CPU Upgrade

[Swarmlord]

I was browsing my favorite computer vendor's website for parts to work on a client's Windoze machine and noticed that all the Intel CPUs are LGA 775 Socket based. Since the chipsets that are used by every Windoze motherboard with that socket scale up to every available clock speed, is it too much of a stretch of the imagination to either:

1) Pop an Intel Pentium D 930, 940 or 950 chip into a Mac mini to replace the sub 2GHz model?

2) Insert an Intel Core 2 Duo chip into that same computer ahead of Apple releasing this upgraded model?

Anyone opened up your Mac mini and saw a LGA 775 socket or is the CPU soldered in? Anyone actually performed a CPU upgrade like this on the modern machines? I'm just curious whether this is something that is remotely possible.

 

[iMeowbot]

I was browsing my favorite computer vendor's website for parts to work on a client's Windoze machine and noticed that all the Intel CPUs are LGA 775 Socket based.

Except for all the ones that aren't The Yonah and Merom use Socket M, a 479-pin deal. The mini and iMac are built from mobile parts, so no joy for you

 

[bearbo]

I was browsing my favorite computer vendor's website for parts to work on a client's Windoze machine and noticed that all the Intel CPUs are LGA 775 Socket based. Since the chipsets that are used by every Windoze motherboard with that socket scale up to every available clock speed, is it too much of a stretch of the imagination to either:

1) Pop an Intel Pentium D 930, 940 or 950 chip into a Mac mini to replace the sub 2GHz model?

2) Insert an Intel Core 2 Duo chip into that same computer ahead of Apple releasing this upgraded model?

Anyone opened up your Mac mini and saw a LGA 775 socket or is the CPU soldered in? Anyone actually performed a CPU upgrade like this on the modern machines? I'm just curious whether this is something that is remotely possible.

it's "Windows" not "windoze", your mom didn't teach you what the word "respect" mean?

 

[Swarmlord]

Except for all the ones that aren't The Yonah and Merom use Socket M, a 479-pin deal. The mini and iMac are built from mobile parts, so no joy for you

Thanks! Are they mounted in a socket retainer though or soldered in?

 

[Eidorian]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...9&Submit=ENE&Manufactory=1157&SubCategory=343

Socketed on desktops. Soldered on laptops.

 

[Swarmlord]

it's "Windows" not "windoze", your mom didn't teach you what the word "respect" mean?

Actually, Windoze is what I do when I'm working on them and I'm in the middle of a three finger salute/reboot cycle.

 

[aquajet]

Thanks! Are they mounted in a socket retainer though or soldered in?

In the mini, they're socketed. You can do a google search for lots of info about upgrading the mini's processor. Several people have done it successfully.

 

[The General]

1) Pop an Intel Pentium D 930, 940 or 950 chip into a Mac mini to replace the sub 2GHz model?

WHAT? That would be a DOWNGRADE. Pentium D's are REALLY REALLY slow compared to Core Duos and Core 2 Duos.

A Pentium D 3.4Ghz is about as fast as a Core Duo 1.66Ghz. DO NOT DO THAT.

 

[Swarmlord]

In the mini, they're socketed. You can do a google search for lots of info about upgrading the mini's processor. Several people have done it successfully.

Sweet! Thanks. Although the speeds aren't the eye popping 3.x GHz rates available in the pentium models I listed in my post, there definitely are faster ones and despite the cost of the fastest (2.167 @ $425) at this time, the prices will definitely come down and I'm wondering whether a Mac Mini can receive a little boost in speed later down the line for say $100. I'm also curious about whether a socket M is a socket M as far as accommodating a Core 2 Duo in the future also.

 

[Eidorian]

I'm wondering whether a Mac Mini can receive a little boost in speed later down the line for say $100. I'm also curious about whether a socket M is a socket M as far as accommodating a Core 2 Duo in the future also.

Unless it's a Core Solo it'd more then likely be better just to get a new mini.

 

[Swarmlord]

WHAT? That would be a DOWNGRADE. Pentium D's are REALLY REALLY slow compared to Core Duos and Core 2 Duos.

A Pentium D 3.4Ghz is about as fast as a Core Duo 1.66Ghz. DO NOT DO THAT.

I only mentioned them because they used the same LGA775 socket. Don't worry, my line of questioning was definitely geared towards reading about someone having successfully dropped in a Core 2 Duo chip into a Mac Mini or iMac and having a blazingly fast machine that won't be obsoleted even by one or two Apple design upgrade cycles.

 

[Eidorian]

I only mentioned them because they used the same LGA775 socket. Don't worry, my line of questioning was definitely geared towards reading about someone having successfully dropped in a Core 2 Duo chip into a Mac Mini or iMac and having a blazingly fast machine that won't be obsoleted even by one or two Apple design upgrade cycles.

*sigh*

Core 2 Duo (Merom) - Socket M (PGA 479 modified)
Core 2 Duo (Allendale/Conroe) - Socket T (LGA 775)
Xeon 51xx (Woodcrest [Core 2 Duo]) - Socket J (LGA 771)

They're ALL Core 2 Duo systems.