# Mac mini

How a small silver Mac mini is built, from its ports and floating base to the single chip that runs it\. Turn the computer to see where each socket sits and how it connects to a screen\.

By Juh

Topic: Computing, AI & Electronics

[Open the interactive Jig](https://ask.jig.com/j/yebXiUxWi7s1)

## Transcript

### 1. Meet the Mac mini

This little silver box is a whole computer\. It has no screen, keyboard or mouse of its own: you plug those in\. Drag anywhere to turn it and look all around\.

It is 12\.7 cm \(5 inches\) on each side and only 5 cm tall\.

### 2. Smaller than it looks

Next to a soda can you can see how small it is: the can stands about as tall as the Mac mini is wide\. The whole computer weighs about 0\.67 kg, a little less than two full cans\.

It takes up less than half the desk space of the Mac mini before it\.

### 3. Ports on the front

A port is a socket where you plug something in\. The front has two USB\-C ports, for things like a phone cable or a memory stick, and a round headphone jack\. The tiny dot between them is the status light\.

USB\-C plugs fit either way up, so there is no wrong side\.

### 4. Ports on the back

Round the back are the power socket, an Ethernet port for a network cable, and HDMI for a TV or monitor\. The three small ports are Thunderbolt: the same shape as USB\-C, but able to move data very fast\.

The power supply is built inside, so a simple cable is all it needs\.

### 5. A floating base

The black base is set in from the edges, so the silver box seems to hover above the desk\. Its ring of slots is the vent\. A fan inside moves air through them to keep the chip cool\.

A cool chip can keep working at full speed\.

### 6. Find the power button

Where do you switch it on? Tip the Mac mini up and look underneath: the round power button sits in the back corner\. Press it to wake the computer\.

The button is on the bottom, near the back left corner as you face the front\.

### 7. One chip does it all

Inside is a single Apple chip that does the thinking, draws the pictures and remembers what it is working on\. Keeping these jobs close together saves time and power\. The white light on the front shows it is awake\.

### 8. Ready for your desk

Add a screen, a keyboard and a mouse, and this small box becomes a full desktop computer for homework, drawing, music or games\. Turn it once more and see how much fits in such a little space\.