Owning, Using, and Collecting Early Intel: Quirks, Problems, and general FAQs

[miksat]

Alright, so here's a bit of a warning for anyone who has the original MagSafe chargers that came with 2006 Intel Macs.

They melt.

Spoiler: Pics

Apparently this was a big issue back in 2006/2007. Someone called up Apple back then and they said that it was an issue with the computer's Power Management Unit, the computer draws too much power and therefore, melting the charging cable.

 

[MultiFinder17]

The two oldest intel macs that I have in service are a late 2006 iMac and a late 2006 mini. The iMac is a 20” machine with a 2.16GHz C2D, 2GB of RAM, and an 80GB HDD. I got this machine from the recycle pile of the computer shop I used to work at about five years ago. A new PSU and some TLC later, and it loves happily in my classroom acting as a digital announcement board when the kiddos walk in. I control it remotely from the iMac on my desk. I don’t ask much of it beyond displaying stuff and occasionally playing music while the kids are working on a build



The mini has been upgraded by me from its original CD to a 2.33GHz C2D, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB HDD. Running Lion, I keep it in my room and lend it out to teachers at my school as a video editing station. It’s been working well in this capacity for a number of years!

 

[bobesch]

The two oldest intel macs that I have in service are a late 2006 iMac and a late 2006 mini. The iMac is a 20” machine with a 2.16GHz C2D, 2GB of RAM, and an 80GB HDD. I got this machine from the recycle pile of the computer shop I used to work at about five years ago. A new PSU and some TLC later, and it loves happily in my classroom acting as a digital announcement board when the kiddos walk in. I control it remotely from the iMac on my desk. I don’t ask much of it beyond displaying stuff and occasionally playing music while the kids are working on a build

View attachment 771028

The mini has been upgraded by me from its original CD to a 2.33GHz C2D, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB HDD. Running Lion, I keep it in my room and lend it out to teachers at my school as a video editing station. It’s been working well in this capacity for a number of years!

Which App for video-editing have you installed on the mini and is used at school?
After some search I recently found a copy of iMovie 06 and purchased the bundle of SlickStudio1-10 (as long as it's still available) for advanced effects and the option for PPC support.

 

[bobesch]

After having sung the high-song about early-2008 c2d 15" MBP (with silver-keyboard) my 2.4GHz unit kicket the bucket tonight ... (black, black, black screen on booting even after all tricks - maybe the "bad GPU"- thing).
I've got replacement (proud to swap drives with full disassembling/assembling within 30min), but really lost faith in the A1260/1261 units, with a GPU like a ticking bomb...
Now then, if not the early-2008 C2D, then the mid-2009 units seem to be the next big/reasonable/affordable thing to go for. (The late-2008 13"MB/15"MBP are great because of the battery/drive-door for fast access, but battery-performance isn't reliable.)

 

[swamprock]

After having sung the high-song about early-2008 c2d 15" MBP (with silver-keyboard) my 2.4GHz unit kicket the bucket tonight ... (black, black, black screen on booting even after all tricks - maybe the "bad GPU"- thing).
I've got replacement (proud to swap drives with full disassembling/assembling within 30min), but really lost faith in the A1260/1261 units, with a GPU like a ticking bomb...
Now then, if not the early-2008 C2D, then the mid-2009 units seem to be the next big/reasonable/affordable thing to go for. (The late-2008 12"MB/15"MBP are great because of the battery/drive-door for fast access, but battery-performance isn't reliable.)

The mid-2009s are still quite nice and speedy everyday-light-use machines, with no issues that I can ever recall, and I've owned mine since it was new. It'll even run Mojave (at least the beta, so far) with the patch that @dosdude1 has whipped up. Definitely a recommended Intel machine to own.

 

[z970]

The mid-2009s are still quite nice and speedy everyday-light-use machines, with no issues that I can ever recall, and I've owned mine since it was new. It'll even run Mojave (at least the beta, so far) with the patch that @dosdude1 has whipped up. Definitely a recommended Intel machine to own.

I remember trying to choose between it and a mid-2012. Of course, I ended up going with the 2012, but the 2009 MBPs were my second choice.

I'd hazard them to be more cost-effective than the 2012s, though. But they're good machines, in any case. I'm sure of it.

 

[doggoli]

Unfortunately, my iBook charger decided to go full wonk and start melting (i thought this was only an issue with the 2006/7 machines lmao) so i decided that instead of buying a new charger, i would just get a new Mac. So i got myself a nice mid 2007 MacBook for around 35$...Works beautifully well, i only need to upgrade its HDD (its only 40 GB) and repaste it because it can get a little warm under intense load! Overall, i am glad i made the switch, this little thing is awesome!

