I am using a 1394a external drive as a scratch disk but this is hardly an ideal situation. Though maxed out at 3Gb, it struggles with huge PhotoShop files especially when used in conjunction with Quark and Word. I too have a 2007 Mini currently used for DTP work.
![usb 3 & esata combo card for 2010 mac pro usb 3 & esata combo card for 2010 mac pro](https://c1.neweggimages.com/ProductImage/1E8-0009-001J2-V02.jpg)
When I read the reader report ( in Aug 24th, 2010 news page here - a copy is below) of a SATA card that was compatible with an (intel-based) Mac Mini, I was immediately interested.
#USB 3 & ESATA COMBO CARD FOR 2010 MAC PRO DRIVER#
( Don't forget that Driver Installs are required for the SI3132 based cards.) Reader Reports/Feedback on Mac Mini 1,1/Mini 2,1 eSATA Card Mod:
#USB 3 & ESATA COMBO CARD FOR 2010 MAC PRO MOD#
(A Mini-PCIe Airport card slot is required of course for this mod to work.) Early Intel-based Minis (1,1 and 2,1) also had a Socketed CPU, a plus for CPU upgrades/swaps. (The mini 2,1 was also sold thru 2008 until mini 3,1 model was intro'd in spring 2009.) Again this mod is NOT usable with 2009 (mini 3,1) and later mini models which do not have Mini-PCIe Airport cards. Reports below are from 2006 (mini 1,1) and 2007 (Mini 2,1) Mac Mini owners. (I checked ifixit but was only able to find their 20 mini takeapart guides there.) No model named 2008 series but 2009's and later had major changes and no mini-pcie airport card/slot. A complete take-apart for the mini is not included but here's OWC's 2006-2007 Mini page of take-apart videos. This page has reports/replies to a report here originally in August 2010. ( FYI: Here's links to notes/pix from iMac owners that did this same mod and a Photo Gallery on a iMac eSATA Card Install/Mod.) Original (802.11B) Airport cards were based on a subset of PCMCIA.) Verify your Mac has a Mini-PCIe Airport card slot BEFORE buying a Mini-PCIe SATA card.) PPC Macs also do not have Mini-PCIe Airport cards. Many Intel-based Macs have had a Mini-PCIe slot Airport Extreme card (even the AE "G" card in early intel-based macs), but some later models have combo Airport/BT cards that are not Mini-PCIe form factor, such as the 2009 and later Minis. NOTE/FYI: 2009 and later Mac Minis DO NOT have a Mini-PCIe Airport card and therefore cannot use this mod. Updated: Dec 5th, 2014 ( SYBA SD-MPE40056 card report)
![usb 3 & esata combo card for 2010 mac pro usb 3 & esata combo card for 2010 mac pro](https://c1.neweggimages.com/ProductImage/12-399-157-S01.jpg)
Updated: Apr 29th, 2014 ( Delock SATA3 card report) Updated: Sept 17th, 2012 (another report) Updated: Sept 7th, 2010 (more info in "Raoul's" report again) Recent Updates | Mac Upgrades/Repairs | Storage | Video | Audio/Home Theater | OS Updates/Tips/WiFi | HomeĢ006-2008 Mac Mini SATA Card (mini-PCIe) Install/Mod for eSATA use
![usb 3 & esata combo card for 2010 mac pro usb 3 & esata combo card for 2010 mac pro](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PdgBcXpuVxE/maxresdefault.jpg)
2006-2008 Mac Mini Internal SATA Card Install/Mod for eSATA use