The Mac mini “Core i7” 3.0 (Late 2014/Aluminum Unibody) technically is a “configure-to-order” option for the MGEN2LL/A Mac mini “Core i5” 2.6 (Late 2014) and MGEQ2LL/A Mac mini “Core i5” 2.8 (Late 2014), but also is documented as a separate model for reader convenience. Other than the processor (and its corresponding level 3 cache), this model can be identical to its “stock” counterparts.

The Apple Mac mini “Core i7” 3.0 (Late 2014/Aluminum Unibody) features a 22 nm “Haswell” 3.0 GHz Intel “Core i7” (4578U) processor with two independent processor “cores” on a single chip, a 4 MB shared level 3 cache, 8 GB of onboard 1600 MHz LPDDR3 SDRAM (which can be upgraded to 16 GB at the initial time of system purchase, but cannot be upgraded later), either a 1 TB hard drive or a 1 TB “Fusion Drive” (which combines a 1 TB hard drive and a 128 GB SSD), and an “integrated” Intel Iris 5100 graphics processor that shares system memory.

Connectivity includes two Thunderbolt 2 ports, four USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n compatible), and Bluetooth 4.0 as well as an SDXC card slot.

Compared to its predecessor, this model looks identical, but it has a more advanced architecture and graphics, Thunderbolt 2 capability, and faster Wi-Fi. On the other hand, it has a processor with half the number of cores, no longer supports Firewire, has RAM that can no longer be upgraded, and no longer supports two 2.5″ drives.

All Mac mini systems are configured by default without a display, keyboard, or mouse, but numerous Apple and third-party options are available.