Tips: Guide for upgrading the CPU in a Mac mini

[admin]

Tips: Guide for upgrading the CPU in a Mac mini
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Posted by: Brian

Our friends over at HardMac have put together a nice step-by-step guide on how to upgrade the processor in an Intel-based Mac mini. "The Mac mini, as well as the iMac and the Mac Pro, are powered by an exchangeable CPU (socket). During the Apple Expo 2006, we recorded a video showing how to upgrade a Mac mini. Perhaps because the video is in French, many readers requested an article providing a more step-by-step procedure with closer views and photos," writes Lionel for HardMac. There really isn't anything new here, but the additional pictures and information might come in handy for those looking to make the upgrade.



http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/602.html

[diulei]

Ah, the more resources there are for me, the better.

Still nervous about opening up that Mini, but I think it'll be a good experience.

[blazer]

[MaDDuck]

[James T Kirk]

I'd rather have Apple coming out now very soon with some Core2Duo mini's, but for the future, this might be a nice thing to keep. And yes, what is the fastest processor a mini would be able to handle?
_________________
___________________Jim©
Now on Hackintosh in G5 case!

[Ben Tex]

The T7600 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo would be the fastest at the moment.

[MaDDuck]

[Pleiades]

[scooper]

[James T Kirk]

[MaDDuck]

[jehowe]

at this point it's well worth the wait to see what the rumored mini updates will be. i'd much rather put that processor into a mini with a new board and a better GPU, if that's what apple has planned........

[diulei]

I think the best performance/price would be 2.0GHz C2D at the moment. Just under $300 at Newegg.

[James T Kirk]

[bsnoel]

I just installed the 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo and a 2.5" Seagate 5400.3 160GB SATA drive. I'm very happy with the results. 93.76 on Xbench.
(Xbench benchmark update: 102.45 with the Widgets turned off.)

Yeah, I could have went with a faster CPU, but it would have been overkill for what I need. I have been using the mini for recording HDTV with an eyeTV Hybrid. The stock 1.66GHz Core Duo worked, but on HD content, the CPUs were pegged at 100%. With the Stock CPU, the HDTV recordings would stumble and stutter every once in a while. With the 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo, its smooth sailing. On HD recordings, the CPU bounces between 53% - 65%. The maximum CPU temp during recording is about 156F. Mission accomplished.

The upgrades were fairly easy, but removing and installing the CPU heat sink is a bit tricky. You need to be patient and take your time. You also need to be very careful when you swap the drive to remove the foam rubber air deflector and transfer it to the new drive. Don't attempt any upgrade unless you can afford to eat the cost of the computer should you end up turning it into a paper weight.

Also, Its really not a very good idea to re-engineer consumer electronics. The CPU upgrade articles that 123macmini posted discuss a warranty voiding unsupported hack, with unknown long term consequences. Do not hurt someone, burn down your building, create rolling blackouts, or mess up the time space continuum. Don't blame anyone but yourself if you decide to mod your mini and things go bad.

In my case, this little mini was a birthday gift, and I did not mind put-zing around with it's innards. However, I would never, ever, ever, in a million years dream of doing something like this to one of my more expensive Macs! (Especially, while they are still under warranty.) This was a fun project, but I could not afford to risk voiding the warranty on one of my work machines. My Apple Care warranty and the overall system reliability matter far too much to me. Performing such shenanigans on any of my other Macs would be utterly unthinkable! Just some food for thought.
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Mac Pro Quad 2.66GHz, PowerMac G5 2.3 GHz, iMac Core Duo 17", MacBook Pro 2GHz, MacBook Pro 2.2GHz, Mac mini Core 2 Duo 1.83GHz. Multi-K9 Security System. No false alarms, just lots of sharp teeth.
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