Mac Mini Early 2009 Service Manual

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Just seven months after overhauling the Mac mini, Apple made some small improvements: The base speed is now 2.26 GHz, 2 GB of RAM is the norm, and the 160 GB hard drive holds more data than the 120 GB drive found in the previous version. And for power users, there’s now a server version with a second hard drive bay in place of the optical drive.

For those who need more processing power, you can order the Mac mini with a 2.53 GHz or 2.66 GHz CPU.

The Intel-based Mac mini looks like previous models from the front, but the rear is different. Like the Early 2009 model, this Mini has five USB 2.0 ports (up from four on pre-2009 Intel Minis), two monitor ports, and FireWire 800.

The tiny Mac mini (6.5″ square, 2″ high, 2.9 lb.) has a minimalist design. On the front, there’s just a slot-loading optical drive (and for the first time, it’s a SATA SuperDrive) and a power light. On the rear, just enough ports to do everything important.

The Mac mini doesn’t include a keyboard or mouse. Apple says buyers can plug in their favorite USB keyboard and mouse – or buy Apple’s offerings. Mac OS X includes support for remapping the Windows alt and option keys to option and cmd respectively.

Intel-based Macs use a partitioning scheme known as GPT. Only Macintel models can boot from GPT hard drives. Both PowerPC and Intel Macs can boot from APM (Apple’s old partitioning scheme) hard drives, which is the format you must use to create a universal boot drive in Leopard. PowerPC Macs running any version of the Mac OS prior to 10.4.2 cannot mount GPT volumes. PowerPC Macs won’t let you install OS X to a USB drive or choose it as your startup volume, although there is a work around for that.

  • Our Mac mini Group is for those using G4 or Intel Mac minis.
  • Our Leopard Group is for those using Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6.

Details

  • introduced 2009.10.20 at US$599 (2.26 GHz) and US$799 (2.53 GHz), 2.66 GHz build-to-order option. 2.53 Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server, 4 GB RAM, and dual 500 GB hard drives retails at US$999. Replaced by redesigned Mid 2010 Mac mini on 2010.06.15
  • Part no.: MC238LL (2.26 GHz), MC239LL (2.53 GHz)
  • Model Identifier: Macmini3,1

Mac OS

  • shipped with OS X 10.6.1, requires Mac OS X 10.5.8 (may boot 10.5.6, which shipped with the March 2009 model) through 10.11 El Capitan, macOS Sierra via patch tool – see macOS Sierra on Low End Macs. Broadcom BCM4321 WiFi module, if present, is not supported by Sierra. macOS 10.14 Mojave and later are not supported.
  • Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard compatibility
    • Grand Central Dispatch is supported.
    • 32-bit booting only; cannot boot 64-bit OS.
    • 64-bit software is supported.
    • OpenCL is supported.
  • Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion compatibility
    • AirPlay Mirroring is not supported.
    • AirDrop is not supported.
    • Power Nap is not supported.

Core System

  • CPU: 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo (2.53/2.66 GHz optional)
  • L2 cache: 3 MB on CPU
  • Bus: 1066 MHz
  • RAM: 2 GB, expandable to 8 GB using two 1066MHz DDR3 SO-DIMMs. 256 MB of RAM set aside as video memory.

Video

  • GPU: Nvidia GeForce 9400M with resolution to 1920 x 1080 (VGA) and 1920 x 1200 (DVI).
  • VRAM: 256 MB DDR3 SDRAM (shared with main memory)
  • Video out: Mini-DVI and Mini DisplayPort, Mini-DIV-to-DVI adapter included, VGA with optional adapter

Drives

  • drive bus: 3 Gbps SATA Rev. 2
  • Hard drive: 2.5″ 160/320 GB 5400 rpm SATA standard
  • SuperDrive DL: SATA, writes DVD±R discs at up to 8x speed, DL at 6x; DVD±RW at 8x; reads DVDs at up to 8x; writes CD-R and CD-RW discs at up to 24x, reads CDs at up to 24x

Expansion

  • USB 2.0: 5 ports
  • FireWire 400 ports: 0
  • FireWire 800 ports: 1
  • Ethernet: 10/100/gigabit
  • WiFi: 802.11n AirPort Extreme built in
  • Bluetooth 2.1+EDR: standard
  • IR receiver: supports Apple Remote (optional)
  • no internal modem; external USB modem available
  • Microphone: none

Physical

  • size: 2.0 x 6.5 x 6.5 in/5.1 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm
  • Weight: 2.9 lb./1.3 kg
  • Power supply: 110W external power supply
  • PRAM battery: 3V CR2032 lithium

Upgrades

  • CPU can probably be replaced with a faster one.

