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Discussion in 'Mac mini' started by stuffradio, May 24, 2012.

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  1. stuffradio, May 24, 2012

    stuffradio macrumors 65816

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2009
    #1
    Is it easy to upgrade the CPU in my MacMini2,1? It is easy in a non mac PC. Upgrading RAM in the 2,1 is not that hard from the videos I've seen. I have stock hardware in it.

    1 GB RAM
    1.83 GHz Core 2 Duo
    80GB HD
    etc.

    I'm doing App development, and when I start getting a lot of pages in Storyboard in XCode 4, it slows the computer down a lot. I wonder if upgrading to 3GB RAM would fix that. If I could, I'd just buy the latest MacMini for $699 CAD refurbished through the education discount, but I don't have that right now.

    I think a 2.x CPU is a bit over $100 and I might have extra macmini compatible ram lying around somewhere.
     
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  2. Mr. Retrofire, May 24, 2012

    Mr. Retrofire macrumors 601

    Mr. Retrofire

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    Location:
    www.emiliana.cl/en
    #2
    No, it is not easy.

    Same size as the Mac mini? I doubt that.

    Correct.

    More RAM is always good. If you use Safari: Do not use it! It requires large amounts of RAM, and can slow down your development tools. Non-WebKit browsers, such as Firefox are much better.
     
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  3. stuffradio, May 24, 2012

    stuffradio thread starter macrumors 65816

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    #3
    Why is it not easy?

    I didn't mean same size as the Mac Mini, I meant a normal larger tower.

    I do use Safari, and have safari open while running simulator and it is slow, because I have a lot of views for different pages in storyboard. It sometimes takes 5 minutes to move some pictureview boxes. So I really want to do something that will allow me to do a normal app with lots of pages without the mini freezing every two minutes for five minutes.
     
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  4. stuffradio, May 24, 2012

    stuffradio thread starter macrumors 65816

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    #4
    Found instructions from ifixit. Doesn't look that hard, looks like what I've done many times. The hardest part is keeping everything where you know where they are and what they belong to. Removing the old CPU and installing the new CPU is easy.
     
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  5. stuffradio, May 24, 2012

    stuffradio thread starter macrumors 65816

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    #5
    Sorry to keep posting, some of my posts can be merged if a moderator or admin needs to. I've been reading a lot of different things people have done for their old mac minis. I'll probably get the T7600 as I can get it for around $100 plus I think I can get it using 4GB RAM then. So $140 would give me a huge performance boost for one or two more years.
     
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  6. paulrbeers, May 24, 2012

    paulrbeers macrumors 68040

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    Dec 17, 2009
    #6
    I would first upgrade the RAM before you go and upgrade the processor. You are only looking at increasing the processing speed by about 20% which I don't see having nearly the affect that tripling the system RAM should.
     
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  7. stuffradio, May 26, 2012

    stuffradio thread starter macrumors 65816

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    #7
    Do you think only doing that would really make a difference? I found out I should be upgrading to Lion so I can be developing for the iOS 5.1 sdk. I'm already shut out from Mountain Lion because it's the A1176, and the A1176 is not supported starting at Mac OS X 10.8. So next year, for iOS 7, I'll probably be required to upgrade to the latest Mac Mini of that time.
     
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  8. philipma1957, May 26, 2012

    philipma1957 macrumors 603

    philipma1957

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2010
    Location:
    Howell, New Jersey
    #8
    you could sell your machine and get a 2011 mini


    http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=1.83+mac+mini&_sacat=0

    they sell at 250 to 350.


    a 2011 on amazon is 568

    http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MC815LL...CLM6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338066316&sr=8-1


    so 568-300 is 268 add 8gb ram for 40 and 300 out of pocket vs


    100 for a t7600 cpu 35 for ram 135 out of pocket
     
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  9. MacTech68, May 26, 2012

    MacTech68 macrumors 68020

    MacTech68

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2008
    Location:
    Australia, Perth
    #9
    Having researched the CPU upgrade for a while but not having done it, the only pit-fall seems to be the plastic clips holding the heatsink to the motherboard. These seem to break for many people.

    Also, the heaksink temperature sensor fits into a slot on the underside of the heatsink so you need to be careful lifting the heatsink so as not to rip the cable & connector from the motherboard.

    Of course, if you've never cracked open the older style MacMini case, you're in for a shock, as it sounds like you're breaking it. ;)
     
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