i may upgrade my 2.0 mini if it works out for him, i found a place selling the 2.33 OEM chip for less than $300
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T7600 in a mac mini?
- Thread starter tefleming
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https://www.compumusic.com/ seems to be where tefleming is getting their processor. They even linked it earlier in this thread.
They don't sell them anymore. Besides, when they did, it was for, ballpark, 340. ParishM has found it for less than $300.
So, I did the upgrade last night. There were two minor snafus:
1. I broke one of the pins (white plastic heatsink retention pins.) I fixed this with two zip ties. I was worried this would "elevate" the computer, but it seems to work fine.
2. The Fan was going full blast. I had forgotten to reconnect one of the wires. Reconnected it, works fine.
Temps last night were in the 30s idle (34-38). This morning (after doing some visual hub work overnight,) ~60C. I'll monitor these temps going forward (since 60 seems a bit high for idle).
Otherwise, the upgrade was a bit tougher than I thought, but I'm glad to have it done.
1. I broke one of the pins (white plastic heatsink retention pins.) I fixed this with two zip ties. I was worried this would "elevate" the computer, but it seems to work fine.
2. The Fan was going full blast. I had forgotten to reconnect one of the wires. Reconnected it, works fine.
Temps last night were in the 30s idle (34-38). This morning (after doing some visual hub work overnight,) ~60C. I'll monitor these temps going forward (since 60 seems a bit high for idle).
Otherwise, the upgrade was a bit tougher than I thought, but I'm glad to have it done.
Yeah, I almost took pictures of my jerry-rigged zip-tie monstrosity, but my camera is on its last legs.
Okay, my temps have been hanging in the 60C range on idle / normal usage. Upwards of 70C with any load.
So, I ordered Nylon screws, hex nuts, and washers from Amazon. Now the fun part will be removing the zip tie contraption (without damaging anything else.
Might have to borrow my girlfriend's camera, but will do.
You never told everyone where you found the chip on the cheap...
Hmm, after a few weeks (which is supposed to allow the Ceramique to settle) it started pushing 90C under load.
I tried re-applying with AS5 but it seems I'm not doing it right (that's why I've always preferred Ceramique). Temps are still very high.
Any suggestions for how to resolve this? (Short of getting a slower processor to install?)
I tried re-applying with AS5 but it seems I'm not doing it right (that's why I've always preferred Ceramique). Temps are still very high.
Any suggestions for how to resolve this? (Short of getting a slower processor to install?)
I got my mini upgraded.
I got it 14 months ago. It started as a Core Duo 1.66 GHz. A year ago, I had 2 GB of memory put in, and it worked great.
A few days ago, I got a T7600 put in, as well as a super drive, and a 200GB 7200RPM hard drive. I also put Leopard on it.
It feels like a new computer. It is faster, and it works great.
I got the T7600 from genius_hearts on ebay for about $300.
Stv
I got it 14 months ago. It started as a Core Duo 1.66 GHz. A year ago, I had 2 GB of memory put in, and it worked great.
A few days ago, I got a T7600 put in, as well as a super drive, and a 200GB 7200RPM hard drive. I also put Leopard on it.
It feels like a new computer. It is faster, and it works great.
I got the T7600 from genius_hearts on ebay for about $300.
Stv
Appreciate that I'm dragging up a thread that's over 5 years old, but I'm doing this exact same thing, and would love some answers from those that have already done it:
The machine currently:
Mac Mini 1.66 Core Duo
120gb 5400 rpm hdd
2 gb ram (upgraded by me from 512mb)
I've got a 256gb SSD (one of the OWC Mac specific ones) and a T7600 processor ready to go in. While I've got the case off, can it take any more RAM than 2GB? Sadly I don't any compatible in larger sizes or I would just try it and find out.
And yes, I know this is an old machine and you're all going to say "why bother? Just get a new one.." but it's more of a little project for me to tinker with, and see just how far you can push a little Mini. Let's just say it's not my only computer!
