The mini is built entirely out of notebook parts with a custom motherboard design devoid of anything unnecessary. Part of it has to do with Apple’s component selection. Unlike the other two systems I mentioned here, the mini uses a custom, integrated 85W PSU specifically designed for the system’s load. Part of this has to do with Apple’s very efficient integrated PSU. I have not seen a modern desktop machine idle at lower power than the 2010 Mac mini. If I run the 2010 Mac mini in a similar configuration (minus the display/battery part since, well, they don’t exist), the entire system consumes 7.5W at idle.Ĭonnect to a WiFi network, plug in an Ethernet cable and you’re looking at 8W. The screen was disabled, battery removed, WiFi disconnected and no ethernet cables plugged in.

Now that 8.1W number is unrealistic for a notebook. Even the ASUS UL50V notebook, with a Core 2 Duo SU7300 (1.3GHz) ultra low voltage notebook CPU idles at 8.1W with the screen disabled. Zotac’s HD-ID11, an Atom based next-generation ION nettop, idles at 21.7W. I thought that might be a bit of a stretch but if you look at the numbers, they’re very convincing. Apple calls the new Mac mini the world’s most energy-efficient desktop computer.

Boot mac mini mid 2010 from dvd