Mac Mini Core Duo firmware upgrade - how?

[Giuanniello]

Hello everybody,

I got in possession of a Mac Mini Core Duo 1,83GHZ, 2GB RAM and a mere 80GB HD which I might upgrade, I'd like to use it for simple tasks but I still would like to install at least 10.7 which now is not allowed, I guess (maybe and also) cos of the EFI firmware reporting MacMini 1.1.

Is there a way to force installing 10.7 (dunno if it is going to be of any help in synching informations across my other Macs through MobileMe/iCloud) and/or update the firmware?

Also, I read this machine hosts the cpu on a socket and should be no difficult to replace it, CoreDuo 2 2.16GHZ are quite cheap, would be a nice upgrade allowing also to run some basic photo editing (I connected the Mini to my old but beautiful CinemaDisplay HD 23").

Thank you for your attention and your hints

Giovanni

 

[MacVidCards]

You are in luck.

A guy at Netkas.org just posted an automated updater, and it works.

I know because I was the first one to try it.

I am running Yosemite on the machine now. I use it to test the AC WiFi and BT 4.0 cards. Yosemite can run but GPU is not fully accelerated after 10.7.

I think there is a way to run 10.8.5 properly but not sure.

You have to join the site to download stuff, read the info in RED to get in quicker. It is free though, no fees or anything, unless you feel like donating.

 

[paulrbeers]

Hello everybody,

I got in possession of a Mac Mini Core Duo 1,83GHZ, 2GB RAM and a mere 80GB HD which I might upgrade, I'd like to use it for simple tasks but I still would like to install at least 10.7 which now is not allowed, I guess (maybe and also) cos of the EFI firmware reporting MacMini 1.1.

Is there a way to force installing 10.7 (dunno if it is going to be of any help in synching informations across my other Macs through MobileMe/iCloud) and/or update the firmware?

Also, I read this machine hosts the cpu on a socket and should be no difficult to replace it, CoreDuo 2 2.16GHZ are quite cheap, would be a nice upgrade allowing also to run some basic photo editing (I connected the Mini to my old but beautiful CinemaDisplay HD 23").

Thank you for your attention and your hints

Giovanni

Fyi you'll need to upgrade to a core2duo before you can even attempt anything beyond Snow Leopard. Core duos were 32bjt and you need a 64bit processor

 

[Giuanniello]

The idea is as follows:

- first step upgrade the CPU

- second step to get an SSD for my MBPro and to move the 500GB HD into the Mini

- third step could be to upgrade RAM to 4GB but I know that switching from 2 to 3 doesn't really make a big change so this is to evaluate on behalf of RAM cost

- fourth step to upgrade EFI firmware and operating system to the most stable one giving access to iCloud sync so that I can have the same stuff I have on my other computers such as address book, mail, keychain, calendar and so on...

What I'd do now is to look for a CPU, I think the one which fits and gives the bigger boost is the "T7600 SL9SD 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor", is this correct? do you have any hint at where to get one? I found eBay sources from China (I live in Italy) and am afraid of customs, price goes for around 60 euros which I think is a fair price for the upgrade, I know I will need the screws to keep the cpu in place as well as thermal paste, still worth if the machine gets a good boost, with the future disk upgrade it might host my photo archives (or part of them) which needs a 64bit software.

So, waiting to read your input about step 1, cpu upgrade.

Thank you so much

 

[Giuanniello]

Found 2x2GB so-dimms in a drawer, can't understand if they can fit, they are hynix 2x2GB 1Rx8 PC3 10600S -9-10-B1 HMT325S6BF8RC - H9 N0 AA 1205

It would be too good if they could fit the Mini, would rush to get the CPU, screws and thermal paste...

 

[chrfr]

Found 2x2GB so-dimms in a drawer, can't understand if they can fit, they are hynix 2x2GB 1Rx8 PC3 10600S -9-10-B1 HMT325S6BF8RC - H9 N0 AA 1205

It would be too good if they could fit the Mini, would rush to get the CPU, screws and thermal paste...

That RAM is too new. You need DDR2 for the older Minis, and that RAM is DDR3.

 

[paulrbeers]

Found 2x2GB so-dimms in a drawer, can't understand if they can fit, they are hynix 2x2GB 1Rx8 PC3 10600S -9-10-B1 HMT325S6BF8RC - H9 N0 AA 1205

It would be too good if they could fit the Mini, would rush to get the CPU, screws and thermal paste...

As already stated, they won't fit. You need DDR2 667mhz. With that said, what about just doing a 1GB stick and a 2GB stick? My 2006 Mini's have been running with that just fine (granted they now sit on a shelf, but for a couple of years they ran that way). You won't get full dual channel memory, but the performance hit is negligible and will save you some money. In my case, I had two mini's with 2x1GB, so I bought a 2x2GB kit and split them. Technically if you go with 4GB of RAM, I think you get something like 3.2GB - 3.3GB of RAM usable, but again that isn't probably going to really matter in the long run....

Just a thought.

 

[fhall1]

You are in luck.

A guy at Netkas.org just posted an automated updater, and it works.

I know because I was the first one to try it.

I am running Yosemite on the machine now. I use it to test the AC WiFi and BT 4.0 cards. Yosemite can run but GPU is not fully accelerated after 10.7.

I think there is a way to run 10.8.5 properly but not sure.

You have to join the site to download stuff, read the info in RED to get in quicker. It is free though, no fees or anything, unless you feel like donating.

Can you help me locate that updater? I'm looking on Netkas and can't seem to find any new post related to it.

Thanks