Beefing Up A MacMini Core Solo

WUSBDesign · 01-04-2008 08:23AM #1

Happened to come across a MacMini Core Solo at a real bargain price, but not being satisfied with the four-letter word "solo" :rolleyes: , I am already thinking of how to speed this machine up by replacing the CPU.

Is the Intel Core Duo T2600 Yonah 2.16GHz the only option? I do know of such as existing effort here.

Price matters to some extent, so I am willing to try an alternative CPU at a lower clock frequency, but it has to be minimum a Core Duo - it's that 4-letter word thingy again...

Of course, there are the usual HDD and RAM (got to catch the low "tide" now) upgrades...

nialler · 01-04-2008 08:35AM

Before doing any case opening on the mini (it's a complete bugger nearly as hard as the ibook) slap a 10k rpm WD raptor drive into a firewire enclosure and clone the os over to it, see what speed gains you get that way, you should be able to pick up the rapter for around €120 and an enclosure for less than €50.

Oh forgot to mention to start off the external drive (I've done a few mac mini servers that way).

WUSBDesign · 01-04-2008 01:25PM

Good point on the use of an external fast HDD. However :rolleyes: this souped-up machine may be destined to be in the living room, so the fewer the clutter, the better.

whiterebel · 01-04-2008 02:29PM

I opened a 1.25 G4 and it was ok. No great problems updgrading the RAM and the HD was accesible. I believe they made it trickier with the Intels, though.

deevey · 02-04-2008 01:52AM

The last few pages refers to him dropping in a C2D (memron)

oh and one >>> here

Before doing any case opening on the mini (it's a complete bugger nearly as hard as the ibook) slap a 10k rpm WD raptor drive into a firewire enclosure and clone the os over to it, see what speed gains you get that way, you should be able to pick up the rapter for around €120 and an enclosure for less than €50.

jazus .. thats a pretty hefty price for a "see what"! ... I'd like to see the benches though, would it make that much diff vs 7200 ?

Is it as a media centre or general big screen computer fun ?

nialler · 02-04-2008 01:09PM

deevey wrote: »

The last few pages refers to him dropping in a C2D (memron) oh and one >>> here

jazus .. thats a pretty hefty price for a "see what"! ... I'd like to see the benches though, would it make that much diff vs 7200 ?

Is it as a media centre or general big screen computer fun ?

Good enough to run as a server Deevey of which I've installed a few certainly cheaper than a $4K xserve.

Beefing Up A MacMini Core Solo

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