Apple Mac mini "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 (Early 2009) Specs (MB463LL/A*)
Mac mini Main | Ports | Q&A | Forums | Add to EveryMac.com Pro
The Apple Mac mini "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 (Early 2009/NVIDIA) features a 2.0 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" (P7350) processor, a 3 MB on-chip level 2 cache, a 1066 MHz frontside bus, 1 GB or 2 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500) memory, a 120 GB or 320 GB Serial ATA hard drive, a slot-loading 8X double-layer "SuperDrive", and a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with either 128 MB of 256 MB of memory shared with the system.
Connectivity includes Mini-DVI and Mini DisplayPort, a Firewire "800" port, five USB 2.0 ports, combined "optical digital audio input/audio line in" and combined "optical digital audio output/headphone" minijacks, a 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet port, and built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.
Although at first glance the Mac mini "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 (Early 2009/NVIDIA) models look identical to the Mid-2007 models, they are quite different -- with a faster internal architecture that uses a faster system bus and faster memory as well as improved graphics and dual display support, the first time that dual displays have been supported by the Mac mini series. Connectivity is enhanced as well, with a Mini-DVI and a Mini DisplayPort (in lieu of a single DVI port) and 5 USB 2.0 ports (up from 4 on the previous system) and a Firewire "800" port (instead of a Firewire "400" port).
All Mac mini models have the internal components enclosed in a tiny and elegant 2.9 lb, 6.5 inch square, two inch tall case with a built-in speaker and an external power supply. Additionally, all Mac mini systems ship without a display, keyboard, or mouse, but numerous Apple and third-party options are available.
Also see:
- What are the differences between the "Early 2009/NVIDIA" Mac mini "Core 2 Duo" configurations?
- What are the differences between the "Early 2009/NVIDIA" Mac mini "Core 2 Duo" and the Mac mini models they replaced?
Buy This Mac -- and all other new & used Macs -- at site sponsor PowerMax!
Upgrade This Mac at site sponsor Other World Computing. Memory, drives, & more!
Click on the underlined category text for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.
| Introduction Date: |
March 3, 2009 |
Discontinued Date: |
October 20, 2009 |
| Details: |
The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended. |
| Processor Type: |
Core 2 Duo (P7350) |
Processor Speed: |
2.0 GHz |
| Details: |
The Intel "Core 2 Duo" (P7350) processor includes two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip. This model also was available via custom configuration with a 2.26 GHz "Core 2 Duo" (P8400) processor for an additional US$150.
Also see: How fast is the "Early 2009/NVIDIA" Mac mini "Core 2 Duo" compared to earlier Mac mini models? |
| Processor Upgrade: |
Soldered |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
The processor is soldered directly to the motherboard.
Also see: Is it possible to upgrade the processor in the Mac mini "Core" models? |
| System Bus Speed: |
1066 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
2.0 GHz (Built-in) |
| Details: |
1066 MHz frontside bus. |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
EFI |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
2 MB |
| Details: |
Also see: Does the Mac mini "Core" have a ROM or BIOS? |
| L1 Cache: |
32k/32k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
3 MB (on chip) |
| Details: |
Includes a 3 MB shared "on chip" level 2 cache that runs at processor speed. |
| RAM Type: |
PC3-8500 DDR3 |
Min. RAM Speed: |
1066 MHz |
| Details: |
Supports 1066 MHz PC3-8500 DDR3 SO-DIMMs. Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the Intel-based Mac mini "Core" models? How much RAM of what type do they support? |
| Standard RAM: |
1 GB, 2 GB* |
Maximum RAM: |
8 GB* |
| Details: |
*By default, 1 GB is installed as a single module (MB463LL/A) and 2 GB is installed as two 1 GB modules (MB464LL/A). Officially, this model is capable of supporting 4 GB of RAM, but as first reported by MacminiColo, this model unofficially can use 8 GB of RAM after applying EFI Firmware Update 1.2.
Site sponsor Other World Computing sells Mac mini memory, as well as hard drives, accessories, and other upgrades. |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
2 |
| Video Card: |
GeForce 9400M |
VRAM Type: |
Integrated |
| Details: |
This model has a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M that shares memory with the system. |
| Standard VRAM: |
128 MB, 256 MB* |
Maximum VRAM: |
256 MB* |
| Details: |
*Apple reports that the low-end configuration (MB463LL/A) has 128 MB of memory shared with system memory and the high-end configuration (MB464LL/A) has 256 MB of memory shared with system memory. However, installing another 1 MB memory module in the low-end configuration will automatically increase the shared VRAM to 256 MB. Please also note that this is the minimum graphics memory usage with each configuration but the memory available to MacOS X "may vary depending on graphics needs". |
| Display Support: |
Dual Displays |
Resolution Support: |
1920x1200* |
| Details: |
*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on a DVI or VGA display using the Mini-DVI port and 2560x1600 on a dual-link DVI display using the Mini DisplayPort (with an optional Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter). |
| 2nd Display Support: |
Dual/Mirroring* |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
2560x1600* |
| Details: |
*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on a DVI or VGA display using the Mini-DVI port and 2560x1600 on a dual-link DVI display using the Mini DisplayPort (with an optional Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter). |
| Standard Hard Drive: |
120, 320 GB* |
Int. HD Interface: |
Serial ATA |
| Details: |
The low-end configuration (MB463LL/A) has a 120 GB hard drive and the high-end configuration (MB464LL/A) has a 320 GB hard drive. Both are 5400 RPM. The low-end configuration also could be upgraded via custom configuration with a 250 GB hard drive for US$100 extra and a 320 GB hard drive for US$175 extra.
Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive in the Mac mini "Core" models? What type of hard drive do they support? Is it possible to replace the optical drive with a second hard drive? |
| Standard Optical: |
8X DL "SuperDrive" |
Standard Disk: |
N/A |
| Details: |
Apple reports that the slot-loading 8X double-layer SuperDrive "writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL discs at up to 6x speed, writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 8x speed, writes DVD-RW discs at up to 6x speed, writes DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R and CD-RW discs at up to 24x speed, reads CDs at up to 24x speed."
This model uses an SATA connector for the optical drive.
Also see: What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the Mac mini "Core" models? Which can read and write dual-layer DVDs? |
| Standard Modem: |
None |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100/1000Base-T |
| Details: |
External Apple USB Modem offered for US$49. |
| Standard AirPort: |
802.11a/b/g/n |
Standard Bluetooth: |
2.1+EDR |
| Details: |
AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR standard. |
| USB Ports: |
5 (2.0) |
Firewire Ports: |
1 (800) |
| Details: |
Five 480-Mbps USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire "800" port.
Also see: Complete Ports. |
| Expansion Slots: |
None |
Expansion Bays: |
None |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
None |
Incl. Input: |
None |
| Details: |
No Mac mini systems ship with a keyboard or mouse. |
| Case Type: |
Cuboid |
Form Factor: |
Mac mini |
| Details: |
Uses a tiny and elegant 6.5 inch wide, 6.5 inch deep, and 2 inch tall case. |
| Apple Order No: |
MB463LL/A* |
Apple Subfamily: |
Early 2009/NVIDIA |
| Details: |
*There are two configurations of this model -- MB463LL/A, which is equipped with 1 GB of RAM, a 120 GB hard drive, and 128 MB of RAM allocated for graphics and sold for US$599, and MB464LL/A, which is equipped with 2 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive, and 256 MB of RAM allocated for graphics and sold for US$799. |
| Apple Model No: |
A1283 |
Machine Model: |
Macmini3,1 |
| Details: |
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. |
| Battery Type: |
N/A |
Battery Life: |
N/A |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
X 10.5.6 (9G2030) |
Maximum MacOS: |
Current* |
| Details: |
*Please note that this system can run the current version of MacOS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard". It is not supported booting into 64-bit mode, although this is believed to be due to an Apple imposed EFI block rather than a technical limitation. It does support "OpenCL" and Grand Central Dispatch. |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
None |
Windows Support: |
Boot/Virtualization |
| Details: |
Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run MacOS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs?
Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both MacOS X and MacOS 9 applications.
For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A. |
| Dimensions: |
2.0 x 6.5 x 6.5 |
Avg. Weight: |
2.9 lbs. (1.31 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth, (5.08 cm, 16.51 cm, 16.51 cm). |
| Original Price: |
US$599, US$799* |
Est. Current Retail: |
US$475-US$700 |
| Details: |
*This refers to the default configurations. The US$599 configuration (MB463LL/A) is equipped with 1 GB of RAM, a 120 GB hard drive, and 128 MB of RAM allocated for graphics and the US$799 configuration (MB464LL/A) is equipped with 2 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive, and 256 MB of RAM allocated for graphics. It also was available via custom configuration with a 2.26 GHz "Core 2 Duo" (P8400) processor for an additional US$150.
Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated).
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. |
Add the Mac mini "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 (Early 2009) to EveryMac.com Pro for future reference.
Permalink | E-mail to a Friend |
Bookmark & Share
| Subscribe | Follow
Report an Error/Typo | Ask a Question in the Forums | Become a Member
<< Mac mini (Home)
EveryMac.com is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind whatsoever.
EveryMac.com, and the author thereof, shall not be held responsible or liable, under any circumstances, for any
damages resulting from the use or inability to use the information within. For complete disclaimer and copyright
information please read and understand the Terms
of Use and the Privacy Policy before
using EveryMac.com. Use of any content or images without expressed permission is not allowed, although links to any page are welcomed and appreciated.
