Graphics Card upgrade

Question

Graphics Card upgrade

I have a mac mini that I bought around 2006 (1.5ghz Core Solo) that I just updated to the Leopard OS (10.5.6). Unfortunately this means that some of the games I play have VERY screwy graphics.

I talked to a mac-certified specialist and he recommended the ATI Radeon 2600 XT, but all the ones I've found look like they're for the iMac not the mini. My question is whether there really IS an update for the graphics card on the 1.5Ghz Core Solo or if I'm stuck finding another way around it (such as installing a different version of Leopard).

Current Stats:

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: Mac mini
Model Identifier: Macmini1,1
Processor Name: Intel Core Solo
Processor Speed: 1.5 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 1
L2 Cache: 2 MB
Memory: 1 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz

Graphics/Displays
Chipset Model: GMA 950
Type: Display
Bus: Built-In
VRAM (Total): 64 MB of shared system memory
Vendor: Intel (0x8086)
Device ID: 0x27a2

Powerbook G4 12-inch Aluminum (4 years old and running 2 logic boards later), Mac OS X (10.4.11), Intel Mac Mini 1.5GHz Core Solo 1GB RAM Mac OS X Leopard (10.5.6)

Posted on Jan 12, 2009 6:54 PM

Reply

Answer 1

AndyO

Level 6

17,064 points

Jan 13, 2009 3:37 AM in response to bleedingrose19

Unfortunately there is no option for upgrading the video card in the Mac mini - the GMA 950 is integrated into the mini's logic board, and there is no replacement available.

If you are not getting good results with MacOS 10.5.x installed, it may be that the only solution short of replacing the system is to revert to the previous version of MacOS you were using where results were satisfactory.

Reply

Answer 2

Jan 13, 2009 6:39 AM in response to AndyO

OK Another tech support person for the actual game said that the graphics are funky with 10.5.5 and higher, specifically. He said that Archiving and installing 10.5.x (lower than 10.5.5/6) might work to fix some of the bugs. How do I do this if I've installed straight off a disk? (and I LIKE leopard and really don't want to go back to Tiger if I can avoid it :\)

Reply

Answer 3

AndyO

Level 6

17,064 points

Jan 13, 2009 7:04 AM in response to bleedingrose19

To revert to an earlier version of leopard, you will need an install disk for that earlier version. Insert the installer, reboot to the install disk (hold the C key down during startup) and then when the installer is running, click the button for custom install options and select 'archive and install'. That will archive your (newer) existing MacOS and put the earlier copy on the drive, whilst not disturbing your software or files. Beware that you will then not be able to update MacOS itself using the normal software update feature, sine Apple only offer the latest macOS update that way. Prior MacOS updates are usually downloadable from http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/ - meaning that if your MacOS installer is for 10.5.0 (the first version) and you want to go to 10.5.4, you could download the 10.5.4 update from the above link.

Reply