Mac Mini (very old, Core Duo 1.6Ghz) upgrade

[kteach]

Question:
Has anyone installed a Broadcom Crystal HD into a very old Mac Mini? Does it help decode video?

Background:
I know this is not cost efficient. Sometimes I work with technology just for fun. Anyway I'm upgrading my Mom's Mac Mini Core Duo 1.66Ghz. I'm starting with RAM. It currently has only 2 x 256 - 512 MB. Unfortunately all I have lying around are stacks of 2 GB sticks I've pulled out of old netbooks. I'm going to try putting 1 x 2 GB PC2-5300. We'll see.

Anyway, I have also ordered a C2D 2.33GHz T7600 SL9SD from China. Only $24 delivered. Hopefully that will work. I also see a Broadcom BCM70012 BCM970012 BCM70010 Crystal HD Decoder AW-VD904 for $10 delivered. Has anyone installed something like this in a Mac mini? What would it take to get the mac to see this and use it? With the RAM and CPU, if I could add an HD decoder this would be an OK HTPC.

Thanks!

 

[ApolloBoy]

This might help you, it's a whole thread about people installing one of those in their older Mac Minis: http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=65616

 

[paulrbeers]

Question:
Has anyone installed a Broadcom Crystal HD into a very old Mac Mini? Does it help decode video?

Background:
I know this is not cost efficient. Sometimes I work with technology just for fun. Anyway I'm upgrading my Mom's Mac Mini Core Duo 1.66Ghz. I'm starting with RAM. It currently has only 2 x 256 - 512 MB. Unfortunately all I have lying around are stacks of 2 GB sticks I've pulled out of old netbooks. I'm going to try putting 1 x 2 GB PC2-5300. We'll see.

Anyway, I have also ordered a C2D 2.33GHz T7600 SL9SD from China. Only $24 delivered. Hopefully that will work. I also see a Broadcom BCM70012 BCM970012 BCM70010 Crystal HD Decoder AW-VD904 for $10 delivered. Has anyone installed something like this in a Mac mini? What would it take to get the mac to see this and use it? With the RAM and CPU, if I could add an HD decoder this would be an OK HTPC.

Thanks!

Can't help you on the decoder, but the 2006 Intel Mini's can do 4GB (3.3GB usable) if you flash them from firmware 1,1 to 2,1. If you have the 2GB sticks, might as well use them.

 

[kteach]

Thanks for both of the replies. I will read the forum on the Crystal decoder a little more carefully. I have a question about the firmware. I thought I needed to change the CPU to a C2D from just the CD that is in there before I did this. I wanted to share that the Mac mini boots up just fine with 1 x 2 GB Dimm in the slot. Looking online I saw a few posts that suggested this might work, but not that confirmed it. I can confirm. So for now, I am using 2 GB of ram on one stick and it certainly has made a difference. That and moving to an old SSD.

Benchmarks if anyone is interested.

Next I hope to move to OS X 10.6, then upgrade the CPU, then firmware & 2 GB more ram!