Mac mini World's Most Efficient Desktop: Survey

[Paul Daniel Ash]

Apple has long touted their Mac mini as the world’s most-efficient desktop. Now, there’s independent confirmation of that from a UK group, which found Apple's small form-factor desktop the most efficient of over 100 systems rated. Four portable Apple machines also found their way onto the list of the top ten most efficient laptops.

Sust-it, an independent testing group which bills itself as “the best place to find energy saving electricals,” provides rankings of energy usage and annual energy cost for thousands of appliances, home entertainment devices, and computers. In their survey, based on Energy Star Typical Electricity Consumption (TEC) estimates for annual energy consumption, Apple's Mac mini fills the top four spots for the most efficient desktop computer in their latest listing.

According to a company spokesman, the range in power usage between similar computers is something most consumers are unaware of.

There’s a staggering difference between the energy consumption of computers in the marketplace; you could save nearly £150 per year on electricity in choosing the most efficient models. We’ve been highlighting these savings through our unique ranking system and it’s great news that Apple has responded to the environmental issues, I hope other manufacturers will follow their lead.

In addition to the Mac mini's top rankings, a pair of iMacs made Sust-it’s all-in-one top ten list and four Apple laptops — the MacBook Air, MacBook, and two 13" MacBook Pro models — hold spots in the laptop top ten.

The survey of 113 systems gave the 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo-equipped Mini the top two positions with either a 120GB or 320GB hard drive. Sust-it's rankings showed that the 2.0GHz mini has a power consumption level of 49.4 kWh per year. The 2.26 GHz model falls in right behind, beating out the Asus Eee Box and Fujitsu Futro S550 which have less powerful 1.6GHz and 1.0GHz CPUs, respectively.

Apple's largest models, however, occupied the very opposite end of the spectrum. The configuration with two 2.66GHz Intel Quad Core Xeon CPUs was way down at number 111 with a 770.8 kWh estimated annual power consumption: over fifteen times the level of the mini.

image via Apple

[Melech518]

Love my mini

[spider_romeo]

wooww

I want mini....

[jdys_1991]

wooww

I want mini....

Damn, sorry, I only got a huge one. Try asking someone else...

[MetallicaFan1991]

Mini is expensive and it sucks!!!! Spend a bit more and get a MBP

[Chase817]

I want one bad, my MacBook is getting old

[plcrules]

Mini is expensive and it sucks!!!! Spend a bit more and get a MBP

the mac mini is half the price of a mb not to mention a mbp and has bout same speeds so u shouldnt b talkin

[rhekt]

ya know ive allways wanted to get the mini. i should have scooped it up over black friday. but alas i did not.

[Melech518]

Mini is expensive and it sucks!!!! Spend a bit more and get a MBP

Need to get your facts straight...

[awesomeSlayer]

I want one!

[hollow0]

i love my 13"MacBook pro! The mini's are nice though.

[sungod661]

they should do a survey on how many people think this last survey is obvious...........this is a story?

[rwin84]

not suprising really...

[MetallicaFan1991]

Lol, what I meant to say was a mini here in UK costs too much for the specs. Doesn't even come with keyboard or mouse. I meant a MB, was thinking of my MBP as I'm running it in clamshell mode, so you get best of both worlds with a MB or MBP

[staterunner180]

For the price of buying a mini plus an Apple Cinema Display (I realize this isn't required but I do know that some people pay of this) plus an Apple keyboard and mouse (once again, I realize not required but some people just go all out) you could buy a MBP or even a 21.5 iMac. Just don't see the point of paying for that. But also, if I were to buy a Mac it would probably be just the mini itself, and just use my current wireless keyboard and mouse, with my VGA display

[hollow0]

Lol, what I meant to say was a mini here in UK costs too much for the specs. Doesn't even come with keyboard or mouse. I meant a MB, was thinking of my MBP as I'm running it in clamshell mode, so you get best of both worlds with a MB or MBP

in the UK it doesn't come with a keyboard or mouse??? what??? every computer comes with one... someone must've jacked your package lol.

[nickswagger]

i almost got a mac mini on black friday, but went with the macbook pro instead, should be at my door tomorrow, I can't wait!!! time to get rid of the old white macbook now...