Any new developments in Mac Mini CPU upgrades? Falling prices?

[AAA]

Can any Mini be upgraded? I mean, 1.5 solos, core duos and core2 duos?

Would each of those still use T series Intel CPUs? What about the Meroms?

What are good sources for the CPUs? Any recent or upcoming CPU price reductions? Any BIG news/releases to wait for? (like tri or quad-core cpus what will work?)

[Lew Zealand]

Any Intel Mini can be upgraded.

As long as the chip has a 667 FSB and is Socket M, it will work as a processor upgrade for a Mini. The lower-end 667FSB Meroms will work, up to 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo. See the chart at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Int...C_65_nm.29

And choose a Socket M, 667 FSB chip and enjoy!

[Jem]

Newegg.com seems to be a good source.

Look through the reviews to see which ones have alsready been used successfully in Mac Minis.

[AAA]

Okay, so what would happen should one install (attempt) a non-667 bus? The multiplier would just make it lower than the maximum possible???

[tenders]

*rubs eyes*

I'm glad the CPUs are available, but the speed increase per dollar looks really low from my standpoint (1.66 GHz Core Duo). Am I missing something? (I'm not complaining about speed yet anyway.)

[AAA]

You might be missing that I paid $150 for my mac mini.

[Jem]

The 2.0Ghz Core 2 Duo is about $300 over at NewEgg. Any thing below 2.0Ghz will have only 2MB of L2 Cache... 2.0 Ghz and higher have the 4MB Cache, FWIW.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819111302

For now, it looks like 2.33Ghz is the top of the line for Mini installable processors... and those run about $650. Quite a premium for a few more Mhz.

But coming from a solo, the 2.0 Ghz C2D would be a great upgrade if you have the scratch.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

[quote AAA]Okay, so what would happen should one install (attempt) a non-667 bus? The multiplier would just make it lower than the maximum possible???
Yes, I am pretty sure it will run 20% slow. A 2.4 GHz processor designed to run on an 800 MHz bus will run at 2.0 GHz in a mini.


Until the next price drop, it is kind of a waste of money to upgrade a mini (unless you paid less than $200 for it like AAA). For people that paid close to MSRP, if they spend more than about $200 for anything other than RAM, I think they would have been much better off to have bought an iMac, and have the option to get a much better graphics chip too.

I am expecting that Intel will introduce a new socket with the next round of processor technology updates. If that happens be prepared to jump when the new prices show up at the retailers like Newegg. After a socket format change, the old version is usually only stocked at big retailers for about 6 months.

[AAA]

Just to be clear..$150 was my NET out of pocket. I bought TWO at reduced, open-box prices, and sold one for profit which when taken as an overall deal/calculation, net resulted in $150.

[ADent]

Remember they have to be laptop chips. So the quad core desktop chips will not fit.