Online Resources

  • The Late 2009 Mac mini value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.10.21. We called the Mac mini ‘the best value in desktop Macs’ two months ago, and the refreshed Mac mini only improves that value.
  • Mac mini the best value in desktop Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.08.25. Although the iMac is faster all around, the Mac mini provides plenty of power at half the price. Even with the cost of upgrades, it’s the value champion.
  • Know Your Mac’s Upgrade Options, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 2008.08.26. Any Mac can be upgraded, but it’s a question of what can be upgraded – RAM, hard drive, video, CPU – and how far it can be upgraded.
  • Maximizing the Mac mini, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2010.01.21. If Apple won’t offer a midrange Mac, someone should offer a replacement chassis for the Mini with two 3.5″ drive bays.
  • i5 iMac benchmarked, Mac mini ‘shouldn’t be overlooked’, Twitter client for Classic Mac OS, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.11.20. Also why Apple leaves the low end to others, 10.6.2 fixes video playback problem in 27″ iMac, 3D Leopard and Snow Leopard performance, and more.
  • Quad-core iMacs shipping, OS X 10.6.2, Safari 4.0.4, internal Blu-ray drive for Mac mini, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.11.13. Also new iMacs up to 46% faster with more RAM, upgrade a Mac mini in 6 minutes, a new ergonomic mouse, x86 emulator for PowerPC, and more.
  • The future of personal computing: Personal servers and low cost portables, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.11.02. With WiFi everywhere, virtual network computing, and remote access, your iPhone, iTouch, iTablet, or MacBook Air becomes a gateway to your home or office computer.
  • 2009 Mac mini takes 8 GB RAM, mini Server a steal, 27″ iMac now ‘the Mac to have’, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.10.30. Also using Blu-ray with the new iMac, 10 years of Mac OS 9, Magic Mouse potential, SSD upgrade for desktops, Chrome alpha for Mac, and more.
  • 5 best desktop Macs for gaming for under $1,000, Dan Bashur, Apple, Tech, and Gaming, 2009.09.10. You can have a decently configured gaming Mac for as little as $300 – and the ultimate for under $700.
  • The 64-bitness of Mac OS X 10.6 ‘Snow Leopard’, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.08.19. Although Apple is promoting ‘Snow Leopard’ as a fully 64-bit operating system, it defaults to running in 32-bit mode.
  • OS X 10.6 requirements, why Apple owns the high end, when to upgrade your Mac, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.08.14. Also Microsoft Word patent infringement, BackPack shelf for iMac and Cinema Displays, two updated Bible study programs, and more.
  • OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard for $29, run Windows on your Mac for Free, Update Breaks Office 2008, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.08.07. Also getting your Mac ready for Snow Leopard, Time Capsule doubles capacity, Picasa 3 for Mac, Bodega Mac app store, and more.
  • Apple tops in satisfaction again, slim profits on Mac mini, ultimate photo setup, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.07.02. Also tips for cloning hard drives and moving files from old Macs, Clickfree Transformer turns USB drive into a backup drive, maximum Mac Pro RAM, and more.
  • Optimized Software Builds Bring Out the Best in Your Mac, Dan Knight, Low End Mac’s Online Tech Journal, 2009.06.30. Applications compiled for your Mac’s CPU can load more quickly and run faster than ones compiled for universal use.
  • Intel’s promise fulfilled: More processing power per processor cycle, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.06.30. Apple promised improved CPU efficiencies when it announced the move to Intel in 2005. Three years of MacBooks show the progress.
  • Snow Leopard Up-to-Date, 13 Mac browsers, run Windows 7 on your Intel Mac for free, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.06.19. Also Mac sales steady in May, Apple vs. low-bandwidth users, Opera Unite turns browser into a personal server, and more.
  • New education iMac, first third-party Mini DisplayPort monitors, 8x Blu-ray for Mac, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.04.17. Also giving the iMac a matte display, when to reset PRAM, dissecting an eMac, cloud computing for the Mac, and more.
  • Macs lose top reliability rating, eSATA doomed by USB 3, Mac mini Bluetooth and audio problems, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.03.27. Also an abandoned iMac in New York City, 17″ iMac still available to education, IT pros are demanding Macs, and more.
  • US Mac sales down 16% in February, Opera Turbo available for testing, new iMac benchmarks, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.03.20. Also farewell to FireWire, Mac mini ‘deliberately neglected’ to protect iMac sales, Mini DisplayPort to VGA firmware update released, and more.
  • Gamer’s take on Nvidia Mac mini, Mac mini teardown and 1 TB upgrade, SuperSpeed USB 3 coming, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.03.13. Also Mac mini a sleeper hit, Apple increases desktop production, software to improve Safari, and more.
  • Mac mini 2009 edition, Dan Frakes, Macworld, 2009.03.12. “…for the first time, the Mac mini is a computer that’s truly capable of handling the iLife suite.”
  • New Mac mini and iMac benchmarked, FireWire 400-to-800 solutions, dual-band AirPort Extreme, and more, Mac News Review, 2009.03.06. Also new iMac and Mac mini dissected, OS X share still above 10%, fastest SATA boot drives for the Mac Pro, iMac keyboard loses numeric keypad, and more.
  • Ubuntu Linux and Boot camp make it easy to create a triple boot Mac, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.12.24. Boot Camp makes it easy to install Windows on Intel Macs, and Ubuntu now makes it easy to install Linux to a virtual Windows drive.
  • Why DisplayPort is the video connector for the future, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.12.23. DisplayPort supports multiple displays, combines audio and video on one cable, and costs nothing to use.
