The amount of installed memory makes a difference in Geekbench scores – more RAM will give you a higher score. These are rough averages under Geekbench 2. It’s crazy how much faster this will make the pokey 1.5 GHz Core Solo model! Geekbench 2 Scores For the 1.5 GHz Core Solo model, it will nearly double your power.įor the ultimate in speed, you’re looking at the 2.33 GHz T7600, which provides a 16% speed boost for the 2.0 GHz model, 25% higher than 1.83 GHz, 40% more than 1.66 GHz, and 55% higher than the 1.5 GHz Core Solo – plus a second core, the improved Core 2 Duo architecture, and a twice-as-large cache. Definitely worth it for 1.83 GHz and slower models – probably not worth the effort on a 2.0 GHz Mac mini, since the Geekbench score is only about 5% higher. Be sure to get good thermal paste, such as Arctic Silver.įor a real boost on the cheap, the 2.16 GHz T7400 provides 8% more speed than the T7200, and you should be able to find one for under $9 shipped on eBay.

With its larger cache, it will give a significant performance boost, and it typically sells for under $3 shipped. If you’re spending money, at the very least pick the 8% faster 2.0 GHz T7200. If you have a pulled T5600, you can upgrade any Core Solo or Core Duo to 1.83 GHz and Core 2 Duo for free. The T5600 sells for more on eBay than the T7200, so there’s no sense buying the T5600.

2.33 GHz Intel T7600, 4 MB cache, $26 and up on eBay.

2.16 GHz Intel T7400, 4 MB cache, about $9 on eBay.

2.0 GHz Intel T7200, 4 MB cache, about $3 on eBay.

These are your Core 2 Duo CPU upgrade options:

It’s possible to upgrade these with up to a 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo Merom CPU.

1.66 GHz Core Duo ( Early 2006 and Late 2006).

Original speeds for the 20 Mac minis were: The CPU is not soldered in place, allowing the Early 2006, Late 2006, and Mid 2007 models to take the same CPU upgrades, bringing speeds as high as 2.33 GHz. The first three generations of Intel-based Mac minis used the same Socket M to mount the CPU on a 667 MHz system bus.

Mac mini a1347 ram upgrade