Mac Mini 2.66Ghz, SATA-150 or SATA-300?

[HellDiverUK]

Just to be clear, is SATA-300 new to the most recent Mac Mini revision? Or has it been around since the March 2009 update?

Mine's quoting SATA-300 with my Crucial M225 SSD. Early 09 2GHz Mini.

First thing I did with my Mini when I bought it (after booting it up once to check it worked OK), was slice it open, fit 4GB RAM to it (from Crucial), and swap the junk 120GB 5400rpm disc for a 250GB 7200rpm Scorpio Black. Recently gutted it again to put the SSD in.

Thinking of losing the optical drive and fit my 320GB external backup drive inside (it's a 2.5" Scorpio Blue in a cheap external USB box).

 

[petsk]

While you're at it, looks like they can now handle 8gb RAM according to OWC.

As I just laid out for a 17 mbp, 8gb ram, a 256gb ssd, and 2 of the new mini's...I'll be waiting a bit to jack the RAM and get more SSD's for the new mini's...LOL!

I did move the stock RAM from the MPB into one of the mini's, no prob and seeing as you have to get to where the RAM is anyway....might as well address that, if you can.

One thing to watch putting it back together, the IR receiver is not too hard to knock off if you are not careful, so take your time. I managed to do that on one of my older mini's...sigh!

They make great little servers though!

Thanks for the tips!

 

[pcguru83]

Mine's quoting SATA-300 with my Crucial M225 SSD. Early 09 2GHz Mini.

First thing I did with my Mini when I bought it (after booting it up once to check it worked OK), was slice it open, fit 4GB RAM to it (from Crucial), and swap the junk 120GB 5400rpm disc for a 250GB 7200rpm Scorpio Black. Recently gutted it again to put the SSD in.

Thinking of losing the optical drive and fit my 320GB external backup drive inside (it's a 2.5" Scorpio Blue in a cheap external USB box).

Awesome, thanks. SSD is exactly why I was asking. The Mini I have (just prior to the 9400M) only has SATA-150 so no SSD for me. Well I could, but the benefit wouldn't be nearly as dramatic, best I can tell.

The time is quickly approaching to sell this little guy and go for one with a 9400M.

 

[dyn]

Only if you break something does it void the warranty. You can open a Mini and close it without worries.

I replaced both the RAM and a hard drive in my Core Duo mini shortly after I bought it. The computer failed a few months later and I sent it to Apple - failed logic board. They replaced the board and sent it back - all under warranty. Nothing was ever said about the RAM or hard drive.

Some people get away with it but most people don't. Opening the mini leaves marks on the device which they'll notice after which they'll reject the warranty due to user abuse (just like they do with the iPhone when those moisture stickers are coloured). Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about that since they are in their right. Sometimes they don't notice and people get lucky. At least that's the experience I and many others have.

I suggest you check your information before posting such blatantly false information.

I suggest you contact Apple as you seem to know more than they do. I also suggest you prove the information is blatantly false and provide us with the correct information (that actually helps, flaming doesn't). Just shouting something is blatantly false is way too easy, anybody can do that

 

[300D]

I also suggest you prove the information is blatantly false and provide us with the correct information (that actually helps, flaming doesn't).

You already did that with your own quote from the manual.

Do Not Make Repairs Yourself
Your Mac mini doesn’t have any user-serviceable parts. Do not attempt to open your Mac mini. If your Mac mini needs service, consult the service and support information that came with your computer for instructions about how to contact an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple for service.
If you open your Mac mini or install items, you risk damaging your equipment, and such damage isn’t covered by the limited warranty on your Mac mini.

You see, opening the mini will NOT void any warranty. The only time it will be void is if you damage anything in the process.

Believe what you wish, I'll leave you to wallow in your own ignorance.

 

[OddHead]

To late '09 owners, do you confirm (by both System Profiler and using experience) the 3 Gbps SATA II bus? I mean, no beachballs like mid 2009 MacBook Pros (which come out after early '09 minis, and use the same nVidia chipset)?
Thanks.

