*Notes on Fan Speed & 2011 Mini Noise Level*

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I've owned both the 2010 base model as well as the 2011 Radeon model of the mac mini, so I wanted to post some comments about the exhaust fan an noise level. As read from iStatPro system monitoring tool, there are at least 10 temp readout locations inside the mac mini. Both the 2010 and 2011 models single fans idle at around 1800RPM, when the temp of the processor is around 70 deg C, and HD is around 33 deg C (and Radeon GPU core around 65 dec C in 2011 model). RPMs increase linearly primarily in response to CPU heat; at medium CPU load at 74dC, it increases to ~2800RPM, which is lightly audible; at moderately heavy CPU load, 78dC, it inc to ~3500, which is minorly annoyingly audible; at full CPU load it goes past 80dC and ~4000rpm, which is quite loud by mac mini standards. This was rare in my 2010 C2Duo, and is rare in my 2011 core i5 2.5ghz; usually, in my 2011 model, CPU usage hovers around 30% across the cores, even under pretty heavy load. When gaming, the GPU gets as hot as 74dC, but the CPU is not at full capacity, and the fan usually sits at around ~2900RPM which is pretty quiet. This was in max resolution, highest detail game (Bioshock for Mac).

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Regarding replacing the HDD with a non-apple SSD, Fan speed the same after; there is no special HDD sensor to worry about. According to the temp readouts from iStatPro, the hard drive temperature is still being read in the 2011 mini, likely via the S.M.A.R.T. hdd interface. It's uncertain if the mini's one main exhaust fan factors this temp into its rotation speed. My SSD never changes in temp by more than a few degrees C.

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Hope this helps regarding noise level concerns!

PPS: If you want to install 2 HD's, the dual hard drive kit from iFixit is your best bet: Mac Mini Mid 2011 Dual Hard Drive Kit Replacement

Your Questions:

1. The 2 screws holding the HDD in place are actually 2 of the screws that also hold the antenna plate in place (the 2 closest to the edge of the antenna plate). The teardown glosses over this, but once the antenna plate is gone, the HDD screws are also out.

2. I think there are only peg holders for one drive; so I would install the rotary hd in the pegged slot, and then the SSD, which is lighter and less subject to vibration, perhaps on the bottom using some removable mounting tape.

3. You'll use the cables already in your server model. As far as drives, I've done a lot of research and almost any SandForce 2281 controller 6Gb drive should do well. I'm using the OWC Electra 6g. I like OWC because they test all of their equipment across the Mac lineup.

hope this helps,

d

PS: I used both the iFixit guide and the OWC video when I did my upgrade, and I needed both to do it right. Note that OWC suggests removing the motherboard to exchange the hd, but as iFixit points out, this is not necessary to get the HD out or the new one in.

-Video Guide to replacing HDD in 2011 mac mini-:

http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/...

-word from OWC regarding no thermal sensors-:

"Daniel,

Any 2.5" drive will work on your Mac mini 2011. There is no specialized thermal sensor to worry about.

Sincerely,

OWC Jose"

ps: mac mini exhaust fan speed of ~1800 rpm is normal under light load.

SUCESS: Notes on Installing SSD in 2011 Mac Mini

hi all,

I replaced the HD in my mac mini with a OWC Electra SSD 6G.

1. Fan speed the same after; there is no sensor to worry about.

2. make sure to remove black plastic cover off of old hard drive before pulling SATA cable out of old HD; otherwise you won't be able to.

3. The OWC video guide is great, but you don't need to pull out the motherboard; there is just enough room to slide the old HD out and the new one in.

4. Installing Lion over the Internet with Int Recovery worked, but I had to change my wireless network from WPA2 security to WPA and disable uPNP; not sure why. Go with most basic/compatible settings.

After Lion downloaded (4 hours), it installed in 4.2 minutes flat. Jaw-dropping speed.

thanks all,

d

Thanks Andrew. Quick question, does this cable support SATA III? Is this the one you used?

http://www.welovemacs.com/9229560.html

thank you much,

daniel

You're right, I see that now. I guess this is the only option: http://www.welovemacs.com/9229560.html

Question: Does it matter if the SSD, with OSX on it, is on the secondary SATA port? (the default unused one)

hi! I have a 2011 Mac Mini and wanted to add an SSD to it, rather than replacing the existing 500GB harddrive; I looked everywhere for a compatible SATA flex to logic board cable without much luck, but I finally found a solution from OWC the SSD manufacturer, originally aimed at MacBook Airs, that looks like it would work -- do you think it would? Thanks! - Daniel

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/A...