  • The ‘Better Safe Than Sorry’ Guide to Installing Mac OS X Updates, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.12.16. Most users encounter no problems using Software Update, but some preflight work and using the Combo updater means far less chance of trouble.
  • Why You Should Partition Your Mac’s Hard Drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.12.11. “At the very least, it makes sense to have a second partition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you have problems with your work partition, you can boot from the ’emergency’ partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics.”
  • Virtualization shootout: VMWare Fusion 2 vs. Parallels Desktop 4, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 2008.11.20. Both programs do the same thing, but one runs Windows XP smoothly alongside Mac apps, while the other bogs down everything but Windows.
  • Anticipating Macworld: Nehalem, Snow Leopard, and updated desktops, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.11.18. Intel’s Core i7 CPU has to make it way into the next Mac Pro, Nvidia GeForce graphics will drive the iMac and Mac mini, and ‘Snow Leopard’ will unleash the animal within.
  • What the next Mac mini needs, FireWire alive and well, Parallels 4.0 for Mac, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.11.14. Also Apple will weather rough economy better than competitors, Logitech diNovo Keyboard for Mac, gift tracking software, Logos Bible Software pre-release offer, and more.
  • Macs good values, Nehalem ‘blows everything else away’, free Lotus Symphony for Mac, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.11.07. Also Mac mini update coming, ink left in “dead” cartridges, Blu-ray facts, USB turntable, Eudora updated, and more.
  • Mac mini still alive, migrating with Time Machine, a portable USB turntable, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.10.31. Also is Mac right for you?, is Time Machine good enough?, DiskWarrior upgraded to support OS X 10.5.5, CrossOver Mac improves Outlook support, and more.
  • Debunking the Apple Tax, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.10.31. “…no one else is offering the quality of computer construction that Apple offers in the same price range.”
  • One OS to rule them all, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.10.29. With Fusion or Parallels letting you run Windows at full speed, Mac OS X gives you the best of both worlds.
  • Economic crunch may slow Mac sales, a recycled Cube, ToCA Race Driver 3 for Mac, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.10.10. Also don’t buy RAM from Apple, customize your Mac’s appearance, MacTribe expanding into print, My Apple Space social networking, and more.
  • What would an $800 MacBook mean for the Mac mini?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.10.09. If Apple does release an $800 entry-level MacBook next week, the $600 Mac mini is going to look very overpriced.
  • How to clone Mac OS X to a new hard drive, Simon Royal, Tech Spectrum, 2008.10.07. Whether you want to put a bigger, faster drive in your Mac or clone OS X for use in another Mac, here’s the simple process.
  • CodeWeavers brings Google’s Chrome browser to Intel Macs, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 2008.10.02. Google’s new Chrome browser uses separate processes for each tab and brings other changes to Windows users. Now Mac fans can try it as well.
  • Mac nano? Brick? How small could Apple make a Mac?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.09.23. The iPhone and iPod touch show how small Apple can make a computer. What if Apple wanted to build a very, very small Macintosh?
  • Apple Trumps Microsoft in Making the 64-bit Transition Transparent to Users, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.09.18. To use more than 4 GB of RAM under Windows, you need a 64-bit PC and the 64-bit version of Windows. On the Mac, OS X 10.4 and later already support it.
  • SATA, SATA II, SATA 600, and Product Confusion Fatigue, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.09.08. In addition to the original SATA specification and the current 3 Gb/s specification, SATA revision 3.0 is just around the corner.
  • MacDrought: 4 months with no new Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.08.27. The most recent Mac update was over four months ago, and the Mac mini has been unchanged for over a year.
  • Does running OS X system maintenance routines really do any good?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.08.26. Mac OS X is designed to run certain maintenance routines daily, weekly, and monthly – but can’t if your Mac is off or asleep.
  • Simple Mac security in the age of malware, Kev Kitchens, Kitchens Sync, 2008.08.13. Unlike Windows PCs, at this point Macs can’t become infected simply from being on the Internet, but you still need to be careful about your downloads.
  • Setting up a Mac-centric home theater, Charles Webb, The Webb Chronicles, 2008.08.05. “…turning your Mac mini into a home theater PC is really as simple as plugging it into your HDTV and turning it on.”
  • Dell Studio Hybrid just another mini PC lacking any real innovation, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 2008.08.04. Dell has decided to take on Apple’s Mac mini with a bigger, heavier, more colorful model. And the point is?
  • Mac malware count reaches 3, desktop PCs making a comeback, Mac mini in the living room, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.07.25. Also the ‘second coming of Apple’ threatens Microsoft, McCain and Obama are Mac users, standing up for Steve Jobs, Apple and Acer tied for #3 in US market, and more.
  • Free VirtualBox for Mac now a virtual contender, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.07.21. A year ago, the Mac version of VirtualBox lacked some essential features. Over the past year, it’s grown into a very useful tool.
  • Win the depreciation game by buying on the low end, Charles W Moore, ‘Book Value, 2008.06.24. The worst depreciation afflicts high-end models. By buying a less powerful version, choosing certified refurbished, or picking up a used computer, you’ll come out ahead.
  • 5 business essentials for ‘The Switch’, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 2008.06.06. If you’re planning a migration from Windows to Macs, these five steps will help you succeed in making the switch.