 

[OddHead]

Nobody?

 

[300D]

Did you not read the earlier posts?

 

[OddHead]

Did you not read the earlier posts?

Yeah, and early '09 is not late '09. I own a early '09 mini too. I'd like to know from late '09 owners.

 

[300D]

Yeah, and early '09 is not late '09.

False. The late 09 is nothing more than a CPU upgrade of the early 09. They are otherwise identical.

Both ports are SATA-II.

 

[OddHead]

False. The late 09 is nothing more than a CPU upgrade of the early 09. They are otherwise identical.

Both ports are SATA-II.

...so I own a late '09 mini, wow

Upgrade (CPU, HD capacity, RAM quantity, wireless N, etc.) = non identical model. Even the model numbers are different

It's like to say that UMB are identical to 13" MBP, only with a FW port more and an audio plug less. Same chipset. But ask about it to owners who get a beachball every 20 sec on 13" MBPs ^^

Can you prove me that with a screenshot? And most of all, do you own a late '09 mini? My question begins with: "To late '09 owners"

 

[Cave Man]

False. The late 09 is nothing more than a CPU upgrade of the early 09. They are otherwise identical. Both ports are SATA-II.

Dude, give it up. You're not gonna reach this guy.

 

[Pressure]

Funny you say that. I'm a former cast member of SNL

Alec Baldwin, is that you?

 

[Jackintosh]

It's not guaranteed that Apple will allow for repair of a Mini opened up and modified by the user, even as an exception. By doing a search on this board of problems with Mini user self-upgrades, you realize it's a risk, and in my opinion not worth taking.

Foofan and Dyn are correct. Apple may opt not to repair a Mini that's been user modified. It's in their warranty statement:

"This warranty does not apply to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”); (g) to a product or part that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple."

 

[300D]

Even the model numbers are different

Um, der, because they use different CPUs.

Can you prove me that with a screenshot?

Can you. FYI genius, SATA type doesn't show up in system profiler.

And most of all, do you own a late '09 mini?

Why would I downgrade to one of those piles? Do you think I am incapable of visiting an Apple store and trying one?

Grow up a few years then report back when you're mature.

"This warranty does not apply to damage caused by service (including upgrades and expansions) performed by anyone who is not a representative of Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (“AASP”); (g) to a product or part that has been modified to alter functionality or capability without the written permission of Apple."

Once again, there is the key. Apple cannot legally refuse warranty repairs based solely on the presence of aftermarket or upgrade parts UNLESS those parts are the cause of damage.

 

[OddHead]

Um, der, because they use different CPUs.


Can you. FYI genius, SATA type doesn't shop up in system profiler.


Why would I downgrade to one of those piles? Do you think I am incapable of visiting an Apple store and trying one?

Grow up a few years then report back when you're mature.

Here I am

 

[300D]

Nope.

 

[Evangelion]

Unfortantly the Mini will be useless with the stock HDD, it's just way too slow for anything else but websurfing.

Um, no it isn't. It's plenty of fast for just about everything. It's a laptop-HD, and I have used my 2.4GHz 2007 MBP for photoediting, Aperture, gaming, word-processing and several other things.

I'm going to use it as a file-, web- and mysql-server and I will need all the extra power I can squeeze out of that small form factor.

Even though extra HD-performance might be a good thing for those things, it's still dishonest to claim that the default setup is "useless".

 

[ikkydesign]

Mac Mini w/SSD FTW

Even though extra HD-performance might be a good thing for those things, it's still dishonest to claim that the default setup is "useless".

I am getting a Mac Mini (my first mac) and I don't think the default setup is "useless"; however, once you have a taste of SSD, there is no turning back. I too will be upgrading my mac mini with SSD. Not because the default setup is useless but because SSD is just that good. I love it. I don't own a mac (yet) but I think it's fair to say that a regular HDD is like a PC and a SSD is like a mac, such that, most people don't get it and those who get it, really really are passionate about it. Using a regular PC/Mac without SSD is just torture. At my work I have a fast PC but I hate how slow everything launches, and to go home and get the same slowness on my new mac mini, oh hell no. My slowness to average users is fast, because my perspective shifted when I got my SSD.

