Mac mini Mid-2011

Technically a "configure-to-order" option for the MC816LL/A Mac mini "Core i5" 2.5 (Mid-2011/Aluminum Unibody), the Mac mini "Core i7" 2.7 (Mid-2011/Aluminum Unibody) is also documented as a separate model for user convenience. Aside from the processor and its larger L3 cache, these two models are identical.

This Apple Mac mini model is equipped with a 32-nm "Sandy Bridge" 2.7 GHz Intel "Core i7" (2620M) processor, with two independent "cores" on a single chip and a 4 MB shared L3 cache. It has 4 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-10600), a 500 GB hard drive, and AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics with 256 MB of dedicated GDDR5 memory. It lacks an internal optical drive, but an external one could be bought for US$79.

Connectivity includes a Firewire "800" port, four USB 2.0 ports, combined "audio line in (digital/analog)" and "audio line out/headphone (digital/analog)" minijacks, a Gigabit Ethernet port, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port, and a "Thunderbolt" port. This Thunderbolt port is backward compatible with Mini DisplayPort, supports a 2560x1600 display with audio, and allows peripherals using the Thunderbolt standard to achieve up to 10 Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth.

Compared to its non-server predecessor, the most obvious external change is the absence of an optical drive. It also features the aforementioned Thunderbolt port and is slightly lighter. Internally, it has a faster processor, architecture, RAM, and graphics, as well as improved wireless capabilities.

All Mac mini systems are sold by default without a display, keyboard, or mouse, but many Apple and third-party options are available.

As a build-to-order option, the 2.7GHz Core i7 Mac mini from mid-2011 provided a notable performance increase over its Core i5 counterpart. It shared the same key benefits, including the powerful AMD Radeon HD 6630M discrete graphics card, which delivered a significant boost for gaming and graphics-intensive applications. The introduction of the Thunderbolt port was a key feature, offering high-speed connectivity that was ahead of its time, though the lack of USB 3.0 was a point of criticism. The machine was praised for its Sandy Bridge architecture, which provided a solid foundation for demanding tasks. However, like the rest of the 2011 lineup, it was marked by the controversial removal of the internal optical drive. While offering strong performance for its compact size, its overall value was debated, especially when considering the added cost of the i7 upgrade and the need to purchase peripherals separately.