  • 1 display with 2 Macs, flash memory for file transfer, Quicksilver or TigerLaunch?, and more, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.21. Also running a PowerBook 1400 from Compact Flash, format=flowed for email, and OS 9 nice for browsing without Flash.
  • Virtual PC works with Leopard, Intel vs. PowerPC performance, beyond the Mac mini, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.20. Also upgrading Intel iMacs, Compact Flash in a PowerBook 2400, and thoughts on low-end Macs.
  • SheepShaver brings Classic Mac OS to Intel Macs and Leopard, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2008.05.20. Mac OS X 10.5 doesn’t support Classic Mode. Neither does Leopard. But SheepShaver lets you emulate a PowerPC Mac and run the Classic Mac OS.
  • Beyond the Mac mini, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.05.15. What if Apple were to think different and eliminate the built-in optical drive, cut $100 from the price, and offer an expansion chassis?
  • Windows on Macs: Three paths for integration, Jason Packer, Macs in the Enterprise, 2008.05.14. Mac users have three routes for running Windows apps: Run Windows using Boot Camp or virtualization, or use a compatibility layer such as WINE.
  • Prosumer Mac suggestions, bring back the 12″ ‘Book, Pismo displays, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.06. Readers offer more thoughts on a midrange Mac, the need for a new 12″ ‘Book, using F-keys as F-keys in OS X, and lid closed video mode for Pismo.
  • 50% Mac sales growth is only the beginning, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.05.02. Apple has a great line of computers and an awesome operating system, but a prosumer model could make last quarter’s growth seem normal.
  • Macintosh peace of mind, PA Semi and the iPhone, $40 802.11g PCI card, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.05.01. Also Power Mac vs. Mac mini, more on DVD User Op Patch, 12″ vs. 14″ iBook, and VGA for a Power Mac 6100.
  • OS X for PCs, Mac mini with HDTV, 802.11n options, upgrading from Mac OS 9, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.04.22. Also reviving a dead PowerBook 5300, Lucida Grande, external FireWire SuperDrive advice, OS X and the DeskWriter, and royalties.
  • Mac mini with HDTV, Lucida Grande on Low End Mac, the Open Computer, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.04.17. Also using a computer display with HDTV and cleaning your keyboard in the dishwasher.
  • A $99 PC, a $399 hackintosh, and growing the Mac market, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.04.15. There is a low-end market, which now includes a $99 bare bones PC and a $399 computer designed to run Leopard.
  • Intel mini vs. Power Mac, best keyboard ever, uses for old Macs, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.04.10. Also using Classic with Intel Macs, problems with Classic Mode, and collective nouns.
  • Used Intel Mac mini vs. 867 MHz Power Mac G4 dual, Mark Garbowski, My Turn, 2008.04.07. Can a dual processor Power Mac hold its own against a Core Duo Mac mini?
  • Apple’s growing market share, iMac color lawsuit, updated Mac Bible software, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.04.04. Also the rate of Leopard adoption, Adobe launches free Photoshop Express, Mac mini media center, and more.
  • Mac sales up while PCs decline, college students flock to Mac, Mac mini mount, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.03.28. Also picking the right Mac, creative uses for a Mac mini, Time Capsule reviewed, updates for Leopard, Time Capsule, and AirPort, and more.
  • Power Mac G5 vs. Intel Mac mini, video thumbnails lost in migration, OCR software, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.03.17. Also HARMONi compatibility with Mac OS X 10.4, a dual processor G4 auction, Internet access by digital phone, and more.
  • Megapixels, noise, image quality, and fixing photos in software, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2008.02.27. Also iMac vs. Mac mini, a possible fix for failing optical drives, optical mice for ADB Macs, and where to buy Macs in Philly.
  • New Mac Pro benchmarked, OS X killing Linux?, a hardened Mac mini, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.01.18. New Mac Pro architecture reduces memory bottleneck for better performance, Mac Pro Developer Note posted, and NewerTech’s USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter.
  • Restore stability to a troubled Mac with a clean system install, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 2008.01.15. If your Mac is misbehaving, the best fix just might be a fresh reinstallation of Mac OS X – don’t forget to backup first.
  • Ultimate Leopard tweaking guide, used Mac beats new PC, the megapixel myth, and more, Mac News Review, 2008.01.04. Also ‘spectacular’ growth in Mac usage to continue through 2008, why Leopard trumps Windows, Dell XPS and Apple iMac ‘both suck’, ditch your DVD player for a Mac mini, and more.
  • The best alternatives to Apple’s USB keyboards, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.12.10. There are a lot of USB keyboards out there, even for the Mac, but these two have great keyboard action, are solidly built, and have features Apple’s keyboard don’t include.
  • Could the $200 ‘green’ PC with gOS Linux become a threat to Apple?, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 2007.11.14. The low cost, low power Everex desktop comes with a customized version of Ubuntu Linux, has a Mac-like Dock, and sells for $400 less than the Mac mini.
  • Cross-platform computing: Better than it’s ever been, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 2007.11.13. Macs can read PC media, both Macs and Windows PCs play nice with each other on networks, and emulation makes it easy for Intel Macs to run Windows apps.
  • Beyond Google, 10 years on the G3, the Cube is not a Road Apple, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.11.13. Also the 64-bit advantage of Core 2, OS 9 on a USB flash drive, sound problems since switching to Leopard, and 7200 rpm in an eMac.
  • External $100 Sony DVD burner likes Macs, Brian Gray, Fruitful Editing, 2007.10.10. The box and manual say nothing about Mac compatibility, but this 18x USB 2.0 DVD burner is plug-and-play (at least with Tiger).
