ZOTAC - The original creators, pioneers, and manufacturer of Mini PCs and innovators of the fastest NVIDIA GeForce RTX Gaming Graphics Cards. Like the X3100, the 9400M is an integrated graphics chip that shares its memory with main memory. The 9400M uses 256MB of memory, a boost over the 144MB used by the X3100. The second update is a.

Mini 9400m Gaming Mouse
Mini 9400m Gaming Pc

Last week’s refresh of the Mac mini brings Apple’s lowest-priced computer into line with the rest of Apple’s product line, using a new motherboard design that features Nvidia 9400M integrated graphics. The net result is a big gain for Mac gamers on a budget, according to our tests.

The GeForce 9400M was released over three years more recently than the GMA 950, and so the GeForce 9400M is likely to have far better driver support, meaning it will be much more optimized.
So how bad is the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M? I want to buy an iMac, MacBook, or MacBook Pro, and this is one of the big questions I have. I'm not going to be doing much graphics intensive stuff, but want to be able to play CoD4 and watch movies well. Is the 9400M okay enough for gaming (CoD4, SC2.

The Mac mini has never been what I’d consider a “gaming machine.” Back in the bad old days of PowerPC, when the mini was first introduced, it came with a Radeon 9200 graphics processor. The graphics and the rest of the system were woefully underpowered for games of the day.

The introduction of the Intel-based Mac mini in 2006 didn’t improve things, because the discrete graphics processor was replaced with Intel integrated graphics technology—an artifact that has remained the same for the last three years, until last week’s Mac mini update.

This mini, however, is a different story, and our benchmarks bear that out—the thing produces very playable frame rates in Quake 4 and Unreal Tournament 2004 (yes, I know, UT2004 is very, very old), and it also runs Call of Duty 4 at a very respectable 35 frames per second. The previous-generation model couldn’t even run that game at all.

The secret is Nvidia 9400M graphics. The Mac mini now features a motherboard design that’s not unlike what you find in Apple’s MacBook line.

The Nvidia 9400M graphics remain integrated, just like Intel’s were, but the 9400M has way, way more computational power than the Intel GMA graphics could manage. The new Nvidia graphics also support more advanced lighting and shading effects. Plus, if you put in 2GB RAM, the mini’s graphics will allocate up to 256MB of system RAM for its own use, handy for frame buffering in those complex games.

Now, please don’t misunderstand me. I don’t wallow in ignorance; I’m well aware of the fact that $600 buys you a considerably more powerful off-the-shelf PC gaming system that’s expandable with a cornucopia of PC-compatible graphics cards and much more upgradable than a Mac mini. I see those systems advertised in the pages of the PC game magazines to which I subscribe. I also know you can build your own PC for substantially less. And, I suppose, you can force one of those boxes to become a “FrankenMac” or a Hackintosh.

But that’s not a Mac.

If you want a PC, go knock yourself out and buy a PC.

The price difference between a base-model Mac mini and a base-model Nvidia-equipped aluminum MacBook is huge: $700. You can afford two Mac minis for the cost of one MacBook. If you, like me, have desktop machines that already have keyboards, mice and displays hanging around, it’s relatively short money for a decent upgrade.

Of course, you can get a polycarbonate-clad MacBook (the older design) with Nvidia graphics for less; one of those will only set you back $400 more than the Mac mini. And that difference is more than enough for a decent LCD panel, a wireless keyboard, a multi-button mouse suitable for gaming, plus World of Warcraft and a 60-day game card.

At a time when the economy has cratered and people are looking to stretch their budget as far as they can, this allows Mac customers to buy a very competent system without breaking the bank.

Me, I’m a Mac user first and a gamer second. I’m delighted to see Apple finally bring the Mac mini in line with the rest of the Mac product line, and make it, for the first time, something that users with gaming interests beyond basic casual titles will be able to enjoy.

Editor’s note: Updated 3/9/08 1:30 PM ET with details about the polycarbonate MacBook.

Available now

NOW YOU’RE PLAYING
WITH SUPER POWER.

Trust us, it was worth the wait.

The Super NES Classic Edition system looks and feels just like the original ’90s home console, except it’s super small. Play 20 classic Super NES games plus *gasp* the never-before-released Star Fox™ 2 game!

Check out the trailer

Two wired Super NES™ Classic Controllers are included for instant multiplayer action.

Yep, you read that right: two controllers. Play some of the best 2-player games of the era, including Super Mario Kart™ and Street Fighter® II Turbo: Hyper Fighting.

Rewind

An all-new feature lets you rewind a minute or more based on your game’s last suspend point. Each game can save up to four suspend points.

My Game Play Demo

This new demo mode will replay your saved Suspend Points as part of the demo game footage instead of using built-in demos.

Frame

Wrap a cool border around your game with the new Frame feature. Some of the frames change color based on the game being played.

The Super NES Classic Edition is compatible with the Classic Controller™ and Classic Controller Pro™ accessories (sold separately). Just plug it in and play!

Live out the golden age of 16-bit gaming like never before.

Don’t miss out on your chance to unlock and play Star Fox 2, the never-before-released sequel to Star Fox. You can even get a little help from the game manual (we won’t tell).

Get the game manual

Miniature Super Nintendo Entertainment System replica with 21 pre-loaded Super NES games
Two wired Super NES Classic Controllers
One HDMI cable
One USB cable with AC adapter
Operations manual (with a poster on the back!)

Please check with your local retailers for availability.

Get the inside story on games that changed the way we play.

Star Fox & Star Fox 2

Shigeru Miyamoto, Takaya Imamura, and Tsuyoshi Watanabe

Mini 9400m Gaming Mouse

F-ZERO

Kazunobu Shimizu, Yasunari Nishida, and Takaya Imamura

Super Metroid

Super Mario Kart

Mini 9400m Gaming Pc

Super Mario World & Yoshi's Island

Takashi Tezuka, Shigefumi Hino and Hisashi Nogami

Kirby Super Star

Playing with Super Power: Nintendo Super NES Classics

A nostalgic celebration and exploration of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System is all its 16-bit glory.

Discover everything you've always wanted to know about some of the most beloved Super NES games, including speedrun tips and little-known facts.

NOW YOU’RE PLAYING WITH SUPER POWER.