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Maximimum Mac Mini CPU upgrade

A

arjen

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 28, 2007
26
0
What is the maximum CPU I can put in my current 2Ghz C2D MacMini, does anybody know?
 
Gordy said:
It depends some of the older models weren't soldered. I'm not sure which models started the change though. You'd have to check.
Click to expand...

to my knowledge only the core solo and early core duo models were socketed, all core 2 duos are soldered into place ;)
 
Nope, that's not quite true. Only the 2009 (early and late) models are soldered. The last Core 2 Duo Mac mini that was socketed was the 2007 model with the Core 2 Duo T7200 2,0 GHz model.

One of my friends had one of these.
He later upgraded the T5600 (1,83 GHz C2D) CPU to the quite expensive T7600 C2D 2,33 GHz version.
 
Bennieboy© said:
to my knowledge only the core solo and early core duo models were socketed, all core 2 duos are soldered into place ;)
Click to expand...

Some of the C2D models were not soldered

opeter said:
Nope, that's not quite true. Only the 2009 (early and late) models are soldered. The last Core 2 Duo Mac mini that was socketed was the 2007 model with the Core 2 Duo T7200 2,0 GHz model.

One of my friends had one of these.
He later upgraded the T5600 (1,83 GHz C2D) CPU to the quite expensive T7600 C2D 2,33 GHz version.
Click to expand...

Looks like the mar 09 ones and later are soldered.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2...details-soldered-processor-drive-upgrades.ars
 
I think its basically if your Mac Mini has the Nvidia 9400m graphics chip then the CPU is soldered in.
 
milk242 said:
I think its basically if your Mac Mini has the Nvidia 9400m graphics chip then the CPU is soldered in.
Click to expand...

That's too bad. That would explain why ifixit.com doesn't have a how to guide for it.
 
Mac minis that originally shipped with a Core Duo or Core2Duo with GMA950 graphics can be upgraded to a T7600 2.33GHz CPU. I have one in mine and it works perfectly.

Side note: Mac minis that shipped with Core Duos can only be upgraded to 2GB of RAM. Mac minis that shipped with Core2Duos/GMA950 graphics can be upgraded to 3GB or 4GB, however, only about 3.2GB will be usable.
 
2.93GHz

Any reason a 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo processor wouldn't work? (Power/heat?)

They are on sale the week of June 26, 2011 for $89.99 :)
 
OriginalMacRat said:
Any reason a 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo processor wouldn't work? (Power/heat?)

They are on sale the week of June 26, 2011 for $89.99 :)
Click to expand...

socket does not match. the 2006 to 2008 minis have a socket that matches the t7600 cpu that is the top of the line cpu.

If you could take apart a 2009 mini you could put in a 3.06 c2d. no known photos of anyone doing this.
 
Just spotted T7700 Core 2 Duo 2.4 Ghz at £91, rather than T7600 2.33 at £181.

Know the T7600 is a workable upgade, but is there any reason I can't fit the T7700 instead?

Got a Mac Mini 1,1 with Core Duo 1.66 at the mo.

Thanks

Johnnybegoode
 
pastrychef said:
Mac minis that originally shipped with a Core Duo or Core2Duo with GMA950 graphics can be upgraded to a T7600 2.33GHz CPU. I have one in mine and it works perfectly.

Side note: Mac minis that shipped with Core Duos can only be upgraded to 2GB of RAM. Mac minis that shipped with Core2Duos/GMA950 graphics can be upgraded to 3GB or 4GB, however, only about 3.2GB will be usable.
Click to expand...

I have a 2007 mac mini with GMA950.

Is there *any* way to get a CPU with better (Intel HD) graphics?

Thanks.

bram
 
Ask a different question..

arjen said:
That's too bad. That would explain why ifixit.com doesn't have a how to guide for it.
Click to expand...

Soldering is not a rocket science, not at all. If you did you homework and you have identified a workable, yet faster CPU that is usable with the OSX, go for it.
There are tons of experts out there that do simple soldering for live.
I would ask those guys down below or similar. And I think the cpu you have in mind is not even BGA.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MICROPROCES...530?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item484198164a

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PS3-Repair-...346?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd53189f2

I think the question is not if its possible, but if its economical feasible.
(If it can help you one OSX version further along and not be stuck with Lion, it might be worth shooting for)

If you go for it, let us know. I would be interested in such a cool mod.
Good luck.

:cool:
 
b.stolk said:
I have a 2007 mac mini with GMA950.

Is there *any* way to get a CPU with better (Intel HD) graphics?

Thanks.

bram
Click to expand...

On Core2Duo and CoreDuo machines, the Intell GMA 950 is not a part of the CPU. It is a separate chip that is soldered onto the logicboard and is not upgradable.
 
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