Making the components smaller isn’t the only surprising feature. There are also notable surprises in the power supply and storage module sections.
Although the new M4 Mac mini has only been available for a few days, many people have already had time to explore it and discovered several intriguing features.
One of the most notable aspects is related to its power supply. Apple has always impressively integrated the power supply into previous Mac mini designs, but accomplishing this in the new M4 Mac mini is particularly remarkable.
You can see it in the images below, which isolate the power supply from the computer and reveal that it’s not conventional. Instead, it looks almost like a typical motherboard, with its components ingeniously arranged in an impressive layout.
This is something that virtually no PC manufacturer does today. Traditional power supplies for desktop PCs are significantly larger, more than twice the size of the full M4 Mac mini. Meanwhile, competing mini PCs typically utilize external power sources.
Additionally, the internal storage of the new M4 Mac mini is particularly interesting. It features a connection slot that’s similar to M.2 SSDs, although not identical. The storage modules used are similar to those found in the Mac Studio and can be removed relatively easily.
The question arises whether this flexibility allows users to replace the stock SSD with a higher-capacity option. While Apple does offer SSD upgrades, the prices are extraordinarily high. For instance, upgrading to a 2 TB drive costs $800, whereas a compatible 2 TB M.2 NVMe drive, like the Crucial P3 Plus in 2230 form factor, is currently priced at just $180 on Amazon.
If it were possible to replace the internal SSD easily, the savings would be significant. However, it’s not that simple. A YouTuber named DosDude1 has published a video demonstrating how he replaced the NAND chips in the SSD of his entry-level M4 Mac mini (256 GB) with ones that enabled him to achieve 1 TB of storage.
The process is quite complex. It involves removing the NAND chips in the original module and replacing them with new ones, which must also undergo a reballing procedure. In the end, this task requires specialized tools, knowledge, and a high level of skill.
It’s likely that some specialized technical services possess these tools and can carry out the replacement process. In fact, DosDude1’s demonstration may lead some professionals to offer this service to users of the M4 Mac mini.
One thing is clear for now: Apple’s compact computers are full of surprises. Just by comments on Reddit, Apple’s new M4 Mac mini is truly one of a kind.
Image | Aperture Vintage
Related | Here’s How Much It Costs to Make an iPhone 16 Pro. Spoiler: It’s More Expensive Than Ever Before
See all comments on https://www.xatakaen.com
SEE 0 Comment