Comformation of Core Duo-based MacBook/Macbook Pro Upgrade 'N' path

In an attempt to shorten these threads concerning MacBook/Macbook Pro Upgrade 'N' path using Apple's (AirPort Extreme Upgrade Kit **NEW** Model BCM94321MC) Part #'s MA688Z/B or MA688Z/A (The only difference between the two part numbers appears to be that Part # MA688Z/B come with the new Airport Extreme Base Station installation CD which includes the 'n' enabler.
Both these cards have been proven to work in both MacBooks. While some have had trouble with the /A card it CLEARLY appears to be a preferences problem. (just repair the preferences prior to installing the card)
Both cards require the Program Pacifist to install the enabler.
Pacifist is a small program that opens up .pkg installer packages and lets you install individual files out of them. This is useful if you need to install just one file out of a package instead of the entire package (for example, if you deleted Sherlock and need to reinstall it, but not the whole operating system), if you experience bugs in Installer.app that mess up your symbolic links, or if you just like a little more control over the installation process.
It can be downloaded free here. http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/6812
Open the enabler trough pacifist and click install. The program will place the items where they should be.
Please post your results with these cards!!!!!!
/A Card: MacBook Pro--Courtesy of William Rivas:
Here is my step by step MacBook Pro Core Duo 802.11n upgrade guide...
http://xlr8yourmac.com/systems/macbookprowireless_N_upgrade/macbookpro_N_cardinstall.html#storytop
The only correction I would make to this is, the stainless tension bars at the top left of the Airport card should not be screwed directly into the card itself, but into the single screw hole directly above the card on the left side with the tension arms angeled down toward the card thereby actually holding the card in place via the tension or presure exerted. The two additional screws that come with the replacement card are not needed if you had and original card in place. There should not be any screws directly holding the card in place. The tension springs arms are only there to hold the card flat. If left as in your photo there could be some inadvertant arcing of static elec. transmitted to the card. THIS only applies to the MacBook Pro as the MAcBook requires being attached by two screws!!!!
/B Card: MacBook Pro--Courtesy of me: Same installeation as above,
I have now tried both of the different suggestions of getting internal 802.11n on an original MacBook Pro described on this forum.
1.) Dell internal 1500 Broadcom pci mini express card (Card Model # BCM94321MC), and
2.) Apple Pro’s internal (AirPort Extreme Upgrade Kit **NEW** Model BCM94321MC) New Part # MA688Z/B*
As you can see, both cards contain the same model numbers and incidentally, both only have ‘TWO’ antenna post and fit into the same space the existing PCI mini ‘G’ airport card held. Each installation took less than 20 minutes. Of course the second one took less time than the first.
I ordered the Dell card ($38 ebay) prior to learning about the Apple Pro card (Apple Store $43), however, both cards worked, performed, connected and were recognized equally well by the new ‘N’ AEBS. Both needed Pacifist for installation of the ‘N’ Enabler. Both cards show connection speeds at 130 in a mixed g/n environment, which appears normal per other post. Both cards performed identically with the new AEBS, except for the speed, as the original Apple 802.11 a/b/g card they replaced.
I referred to both the http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/85.0.0.html and www.xlr8yourmac.com/ instructions for the disassembly of my MacBook Pro.
MacBook Pro--Courtesy of Kirrelp:
http://www.hardmac.com/articles/71/page1/
seems to work. no driver problems or what ever!!

Jean-Paul,
You know the way I took out my AE card is the exact way I installed it. Do have a picture of the completed install you did?
I was soooo careful when I performed this task. Is your MacBook Pro a 17"?
That's what mine is. I am sure that is the difference between the two. I have the 15.2" Service Manual and I see the bracket is completly different then the 17".
William
MacPro 2.6, iMac 1.9, iMac 700, Mac Mini 1.42 Mac OS X (10.4.6) MBP 17" 2.1 , PB 1.67 15", iPod U2, Nano
MacPro 2.6, iMac 1.9, iMac 700, Mac Mini 1.42 Mac OS X (10.4.6) MBP 17" 2.1 , PB 1.67 15", iPod U2, Nano

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Hi
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What version are you thinking of for the Edu Discount?
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Sorry if the grammar/spelling is horrible, I wrote this very quickly and didn't bother with grammar/proof reading.
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Lion System Requirements
Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor
2GB of memory
OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
7GB of available space
Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.
If you have a Core Duo model then you cannot upgrade to Lion. You can upgrade to Snow Leopard, but iCloud is not available for Snow Leopard.
Open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. Look for the Model ID in the displayed information. If you have a MacBookPro 2,1 or later then you have a Core 2 Duo model and can upgrade to Lion.

