Potential C2D CPU upgrades to a CD Mac Mini

[w8ing4intelmacs]

I have a Intel CD 1.66 GHz Mac Mini and I'm trying to figure out my upgrade choices. Which Core 2 Duo CPUs work with my Mini?

The partial list I've compiled include: T7200 (2.0GHz) T7400 (2.16GHz) and T7600 (2.33GHz).

Of course, I might be mistaken that the above work, and I'm sure there are other CPUs not on the list. Please let me know. Thanks!

[Eidorian]

You've got it right for possible Core 2 Duo upgrades for the Mac mini.

[w8ing4intelmacs]

You've got it right for possible Core 2 Duo upgrades for the Mac mini.

Will a T5500 or a T5600 work in a Core Duo Mac Mini?

[Eidorian]

Will a T5500 or a T5600 work in a Core Duo Mac Mini?No problem with those either. Any Socket M processor should work in it.

[philgilder]

does the motherboard support core 2 duos?
some only support certain types...

[Nichod]

does the motherboard support core 2 duos?
some only support certain types...

Yes it does.

[dmylrea]

Sorry to resurrect this post from the dead, but I searched and didn't find a single hit on upgrading to a T5550 (1.83 C2D) chip.

I have a 1.66 CoreDuo mac mini, and I have two T5550 chips I have tried installing, and both give me a dead Mac mini. It turns on, but nothing. No sound, no video, no clicks...nothing. I've tried both CPU's, and inbetween, put the T2300 back in, just to make sure I didn't fry anything, and it works with the T2300.

Should the T5550 chip upgrade work? It seems like the specs would be OK...

Any ideas?

thanks!

ps. I have also put the T5550's into a Dell laptop, just to verify they were good, and the Dell works fine with the T5550's....

[Apple Ink]

Thats because you cant. Core duo uses a different chipset than C2D and, obviously, the CD chipset cant support a C2D. You can upgrade to a CD though!

[Cave Man]

Thats because you cant. Core duo uses a different chipset than C2D and, obviously, the CD chipset cant support a C2D. You can upgrade to a CD though!

You're mistaken. Socketed Yonah (CD) and Merom (C2D) processors are interchangeable. Lots of people have done it with their Minis. The T5550 is a 479 pin processor, vs. 478 for Merom.

[dmylrea]

Yes, AppleInk is mistaken as plenty of people have upgraded from CD to C2D.

Now, Cave Man, are you stating that the T5550 does NOT work, for sure, because it is a 479 pin chip? Or, are you just giving me some useful information?

If so, that would explain it.

Anyone else can confirm?

[CWallace]

The Socket 478 uses pins and the Socket 479 uses balls, as it is designed to be soldered. Both, though, actually have 478 electrical contacts.

Now, some third-party motherboards could take both Socket 478 and Socket 479 CPUs, but since Socket 479 is a BGA (Ball-Grid Array), in most cases you cannot use a Socket 478 CPU (which uses a Pin Grid Array) in a Socket 479 motherboard.

So you will want to buy m-FCPGA478/Socket 478 CPUs.

[dmylrea]

Now I am confused, because on ebay, all the T7400's listed state they are socket 479, and show pins, not balls.

Is the T7x00 series a socket 479 CPU or a socket 478?

I think I determined that the T5550 will not work because it is for the Santa Rosa chipset, which I don't think the Mac Mini is...

[Apple Ink]

Yes, AppleInk is mistaken as plenty of people have upgraded from CD to C2D.


I'm extremely sorry for my blatant response:o

I only ever have upgraded my gaming PC and never a mobile computer so I applied my desktop knpwledge on Mobiles (always ever owned an Apple portable).....
I was mistaken because there never has been a Core Duo (Yonah Like) for desktops!

Once again... sorry for the wrong info:o

[CWallace]

Is the T7x00 series a socket 479 CPU or a socket 478?

According to Intel's technical documentation, it looks like it is available in both a 478-pin Micro-FCPGA package and a 479-ball Micro-FCBGA package. So by Intel's own datasheets, there should not be a 479-pin model.

[Oneness]

The Socket 478 uses pins and the Socket 479 uses balls, as it is designed to be soldered. Both, though, actually have 478 electrical contacts.

Now, some third-party motherboards could take both Socket 478 and Socket 479 CPUs, but since Socket 479 is a BGA (Ball-Grid Array), in most cases you cannot use a Socket 478 CPU (which uses a Pin Grid Array) in a Socket 479 motherboard.

So you will want to buy m-FCPGA478/Socket 478 CPUs.

