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New mac mini ultimate upgrade - Quad core CPU, 7200 rpm HD, max RAM

T

TechViking

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 3, 2009
188
9
Ok so I am pretty underwhelmed by the specs/price ratio of the new mini. I am thinking of getting the cheapest base model, and upgrade it myself to make it beefier.

- 4gb RAM. ( Any chance at all that more RAM would be possible?)
- 320 GB 7200 rpm HD. ( Does a larger HD with 7200 rpm exist?)
- Quad core CPU.

Ideas for what HD I should get?

- Would it be possible to use a Quad core CPU?
A) Will any quad core cpu fit in the socket? If so which ones?
B) Will it work with the OS?

Anyone else thinking of doing the same? :)
 
TechViking said:
Ok so I am pretty underwhelmed by the specs/price ratio of the new mini. I am thinking of getting the cheapest base model, and upgrade it myself to make it beefier.

- 4gb RAM. ( Any chance at all that more RAM would be possible?)
- 320 GB 7200 rpm HD. ( Does a larger HD with 7200 rpm exist?)
- Quad core CPU.

Ideas for what HD I should get?

- Would it be possible to use a Quad core CPU?
A) Will any quad core cpu fit in the socket? If so which ones?
B) Will it work with the OS?

Anyone else thinking of doing the same? :)
Click to expand...

Don't think anyone will know about the CPU upgrades until the shipped units start arriving and people open them up.

Also, Segate makes 500GB 72000RPM drives.
 
The quad core CPU will probably throw off too much heat for the Mac mini. And if you need a quad core processor, you don't need a Mac mini...

All the other upgrades are totally plausible!
 
crazzyeddie said:
The quad core CPU will probably throw off too much heat for the Mac mini. And if you need a quad core processor, you don't need a Mac mini...

All the other upgrades are totally plausible!
Click to expand...

Well if I can get a quad core, 4gb, 320Gb HD for about the price of the maxed out mac mini from apple, is there a reason I should not try it? :)

I want something in the middle of the mac mini and mac pro. And I dont want an imac since I already have LCDs.
 
TechViking said:
Well if I can get a quad core, 4gb, 320Gb HD for about the price of the maxed out mac mini from apple, is there a reason I should not try it? :)

I want something in the middle of the mac mini and mac pro. And I dont want an imac since I already have LCDs.
Click to expand...

Sure, as long as you're okay with possibly ruining the new proc.
 
Mobile quad-cores are so expensive and much hotter, so you might as well get a 4-core Mac Pro (which acts like 8 virtual cores).
 
BlizzardBomb said:
Mobile quad-cores are so expensive and much hotter, so you might as well get a 4-core Mac Pro (which acts like 8 virtual cores).
Click to expand...

Are they really that expensive? I havent looked up prices yet. But I agree that the extra heat may be a problem.
 
TechViking said:
Thanks!

Anyone have experience with the 7200 rpm HDs? I am a bit concerned about noise level. I have the prev mini model and what I like about it is that it is so silent. Will there be a noticable difference in noise level compared to 5400?
Click to expand...

I have a Sony Vaio laptop, I swapped out the stock 160GB 5400rpm HD for a WD Scorpio Black Edition 320GB 7200rpm ($99) and it's whisper quiet.

If you upgrade to a 320GB 7200rpm, I suggest the WD Scorpio Black Edition. Heat is a different issue, I have no idea how much more heat they might put off, but they aren't much louder if at all.
 
Quite expensive yes.

For the Mini, the CPU, the HDD, and RAM it could easily run upto $1500 dollars, at which point your better off just buying the baseline Mac Pro which is at least 2-3x faster. And you get a bigger hard drive, better graphics, more memory, more expandability etc. etc.
 
essential said:
I have a Sony Vaio laptop, I swapped out the stock 160GB 5400rpm HD for a WD Scorpio Black Edition 320GB 7200rpm ($99) and it's whisper quiet.

If you upgrade to a 320GB 7200rpm, I suggest the WD Scorpio Black Edition. Heat is a different issue, I have no idea how much more heat they might put off, but they aren't much louder if at all.
Click to expand...

Sounds great! :)
 
nick9191 said:
Quite expensive yes.

For the Mini, the CPU, the HDD, and RAM it could easily run upto $1500 dollars, at which point your better off just buying the baseline Mac Pro which is at least 2-3x faster. And you get a bigger hard drive, better graphics, more memory, more expandability etc. etc.
Click to expand...

How do you get it to $1500?

This is what I am thinking:
- $599 Base model mac mini
- $99 320Gb HD
- < $100 4Gb RAM

equals < $799.

Would the quad core CPU really be $700? I sure hope not.
 
BlizzardBomb said:
Mobile quad-cores are so expensive and much hotter, so you might as well get a 4-core Mac Pro (which acts like 8 virtual cores).
Click to expand...

I am concerned about the noise level of the mac pro. But I cant say that I am not considering it. :)
 
robotartfashion said:
they have the c2d p8600 2.4ghz for 219.00 over at newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819111009

seems to have similar stats all around, same wattage

if you're intrepid may be worth getting that and doing a self install over the extra price of the 2.26 upgrade
Click to expand...

Curious as to why you think it would be worth getting this over the 2.26? Is the extra .14 worth the difference in cost (2.26 is a $150 upgrade from apple, so its $70 for the .14 + you have to install it yourself). I'm certainly not an expert, but like many of you, I want to build a fast, capable mini from the ground up.
 
YoMamasPyjamas said:
Curious as to why you think it would be worth getting this over the 2.26? Is the extra .14 worth the difference in cost (2.26 is a $150 upgrade from apple, so its $70 for the .14 + you have to install it yourself). I'm certainly not an expert, but like many of you, I want to build a fast, capable mini from the ground up.
Click to expand...

thats a good point, although i'm looking at everything i can do to make sure there are no 1080p rips that the mini can't handle as i'm buying this for a plex machine

probably not a very noticeable performance boost

although, it could be argued that you may be able to sell the chip you pop out of the mini on ebay for at least a portion of the difference, i don't see why you couldn't get $50-70 bucks for it as it seems to sell for around $200 on its own, thereby negating the difference?

just some additional thoughts
 
$360 for Q9000 2.0ghz c2q mobile

How badly will I want a 7200rpm hdd? I'm thinking SSD is probably the way to go.
 
TechViking said:
I am concerned about the noise level of the mac pro. But I cant say that I am not considering it. :)
Click to expand...

Noise on a Mac Pro? The Mac Pro's are amazingly quiet for the performance they put out. Usually the loudest component will be the video card heatsink / fan revving up when gaming. Other than that my old white Macbook was way louder (during heavy usage) than my mac pro w/ 8 cores at 100% using compressor or handbrake.
 
shokunin said:
Noise on a Mac Pro? The Mac Pro's are amazingly quiet for the performance they put out. Usually the loudest component will be the video card heatsink / fan revving up when gaming. Other than that my old white Macbook was way louder (during heavy usage) than my mac pro w/ 8 cores at 100% using compressor or handbrake.
Click to expand...

Yeah the white macbook is really horrible when it comes to noise. :(

Are you saying the mac pro is as silent as the mini? :)
 
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