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RAM purchase for 2012 Mac Mini, PC3 12800 vs PC3 10600, Does it matter?

MrXiro

MrXiro

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Nov 2, 2007
3,850
599
Los Angeles
I just bought a Mac Mini (2012) and noticed that it takes a different kind of RAM than the extra RAM I have on hand.

What is on the included RAM is PC3 12800 and what I have is PC3 10600. I put the RAM in and there doesn't seem to be an issue... though my iTunes does seem pinwheel a bit. Not sure if that has to do with that I have 800gb (on the 1TB 5400rpm HDD, I have my OS on a 256gb SSD) of content or the RAM.

Can anyone tell me the difference between the 2 types of RAM and if it's OK to use PC3-10600?
 
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N

nikolajlr

macrumors member
May 11, 2011
31
0
Denmark
The RAM should be fine. It just runs a bit slower (1333 MHz) than what the Ivy Bridge chipset can actually support given the opportunity (1600 MHz).

It will have a small general impact on memory operations, including the part of the RAM set aside for the integrated HD4000 graphics. However I wonder if it will be noticable in other instances than raw benchmark numbers.

FWIW it means your RAM runs at the same speed as what I'm having in my 2011 i7 iMac 27".

I have no idea what to expect with an iTunes library that size. Someone else hopefully chirps in.

If on a tight budget you should try to just stay with the current RAM.

Please note that you should have two blocks of the same size/kind. Or else - if I understand the technology correct - the chipset will revert to single channel memory mode, which means half the speed.

Cheers,
Nikolaj
 
philipma1957

philipma1957

macrumors 603
Apr 13, 2010
6,367
251
Howell, New Jersey
an 80gb itunes on an hdd can be a bit slow . 1333 ram may have tight timings maybe 7 most likely 9. the 1600 ram out there can have 9 10 or 11 for timings. timings and mhz speed both affect overall speed. so a 7 timing with 1333 ram is a bit faster then an 11 timing with 1600 speed. divide timing inot mhz to get an idea.

7 into 1333 is 190

11 into 1600 is 145

most likely the 1333 will win in many cases. of course if your 1333 ram had 9 timing and you purchased 1600 ram with 9 timing the 1600 wins.

this one is fast



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104317

this one is slower due to timings

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233370

it is more complex then this but I am tired after surfing in the middle of the night for 4 hours or so.
 
dasx

dasx

macrumors 65816
Jun 18, 2012
1,107
18
Barcelona
Timings were very important some time ago, but when DDR2 first came out I remember timings becoming less important and frequency more important. I guess DDR3 is just the same. Should probably test it but I'm not that into it.

My point being, a CL of 9 is better tan 11, that's for sure, but I don't think a CL9 running at 1333MHz is better than CL11 running at 1600MHz.

As I stated, that what I remember that happened in the transition from DDR to DDR2. Also, timings were more important in AMD machines, not with Intel's.

Best option is, no doubt, 1600MHz CL9. Much pricey though.

Cheers.
 
dasx

dasx

macrumors 65816
Jun 18, 2012
1,107
18
Barcelona
philipma1957 said:
And the 9 vs 11 timings will almost never show in real world use.
Click to expand...

My point exactly. I went for €84 two kingston 8GB modules. I can see myself using up to 10-14GB of memory, but I don't think I'd ever benefit from a CL9 instead of 11. What can I gain, 3s out of 1h? Bah… Not worth it.
 
MrXiro

MrXiro

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Nov 2, 2007
3,850
599
Los Angeles
milkmandan said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DDR3_SDRAM#JEDEC_standard_modules

The PC3 12800 is basically DDR3 operating at 1600Mhz
while PC3 10600 is basically DDR3 operating at 1333Mhz

Theoretically the PC3 12800 is faster. But will you actually feel any 'real world' difference? Hard to say, and really up to what you're doing.

Some people don't notice, some people do.
Click to expand...

Oh... I thought they both operated at 1333Mhz.

Thanks!

----------
philipma1957 said:
an 80gb itunes on an hdd can be a bit slow . 1333 ram may have tight timings maybe 7 most likely 9. the 1600 ram out there can have 9 10 or 11 for timings. timings and mhz speed both affect overall speed. so a 7 timing with 1333 ram is a bit faster then an 11 timing with 1600 speed. divide timing inot mhz to get an idea.

7 into 1333 is 190

11 into 1600 is 145

most likely the 1333 will win in many cases. of course if your 1333 ram had 9 timing and you purchased 1600 ram with 9 timing the 1600 wins.

this one is fast



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104317

this one is slower due to timings

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233370

it is more complex then this but I am tired after surfing in the middle of the night for 4 hours or so.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for clarifying that for me! I never realized that RAM timing was so intricate.

So if I wanted to upgrade you are saying that:

This RAM at 1333MHz (9 latency) would be faster than This one at 1600MHz (10 latency) because of latency?

Which would you recommend of the two? I'm on a budget... or I might not upgrade at all. Just looking at my options.


----------
nikolajlr said:
The RAM should be fine. It just runs a bit slower (1333 MHz) than what the Ivy Bridge chipset can actually support given the opportunity (1600 MHz).

It will have a small general impact on memory operations, including the part of the RAM set aside for the integrated HD4000 graphics. However I wonder if it will be noticable in other instances than raw benchmark numbers.

FWIW it means your RAM runs at the same speed as what I'm having in my 2011 i7 iMac 27".

I have no idea what to expect with an iTunes library that size. Someone else hopefully chirps in.

If on a tight budget you should try to just stay with the current RAM.

Please note that you should have two blocks of the same size/kind. Or else - if I understand the technology correct - the chipset will revert to single channel memory mode, which means half the speed.

Cheers,
Nikolaj
Click to expand...

I took the RAM out of my iMac and put it into the Mac Mini. That is why I had that RAM laying around. I was just under the impression that they were both 1333MHz.

Thanks for your help!
 
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