I would recommend that people get all the parts together before opening up the Mini. It's been 6 months and operated flawlessly. I upgraded the CPU, RAM, HDD and the optical drive in a 2006 Mac Mini ( originally 1.66GHz Core Solo) I bought to be used with a TV as a multimedia and web browsing machine. report has notes on ML/OS X 10.8.3)Ģ006 Mac Mini T7200 Core2Duo CPU/HD/Optical Drive Upgrades: ( Several reports below have notes on OS X Lion with C2D updated 2006-08 Minis. If there's an easier way (installer check edit, etc) send a note. The Lion volume should then work with the Core2Duo updated Mini (or iMac).

Install lion on a drive connected to a supported mac (Target Disk Mode, FW, etc) and then delete the (hidden) '/System/Library/CoreServices/ist' file. ( Note/Tip on OS X 10.7 Upgrades: For owners that swapped in a Core 2 Duo CPU, the original tip for Lion dev previews is reported to still work - I.E. Reader Reports: (later reports first.) If you've upgraded a Mini's CPU, send details (news at ). (And over time, CPU Prices drop as intel releases faster/later models.)

A socketed CPU is a huge plus, although at some point future CPUs will not be compatible (and may use a different socket), but in the meantime it's a nice change to be able to use standard (high volume/commonly available) Intel CPUs for upgrades. There were several news page posts earlier in 2006 on Core Duo CPU swaps (before the Core 2 Duo), although they are not listed here, except for the one that included a step-by-step guide on Mini CPU swaps from May 2006 (2006 Mac Mini Intel CPU Upgrade Guide at and a later posted ifixit guide). Some reports include notes on updating mac mini 1,1 efi firmware/bootrom to mini 2,1 version for 3GB RAM support vs 2GB w/mini 1,1 - Guide to Flashing Mini 1,1 to 2,1 at ) This page has pre-2009 model Mac Mini owner comments on Core 2 Duo (and some Core Duo) CPU upgrades as the (2006-2008 mfg) Intel-CPU Mac Mini has a CPU socket on the logic board (as did early Intel-based iMacs). The early Intel-based iMacs also had a socketed CPU and there are a couple C2D CPU upgrade reports here on those.) (CPUs in 2009 and later Mac Mini models are soldered to the motherboard.) Sponsor OWC has Mac mini upgrades (ram, drives, etc.) and take-apart guide videos for 2006-2008 Minis and later models. ( FYI: This page covers 2006-2008 Mac Mini models with socketed CPUs.

(2006-2008) Mac Mini Core 2 Duo CPU Upgrades (Chip Swaps)Īnd EFI/Firmware Updates (mini 1,1 to 2,1) & OS X Lion on Core2Duo Updated Minis Recent Updates | Mac Upgrades/Repairs | Storage | Video | Audio/Home Theater | Tips/OS Updaters/WiFi | Home 2006-08 Mac Mini CPU Upgrades, Firmware and OS X Lion Updates

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