Hardware Upgrades for the New (03-Mar-2009) MacMini!

[Zyniker]

So, seems to make sense to start a thread for third-party hardware upgrades for the MacMini now that's it's been updated.

If you have recommendations for do-it-yourself upgrades to the new MacMini, post links to the third-party hardware here!

(A good place to start your search is NewEgg.)

 

[Zyniker]

Hard Drive

• Western Digital Scorpio Black 320GB 7200RPM
  • http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136280
  • Easily one of the fastest laptop drives currently available.

 

[Zyniker]

Memory

• Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory - Retail
  • http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148191
  • Crucial memory. Need we say more?
• Item
  • linky
  • Description
• General Link:
  • http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&N=2010260381 1309239101&bop=And&Order=PRICED

 

[Zyniker]

Peripherals

• Item
  • linky
  • Description
• Item
  • linky
  • Description

 

[Zyniker]

Miscellaneous

• Item
  • linky
  • Description
• Item
  • linky
  • Description

 

[cleric]

Theres your memory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148191

 

[Zyniker]

Theres your memory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148191

I'm torn between that and the Mushkin:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226019, though, I'm pretty sure I'm leaning toward the Crucial memory (I've had good experiences with both brands).

 

[QCassidy352]

The upgrades you've linked plus the $150 processor upgrade from apple gives us a 2.26 C2D mini with 4 GB RAM and 320 GB 7200 rpm HD for ~$880. Nice.

 

[spank2223]

how hard is it to upgrade the ram and hard drive on the mini. this is my first mini. I have built PCs and have replace laptop memory on my MBP but not sure about the mini

 

[phobic99]

Amazon has the WD Scorpio Black drive for $10 cheaper as an OEM version (drive is new but has no retail packaging).

 

[robotartfashion]

Amazon has the WD Scorpio Black drive for $10 cheaper as an OEM version (drive is new but has no retail packaging).

that link above is for an oem version from newegg

i checked amazon and it appears you're looking at the scorpio "blue" which is a 5400 rpm drive

the scorpio "black" is 7200 rpm and is $79.99 on amazon as well

 

[Zyniker]

how hard is it to upgrade the ram and hard drive on the mini. this is my first mini. I have built PCs and have replace laptop memory on my MBP but not sure about the mini

I'll let you know when I receive my new MacMini. I just placed the order about ten minutes ago.

 

[Chase R]

These would be my first upgrades

500GB 7200 RPM HDD Here

4GB RAM Here

 

[jjahshik32]

I just bought my $599 mac mini tonight and just finished installing a 320gb hitachi travelstar 7200 rpm 16mb cache hdd + 4gb of RAM.

Wow it runs ALOT faster connected to my 24" LED ACD than I imagined.

Now I'm going to put my 15" 2.53ghz mbp on eBay and pocket the extra $$$.

 

[DJAKO]

I just bought my $599 mac mini tonight and just finished installing a 320gb hitachi travelstar 7200 rpm 16mb cache hdd + 4gb of RAM.

Wow it runs ALOT faster connected to my 24" LED ACD than I imagined.

Now I'm going to put my 15" 2.53ghz mbp on eBay and pocket the extra $$$.

How long did this process take?

 

[sinophilia]

Maybe it's a silly question but... does the new mini have a 3Gbit/s hard drive from the factory or do you still need to set its jumpers if you want to install a faster hard drive, in order to make it run at 1.5Gbit/s?

The Seagate Momentus 320GB SATA-II 7200rpm hard drive I bought wouldn't work properly in my old mini (it would stop spinning making the computer freeze for minutes.. then start again etc.). Now I wonder if I can safely put it in a new mini (it worked fine in an external case so it wasn't faulty I suppose).

Thanks!

 

[JustGretchen]

I did the ram upgrade with Mushkin. I enjoyed the boost.