Mac OS 9 Lives

Classic Mac OS Hardware => Video Cards, Monitors & Displays => Topic started by: Metrophage on August 20, 2018, 12:32:35 AM

Title: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: Metrophage on August 20, 2018, 12:32:35 AM
I just got mine a few days ago, a 1.42GHz with 512 MB of RAM, the usual 32 MB of VRAM. Since I am using this to more or less replace my old TiBook, I would like to eventually bring the mini to 64MB of VRAM also. I use them for some gaming and VJ work which really benefits from the 64 MB. I know, it won't be easy, and maybe not possible. But minis are cheap enough that I am willing to experiment. Besides, the last-gen minis with the 64 MB stock were "stealth upgrades" that most buyers aren't even aware of, and eBay is a clusterfrack of people who don't know what they are trying to sell. So, I think I might have a shot of sooner kludging something together.

As for my Mini - I don't know, I haven't been able to pry it open yet! But I am late to the party, so I wouldn't be surprised if others here perhaps already made note of theirs.
Title: Re: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: Metrophage on August 27, 2018, 10:23:44 PM
What thunderous silence! I finally got this thing open. It's got two Hynix HY5DU283222A F-33 4Mx32 DDR SDRAM.
Title: Re: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: FdB on August 27, 2018, 10:32:16 PM
So, it's already got the 64MB of VRAM??? Pics please.

https://www.electronicproducts.com/Apple_Mac_mini_-whatsinside_text-43.aspx
Title: Re: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: Metrophage on August 27, 2018, 11:34:47 PM
Quote from: Fury deBongo
So, it's already got the 64MB of VRAM???

4Mx32 x2 is 256M. That's what the system addresses to get 32MB of VRAM.

Quote from: Fury deBongo
Pics please.

Not going to happen. My crappy phone camera can't focus upon small parts that close. Picture a half-inch square square that says:
hynix      KOR
HY5DU283222A
F-33      505A
...and you're there, they are otherwise featureless. Here's a link to the datasheet for a nearly identical part, it says a lot more about what it is than I can show you.
https://www.skhynix.com/product/filedata/fileDownload.do?seq=4225

What I am wondering is if the final PowerMac10,2 upgrade actually has a different logic board for four VRAM chips, or if it uses two chips with larger capacity. I would guess the latter, since I doubt that would have cost Apple a lot more, for a product they were phasing out.
Title: Re: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: FdB on August 27, 2018, 11:50:25 PM
Give me a minute and I may have that answer for you.
Title: Re: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: FdB on August 28, 2018, 12:09:50 AM
It's a HYNIX KOR HY5DU573222 F-33 453A in a 1.5 GHZ Mini.
ASP notes 64MB VRAM. Same Radeon 9200.
Title: Re: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: Astroman on August 28, 2018, 01:00:27 AM
That slot in the front is empty in my Mini 1.25 Ghz, and 32MB VRAM are reported - so there must be something on the back.
Title: Re: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: Metrophage on August 28, 2018, 01:13:34 AM
It's a HYNIX KOR HY5DU573222 F-33 453A in a 1.5 GHZ Mini.
ASP notes 64MB VRAM. Same Radeon 9200.

Oh, you rock! Thank you so much for checking! I guess it wasn't an either/or question - they both made a slightly different logic board, and used (apparently) pin-compatible VRAM IC. I wonder if the 1.25-1.42 Minis can properly address the larger chips. At least now I can keep my feelers out to source the HY5DU573222 and maybe experiment with this later.

ETA: Actually, a search for this board number shows me some with the HY5DU283222A chips as well, so the board might well have been used before the final upgrade.

That slot in the front is empty in my Mini 1.25 Ghz, and 32MB VRAM are reported - so there must be something on the back.

I think that slot is for airport and/or bluetooth, it's empty on mine also. These boards have one VRAM IC on either side of the logic board. From the top its the little square to the right of where the "Apple Computer, Inc" and logic board part number are.
Title: Re: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: Astroman on August 28, 2018, 01:39:57 AM
LoL - I considered it Airport, too... until you mentioned that expansion in your initial post.
It was the only location to fit something in...
Not expecting you're gonna whip the soldering ironor rather heat-gun   ;D
Title: Re: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: IIO on August 28, 2018, 05:21:17 AM
or in other words, that later "silent upgrade" was planned from the beginning on.
Title: Re: Mac Mini G4 - What VRAM chips are on the various models?
Post by: Metrophage on September 01, 2018, 09:25:59 PM
LoL - I considered it Airport, too... until you mentioned that expansion in your initial post.
It was the only location to fit something in...
Not expecting you're gonna whip the soldering ironor rather heat-gun   ;D

For VRAM, soldering on new ICs is really the only way on a Mini. As an electronics tinkerer, swapping out those BGA chips, the kind with only pads underneath and no visible wires, has always been a tempting exercise. It is possible, but not easy. And does pose a risk of damaging other things.

As for snap-in expansions, I started another topic about my interest in making a Mini-specific serial port board. These are both projects I am working on at a slow pace while I do some homework and complete other things.