Had a 2009 mini wit 8th ram and 40ssd. I got a steal of a lifetime for a 2010 mini open box for $300 off. Selling my 09 but keeping ram and sad. I like the 320 hard drive in new one. Shld I make the ssd an external boot drive? Any help or suggestions wld be greatly appreciated.
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Upgraded from 09 to 2010 Mac mini...suggestions on SSD
- Thread starter Macatak60
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before you do anything to the 2010. what is your 2009 model?
a 2.0
a 2.26
a 2.53
a 2.66 .
what is the 2010 model a 2.4 a 2.66? I ask this because I have upgraded dozens more like 90 and the 2010 is not beter then the 2.53 2009 or the 2009 2.66. so if your 2009 is a higher cpu do nothing at all and sell the 2010 on ebay for a small profit hold the cash for a 2011. The 2010 is a very delicate upgrade of the hdd due to the paper thin connection wires for hdd. of course if you have a 2.0 or a 2.26 2009 and are going to a 2.4 cpu in the 2010 all of the above does not apply.
regards phil
a 2.0
a 2.26
a 2.53
a 2.66 .
what is the 2010 model a 2.4 a 2.66? I ask this because I have upgraded dozens more like 90 and the 2010 is not beter then the 2.53 2009 or the 2009 2.66. so if your 2009 is a higher cpu do nothing at all and sell the 2010 on ebay for a small profit hold the cash for a 2011. The 2010 is a very delicate upgrade of the hdd due to the paper thin connection wires for hdd. of course if you have a 2.0 or a 2.26 2009 and are going to a 2.4 cpu in the 2010 all of the above does not apply.
regards phil
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If you need to adjust for 'overscan' on your HDTV, the 2010 Mini has a much finer-grained control over that setting, so in that situation it would be worth keeping the new Mini for that feature.
As to your original question, an SSD hooked up externally will not yield the same speed benefits as installing it internally. Some people here have seen improvements hooking one up via FireWire 800, but aside from that, you really want to install it internally. If you're not using it as your main computer though (and can stand the slower launch times with the normal hard drive), it's not as big of an issue.
What's so bad about the 2010 mini compared to the 2009? Am planning on installing a SSD in place of the optical drive but if there are major issues with the 2010, then might reconsider.
well if it is a base 2.4 it lists for 699 and you paid 300 less. Putting in the 8gb ram is easy and safe. putting in the ssd will be A P.I.T.A Why not hook the new one up with just the 8gb ram in it and don't touch the new ones hdd. run it for a day and see if you think you like it over the 2009. At the price you paid if you don't like it selling it on ebay for 500 would be easy. You lose nothing to see if it is better.
If you try to put in the ssd internally it is delicate.
here is a video note hdd is listed as a challenge to change.
http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/mac_mini2010/
this is the cable used for hdd in case your put the ssd inside
http://www.applecomponents.com/item...nsor-and/0000004780?pn=1&cmp=0167&per_page=30
the new machine is better if you can safely install the ssd. I believe the older machine is faster then the new one if you can't put the ssd inside the new one and decide to use it with a fw800 case.
I replaced the internal drive with a SSD in my 2010 Mini recently. If you are reasonably handy, it isn't that bad. The most difficult and frustrating thing is dealing with the stick on paper shield and thermal sensors. The actual disassembly and install was pretty straightforward.
khollister
you are correct the cable/tape assembly is delicate in comparison to the 2009 install. the rest is not so hard but many people break the cable tape and need a replacement. The breakage rate for the 2009 was far less.
you are correct the cable/tape assembly is delicate in comparison to the 2009 install. the rest is not so hard but many people break the cable tape and need a replacement. The breakage rate for the 2009 was far less.