Apple Core Solo to Core Duo upgrade.

[sauria]

Any ASP screenshots for the Core 2 Duo?

[Charles Wirth]

Knux that is what I did back in March. I dropped in a Merom without any problems at all.

[ShootStraight]

Update.

The plastic clips that retain the CPU bracket will break after the third removal even if you are very careful. New ones can be found on chipset heatsink or old mobo's if you can find the right diameter ones...

Missed that one!

Any suggestions as to how to remedy this? I just snapped one off and I dont have a spare board lying around. Is there an aftermarket copper kit that might work in place of?

Any help would be much appreciated.

-SS

[flavoraid]

FUGGER!!!

nice work mate

im gonna need to bug you for some info.

[flavoraid]

have you tried 2gb ddr2?
is there any complication installing a larger 2.5" hdd?

[p4bus800]

Knux that is what I did back in March. I dropped in a Merom without any problems at all.

pls show Merom pic

[Charles Wirth]

Not sure if I have one out of the system.

[p4bus800]

hihi... I have just add Merom for my Macmini



thanks @FUGGER

[cdickinson66]

Can this upgrade be applied to the current MAC Mini models??

Has anyone taken one apart to see if the newer dual core 1.66 and 1.8 models are soldered down or in a socket as the old singles?

A new dual 1.66GHz models go for 599. Where as older 1.5Ghz models are still ebaying for 500 on average. Doesn't seem worth getting an older one, but would like to keep the option open for a future upgrade of course.

Anyone know?

Thanks!
-Charles

[ShootStraight]

Theyre in a socket, and are upgradable to the Core2 duo (Merom) versions up to 2.33 clocks.

I'd get a 1.5 core solo for +-$400 on ebay and upgrade to a 2.16 - 2.33 Merom. 2.16 Merom are on ebay for $350 making the grand total $750. Sure beats a 1.83 Coreduo for $799.

-SS

[psyconut713]

i got a 1.5 for about 350 from a compusa, then a merom off here (2.33) for 450, then put 2GB in it, all for under 1000$, runs great, but the fan spins high, any ideas?

[elec999]

Can anyone confirm, are the new mac minis cpus soldered.
Thanks

[cdickinson66]

350 !!! at Compusa????

Where? When??

I haven't seen one go on ebay for less then 450. I've checked all the completed listings in the past month or so. Plus shipping that usually comes to at least 500. If you see one for 400 email me! cdickinson66 at hotmail dot com

for an extra 99 you can drive to the mac store and buy a new shiny one. And if the new ones are socketed then I can upgrade that

So I guess back to the original question:
Has anyone apart a new one to see if it is soldered or socketed?

Thanks Guys!

-Charles

[illmatik]

i got a 1.5 for about 350 from a compusa, then a merom off here (2.33) for 450, then put 2GB in it, all for under 1000$, runs great, but the fan spins high, any ideas?

Make sure that black wire near the front rightof the mini stays connected when you put it back together. Then upgrade the firmware again (should let you after cpuupgrade) and you should be golden

Also.. Pram reset helps (windows-alt-p-r during bootup)... let it ding at least 3 times.

[dpedini]

The T7600 will be here next week along with 200GB HD ( its not easy finding a SATA 2.5 Drive) and the 2GB of RAM

I'm trying to souce a Copper heat sink ( willing to commision one) since the product I use on the top of the chips will eat the Aluminum up.

also trying to find out if here is a way of using 2 2GB sodimms the mac book pro can have up to 3.5GB of ram so I'm looking to what they are using.

the chip is not sodered in its a socket.

will also see if once the Core 2 Duo is in if I can enable the WIFI "N" I'm using the new airport extreme and it will support a,b,g, and N only on Core 2 Duo

Also looking to change the siliver anodiesed case to maybe a blue or a red.

I will keep you posted with pictures..

the goal is to have a mini in a Zeor case with a 23" monitor for presentions..

anyone have a good lead on the video upgrade?


TIP: to open the case you can use a pizza cutter or use a pice of blue spring steel its very very thin yet very strong. or you can also us the can opener form a swiss army knife ( yes it works very thin edge to it)

thansks for all the hard work for thoughs who have forged the path be me.

Dennis

[dpedini]

ok its been upgraded with a T7600 2.33 proc and two 1GB mem chips and I also thur in an air port extreme 'N' card while I was in there.. I decided not to install a new hard drive yet.

the card has only one antnena on it so its not that fast only 130MB as you can see I will try to get another one to add to the one that is allready in there.



DP

[kar]

I was going to ask if it is possible to put in a 2.8Ghz processor, since the 2.33Ghz ones are no longer available.

But then I bought a 2.8Ghz Pentium D processor, and the heatsink it comes with is HUGE! Also, it is in a metal case, not a bare silicon chip like the 1.66Ghz model.

Anyway, I decided to sell the CPU and instead get a laptop. But I'm curious: can the 2.8Ghz CPU with the aluminum case be used in a 1.66Ghz Mac Mini?

[Vapor]

No. Different socket too....actually, lots of reasons why it won't.

EDIT: you can use a Merom though.

[kar]

The box says this is socket 775. The Mac Mini has socket 775.

What is Merom? Neither the chip boxes nor the online searches show "merom", so it's hard to find them to buy them or price them.

There's Pentium D, there's Core Duo, there's Core 2 Duo, it's a zoo of names and acronyms.

[lowfat]

The Mac Mini is not LGA775. It is socket 479. Merom is a mobile Core 2 Duo.

[denniswise9]

hey there,

have just got my mac mini up to a t2500 2 GHZ and 2 GB ram. It is very fast thanks for the excellent guide. One question though, under load the CPU ambient temperature rises to about 80/81 'C is this normal and ok or will it cause permanent damage? The actual core temperature reads normally about 5-8 'C less but still seems high, just wanted to check if its overheating or if it is ok?

I know you can also unplug the black wire t put the fan on full speed but is that gonna screw up the fan after a while?

Any help appreciated, and thanks again for the great guide,

DW9.

[kaidomac]

I'm really getting the upgrade itch. I have a Core Duo Mac Mini; I know that the newer Core 2 Duo Minis support up to 4GB RAM (~3.3GB recognized and usable), but that isn't enough for me to warrant an upgrade. I'd really love to see the Santa Rosa platform come to the Mini.

[kaidomac]

The rumors I've heard say that a new Mini or "Cube 2" will be released by February 2008 at the latest; it's supposed to have some kind of gaming or dedicated video card. The two rumors I've heard are either a beefed up Mini or a Cube 2 with a little more space. I'll take either one!

[AusS2000]

Hi all, sorry to be late to the party.

What is the current state of upgrades for Mac Minis?

Am I right in assuming the limiting issues are the form factor (socket) and bus speed (667Mhz)?

So historically the T7600 (2.33Ghz) is the fastest chip we can use but in reality it's the T7400 (2.16Ghz) as the T7600 is no longer made?

My current Mac Mini is a 1.83Ghz Core Duo. What sort of performance jump can I expect from a 2.16Ghz Core 2 Duo?

[Moto7451]

I'm running the 2.0GHz Merom in my Mini and it was a nice, noticeable, boost from my 1.66GHz Core Duo.