Upgrading Mac mini

Hazza Manazza · Hazza Manazza #1 (**permalink**)

01-01-2010, 08:49 AM

HI there,
I have a late 2006 mac mini with intel 945GM chipset. It has Core DUo (32 bit) CPU. I was wondering if I could upgrade it to a Core 2 DUo to run 64 bit software. Would my chipset support a 64 bit cpu and would I be able to run 64 bit OS? I am afraid that 32 bit is dying out.

Hazza Manazza

cwa107 · cwa107 #2 (**permalink**)

01-01-2010, 09:30 AM

I believe the CPU is soldered fast to the logic board on Mac Minis, and much like a laptop, it's pretty much limited to memory and hard drive upgrades.

Regardless, for most people 64-bit does very little in terms of performance. I think the video game industry has gotten people to think that when you go from 8-bit to 16-bit to 32-bit, performance and capability is an order of magnitude better. And that was true back when computers were more limited. Today's hardware is so vastly superior, it's not as big of a deal.

The biggest difference 64-bit will make for the average Joe is the ability to address more than 4GB of RAM in a system. Since yours is limited to 2GB by the chipset anyway, I don't see it really having any kind of impact for you.

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #3 (**permalink**)

01-01-2010, 09:34 AM

I believe the newest Mac Mini's solder the CPU down, the older ones like my late 2006 model have a replaceable one, but the rest of what @cwa107 said still stands. The Mini can handle at most 3G of memory, the newest ones go to 4G..

Regards

cwa107 · cwa107 #4 (**permalink**)

01-01-2010, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raz0rEdge

I believe the newest Mac Mini's solder the CPU down, the older ones like my late 2006 model have a replaceable one, but the rest of what @cwa107 said still stands. The Mini can handle at most 3G of memory, the newest ones go to 4G..

Regards

I stand corrected. Thanks Raz0rEdge. Good to know.

In fact, it appears this is indeed possible. See this site:

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/systems/m...duo_swaps.html

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #5 (**permalink**)

01-01-2010, 10:12 AM

Yeah the upgrade is possible, but the CPU's cost close to $250-275 on eBay, so it's not a very budget friendly upgrade..

Regards

XJ-linux · XJ-linux #6 (**permalink**)

01-01-2010, 11:18 AM

I tossed an Intel T7400 2.16Ghz C2D into my Mac Mini which came stock with a 1.6?Ghz Core Solo CPU. It's pretty simple, you just need to be extra careful on applying the heat paste to the CPU/heat sink. Don't get the paste ANYWHERE else. It's about a 1 hour project at most.

Here's the tutorial I followed...

o0o.it :: Mac Mini Intel Core Duo Upgrade Guide

The CPUs are not that expensive used...

Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile T7400 SKT M 2.16/4M/667 SL9SK - eBay (item 300374536195 end time Jan-04-10 05:36:13 PST)

cwa107 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2006 Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania Posts: 25,918 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, Core i7/2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB Crucial M4 SSD	01-01-2010, 09:30 AM I believe the CPU is soldered fast to the logic board on Mac Minis, and much like a laptop, it's pretty much limited to memory and hard drive upgrades. Regardless, for most people 64-bit does very little in terms of performance. I think the video game industry has gotten people to think that when you go from 8-bit to 16-bit to 32-bit, performance and capability is an order of magnitude better. And that was true back when computers were more limited. Today's hardware is so vastly superior, it's not as big of a deal. The biggest difference 64-bit will make for the average Joe is the ability to address more than 4GB of RAM in a system. Since yours is limited to 2GB by the chipset anyway, I don't see it really having any kind of impact for you. Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!
	QUOTE Thanks

XJ-linux #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 02, 2007 Location: Going Galt... Posts: 3,126 Mac Specs: MacBookAir5,2:10.8.3-MacMini3,1:10.8.3-iPhone3,1:6.1.3	01-01-2010, 11:18 AM I tossed an Intel T7400 2.16Ghz C2D into my Mac Mini which came stock with a 1.6?Ghz Core Solo CPU. It's pretty simple, you just need to be extra careful on applying the heat paste to the CPU/heat sink. Don't get the paste ANYWHERE else. It's about a 1 hour project at most. Here's the tutorial I followed... o0o.it :: Mac Mini Intel Core Duo Upgrade Guide The CPUs are not that expensive used... Intel Core 2 Duo Mobile T7400 SKT M 2.16/4M/667 SL9SK - eBay (item 300374536195 end time Jan-04-10 05:36:13 PST) ,_____o00o _ //___l__,\____\,__ l_--- \___l---OlllllllO (o)_)-o- (o)_)--o-)_)
	QUOTE Thanks

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Hazza Manazza #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 16, 2008 Posts: 15	01-01-2010, 08:49 AM HI there, I have a late 2006 mac mini with intel 945GM chipset. It has Core DUo (32 bit) CPU. I was wondering if I could upgrade it to a Core 2 DUo to run 64 bit software. Would my chipset support a 64 bit cpu and would I be able to run 64 bit OS? I am afraid that 32 bit is dying out. Hazza Manazza
	QUOTE Thanks

Raz0rEdge #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 17, 2009 Location: MA Posts: 5,852 Mac Specs: 27" i7 iMac with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD, iPhone 3G & 4, iPod Nano 16GB, iPod Shuffle, iPad 2 16GB WiFi	01-01-2010, 10:12 AM Yeah the upgrade is possible, but the CPU's cost close to $250-275 on eBay, so it's not a very budget friendly upgrade.. Regards
	QUOTE Thanks

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