Photo: Ashley Pomeroy / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
Mac mini (Early 2009)
Nvidia graphics, FireWire 800 and five USB ports.
Overview
The Early 2009 refresh finally resolved the weak graphics of earlier Mac minis. An Nvidia GeForce 9400M chipset replaced Intel's GMA, improving video playback and light gaming, and a Core 2 Duo at 2.0 GHz powered the model.
The back panel gained a second display port: a Mini DisplayPort beside the Mini-DVI, plus FireWire 800 replacing the 400 connector. Five USB 2.0 ports, optical digital audio, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 were all on board. Apple advertised it as its most energy-efficient desktop.
The design was still the plastic-and-aluminum cube of 2005, and the slot-loading DVD drive remained until the 2010 unibody redesign.
Why it mattered
It fixed the Mac mini's long-standing graphics weakness and prepared the ground for the unibody redesign.
At a glance
- Announced
- March 3, 2009
- Released
- March 3, 2009
- Discontinued
- October 20, 2009
- Launch price
- $599
- Chip / processor
- Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.0 GHz
- Storage
- 120 or 320 GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics
- Mini DisplayPort and Mini-DVI outputs
- FireWire 800 and five USB 2.0 ports
- Energy efficiency focus
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Chip
- Chip
- Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.0 GHz
- CPU cores
- 2
Memory
- RAM
- DDR3, expandable to 4 GB
- Storage options
- 120 or 320 GB hard disk
Graphics
- GPU
- Nvidia GeForce 9400M (shared memory)
Ports
- Ports
- 5 USB 2.0, FireWire 800, Mini-DVI, Mini DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, audio in and out, optical digital audio
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11n
- Bluetooth
- 2.1+EDR
Design
- Dimensions
- 5.1 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm (2 x 6.5 x 6.5 in)
- Weight
- 1.3 kg (2.9 lb)
Software
- Launch OS
- Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Availability
- Announced
- March 3, 2009
- Released
- March 3, 2009
- Discontinued
- October 20, 2009
- Launch price
- $599
Colors
- Finishes
- White and Silver
How it compares
More in the Mac mini family
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