Sorry, if I am beating this into the ground, but.....
So from this conversation I take it that the Mini can not accept Socket 479 chips. It will only take Socket 478 chips - right?

[iGrant]

Sorry, if I am beating this into the ground, but.....
So from this conversation I take it that the Mini can not accept Socket 479 chips. It will only take Socket 478 chips - right?

Yeah could someone clarify this as I am trying to help a friend upgrade their Intel Mac Mini Core Solo to a Core 2 Duo and now I am almost completely positive that I am confused as well.

-iGrant

[Cave Man]

Yeah could someone clarify this as I am trying to help a friend upgrade their Intel Mac Mini Core Solo to a Core 2 Duo and now I am almost completely positive that I am confused as well.

Your only options are T7200, T7400 and T7600 (even numbered Meroms).

[Oneness]

Your only options are T7200, T7400 and T7600 (even numbered Meroms).

Cave Man,
I understand you can only use the t7200, t7400 and t7600. But can you only use the Socket 478 pin style chip, or can you also use the Socket 479 ball style chips?

[Cave Man]

(Edit: Appears FCPGA are needed, not FCBGA.)

The T7e00 Meroms are ball (micro-FCBGA). The T2e00 and T5e00 Yonahs were pin (micro-FCPGA). YMMV depending on the processor.

[ADent]

There are two T7600s - SL9SJ and SL9SD.

The SJ version is a ball grid array model, meaning solder mounted.

You want the SL9SD which uses the pin grid array, which is a standard socketed processor. *

BTW there are a some SL9SJs on eBay where somebody has soldered on contacts, effectively changing it to a SL9SD.

There was a report of success from a Hong Kong conversion success in a Mac mini.

* Basically a quote from http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18882

[Cave Man]

Good catch. Item #BX80537T7200 is a pin T7200, which would drop into a mini. No balls for Minis, eh?

[dmylrea]

There are two T7600s - SL9SJ and SL9SD.

The SJ version is a ball grid array model, meaning solder mounted.

You want the SL9SD which uses the pin grid array, which is a standard socketed processor. *

BTW there are a some SL9SJs on eBay where somebody has soldered on contacts, effectively changing it to a SL9SD.

There was a report of success from a Hong Kong conversion success in a Mac mini.

* Basically a quote from http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18882

I saw that on ebay, and wondered "what the heck"? Spent some time looking over the Intel docs and it showed that ID should be a ball grid array, but the picture showed pins! they soldered all those pins on? What a waste of time!

Thanks for the explanation, BTW.

Also, I just found a new Dell laptop from a 3rd party with a T7600 that was less than $500 (and it came with Office PRO w/lic sticker)!!! I'm ripping out the T7600 and putting it in my Mac Mini, then taking the T2300 at putting it in the Dell laptop and selling it at cost again!

Can you say FREE T7600 upgrade! :D

[iGrant]

I saw that on ebay, and wondered "what the heck"? Spent some time looking over the Intel docs and it showed that ID should be a ball grid array, but the picture showed pins! they soldered all those pins on? What a waste of time!

Thanks for the explanation, BTW.

Also, I just found a new Dell laptop from a 3rd party with a T7600 that was less than $500 (and it came with Office PRO w/lic sticker)!!! I'm ripping out the T7600 and putting it in my Mac Mini, then taking the T2300 at putting it in the Dell laptop and selling it at cost again!

Can you say FREE T7600 upgrade! :D

HAHAHAH Nice!!!! I did something similar once and I ended up getting more money when I resold it!!!!

Granted it was for a unix box . . . .


-iGrant

[richardhunt]

Ok, guys, ALL meroms are available in pin grid arrays or ball grid arrays. Pin grid arrays are used in the Minis as they are socketed. Ball grid arrays are used in laptops with cpu's soldered to the board. They are IDENTICAL CPU's Electronically, the only difference is one has pins, the other one does not.

You can look up the info here:

http://processorfinder.intel.com/

I have personally used T7200 (Apple shipped 2 Ghz Version), T7400 and T7600.



The T5600 is the cpu apple uses on the 1.83 C2D's
The T5500 should work with the Mini, it is a Socket M 667FSB processor, it is not a socket P (Santa Rosa) (at least according to wikipedia)

[Cave Man]

The T5500 should work with the Mini, it is a Socket M 667FSB processor, it is not a socket P (Santa Rosa) (at least according to wikipedia)

As with the others, the T5500 is available in either pin (http://processorfinder.intel.com/Details.aspx?sSpec=SL9U4) or ball (http://processorfinder.intel.com/Details.aspx?sSpec=SL9SQ).