  • FastMac 8x SuperDrive and BurnAgain DVD: Fast and easy multisession disc burning, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.08. FastMac’s 8x SuperDrive upgrade is remarkably fast compared with older PowerBook burners, and BurnAgain DVD makes it easy to append files to a previously burned CD or DVD.
  • PC war losers, Mac ‘just works’, $68 802.11n for older Macs, a free font manager, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.08.31. Also DVD region locking, the iMac’s glossy screen, Mac mini powerful enough, Chromac iMac housings, SanDisk’s 8 GB flash drive, and more.
  • Macs ‘more enjoyable’ than PCs, end of the G4, enthusiastic aluminum iMac reviews, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.08.17. Also Apple’s USB 2.0 keyboard, business looks a iMacs, Core 2 Mac mini benchmarked, miniStack NAS server, Virtual PC update improves security, and more.
  • No junk from Apple, Mac mouse dies after 18 years, time to cut the gigabyte BS, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.08.10. Also new iMac and Mac mini models, Apple’s aluminum keyboards, new NAS drive looks like a Mac mini, first software update for aluminum iMacs, and more.
  • The Mac mini isn’t dead, Macs for the workplace, a taller Mac mini, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.07.31. Readers weigh in on the pros and cons of the Mac mini – and whether Apple should replace it with a more expandable Mac.
  • I love the Mac mini, no iPhone in court, no region-free DVDs on MacBooks, and more, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 2007.07.31. Also 15 years of ThinkPads, reliability and all-in-one devices, and thoughts on upgrading operating systems.
  • Does a college freshman need to run Windows on a MacBook?, Al Poulin, My Turn, 2007.07.24. While you can run Windows on today’s Intel-based Macs, is there any reason most college students would want to or need to?
  • Can you put 3 GB in a Mac mini?, where are the Mirrored Drive Doors CPU upgrades?, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 2007.05.21. Also a challenge to ‘Mac-ify’ the Interweb, more on CRT voltage dangers, and fixing Low End Mac’s navigation bar in Firefox for Linux.
  • VMware Fusion beta 3 adds new features, takes a giant step toward release, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.04.11. Looking for a virtualization solution for your Intel Mac? The latest beta of VMWare Fusion makes several improvements and includes some unique features.
  • 1 core, 2 cores, 4 cores, 8: How Much Difference Does It Make?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.04.10. Geekbench scores make it possible to compare the newest 3 GHz 8-core Mac Pro with the 1.5 GHz Core Solo Mac mini – and all the models in between.
  • CrossOver: Run Windows Apps on Intel Macs Without Windows, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2007.02.28. If you need to run Windows apps on your Intel Mac once in a while, CrossOver may be the least expensive way to do so since it eliminates the need to buy a copy of Windows.
  • Adding an Intel Mac mini Can Be Cheaper than Upgrading a Power Mac G4, Dan Knight, Mac Daniel, 2007.02.14. Looking at the cost of upgrading memory, adding a fast hard drive, and a GHz-plus CPU upgrade, buying a new Core Duo Mac mini makes a lot of sense.
  • Upgrade Your Power Mac or Buy an Intel Mac mini?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.11.30. With 1.8 GHz dual G4 upgrades selling for US$600, it might make more sense to add a Core Duo Mac mini than upgrade the processor.
  • Parallels Revisited: Release Version Far More Polished than Beta, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.11.21. Parallels lets you run Windows or Linux without rebooting your Intel-based Mac, and it’s made great strides since the beta came out earlier this year.
  • To AppleCare or not to AppleCare?, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.11.20. Consumer Reports, which generally recommends against extended warranties, says AppleCare makes sense. But does it?
  • Intel Inside Macs Paves the Way for Affordable CPU Upgrades, Adam Robert Guha, Apple Archive, 2006.11.10. By adopting industry standards, Apple has made it much easier for Mac owners to add memory, expansion cards, and faster CPUs to their computers.
  • Pre-2006 Software: The Big Reason You Shouldn’t Buy an Intel Mac in 2006, Ted Hodges, Vintage Mac Living, 2006.11.09. If you work with software that predates the Intel transition, you may be better off sticking with PowerPC Macs. And if you use classic apps, you definitely want to avoid Intel.
  • Region Free DVD Viewing Options for Intel and PowerPC Macs, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.09.12. Several hardware and software options that will let your view ‘wrong region’ DVDs on your PowerPC or Intel Mac.
  • Drive matters, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.06.14. There’s more to picking the right hard drive than size, spindle speed, buffer size, and price. But how can a 5400 rpm drive ever outperform a 7200 rpm drive?
  • Boot Camp: Apple officially supports Windows XP booting on Macintel hardware, The Macintel Report, 2006.04.06. No more need to do any hacks to get WinXP booting on Apple’s Intel-based Macs. Apple’s new Boot Camp software fully supports it.
  • NewerTech miniStack: A great drive even if you don’t own a Mac mini, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Reviews, 2006.02.08. Although it’s designed to match the Mac mini, the miniStack hard drive can add USB 2.0 and FireWire ports to any Mac while keeping your fast external hard drive cool.
  • Matias OS X and USB 2.0 Keyboards reviewed, Charles W Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.01.03. Two very good, nicely priced keyboards for the Mac – one even has a USB 2.0 port for the iPod shuffle and other devices.
  • A scrounger’s guide to equipping the Mac mini: Choices for the budget conscious, Hardy Menagh, Empowered, 2005.12.22. How to add a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and stereo sound to your Mac mini for little or no money.
  • Performance increase in replacing a mini’s hard drive, Jamie Dresser, Other World Computing, 2005.01.27. Alternate hard drives can boost disk performance by 25% to nearly 50% compared to Apple’s stock hard drive.

