At 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 inches, the Mac mini is a compact desktop. When the form factor debuted in 2010, it was impressive. But 12 years later, with small computers like Intel NUC Measuring 4.6 x 4.4 x 1.5 inches, the Mac mini doesn’t feel that small anymore.
As it turns out, the computer is packing some extra baggage, and by eliminating some of those parts — like the extremely powerful internal power supply unit (PSU) — enthusiasts were able to rebuild the system with a 28 percent reduction in size while still maintaining the same performance as the original machine.
YouTube channel Senazi Labs He shared his Mac mini mod in a video called “We actually made a Mac mini!“Tuesday. The idea originated from M1-based Mac miniIts reliance on an older design built on more power-hungry Intel chips. Part of this design included a large fan. Snazzy Labs removed the blower fan, sure a fanless Mac mini would work due to the M1 performing in fanless mode MacBook Air laptop.
The current Mac mini also uses a 150W redundant power supply. Snazzy Labs found that the computer maxed out at just 67.5 watts, even with all ports pushed to their limits. Before moving to Apple’s M1 silicone, the company featured a Mac mini with an Intel Core i7 chip with a 70W TDP.
Snazzy Labs has rebuilt the Mac mini to use an external power unit, allowing for a further reduction in chassis space. The new power supply is actually a 65W Microsoft Surface power adapter that is integrated with the Apple MagSafe 2 board from the 2015 MacBook Pro. The board can support up to 87W and is terminated with a MagSafe 2 connector.
Snazzy Labs has indicated that it cannot use an official Apple adapter because it “establishes[es] A fairly elaborate handshake with the actual MacBook before starting to charge. Enthusiasts claimed the fix was “totally safe,” because the Microsoft Surface Charger has a cleverness of its own. on protecting the inner circuit,” Snazzy Labs said.
Snazzy Labs also took apart the three wireless Mac mini antennas and used a soldering iron to strip off the plastic-welded power button, followed by the ribbon cable. This allows the PC to ditch the wider I/O shield for a 3D-printed design.
Snazzy Labs said the mini Mac mini is “just as standard as the original,” as long as it still uses its own heat spreader and heatsink. The microcomputer is also “completely silent,” according to Snazzy Labs.
Snazzy Labs has shared CAD files for the project Online. If you’d rather watch someone else do the work, the Snazzy Labs video is below:
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