Upgrading My Mac mini 1.83 c2d.Worth it?

[nyprospect]

Hi guys.Well im interested in upgrading my ram to 2 gb or maybe 3.Now i have seen every Macmini instillation video out and i still do not want to mess with it.I called a local guy in brooklyn and he said that the newer intel c2d's are more difficult to crack so he must charge a c note.Then he says if it had ben a an older model it would be 40 bucks.I wondering if i'ts worth spending that much on my mini or should i go for a macbook or imac.I dont want to spend so much more on another system.i just got my mini a few months ago.What do you guys think? thanks.

 

[MAW]

Hi guys.Well im interested in upgrading my ram to 2 gb or maybe 3.Now i have seen every Macmini instillation video out and i still do not want to mess with it.I called a local guy in brooklyn and he said that the newer intel c2d's are more difficult to crack so he must charge a c note.Then he says if it had ben a an older model it would be 40 bucks.I wondering if i'ts worth spending that much on my mini or should i go for a macbook or imac.I dont want to spend so much more on another system.i just got my mini a few months ago.What do you guys think? thanks.

first off, I think the mini can only be upgraded to 2 g of ram.

second, it being harder to crack open is bs as far as I can tell. you should ask him what he means by that.

third, I wouldn't recommend trying to do it yourself. 2 of my friends who've had mini's and tried it have killed them!

i know it's not what you might want to hear since your mini is so new, but I would definitely (if I were you) try selling it then looking for a base model macbook on amazon. it's way more upgrade-able and portable and ofcourse there's a bump in cpu speed. just my $.02

 

[nyprospect]

first off, I think the mini can only be upgraded to 2 g of ram.

second, it being harder to crack open is bs as far as I can tell. you should ask him what he means by that.

third, I wouldn't recommend trying to do it yourself. 2 of my friends who've had mini's and tried it have killed them!

i know it's not what you might want to hear since your mini is so new, but I would definitely (if I were you) try selling it then looking for a base model macbook on amazon. it's way more upgrade-able and portable and ofcourse there's a bump in cpu speed. just my $.02

Great advice thank you.I was thinking that.The guy obviously heard the mac newbie in my voice.I just switched.So maybe he tried dig in my pockets a bit more.

 

[gotzero]

I have 4GB in mine, recognizes 3.0 system, 4.0 profiler. Runs in dual channel. RAM is so cheap, get 4GB and have 3.3GB dual-channel RAM for your toy.

Upgrading is not hard, be brave!

 

[ParishM]

I have 4GB in mine, recognizes 3.0 system, 4.0 profiler. Runs in dual channel. RAM is so cheap, get 4GB and have 3.3GB dual-channel RAM for your toy.

Upgrading is not hard, be brave!

me too




P....

 

[MAW]

I have 4GB in mine, recognizes 3.0 system, 4.0 profiler. Runs in dual channel. RAM is so cheap, get 4GB and have 3.3GB dual-channel RAM for your toy.

Upgrading is not hard, be brave!

....wow, that's awesome! I stand corrected.

 

[FatSweatyBlldog]

There is a difference between PPC and Intel Minis

Technically, the old PPC Minis are easier to upgrade, b/c once you pop the top, the RAM is right there.

After popping the top on the Intel mini, you have to remove four screws, unplug the fan wire, and unplug the WiFi card, so you can flip part of the internal chasis over to access the RAM.

All that said, popping the top of the mini is the most difficult part of the RAM upgrade. Bought a 1.83 CD as a refurb and added 2GB of RAM, myself. If you've ever moded or upgraded a PC, you should be able to handle this yourself.

Since you're in Brooklyn, call the Apple store and ask how much they'll charge to install RAM you bring to them. $40-$60 seems a reasonable rate, though since you're in NYC $100 isn't completely outrageous (as long as the guy is a certified tech, insured/bonded, etc.)

By the way, even if you pay the C note for RAM installation, you're still not approaching anywhere near the cost of a new Macbook, for this upgrade.

Good luck!

 

[Nick T.]

Although I've built several PCs over the years, I paid to have my 1.66 CD's RAM upgraded to 2GB.

That and a 500GB miniStack have turned my Mini into a pretty good little machine!