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You might find this tidibit (from AnandTech) )interesting, Kappy:
"Why a 64-bit mode can actually be slower than a 32-bit counterpart
If all else is equal, a 64-bit MPU will be slower than its 32-bit equivalent. A study conducted by DEC found that, on average, compiling for 64bit programs decreases performance by 5%. This is because 64-bit address pointers occupy more space, resulting in higher data cache miss rates. In fact, 64-bit ISAs still support 64-bit addressing and 32-bit data operands, specifically to keep code size down and the miss rate penalty to a minimum; thus 32-bit integer data is still going to be used when the larger range of 64-bit integers are not needed.
What good is 64-bit computing?
There is one good use for 64-bit integer arithmetic: 64-bit flat memory addressing. Offering memory addressing beyond 4GB, 64-bit addressing needs 64-bit general purpose registers and 64-bit integer arithmetic for memory pointer calculations. This obviously has no effect on 32-bit vs. 64-bit performance, since 64-bit memory addressing on a 32-bit processor is a moot point."
So it's not clear that going 64-bit, in and of itself, would yield any improvement in performance; it may well be worse in some cases (and your analogy might well be true, depending on the cache algorhythms and efficiency).
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So, as you allude, one has to be careful making performance estimates just based on a desciption of a processor being "32 bit" or "64 bit". We'll have to wait to see reasonable benchmarks between the Core Duo and the Core 2 Duo running a 64-bit OS before we'll really know what advantage, if any, there is.
Cheers.
Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

2 gig DIMM in a 2.16 ghz Intel Core Duo

Can I use a 2 gig single module DIMM in a 2.16 ghz Intel Core Duo?
Ramjet says,
[quote]"2Gig Single Module: The 2Gig Single module can only be used in the
MacBook Pro Core2 Duo, not the Core Duo. The MacBook Pro Core2 memory
maximum is 3Gigs with the installation of one 2Gig SO-DIMM, and one
1Gig SO-DIMM. If you install two 2Gig SO-DIMMs, OSX will register
4Gigs, but will only be able to use 3Gigs. In the Core2, you may
install the 2Gig SO-DIMM into either slot."[/quote]
Other sites say they are compatible. What is the true poop?
TIA,
Bill

When we tried to put a 2gig stick into a regular Duo unit the Pro would not even work. Nothing wrong with the RAM though since it ran fine in out 2Duo iMacs.

Core Duo 2 vs. Core Duo - Battery Power

Hey all,
I was wondering about battery power. Yes, they just upped the MB's so soon after they came out ut whatever, the only two things I'm concernend about are architecture, and battery power.
After I ran the fan augmentng firmware update I'm lucky to get 3:40 out of my MB. And they were advertised at what...5? The new ones are advertised at 6. So what do you all think, any real difference there?

Actually the battery power of a MacBook was advertised at around 4. I think you might have been getting mixed up with battery power, and how many times faster the MacBook Core Duo and the MacBook Core 2 Duo, are faster than the iBook.
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Mac Mini core duo upgraded with Atheros Airport Extreme

An update for those interested - In a posting Nov 12, 2010,
https://discussions.apple.com/message/12574450
Al Cellier said : Earlier this year I upgraded my mid-2006 Mac Mini (Core Duo) with an (Macbook Original Wireless WIFI Card 802.11n AR5BXB72 - Atheros) Airport Extreme Card to get N-WiFi. That works fine in Leopard 10.5.8; but in 10.6.4 & 10.6.5, I can't get connected to my router. Is a new driver needed for 10.6 ? Network Utility / Info Tab / Network Interface (en1) reports "Model: Wireless Network Adapter," as (802.11a/b/g/n). As an aside, the Bluetooth seems much flakier now than with the original card.
The update, as of July 21, 2011 has that now that I have installed 3 antennas onto the WiFi card instead of just one, and now the Mini works great in Snow Leopard 10.6.8 !!!
We are getting full 300Mbps status on the n protocol.
No added drivers or tweaking, just the antennas and the system update (system update alone was not enough).
Mac user since 1984, and an optimist ...

I purchased 2 extra antennas (I found the seller on ebay; they are small circuit boards with attached cable and tiny connector). They sit just outside the box at each rear corner, and are taped to the housing; the cables were fed into the unit thru the ventilation slots, carefully routed to the wifi board where they snap into place. Unfortunately I didn't take photos inside; I could photograph the antennas sticking out, if you want.

Comformation of Core Duo-based MacBook/Macbook Pro Upgrade 'N' path

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