 

[raymanster]

After having sung the high-song about early-2008 c2d 15" MBP (with silver-keyboard) my 2.4GHz unit kicket the bucket tonight ... (black, black, black screen on booting even after all tricks - maybe the "bad GPU"- thing).
I've got replacement (proud to swap drives with full disassembling/assembling within 30min), but really lost faith in the A1260/1261 units, with a GPU like a ticking bomb...
Now then, if not the early-2008 C2D, then the mid-2009 units seem to be the next big/reasonable/affordable thing to go for. (The late-2008 12"MB/15"MBP are great because of the battery/drive-door for fast access, but battery-performance isn't reliable.)

That's a big issue to consider when looking to buy a 2nd hand vintage Intel Macbook. And that's why I tend to shy away from getting a 2nd hand Macbook that has a dedicated GPU.

Does anyone know of a good site that rates reliability of older Macbooks and ones to avoid?

 

[dosdude1]

After having sung the high-song about early-2008 c2d 15" MBP (with silver-keyboard) my 2.4GHz unit kicket the bucket tonight ... (black, black, black screen on booting even after all tricks - maybe the "bad GPU"- thing).
I've got replacement (proud to swap drives with full disassembling/assembling within 30min), but really lost faith in the A1260/1261 units, with a GPU like a ticking bomb...
Now then, if not the early-2008 C2D, then the mid-2009 units seem to be the next big/reasonable/affordable thing to go for. (The late-2008 12"MB/15"MBP are great because of the battery/drive-door for fast access, but battery-performance isn't reliable.)

If you're located in the US, I can actually repair that machine for you. Yes, I relize the original GPUs in those machines are defective, but in 2010, nVidia released a revised version of the chipset, which in my experience is INSANELY reliable. Never seen one of these revised chips fail, ever. I have a video of one that I replaced, which you can view here.

 

[bobesch]

If you're located in the US, I can actually repair that machine for you. Yes, I relize the original GPUs in those machines are defective, but in 2010, nVidia released a revised version of the chipset, which in my experience is INSANELY reliable. Never seen one of these revised chips fail, ever. I have a video of one that I replaced, which you can view here.

Would you also repair two defective A1260 logic-boards if I'd only send you the boards?

 

[saxfun]

Year,

Would you also repair two defective A1260 logic-boards if I'd only send you the boards?

Same Question here from Germany too:

Two Boards only for repairing, would you do that?!

 

[dosdude1]

Would you also repair two defective A1260 logic-boards if I'd only send you the boards?

Yeah, the boards are all I need, and could more than likely repair both of them.
[doublepost=1532103629][/doublepost]

Year,



Same Question here from Germany too:

Two Boards only for repairing, would you do that?!

Yeah, I could, assuming shipping to/from Germany isn't too difficult.

 

[miksat]

I have a great video to share with everyone here who has the pre-unibody Macbook Pros (specifically early 2006).
As a lot of people here probably know, the Core Duo in the early 2006 Macbook Pro makes for a great energy efficient room heater. I usually hit 80°C in OS X and something that feels like 1 million when I'm on Linux/Windows.

Now here's the trick. The speaker grills on the laptop are great air intake vents. Too bad Apple put light blocker on the underside which doesn't let air through. However, if you remove it, you will get a much cooler laptop.

I went from around 80°C to something like 45°C, and I haven't even replaced the thermal paste yet.

Here's the video:

 

[z970]

I have a great video to share with everyone here who has the pre-unibody Macbook Pros (specifically early 2006).
As a lot of people here probably know, the Core Duo in the early 2006 Macbook Pro makes for a great energy efficient room heater. I usually hit 80°C in OS X and something that feels like 1 million when I'm on Linux/Windows.

Now here's the trick. The speaker grills on the laptop are great air intake vents. Too bad Apple put light blocker on the underside which doesn't let air through. However, if you remove it, you will get a much cooler laptop.

I went from around 80°C to something like 45°C, and I haven't even replaced the thermal paste yet.

Here's the video:

That's brilliant.

I wonder if the same could be the case for the PowerBook G4? I don't have a 15"+, so I'd appreciate if anyone could enlighten me on that.

 

[jbarley]

I have a great video to share with everyone here who has the pre-unibody Macbook Pros (specifically early 2006).

You mention in your great video that you'd like to have more control over the keyboard backlight.
Have a look at this little free app, it does just what you want.
https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/22151/lab-tick

 

[miksat]

You mention in your great video that you'd like to have more control over the keyboard backlight.
Have a look at this little free app, it does just what you want.
https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/22151/lab-tick

Oh I didn't make the video, someone else did, I just wanted to share it with you all here because I don't think he has an account on here.

