09-13-2011, 04:20 PM

Just after a bit reassurance before I crack open the mac mini

As I'm a bit skint but need to upgrade the 80gb HDD in my mac mini, as its my itunes server and my 500gb external drive keeps switching off !!!

I've got a 320 gb drive from my PS3 and was wondering if I can just swap it with the mini's and boot with the SL disc and it'll format & install ???

I'm upgrading the memory from 1 to 2 gb at the same time

09-13-2011, 04:26 PM

Which model Mini is it? The older ones (before the new flat Minis) come apart way differently than the latest Mini.

What size is the PS3's hard drive? 2.5" or 3.5"? I have never been inside a PS3 before. If the PS3's drive is a 2.5" Notebook SATA drive, then yes, it will work in the Mini.

You can also purchase a inexpensive external hard drive enclosure and put in the 80GB. Then install SL on the 320 GB and use Migration Assistant and your new install will be just like your old on the 80GB. That is what I would do.

Going to try and find out exactly what drive a PS3 uses so I can better answer your first question.

EDIT: just checked and the drive in the PS3 IS a 2.5" SATA Notebook drive, so it should work in your Mini. Still give us the specs on the Mini. There are many tutorials and videos on upgrading the hard drive on the net.

09-13-2011, 04:31 PM

Its a 2007 model & Ive already been on youtube to see the procedure

PS3 uses a 2.5" 8.5mm drive Sata

The 80gig will be going in the PS3

09-13-2011, 04:56 PM

Then go for it. Done it myself a few times. Just be careful taking apart the mini.

What I was saying is put the 80GB temporally into a case and migrate the settings and data then you can put it in your PS3.

Good luck and if you get stuck, we are here. I have done it at least 15 times with different Minis.

09-13-2011, 04:58 PM

Don't forget to backup your PS3 to an external before pulling the drive.

09-13-2011, 05:02 PM

Cheers

There's nothing on the mini I want to keep, I've just been using it as an iTunes server at the mo, so just a fresh install of SL will do

09-14-2011, 03:29 PM

One other factor that may, or may not, be relevant to your Mini with its replacement drive - drive speed. The 5400 rpm unit seems to be pretty much standard for Apple notebooks/laptops - and the Mini - and putting in a 7200 rpm drive *may* cause excessive noise and vibration.

09-14-2011, 05:02 PM

Well fairly straight forward swapped them both over and both now installed

Did a back up of Ps3 but it keeps saying corrupt so all the game saves gone
But it's working and as I don't play to many games.....oh well, still got 64gb left to play with

Mini is up and running with SL on and just sorting out iTunes & iphoto, hopefully the 2gb memory comes tomorrow and I can get the case back together, ended up a fairly easy job

09-14-2011, 08:40 PM

Very cool. Glad it worked and gave you no issues. The memory will make things even nicer.

09-15-2011, 05:01 AM

Ps3 is a toshiba 5400 HDD with a 19db idle noise level so should be ideal, saved me £33

I'll prob change it to a 1tb next year when funds improve.

So if anyone's got an oldish Mini, I'd recommend the upgrade, very easy to do

09-15-2011, 05:25 PM

All done, 320gb HDD (free) upgrade & 2gb memory upgrade (£9)

Well worth it, running a lot faster :-)