Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Does it make sense to upgrade this

What to do

  • Leave it alone

    Votes: 2 28.6%

  • Keep the data on the 2009, upgrade 1TB to 500GB SSD

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Move the drives over to the 2010, keeping the same drives

    Votes: 2 28.6%

  • Move the boot drive over to the 2010, replace 1TB with 500GB SSD

    Votes: 1 14.3%

  • Other (replied to the post with more info)

    Votes: 2 28.6%
  • Total voters
    7
adam9c1

adam9c1

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 2, 2012
1,894
315
Chicagoland
I'm a geek at heart and support tech by day.

I have several computers in the house. Some just to browse the web while others for my computer studies, tinkering, etc.

I have a late 2009 Mac mini (dual drive)
2.53 C2D
8GB RAM
Boot Drive SSD
Data Drive 5400 1TB

running 10.11.6 + server.
I used it for netboot and net restore as well as content caching.
Now all that's really used is content caching.

I also have a 2010 Mac Mini
2.66 C2D
4GB RAM (not sure if I can transfer the 8GB to this)

I'd like to speed up the content caching a little.
Does it make more sense to keep it in the 2009 or move this to the 2010? I would have to get an adapter to convert the DVD bay into a 2nd HD (similar to what I did in the 2009)

In terms of aesthetics I'd take the 2010, as I have a 2011 and a 2012 so thus they all sort of blend in nicely in my network/server rack.

I thought I'd use more storage from the 1TB drive, but as it turns out I'm using under 200GB of cached content.
I'm thinking of upgrading from the 1TB spinner to 480-500GB SSD.
 
I would move the SSD and ram to the 2010. Just retire the 2009. Both can't use the latest OS or anything, but at least the 2010 will work with modern accessories designed for the current mini. I believe they use the same 1066 ddr3 so-dimms, so it should work. Make sure to install both chips and as a pair (for dual channel member, you'll need all the power you can get with these clunkers).

Although it doesn't mean much in today's standards, the video card is literally twice as fast on the 2010 model. It'll mean something for snappiness in the OS (don't expect miracles though...)

The cpu is also slightly faster, but barely worth mentioning as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: opeter and ElectronGuru
The machine is pretty much headless.
While it's connected to the KVM I have no need to actually access the GUI.

Since I have no other purpose for the 2010 anymore I'm more incline in upgrading it (While I did swap drives in a 2010 and 2011, but not add 2nd drives I prefer the 2009 and earlier to service) and if I break the 2010 it's not the end of the word as I'll have the fall back backup unit...

I'm looking for a way to speed up the serving of cached content.

Sometimes at home I do work on my work iOS devices and sometimes that entails erasing them and reinstalling what is scoped to them.
 
Yea, the 2009 was easier to upgrade, I miss that form factor, but you know apple and the need to be sleek...

I retired my 2009 imac last year, things age so fast when there's like no support. Hats off to you for keeping these guys going.

That said, I discourage spending too much money on these machines since you're not going to get as much out of them (hence why I suggested taking the better parts of the 2009 and put them into the 2010).

I totally get the sentimental angle, but spending a couple hundred on these machines and you're already spending as much as a new spare pc.
 
yea, i'd probably keep the cost to about that or less. It's when it's over a $100, that you might need to step back and at least reflect on the decision.
 
How big is the boot ssd on the 2009?
Does the 2010 need to have dual drives? Can you just replace the spinner in the 2010 with a larger ssd to save the added cost of the drive bay adapter. Possibly partition it if necessary to make the "cache drive".

As for the RAM, it looks like it is the exact same between the two models. (1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500)) so it should work fine if you swap it from the 2009 to the 2010.

If it was me, I would add in a 500gb ssd to the 2010, swap the RAM between the two systems and use it like that. You can always swap it back to the 2009 if the 2010 happens to fail sometime in the future.
The ssd can be always re-used as well. I'm still using an old external boot ssd that I bought for a 2013 21" iMac (had 5400rpm hdd). I no longer have that iMac, but the ssd is being used externally to hold the Win10 data on my current mini with the install only on a small portion of the internal mini ssd.
 
smbu2000 said:
How big is the boot ssd on the 2009?
Does the 2010 need to have dual drives? Can you just replace the spinner in the 2010 with a larger ssd to save the added cost of the drive bay adapter. Possibly partition it if necessary to make the "cache drive".

As for the RAM, it looks like it is the exact same between the two models. (1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500)) so it should work fine if you swap it from the 2009 to the 2010.

If it was me, I would add in a 500gb ssd to the 2010, swap the RAM between the two systems and use it like that. You can always swap it back to the 2009 if the 2010 happens to fail sometime in the future.
The ssd can be always re-used as well. I'm still using an old external boot ssd that I bought for a 2013 21" iMac (had 5400rpm hdd). I no longer have that iMac, but the ssd is being used externally to hold the Win10 data on my current mini with the install only on a small portion of the internal mini ssd.
Click to expand...

Considering he's also got a 2011 and 2012 sitting around, having a back up for the 2009/2010 probably not too useful. I'm amazed that the OP is keeping these guys going.

I've said it before, but I personally think the 2010 might be worth keeping since it can use the same accessories (same form factor, similar ports). Transfer the boot drive and ram, make the 1tb external to use with another machine. At this point, since the 2010 is underpowered compared to all the other computers the OP has, the 2010 would be best served as a kiosk/terminal somewhere around the house. It should be good for web browsing and streaming (both movies and steam gaming).

Could also do the unthinkable... make it a windows or linux machine.
 
I was using these machines for my Apple certification studies.

No sense in selling them as the prices tanked with no Mojave support.

The 2009 NetBoot and netinstall was for learning and tinkering.

Now it’s used for caching and Printopia server.

It has I believe 120GB SSD.

I could transfer over the RAM, and replace the spinner drive with a 480 SSD, and use the 1TB as a TM for it via a USB 2 cable.

For Mojave training I have a MacBook Air to use.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Boyd01
Update:

Purchased a 120 and 480 GB SSD drives from MicroCenter.

I already had a OWC data doubler optical drive replacement.

Used the I fix it guide, removed the factory 320GB drive.

Used CCC to clone drives from the 2009.

Now I’m cloning again as I’m thinking I may want to upgrade this box to 10.12

Keeping an eye on 2009 listings on eBay. It may offset some of the cost of the SSD drives.



Having worked on the 2010, feel more comfortable diving into the 2012. :)
 
That's an old thread LOL.
I've upgraded from the 2009 to 2010 (or 2011) can't remember.
Don't really do netboot but it's there. Just use it for content caching.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back