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Apple Mac mini 'Core 2 Duo' 2.0 (Early 2009) Specs

Identifiers: Early 2009 - MB463LL/A* - Macmini3,1 - A1283 - 2264

All Mac mini Models | All 2009 Models | Dynamically Compare This Mac to Others

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The Apple Mac mini 'Core 2 Duo' 2.0 (Early 2009/NVIDIA) features a 2.0 GHz Intel 'Core 2 Duo' (P7350) processor, a 3 MB on-chip level 2 cache, a 1066 MHz frontside bus, 1 GB or 2 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500) memory, a 120 GB or 320 GB Serial ATA hard drive, a slot-loading 8X double-layer 'SuperDrive', and a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with either 128 MB or 256 MB of memory shared with the system.
Connectivity includes Mini-DVI and Mini DisplayPort, a Firewire '800' port, five USB 2.0 ports, combined 'optical digital audio input/audio line in' and combined 'optical digital audio output/headphone' minijacks, a 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet port, and built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.
Although at first glance the Mac mini 'Core 2 Duo' 2.0 (Early 2009/NVIDIA) models look identical to the Mid-2007 models, they are quite different -- with a faster internal architecture that uses a faster system bus and faster memory as well as improved graphics and dual display support, the first time that dual displays have been supported by the Mac mini series. Connectivity is enhanced as well, with a Mini-DVI and a Mini DisplayPort (in lieu of a single DVI port) and 5 USB 2.0 ports (up from 4 on the previous system) and a Firewire '800' port (instead of a Firewire '400' port).
All Mac mini models have the internal components enclosed in a tiny and elegant 2.9 lb, 6.5 inch square, two inch tall case with a built-in speaker and an external power supply. Additionally, all Mac mini systems ship without a display, keyboard, or mouse, but numerous Apple and third-party options are available.
Also see:

  • What are the differences between the 'Early 2009/NVIDIA' Mac mini 'Core 2 Duo' configurations?
  • What are the differences between the 'Early 2009/NVIDIA' Mac mini 'Core 2 Duo' and the Mac mini models they replaced?

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  • Tech Specs
  • Ports
  • Global Original Prices
  • Popular Q&As

Click on a category for related details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. Asterisks (*) reference data in details fields.


