MAC MINI 2011 IFIXIT INSTALL

Intel L116IA35 Thunderbolt port controller IC, similar to that found on the Early 2011 21. The Broadcom BCM20702 Single-Chip Bluetooth 4.0 Processor with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support is identical to the chip found in the 13' MacBook Air we took apart earlier in the day. The Broadcom BCM20702 Single-Chip Bluetooth 4.0 Processor with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support is identical to the chip found in the 13' MacBook Air we took apart earlier in the day. Sticking with the brushless, high blade density blower, this single fan is quiet and effective - just the way we like it. The new Mini has the same fan as the old Mini, and even the older Mini. The only deterrent is the availability of a second SATA hard drive-to-logic board cable. There is definitely plenty of room for a second hard drive underneath the first.

MAC MINI 2011 IFIXIT INSTALL

The big question with this Mac Mini: 'Can I install a second hard drive myself?' The centimeter and a half of extra empty space seems to imply so. We found T6 screws that were screwed into the top of T8 screws. Some of the screws inside the machine were quite interesting. There's no proprietary screws or glue, and you can easily replace the existing RAM and hard drive (or almost any other component) if needed.ДЄpple removed the optical drive from this Mini, but would love to sell you one for an additional USD 79. Kudos to the Mini for receiving an excellent 8 out of 10 repairability score. The only snag in this master plan is being able to find another hard drive cable to hook it up to the logic board, something we'll work on sourcing. We found that hole (as well as the empty extra SATA connection on the logic board) to be perfect for adding a secondary hard drive - essentially bypassing the USD 400 premium over the 'server' model. This year's Mini is a great example of 'less is more.' Apple has done away with the optical drive and replaced it with some good old-fashioned emptiness.

Mac mini 2011 ifixit