Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Watch a modder transform a Mac Mini into a Nintendo Wii

By

Popular YouTuber Luke Miani has managed to fit the innards of an Apple M1-powered Mac Mini into a Nintendo Wii that can, among other things, game at 4K. Miani wondered what it would be like to fit the power and capability of the tried-and-true M1 Mac Mini into a more unique shell, say, an unassuming Nintendo Wii.

Converting an old Wii into an M1 Mac mini was the BEST IDEA

In his project , he proceeded to strip a Mac Mini, basically keeping the logic board, while modifying (or creating new) components as needed.

Recommended Videos

One of the biggest hurdles was the power supply unit (PSU). According to the video, he borrowed from Snazzy Labs’ solution of using a Microsoft Surface charger to provide enough power into his PSU amalgamation, yet keeping the Wii’s power socket. To prevent throttling issues, Miani installed a smaller 12V fan to complement heat sinks.

A modified Nintendo Wii, shown running macOS on a monitor.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Fitting all the mods into the Wii casing required a bunch of hacking plus a few 3D-printed mounting plates and brackets. All said, the final result is pretty impressive. The system boots up and seems to run properly. Even the functioning I/O ports are nicely tucked away under a flap. The YouTuber mentions that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections weren’t as good as he would like, because only two out of three of the antenna bands made it to the build (the last one was still located on the Mac Mini bottom plate). His solution was to use an antenna from the Wii that had the same connection needed.

Related:
You Asked: Is 100 inches too big? Will Mini-LED or Direct Lit last longer?

We can’t help but be impressed with the creativity of Miani here. His build not only has the capability of an M1 Mac Mini able to push 4K but combines it with one of the most iconic gaming console shells ever.

Aaron Leong
Aaron Leong
Former Computing Writer
Aaron enjoys all manner of tech - from mobile (phones/smartwear), audio (headphones/earbuds), computing (gaming/Chromebooks)…
Topics

Editors’ Recommendations

I love the Dell XPS 13, but I’ll pick the MacBook Air any day
Dell XPS 13 and M4 MacBook Air.

I am a huge fan of slim and light laptops. That preference is borne more out of my professional lifestyle than a necessity for absolute silicon firebreathers. I believe a laptop should be, well, light on your lap, or hands, unless you need all that firepower in a mobile form factor.

That’s the reason gaming laptops exist, or those thick workstations such as the HP ZBook with an Nvidia RTX A500 series graphics card. For the rest, a thin laptop can do the job just fine, with its quirky set of compromises. Finding the right slim laptop, however, is the tricky part.

Read more
iPad is the best secondary screen I’ve used with a MacBook
You can extend your MacBook's screen by using an iPad as a secondary monitor.

I spend an unhealthy amount of time lurking in communities where people share aesthetic desktop setups. One of my friends recently set the group chat on fire with a triple monitor setup that had two vertical screens and an ultrawide curved panel at the center. An impulse swipe later, I achieved a similar makeover for my desk at home.

Here’s the problem, though. My $600 workstation overhaul did bring me visual joy, but not much utility. For reporting assignments, I spend the majority of the year away from home, working from deserted cafes or unnaturally uncomfortable bunk beds. I do miss the convenience of large secondary screens. Interestingly, that yearning is addressed by a rather unconventional device —the humble iPad.

Read more
Mac users are now in danger of a well-known Windows phishing attack
Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 rear view showing lid and logo.

If you're using a Mac, such as the new MacBook Air, you might have to be careful. A phishing attack that previously plagued Windows users has now made its way to macOS, and it's easy to fall for it.

This was spotted by 9to5Mac. Researchers from LayerX have been tracking a well-known phishing attack that caused a lot of grief to those who were tricked by it. Previously, the main target of these hackers was Windows, but Microsoft was able to largely eliminate it -- up to 90% of all attacks on Windows PCs are said to have been fixed thanks to new updates to Edge, Chrome, and Firefox that block scareware.

Read more