Introduction Date:March 3, 2009 Discontinued Date:October 20, 2009
Details:The 'Introduction Date' refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The 'Discontinued Date' refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.
Also see: All Macs introduced in 2009.
Details:Also see: All models with a 64-Bit processor courtesy of EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Sort.
Details:Geekbench 2 benchmarks are in 32-bit and 64-bit modes, respectively. These numbers reflect an average of user provided 32-bit and 64-bit results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.
You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit and 64-bit Geekbench 2 user submissions for Macs with the Macmini3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.
To dynamically compare Geekbench 2 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
Details:These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 32-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.
You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the Macmini3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.
To dynamically compare 32-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
Details:These Geekbench 3 benchmarks are in 64-bit mode and are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.
You also might be interested in reviewing all 64-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for Macs with the Macmini3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.
To dynamically compare 64-bit Geekbench 3 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
Details:These Geekbench 4 benchmarks are are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. All Geekbench 4 benchmarks are 64-bit. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.
You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 4 user submissions for Macs with the Macmini3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.
To dynamically compare Geekbench 4 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
Details:These Geekbench 5 benchmarks are are for a single processor core and all processor cores, respectively. All Geekbench 5 benchmarks for the Mac are 64-bit. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.
You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 5 user submissions for Macs with the Macmini3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.
To dynamically compare Geekbench 5 results from different Macs side-by-side, see EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Comparison.
Processor Speed:2.0 GHz Processor Type:Core 2 Duo (P7350)
Details:The Intel 'Core 2 Duo' (P7350) processor includes two independent processor 'cores' on a single silicon chip.
Details:This model also was available via custom configuration with a 2.26 GHz 'Core 2 Duo' (P8400) processor for an additional US$150.
As requested by readers, EveryMac.com also has documented this custom configuration as its own model.
Details:The processor is soldered directly to the motherboard.
Also see: Is it possible to upgrade the processor in the Mac mini 'Core' models?
System Bus Speed:1066 MHzCache Bus Speed:2.0 GHz (Built-in)
ROM/Firmware Type:EFIEFI Architecture:64-Bit
Details:Also see: Does the Intel Mac mini have a ROM or BIOS?
Details:Includes a 3 MB shared 'on chip' level 2 cache that runs at processor speed.
Manual
Details:Supports 1066 MHz PC3-8500 DDR3 SO-DIMMs. Also see: How do you upgrade the RAM in the polycarbonate Intel-based Mac mini 'Core' models? How much RAM of what type do they support?
Details:*By default, 1 GB is installed as a single module (MB463LL/A) and 2 GB is installed as two 1 GB modules (MB464LL/A). Officially, this model is capable of supporting 4 GB of RAM, but as first reported by MacminiColo, this model unofficially can use 8 GB of RAM after applying EFI Firmware Update 1.2.
In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells memory -- as well as other upgrades -- for this Mac mini.
In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells memory and other upgrades for this Mac mini.
In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells RAM and other upgrades for this Mac mini.
In Germany, site sponsor CompuRAM sells memory and other upgrades for this Mac mini.
In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit sells memory and other upgrades for this Mac mini.
Also see: Actual Max RAM of All G3 & Later Macs.
Details:N/A
Details:This model has a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M that shares memory with the system.
In Spain, site sponsor iRepairs provides affordable repair and data recovery services. In-person and by mail repair services include the graphics card, power supply, and more for this Mac mini.
In Singapore, site sponsor Esmond Service Centre provides highly regarded repairs for the graphics card, motherboard, power supply, and more, all with a free estimate and fast turnaround for this Mac mini.
Details:*Apple reports that the low-end configuration (MB463LL/A) has 128 MB of memory shared with system memory and the high-end configuration (MB464LL/A) has 256 MB of memory shared with system memory. However, installing another 1 GB memory module in the low-end configuration will automatically increase the shared VRAM to 256 MB. Please also note that this is the minimum graphics memory usage with each configuration but the memory available to MacOS X 'may vary depending on graphics needs'.
Display Support:Dual DisplaysResolution Support:1920x1200*
Details:*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on a DVI or VGA display using the Mini-DVI port and 2560x1600 on a dual-link DVI display using the Mini DisplayPort (with an optional Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter).
2nd Display Support:Dual/Mirroring*2nd Max. Resolution:2560x1600*
Details:*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on a DVI or VGA display using the Mini-DVI port and 2560x1600 on a dual-link DVI display using the Mini DisplayPort (with an optional Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter).
Standard Storage:120, 320 GB* HDDStd. Storage Speed:5400 RPM
Details:*The low-end configuration (MB463LL/A) has a 120 GB hard drive and the high-end configuration (MB464LL/A) has a 320 GB hard drive. Both are 5400 RPM. The low-end configuration also could be upgraded via custom configuration with a 250 GB hard drive for US$100 extra and a 320 GB hard drive for US$175 extra.
Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive in the Mac mini 'Core' models? What type of hard drive do they support? Is it possible to replace the optical drive with a second hard drive?
In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells storage upgrades for this Mac mini.
In the UK, site sponsor Flexx sells storage upgrades for this Mac mini.
In Canada, site sponsor CanadaRAM sells SSDs and other upgrades for this Mac mini.
In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit sells storage upgrades for this Mac mini.
Also see: SSD Compatibility Guide for All G3 & Later Macs.
Storage Dimensions:2.5' (9.5 mm)Storage Interface:Serial ATA (3 Gb/s)
Details:This model supports a single SATA II (3 Gb/s) 2.5' hard drive or SSD that is up to 9.5 mm thick.
Standard Optical:8X DL 'SuperDrive'Standard Disk:None
Details:Apple reports that the slot-loading 8X double-layer SuperDrive 'writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL discs at up to 6x speed, writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 8x speed, writes DVD-RW discs at up to 6x speed, writes DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R and CD-RW discs at up to 24x speed, reads CDs at up to 24x speed.'
This model uses an SATA connector for the optical drive.
Also see: What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the Mac mini 'Core' models? Which can read and write dual-layer DVDs?
Site sponsor Other World Computing offers a 'Data Doubler' mounting kit that may be of interest. It makes it simple to install a second hard drive or SSD in the optical drive bay of this Mac mini.
Standard Modem:NoneStandard Ethernet:10/100/1000Base-T
Details:External Apple USB Modem offered for US$49.
Standard AirPort:802.11a/b/g/nStandard Bluetooth:2.1+EDR
Details:AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR standard.
Details:Five 480-Mbps USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire '800' port.
Details:In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells a wide variety of external expansion options and hand-picked accessories like external storage, stands, keyboards, cables, adapters, speakers, and more for this Mac mini.
In Australia, site sponsor Macfixit offers an extensive selection of external expansion options and accessories like docks, stands, chargers, keyboards, security products, and more for this Mac mini.
Details:No Mac mini systems ship with a keyboard or mouse.
Details:Uses a tiny and elegant 6.5 inch wide, 6.5 inch deep, and 2 inch tall case.
Apple Order No:MB463LL/A*Apple Subfamily:Early 2009
Details:*There are two configurations of this model -- MB463LL/A, which is equipped with 1 GB of RAM, a 120 GB hard drive, and 128 MB of RAM allocated for graphics and sold for US$599, and MB464LL/A, which is equipped with 2 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive, and 256 MB of RAM allocated for graphics and sold for US$799.
Apple Model No:A1283 (EMC 2264)Model ID:Macmini3,1
Details:Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.
Also see: All Macs with the A1283 Model Number, the 2264 EMC Number, and the Macmini3,1 Model Identifier.
For more about these identifiers and how to locate them on each Mac, please refer to EveryMac.com's Mac Identification section.
Details:N/A
Pre-Installed MacOS:X 10.5.6 (9G2030)Maximum MacOS:X 10.11.x*
Details:*This system can run the last version of OS X 10.8 'Mountain Lion', OS X 10.9 'Mavericks', and OS X 10.10 'Yosemite', as well as OS X 10.11 'El Capitan' if at least 2 GB of RAM is installed, although advanced features like AirDrop, AirPlay Mirroring, and Power Nap are not supported. It does support 'OpenCL' and Grand Central Dispatch introduced with Mac OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard,' although it is not supported booting in 64-bit mode when running this version of the operating system. It is not capable of running macOS Sierra (10.12) or subsequent versions of the macOS at all.
Please note that OS X 'Lion' 10.7 and subsequent versions of OS X are not capable of running Mac OS X apps originally written for the PowerPC processor as these operating systems do not support the 'Rosetta' environment. To run PowerPC applications on this Mac, it will be necessary to use Mac OS X 10.6 'Snow Leopard' or earlier.
Also see: Which Macs are compatible with OS X El Capitan (10.11)? What are the system requirements? Which Macs support which features?
Minimum Windows:XP SP2 (32-Bit)*Maximum Windows:7 (32-Bit)*
Details:*Apple's Boot Camp 4 formally supports the 32-bit versions of Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. However, the system does meet Microsoft's minimum requirements for Windows 8 and readers have reported successfully running the 32-bit version of this operating system with appropriate drivers.
MacOS 9 Support:NoneWindows Support:Boot/Virtualization
Details:Also see: Are there any third-party programs to run Mac OS 9/Classic applications on Intel Macs?
Site sponsor OHS specializes in heavily upgraded Macs capable of running both Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 applications.
For more on running Windows on Intel Macs, please refer to the exhaustive Windows on Mac Q&A.
Dimensions:2.0 x 6.5 x 6.5Avg. Weight:2.9 lbs. (1.31 kg)
Details:In inches - height by width by depth, (5.08 cm, 16.51 cm, 16.51 cm).
Original Price (US):US$599, US$799*Est. Current Retail:US$200-US$300
Details:*This refers to the default configurations. The US$599 configuration (MB463LL/A) is equipped with 1 GB of RAM, a 120 GB hard drive, and 128 MB of RAM allocated for graphics and the US$799 configuration (MB464LL/A) is equipped with 2 GB of RAM, a 320 GB hard drive, and 256 MB of RAM allocated for graphics. It also was available via custom configuration with a 2.26 GHz 'Core 2 Duo' (P8400) processor for an additional US$150.
Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated).
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.


