Mac Mini 2006, keep it as 1,1 or upgrade to 2,1

[esbardu]

Hi all,

this is quite a silly question but to improve the thread I am including some pictures of what one would say it's a brand new 2006 Mac Mini which is really the interesting part of this post. Mac Mini 2006 was my first Mac ever, unfortunately my old Mini died some years ago. This year I bought this unit that seems to be almost brand new, no dust at all and the HDD showed really few usage hours (package was not in neat condition, the one in the photo is from my dead Mini.


I have upgraded it to Core 2 Duo 1,83 and maxed the RAM to 2GB, HDD to 320Gb. I will be "using" it with Mac OS Tiger (I have a 2009 for Snow Leopard and Yosemite).

I have two 2Gb memory sticks to upgrade the RAM to 4GB but for this I need to upgrade the firmware to 2,1 but I really prefer to have an almost pure 1,1 Mac Mini .

If I upgrade to 2,1 ¿is there a possibility to downgrade it to 1,1 later on?. I'm sure it makes no sense to keep at 1,1 even though I don't need the 4Gbs for actual usage as it is a pure collector item (same as my 2009) , is there anybody out there that would agree with me keeping it at 1,1?.

Thanks

 

[B S Magnet]

Hi all,

this is quite a silly question but to improve the thread I am including some pictures of what one would say it's a brand new 2006 Mac Mini which is really the interesting part of this post. Mac Mini 2006 was my first Mac ever, unfortunately my old Mini died some years ago. This year I bought this unit that seems to be almost brand new, no dust at all and the HDD showed really few usage hours (package was not in neat condition, the one in the photo is from my dead Mini.

View attachment 1846737
I have upgraded it to Core 2 Duo 1,83 and maxed the RAM to 2GB, HDD to 320Gb. I will be "using" it with Mac OS Tiger (I have a 2009 for Snow Leopard and Yosemite).

I have two 2Gb memory sticks to upgrade the RAM to 4GB but for this I need to upgrade the firmware to 2,1 but I really prefer to have an almost pure 1,1 Mac Mini .

If I upgrade to 2,1 ¿is there a possibility to downgrade it to 1,1 later on?. I'm sure it makes no sense to keep at 1,1 even though I don't need the 4Gbs for actual usage as it is a pure collector item (same as my 2009) , is there anybody out there that would agree with me keeping it at 1,1?.

Thanks

If you’re maintaining this Mac mini as a collector’s item and not something you will be using often (much less on a semi-daily basis), perhaps leaving it all-original (given how you have all the original packing materials and all is in collectible condition) might be the way to go.

 

[Amethyst1]

If you’re maintaining this Mac mini as a collector’s item and not something you will be using often (much less on a semi-daily basis), perhaps leaving it all-original (given how you have all the original packing materials and all is in collectible condition) might be the way to go.

It isn’t original anymore to begin with though…

 

[B S Magnet]

It isn’t original anymore to begin with though…

This is true, but all the upgrades the original poster itemized are feasibly reversible back to the original configuration. By contrast, firmware upgrades may be a bit tougher to undo.

 

[esbardu]

This is true, but all the upgrades the original poster itemized are feasibly reversible back to the original configuration. By contrast, firmware upgrades may be a bit tougher to undo.

That's the point, I have found many places where they mentioned how to upgrade to 2,1 but haven't seen anybody reverting the change.
I have the original 60Gb that's working fine, also the 512Mb sticks. Anyhow I don't see these upgrades as an issue, you could originally order these units with 2Gb.
If I knew that I could revert the firmware upgrade I would do it even if the plans are staying at Tiger.
As I already said it sounds silly but the idea is to recreate the feeling of owning a Mac Mini in 2006. I am not planning to buy a 2007 unit (I already have too many Minis ).

 

[m1maverick]

Leave it original. I'd revert back to the configuration it was initially shipped with.