{"id":74222,"date":"2021-05-27T11:59:01","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T16:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=74222"},"modified":"2021-05-27T12:02:56","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T17:02:56","slug":"m1-mac-mini-with-10g-ethernet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/74222-m1-mac-mini-with-10g-ethernet\/","title":{"rendered":"M1 Mac Mini Now Available With 10G Ethernet, but That\u2019s Not Your Only Option"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Remote work is on the rise, which means you may have recently realized that your computer isn\u2019t up to the task of wired networking. If this is the case, you aren\u2019t alone. There\u2019s such a demand for wired networking that Apple recently added a 10G Ethernet option to M1 Mac minis. If you’re a high-end power user, such as a professional video editor, you might benefit from a personal 10G connection \u2013 especially if you are working on high bandwidth tasks, such as real-time 4K footage from a server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s currently a debate around whether Apple will add 10G Ethernet to all Macs. While adding 10G to everything would be great for people who use internal networking on team projects, it could also create connectivity challenges for those who recently bought 1G machines. Are you wondering if you need 10G networking in your home? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the benefits of the new 10G Ethernet port, as well as other Ethernet connectivity options from Apple and OWC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Costs and Benefits of 10G<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At this point, you\u2019re probably wondering about the benefits of 10G vs. 1G Ethernet. There\u2019s a substantial price difference \u2013 especially when we\u2019re talking about enabling 10G for an entire company. As Matt King, director of integration services at Mission Electronics, told My Tech Decisions<\/a>, \u201ca Cisco switch with 48 1Gig ports goes for $169\/port, while a Cisco 48 10Gig switch is $425\/port.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cisco
Cisco Catalyst 3850 48-Port 10G Switch<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

King adds that the cost of updating a company\u2019s infrastructure \u2014 such as retrofitting the network to support 10G \u2014 is even more substantial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there\u2019s a reason that a major tech solutions provider like Apple is making 10G Ethernet a priority. The biggest benefit is speed<\/strong>: 10G stands for 10Gigabit Ethernet. It is literally ten times faster than plain old Ethernet. This increased speed means reduced latency in video and images \u2013 making 10G a necessity for applications where accuracy and efficiency are priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In business environments, 10G is a high-bandwidth heavyweight that enables fast project turnover. It can handle more data than traditional Ethernet, making it a must-have for large enterprises and niche individuals that use the Mac mini for video editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Apple\u2019s Current Ethernet Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All of Apple’s desktop Macs have Ethernet connections of some kind. The question is whether they have 1G or 10G Ethernet options. The Mac mini and 27-inch iMac both come with a 1G Ethernet port, but the M1 Mac mini can now be configured to 10 Gigabit for an additional $100. This is a big deal if you\u2019re an enterprise since the 10G upgrade option was previously only available on Intel Mac Minis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mac mini isn\u2019t the only option for users who need 10G connectivity. The iMac Pro has an existing 10 Gigabit connection. And the Mac Pro actually has two 10G ports, along with PCIe expansion slots that let users add additional connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MacBook Pros, on the other hand, no longer have Ethernet ports. But they can be used with hubs and docks that enable the connection. More options are becoming available as more enterprises use the Mac mini for video editing and make the switch to 10G.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Additional Compatibility Options<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, what if you want 10GB Ethernet but were an early adopter and already purchased an M1 Mac mini that only had a 1GB connection? Or you are rockin’ that MacBook Pro and want to amp up your Ethernet speed? Don’t worry \u2013 you have options!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"OWC<\/a>
OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One thing many people don\u2019t know is that Thunderbolt ports can be used to achieve 10G Ethernet<\/strong> capabilities. You can use the M1 Mac mini\u2019s Thunderbolt ports to connect 10G Ethernet because OWC has two primary products that give you 10G Ethernet via Thunderbolt. These are the OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter<\/a> and the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which product is right for you depends on your individual connectivity needs. The OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter is lower priced at around $149 a pop and offers blazing fast Thunderbolt connection speeds. The $299 OWC Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock has an expansive ten ports of connectivity, making it ideal for many users’ workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But those aren\u2019t the only OWC products you can use to access 10G Ethernet. You can also use the AKiTiO 5-Speed 10G\/NBASE-T PCIe Network Card<\/a> to add 10G connectivity via PCIe computers or expansion chassis. The AKiTiO can connect to 10G with the OWC Thunderbay Flex 8<\/a> or the OWC Mercury Helios 3S<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u200b\u200bLooking Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u200bSo, is 10G Ethernet the way of the future? It sure looks that way for enterprises. 10G still isn\u2019t a cost-effective option for most individual internet users who don\u2019t do video editing or have other high bandwidth needs. However, this may change as more docks, adapters, and network cards are released that offer 10G connectivity\u2026 if something better isn\u2019t invented to take its place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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