Mac Pro Mini mod is almost the midrange tower Mac you've always wanted

Sure, we think the iMac is a nice machine, but sometimes you want to add a PCI card or six, and when the cheapest beslotted Mac starts at a whopping $2,799, mods like Hideo Takano's Mac Pro Mini just make you wonder what could have been. Of course, there are no slots in this bad boy either since it's based around a stock Mac mini with a 2.33GHz processor upgrade, but it is a mighty impressive effort -- actually, check out Hideo's whole Mac Mod Lab site for even more sick Mini mods.

[Via Unplgged]

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 10:25AM]

Not quite. He put a quicker processor in and he connected an 3.5" Harddrive, all in all this is a faster machine than the stock TOP mini!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 13th 2008 11:37PM]

This mod is so good looking, Apple better take notes.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 6:03PM]

Why should Apple be taking notes? It's based off of THEIR design, remember?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 6:51PM]

Duh it is not their design. They should make a sleek looking desktop to fit in between the Pro and Mini line.

[Sneakz Posted Mar 14th 2008 12:06AM]

Wait a second... 2.33 GHz Mac Mini doesn't even exist.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 12:17AM]

Paloooz adds "rather lie than admit I'm wrong" to the list of characteristics he willingly demonstrates on Engadget.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 12:20AM]

Please ignore my previous comment. My browser likes to remember an old form and post it repeatedly.

The mac mini in my home theatre has a 2.33GHz processor. Can't buy it from Apple but you can always upgrade it if you have the nerve. The biggest concern is cooling and this project is a mod after all.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 11:59PM]

engadget i have been reading u guys for awhile whatz wit all the mac BS. modin a mac lolz gj..wast of moneys!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 2:45AM]

When is Apple going to update the bloody Mac mini? Don't they realize that most people want an affordable headless Mac and not a crappy glossy all-in-one like the iMac.

[Poot Posted Mar 14th 2008 4:07AM]

There was a couple rumors going around that they are going to be updating quite a few products before summer. The Mini was on the list with a Penryn and X3100 video.

This means it will be 64 bit and upgrades to 4gb and beyond can be had by all!

Well everyone who buys one. I already got mine though.

[mabhatter Posted Mar 15th 2008 12:50AM]

What people want is a Mac like this one. 1 PCI-E 16x, 1 regular PCI, and a full 3.5" drive. We want it to be user serviceable. Apple could make a mint selling one of these stripped with the X3100 and dual mini-DVI ports using the macbook connectors to save space. Use a bigger power supply to power a video card. Then let somebody make video cards to upgrade it (loosen the reins Steve).

The size factor of the Mini is the smallest and cheapest mass-produced PC with real horsepower out there. Lack of upgrades means it can't be used for embedded applications like POS, Kiosks, robots and public facing machines that need "one more thing" (video input, machine control, etc) and would benefit from Apple software. Apple needs a machine that will let people do whatever they want, not just what Apple wants. Keeping it to the notebook processor range would keep away all the competition from the Mac Pro because regular people will never pay that much just to mess around.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 4:30AM]

Very good looking model. Shame that it is not availalble in my country yet lol

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 7:07AM]

@ ethana2

Dude, congrats on your little Ubuntu kingdom. But I want a beautifully designed case, a machine that can run OS X (legit with all the updates), Windows (For Crysis) and the option of Linux (You never know, I *might* want it for *something*).

Thats why I have an 8 core Mac Pro with an 8800 GT. And I'd take it every time over some Plastic, rattling, noisy, cheap piece of dell sh*t running hacked software.

That is all.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 9:12AM]

The main point being is ALMOST the midrange tower Mac you've always wanted. :)

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 9:15AM]

A system like this with PCI-E slot and the ability to take one of the cheaper QUAD core (Non-Xeon) processors would be my DREAM machine.

I don't know any one who WOULDN'T buy one.

Wake up Apple. The Mid Range is calling.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 7:07PM]

I so agree with you!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 9:41AM]

It's actually a whopping $2299, but thanks for playing. Now get out.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 10:12AM]

@ imacmatto9: Upgrading to a 2.33ghz processor is not news as seen here http://www.ambor.com/public/meromswap/meromswap.html.

Enjoy!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 12:41PM]

it'll be easy to make a terabyte NAS in the same box as well...and will make a nice desktop set. i'd buy one. looks like it took alot of work to make it look this nice.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 3:33PM]

Hope no one has posted this: http://www.applefritter.com/node/2232

Specs are not impressive but the case is pretty sweet!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 14th 2008 5:32PM]

That's pretty bad ass, nicely done.

[ran Posted Mar 14th 2008 8:56PM]

Love the look of it. Maybe Apple will make this guys a "Proprietary Solution Provider"?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 25th 2008 3:56AM]

How 3,5" is powered? From mini power cord?