One last question - once the upgrades are all done, which is the latest Mac OS that will work with it? I know the current 32 bit processor limits it to Snow Leopard, but with the upgrade, could it even run Mavericks?
The machine currently:
Mac Mini 1.66 Core Duo
120gb 5400 rpm hdd
2 gb ram (upgraded by me from 512mb)
I've got a 256gb SSD (one of the OWC Mac specific ones) and a T7600 processor ready to go in. While I've got the case off, can it take any more RAM than 2GB? Sadly I don't any compatible in larger sizes or I would just try it and find out.
And yes, I know this is an old machine and you're all going to say "why bother? Just get a new one.." but it's more of a little project for me to tinker with, and see just how far you can push a little Mini. Let's just say it's not my only computer!
One last question - once the upgrades are all done, which is the latest Mac OS that will work with it? I know the current 32 bit processor limits it to Snow Leopard, but with the upgrade, could it even run Mavericks?
1. Yes it can take 4gb (2x2gb), but you need to find the thread about flashing the the Mini to make it go from a 1,1 to a 2,1 model. Also you will still only have about 3.3gb usable but that is still much better than just 2!
2. Officially the best you can do is Snow Leopard. However after the processor upgrade you can do Lion with a small hack. I know Others have gotten Mavericks installed on other "unsupported" Macs so maybe even the old Mac Mini 1,1s will get it to. Frankly I felt that even Lion felt slow on my upgraded 1,1s, and eventually downgraded to Snow Leopard. Now they sit on shelves in my office....
Thanks for the reply - sounds like I've got a nice little project on my hands over the Christmas break! If only I could tear myself away from the army of Raspberry Pis...
Merry Christmas!
Right, hardware bits done. T7600 CPU in, Snow Leopard installing on SSD. 2GB RAM chip installed with another standing by when I can work out how to do this flash to 2.1 thing - I've searched around but can't find a thread on it?
I'll see if I still have the files from when I did it earlier this year, when I get back home.
They are around if you trawl the net, but I remember facing a series of dead links.
It's definitely worth doing though.
Edit: I put Lion on mine by installing onto a VM, deleting plist file and copying the disk image over to main hard-drive. I believe it's easy enough to move to ML after, might be worth you looking into the same once you're onto 2,1?
The GMA950 is a truly terrible chip, but I still find the old 2006 mini pleasant enough to use once upgraded.
They are around if you trawl the net, but I remember facing a series of dead links.
It's definitely worth doing though.
Edit: I put Lion on mine by installing onto a VM, deleting plist file and copying the disk image over to main hard-drive. I believe it's easy enough to move to ML after, might be worth you looking into the same once you're onto 2,1?
The GMA950 is a truly terrible chip, but I still find the old 2006 mini pleasant enough to use once upgraded.
Well, running SL, I've installed everything I'd want on it - Firefox, iLife, iWork and it boots to desktop from cold in 17 seconds! Amazing...
I have a core solo sitting on a shelf and just found these upgrades. T7600s are like $45 on eBay right now, so I had to try it.
Here is the 1,1 -> 2,1 process:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/13886247/
There are also lion install options:
http://vureyosx.blogspot.com/2011/07/now-for-best-way-to-install-lion-on.html
And I picked up an 802.11n card while I was at it. With an SSD, it should combine for an impressive little box. Even starting with a $150 eBay solo, the whole thing is only $250!
Here is the 1,1 -> 2,1 process:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/13886247/
There are also lion install options:
http://vureyosx.blogspot.com/2011/07/now-for-best-way-to-install-lion-on.html
And I picked up an 802.11n card while I was at it. With an SSD, it should combine for an impressive little box. Even starting with a $150 eBay solo, the whole thing is only $250!
Cheers for that - sadly the link to the firmware download is dead in that thread. Anyone else got another?
Well why not go the whole hog? Not only a T7600 installed, but 4GB RAM, a 128GB SSD from OWC and now running Mountain Lion as well...
