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The best, cheapest and SAFEST Mac mini 1GB RAM upgrade plan!

Rod Rod

Rod Rod

macrumors 68020
Original poster
I bought this Kingston 1GB PC2700 module:

Outpost # 3325732
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/3325732?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

It costs $160. Its box says it's not for dual channel systems, which is fine because I bought it for my dad's Mac mini.

After seeing the video about how to upgrade the mini's RAM I decided to have a professional install it.

First I called my local Apple store. They don't install "3rd party RAM." Then I called Mac Specialist. They said they'd do it for $40. I thought, that's okay because I'd rather be out $40 than have broken mini innards.

I took the mini to the service department there and gave the computer to the technician. After five minutes or so he came out and told me the closest thing to the recommended tool they have is too thick, and that the official Mac mini toolkit from Apple won't arrive until sometime next week (maybe).

Then I took the mini to CompUSA. Luckily the Apple Certified technician there had already upgraded a mini, so he had experience. I was a little worried about my machine being a guinea pig. However, the guy didn't have his putty knife with him at the store, so I left the computer with them overnight on Friday and picked it up Saturday.

CompUSA charged only $30, which I think is a good deal. I still saved more than $100 compared to buying the RAM from Apple.

I ran the extended Apple Hardware Test and the memory passed. 🙂
 
I would say that you did very well for yourself Rod Rod. I'm with you, much to have a professional install something on my Mac. Congratulations! 😉
 
Bah, there's nothing quite like cracking open a system and working on the guts. it's all good fun.
 
That's a very modest price for a 1gb stick of ram. I'll be purchasing this stick for the mac mini I'm getting for my mom. I've heard things about mac mini and iMac G5 taking the same kind of ram; do you guys know if this is true?

Would the above said Kingston 1gb ram stick work in the iMac G5?
 
wdlove said:
I would say that you did very well for yourself Rod Rod. I'm with you, much to have a professional install something on my Mac. Congratulations! 😉
Click to expand...

Thanks!

brap said:
Bah, there's nothing quite like cracking open a system and working on the guts. it's all good fun.
Click to expand...

I agree with you but I didn't want to "crack" anything. 🙂 I've upgraded an eMac, which is no small task, but the Mac mini operation seemed more daunting.

sorryiwasdreami said:
That's a very modest price for a 1gb stick of ram. I'll be purchasing this stick for the mac mini I'm getting for my mom. I've heard things about mac mini and iMac G5 taking the same kind of ram; do you guys know if this is true?

Would the above said Kingston 1gb ram stick work in the iMac G5?
Click to expand...

The iMac G5 takes PC3200 RAM. PC3200 RAM will work in the Mac mini. However, PC2700 RAM won't work in an iMac G5. So, that Kingston stick I linked won't work in an iMac G5. Besides that, the box says it's not for dual channel applications (and if you're putting matched sticks in an iMac G5 you might as well have it work as dual channel).

The good news for you is the 256MB RAM you'll have left over from your Mac mini upgrade is PC3200, so you can instantly stick that in your iMac G5 and double its stock RAM.
 
I would never take any computer to CompUSA ever again. I took my iBook there because Apple said they were the closest authorized repair center in Tallahassee, FL. They ended up with my laptop for almost 3 weeks and tried to charge me for parts that didn't need to be replaced and the thing was still under the one year warantee. The iBook needed the logicboard replacement and they replaced the CD-ROM drive. After a few complaints to their management and to Apple, I got the iBook back free of charge. I have several other CompUSA horror stories as well. Lets just say I would take my chances with the putty knife against CompUSA any day.
 
Rod Rod said:
I bought this Kingston 1GB PC2700 module:

Outpost # 3325732
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/3325732?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

It costs $160. Its box says it's not for dual channel systems, which is fine because I bought it for my dad's Mac mini.
Click to expand...

Fry's had an even cheaper one than that in Friday's LA Times fold-out special. Also Kingston if I recall correctly. Only downside to it was that it required a mail-in rebate to get the full savings.

The other problem with Fry's, is that the specials that appear in their print ads are usually not available online 🙁

Other than that, I LOVE Fry's 🙂
 
rtdgoldfish, I guess I was lucky to get an experienced and competent technician.

absolut_mac, yup.. Mine was $165 up front with a $25 rebate on top of that. After taxes and shipping the total was $182.13. Hopefully I'll get $25 back though. We have one Fry's (that I know of) in the Chicago area and so far I haven't seen any print ad circulars. Besides that, our Fry's doesn't have any Macs on display. Maybe that will change soon if it hasn't already.
 
Newegg has cheap Mac compatible RAM as well. I like the user reviews, they can tell you if other people have tried it in their Macs. Outpost can be good with their deals, as well. They are owned by the same company as Fry's, can't tell if that's made them better or worse. But Fry's is only good when you know what you're looking for. Most of the sales staff there aren't great.
 
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