. The GeForce 9400M provides a Chipset integrated directly onto the Silicon die and works much the same Intel’s current graphics system but provides the benefits of a discreet GPU such as higher clock speeds and an abundance of stream processors. While the 9400M would be a viable option, the 9300M could take its place to cut costs and further differentiate the Mac Mini as Apple’s real budget computer.

It’s unlikely for Apple to continue use of Intel’s current Chipset for the Mini, at least until Larrabee starts shipping. Nvidia’s integrated GPU cuts down on Logic Board space by consolidating separate chips into onto the Silicon die. This frees up space and cuts down heat allowing for tighter airflow and ultimately a smaller chassis. The upside is a higher powered Mini at a reduced price considering Apple is so keen on cutting their high percentage profit margins. The benefits for the iMac are visible in the latest MacBook Pro update as the all in one uses some Notebook components and packs similar cooling requirements. It is likely that a dual GPU setup will finally make its debut on the iMac but in true SLi and not bounce back between an Integrated or discreet GPU to conserve power.

It’s definite that Apple will include a DisplayPort on the newest iMac and Mac Mini but the fate of Firewire is left in the air. At worst, the slower iteration of Firewire would be removed to conserve space on the Logic Board while only Firewire 800 will remain on the iMac.

The CPU will likely be upgraded and speculation from Apple Insider points toward a possible Quad Core offering from Intel filling the void for a build to order iMac. The thermal output matches up with the current over clocked 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo chip found only on the high end configuration. The $1,000 price tag for the Quad Core version may stave Apple’s interest even if such a chip could fit into the iMac’s strict heat requirements as the cost would significantly raise the machine’s price and pass the burden onto consumers.