Click on a category for additional details. The most commonly needed info is 'open' by default, but all info is important. The icons correspond with the icons for each port on the computer.


Details:*1 Mini-DVI and 1 Mini DisplayPort.
Supports dual simultaneous displays -- 1920x1200 on a DVI or VGA display using the Mini-DVI port and 2560x1600 on a dual-link DVI display using the Mini DisplayPort (with an optional Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter). Includes a Mini-DVI to DVI adapter.
Details:N/A
Details:N/A
Details:Five 480-Mbps USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire '800' port.
Details:External Apple USB Modem (56.6k v.92) offered for US$49. Gigabit Ethernet, AirPort Extreme (802.11g/n), and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR standard.
Details:N/A
Details:Combined 'optical digital audio input/audio line in minijack.'
Details:Single combined 'optical digital audio output/headphone out minijack.'
Details:N/A
Details:100V-240V, 110W maximum.

Mac Mini Early 2009 Service Manual Instructions


Global original prices for the Mac mini 'Core 2 Duo' 2.0 (Early 2009) in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.

For global original prices for Intel Macs in one particular country on a single page, please refer to EveryMac.com's Global Original Prices section.

Original Prices - North & South America

Mexico:N/A United States:US$599, US$799*

Mac Mini Early 2009 Service Manual Ford

Original Prices - Europe

Denmark:N/AFinland:€599, €799
Ireland:€599, €799Italy:€599, €799
Norway:N/A Portugal:€599, €799
Switzerland:CHF 799, 1'099 United Kingdom:£499, £649

Original Prices - Asia

China:RMB 4,988, RMB 6,698 Hong Kong:HK$4,800, HK$6,400
Japan:¥69,800, ¥89,800Korea:N/A
Singapore:N/ATaiwan:NT$21,900, NT$28,900

Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand

Australia:A$1049, A$1399 New Zealand:NZ$1398, NZ$1848

If you have additional original prices for this model, please get in touch. Thank you.


Ten of the most popular Q&As about the Mac mini models follow.


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