Anyways, what's the CPU temperature increase with the new SSD. I know for my laptop, ThinkPad X61T, it went up 5-7 C, which is a lot. Enough so that I had to install a third party app to control my fan speed.

I looked at some videos of how to replace your HDD and man it looks horrible, like doing surgery. I am kinda scared and I do IT (Part-time) at my work. How much does it cost for apple to upgrade your HDD? I bet it cost almost as much as the new drive. So looks like the only way out is to call the Dr.

So I ordered my mac mini on Black Friday and I would have ordered it with SSD, if it was reasonable of course, but I didn't see that as an option on Apple's website, so I just got it on Amazon. There really is no cost-affective alternative to getting an SSD or your mac mini other than doing it your self. When will Apple make products that are meant to be modified? I don't understand why upgrading your hard drive and or RAM would require surgery. If the computer was not meant to be touched then Apple should have gave the SSD Option, right? I knew Apple didn't trust its users to handle batteries but hard drives and ram too? Meh

I won't upgrade till after 90 days, because that's when hardware fails or last forever... Or are the macs on a different failure statistics?

 

[ljonesj]

My mac mini has the 5400 rpm 320 gig hd. Personally i see no performance difference between a 5400rpm to a 7200 rpm drives myself. I use mine for handbrake and watching movies at the same time. Its blazing fast its actually faster than my 3ghz dual core amd vista machine with the same amount of ram and its own dedicated vid card of 512 of ram 4850 ati.

 

[jzuena]

Anyways, what's the CPU temperature increase with the new SSD. I know for my laptop, ThinkPad X61T, it went up 5-7 C, which is a lot. Enough so that I had to install a third party app to control my fan speed.

I would have thought that without moving parts the system would run cooler, not hotter. I still have some learning to do about SSDs. Even with stock hard drives I run smcFanControl on all of my Macs, and my minis are no exception.

I looked at some videos of how to replace your HDD and man it looks horrible, like doing surgery. I am kinda scared and I do IT (Part-time) at my work. How much does it cost for apple to upgrade your HDD? I bet it cost almost as much as the new drive. So looks like the only way out is to call the Dr.

I've never changed the drives out, but I have opened a 2006 mini to swap a Core Duo for a Core 2 Duo and a 2009 mini to bump memory up to 4GB. They are not that bad to open if you take your time. The 2009 ones are even easier than the older ones due to a redesigned connector between the logic board and the drive riser.

I won't upgrade till after 90 days, because that's when hardware fails or last forever... Or are the macs on a different failure statistics?

No, Macs would have the same new system failure stats. I would think you would know much sooner than even 90 days, but that is a good safe time to wait.

 

[ikkydesign]

I would have thought that without moving parts the system would run cooler, not hotter. I still have some learning to do about SSDs. Even with stock hard drives I run smcFanControl on all of my Macs, and my minis are no exception.

You would think this would be the case, but it's not. The SSD runs cool and make no noise but the CPU runs hotter. The CPU usage spikes a lot because the SSD requires data super fast. I noticed that when I launched FF the CPU would jump from 55 C to 60 C in 1-2 seconds as FF loaded. In contrass, my old 7200 rpm HDD would jump to 57 C, then 58 C and then maybe 59 C in 5-10 seconds. I thought that was kinda weird at first, then it became annoying because my fan would be quiet and then I launch FF and it was hella loud. I had to get a fan control and delay the temperature reading to manage the CPU spikes.

I am using my Mac Mini now and yeah I can tell that it's slow. Not as slow as I thought it would be but enough to upgrade to SSD. I notice also that at the bottom of the Mac Mini, the belly, made this clicking noise when you pressed it. I don't plan on pressing it on the belly I was just testing for build quality and that was a minor issue. I know at our local mac store in the mall the mac mini there was faulty. When you picked it up it would reboot. :-S

Anyways, off to read up on what to do when you get a mac.... what settings do I need to change and what programs should I install....fun times..