Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Box

ntThe 2011 Mac Mini is available in three configurations and starts at $599 (US). Our $799 Mac MIni came with a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, and AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics processor.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: In the box

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Documentation, HDMI to DVI Adapter, and AC power cord

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011:

ntThe 2011 Mac Mini measures 1.4 inches (H) x 7.7 inches (W) x 7.7 inches (D). It weighs 2.7 pounds.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Front

ntUnlike the 2010 Mac Mini, the 2011 model does not have an optical drive. Apple does sell and external drive, which could be used with the Mini. But, the absence of an optical drive highlights Apple’s strategy of deploying software through the App Store.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

n

nt 

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Back (ports and power button)

ntApple added a Thunderbolt port to the 2011 Mac Mini.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Bottom

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Rotating the bottom cover to the "unlocked" position

ntAs on the 2010 Mac Mini, the bottom cover can be unlocked by twisting it.
nt
ntPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
ntCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the bottom cover

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: First look inside

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the RAM

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: 4GB Samsung RAM (2GB M471B5773DH0-CH9 x 2)

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the fan screws

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the fan

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Fan

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the wireless antenna plate screws

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the wireless antenna plate

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Wireless antenna plate

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the heat sink cover screws

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the heat sink cover

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the hard drive

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Toshiba 500GB MK506GSXF HDD

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the motherboard screws

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Prying loose the motherboard

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Disconnecting the power supply from the motherboard

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the motherboard

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Case with power supply and motherboard bracket still installed

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the power supply screw

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Remvoing the power supply clip

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the power supply

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Delta Electronics 614-0503 power supply

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the motherboard bracket screw

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the motherboard bracket

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Motherbaord bracket

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Empty case

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Motherboard and attached components - Top

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Motherboard and attached components - Bottom

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the speaker screw

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the speaker

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Speaker

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the Broadcomm wireless card

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Broadcomm 94331PCIEBT3AX wireless card - Bottom

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Broadcomm 94331PCIEBT3AX wireless card - Top

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the heatsink

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Heat sink - Top

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: heat sink - Bottom

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Removing the underside heat sinks

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Motherboard - Top

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Motherboard - Bottom

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Intel V108A053 2.5 GHz Dual-Core i5 processor

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: AMD AMD Radeon HD 6630M graphics processor

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: F2117LP 20H RVP AC02179 1111JPN

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Intersil ISL6263 5-Bit VID Single-Phase Voltage Regulator

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Intersil ISL6364 Dual PWM Controller

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Cypress CY7C638 Low-Speed USB Peripheral Controller

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: SMSC 1428-7 System Management Bus temperature sensor

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: SMSC USB2513B USB 2.0 Hub Controller

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Parade PS8171 HDMI/DVI Level Shifter

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: TDK 6T213HF 1115 R

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: NXP 1112 /A 11181B

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Intel BD82HM65 Platform Controller Hub

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Intel L112IA86 EFL Thunderbolt port controller IC

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Texas Instruments XIO2211ZAY FireWire Controller

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Broadcom BCM57765B0KMLG gigabit ethernet and memory card controller

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Atmel 1106 45DB021D SSH

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Macronix MXIC MX 25L6406E M2I-12GF

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Hynix H5GQ1H24BFR GDDR5 SGRAM (x2)

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Fairchild DB13AX

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Cirrus Logic 4206BCNZ Audio Controller

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Fairchild DB11CP

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Fairchild DB21XX

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Panasonic 3V BR2032 battery

Cracking Open the Mac Mini 2011: Complete teardown