 

[Dronecatcher]

I've been using my newly acquired 2006 Mac Pro for a week or so now, one thing that is beginning to bug me is Waterfox bogging down after a hour or so of use. By that time, clicking on any button/link creates a lag and pages become sluggish and the rich text on here is slow too - restarting the app is the only solution.
This never happened on my 2006 iMac with an out of date Firefox on Snow Leopard or in TFF on PPC. Anyone have similar experience? I'm using Speedyfox too but haven't seen any change.
I tried New Moon browser first but Waterfox uses half the CPU for Youtube so stuck with that instead.

 

[miksat]

I've been using my newly acquired 2006 Mac Pro for a week or so now, one thing that is beginning to bug me is Waterfox bogging down after a hour or so of use. By that time, clicking on any button/link creates a lag and pages become sluggish and the rich text on here is slow too - restarting the app is the only solution.
This never happened on my 2006 iMac with an out of date Firefox on Snow Leopard or in TFF on PPC. Anyone have similar experience? I'm using Speedyfox too but haven't seen any change.
I tried New Moon browser first but Waterfox uses half the CPU for Youtube so stuck with that instead.

I've actually seen someone complaining about Waterfox on 10.7 crashing down for no reason recently, so it's not just you.

 

[miksat]

I recommend you all pick up an SSD for your 1,1s as they're only 25 bucks on amazon and will improve startup time and speed tremendously (still won't make it play youtube from browser).

Spoiler

 

[l0tsofcub3s]

I saw that LightBulbFun had written about installing el capitan on an xserve 1,1. I also have an xserve 1,1. The hard drive from my xserve is plugged into my imac 10,1 and i have pikers bootloader but it wont boot on the imac. Any help is very much appreciated!

 

[bobesch]

I saw that LightBulbFun had written about installing el capitan on an xserve 1,1. I also have an xserve 1,1. The hard drive from my xserve is plugged into my imac 10,1 and i have pikers bootloader but it wont boot on the imac. Any help is very much appreciated!

I can't give help to your request but I appreciate to re-read this old but still actual thread again ...

 

[l0tsofcub3s]

This is one of the "quirks" he was talking about, and I don't know how to fix it.

 

[l0tsofcub3s]

on MacBook Pros with 8600M GTs I recommend you check out this video to help you ID if you have one with a defective chip or not

if you have non defective chip then you do not have to worry about the Chip failing any time soon if you do Have a bad chip, you can actually get a non defective chip, remove the bad chip and solder the good chip in place of the bad chip, a new chip is about £/$20-30, the main difficulty is actually soldering it in place or finding someone willing to do it for a reasonable amount

in terms of quirks iv come across and had to work around on early intel macs, ill mention and go a bit in depth on my Xserve1,1, in my extensive testing I have found that unlike the Mac Pro 1,1 it has several (most undocumented) quirks running OS X 10.11.6.

first quirk i came across was when trying to get 10.11.6 on the thing, while Pikes boot.efi lets a MacPro1,1 boot an un-modded el cap installer USB just fine and install just fine, on an Xserve1,1 this is not the case the installer will boot but it will throw you an error, while its possible to work around the error, its easier to install 10.11.6 on the Xserve via external means (ie putting the Xserve into TDM and install using a supported mac or pulling the HDD and install using a supported mac then placing the drive back) the boot.efi will happily boot a full install of 10.11.6 on an Xserve, its just the installer it has issues with

another quirk of the Xserve running 10.11.6 I have found is that it Really does not like it when you install a PC (unflashed) video card, I have found in most case a PC video card will crash OS X right as it tries to configure the PCI bus, contrary to a Mac Pro 1,1 where 10.11.6 will happily run with a PC video card

I have also found that on top of the difficulties being an EFI32 machine brings, the Xserve1,1 is VERY picky about booting non Apple OSes. (despite a lot of tinkering I have not been able to boot any form of Debian or ubuntu, even proper EFI(32) setups i had working on a 1,1 Mac Pro)

while on the topic of Xserves I should also mention which Xserves go with which Generation of Mac Pro since i see a lot of people get this mixed up

Xserve1,1 has the Same HW/chipset as a Mac Pro 1,1

Xserve2,1 has the same HW/chipset as a Mac Pro 3,1 (and like a Mac Pro 3,1 has a 64bit EFI and with some fudging will happily even boot Mac OS High Sierra despite being officially stuck at 10.7.5 the only thing is the X1300 Graphics card is not supported in anything after Lion like in an Xserve1,1)

Xserve3,1 has the same HW/chipset as a Mac Pro 4,1

How did you work around the error without installing via external means?