I purchased a pair of 8gb ram sticks for 2011 server

[philipma1957]

I was able to get a pair of sticks for 600 for 16 gb while high still better then most prices. I am going to put them in my 2011 server. I am hoping to see if the 3000 intel graphics goes higher then 512mb. I am also hoping to install snow on one hdd and standard lion on the other. I have ordered a 2011 macbook pro for a friend.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC...co=MjIzNjAzMzY


it has the same cpu and same graphics as the 2011 mini server. this may allow a good snow os x on the 2011 server. I am curious if it will be any good.

[paulrbeers]

Originally Posted by philipma1957

I was able to get a pair of sticks for 600 gb while high still better then most prices. I am going to put them in my 2011 server. I am hoping to see if the 3000 intel graphics goes higher then 512mb. I am also hoping to install snow on one hdd and standard lion on the other. I have ordered a 2011 macbook pro for a friend.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC...co=MjIzNjAzMzY


it has the same cpu and same graphics as the 2011 mini server. this may allow a good snow os x on the 2011 server. I am curious if it will be any good.

Sooo what's the question? Whether the MBP you linked to has the same power as the Mac Mini Server? Actually the MBP has much more graphical power as the MBP has both the Intel HD3000 AND the Radeon 6490 video chipset.

[jwhazel]

What do you hope to accomplish with +512mb VRAM?

[philipma1957]

Originally Posted by paulrbeers

Sooo what's the question? Whether the MBP you linked to has the same power as the Mac Mini Server? Actually the MBP has much more graphical power as the MBP has both the Intel HD3000 AND the Radeon 6490 video chipset.

OKAY I have two or three people that want 2011 servers with both snow and lion. so far most snow installs on the 2011 minis are slow as a snail with a lot of issues. I have done a few myself and can't get any snow install with really good speed. I hope to see if this os x will do better.

Originally Posted by jwhazel

What do you hope to accomplish with +512mb VRAM?

I have a few people that want some servers built for them. With 16gb ram I know the server will be more heavy duty and closer to a mac pro. I was hoping that the graphics will also get an extra boost beyond the 512mb. For most users this has no real importance as 8gb sticks are costly even at 600 a pair. But if they come down to 200 a pair in 6 months or so that fact that they also boost graphics would make them even more attractive to users.

I build a lot of systems for different users and I sell a few on ebay at times.

I post results here for a few reasons one it helps lite users decide what is best for them at no cost but the time to read my posts. Two it helps the mac community know what a machine can do.

I am going to keep a server for myself with a pair of oem 750gb hdds .

[Vermifuge]

where did you find the Ram for $600? I would get 16 GB myself for that price

[jamesryanbell]

Originally Posted by Vermifuge

where did you find the Ram for $600? I would get 16 GB myself for that price

I was about to ask this as well.

[philipma1957]

ebay seller had 4 sticks I grabbed two. he had good feedback but not many sales around 40 .

[xraydoc]

Originally Posted by philipma1957

I have a few people that want some servers built for them. With 16gb ram I know the server will be more heavy duty and closer to a mac pro. I was hoping that the graphics will also get an extra boost beyond the 512mb.

If these people are truly using the machine as a server, they will have no need for large amounts of VRAM. If they're looking for graphics power, they're looking in the wrong place with the Mac mini server.

If they want a mini with some decent graphics ability, the 2.7GHz dual core hyperthreading i7 with the discrete AMD graphics chip should the machine they're interested in.

This little machine, even in it's base 2.5GHz Core i5 (no hyperthreading) configuration, is faster than my '06 Mac Pro quad 2.66GHz Xeon + nVidia 8800GT in nearly every way.

[Vermifuge]

Originally Posted by xraydoc

If these people are truly using the machine as a server, they will have no need for large amounts of VRAM. If they're looking for graphics power, they're looking in the wrong place with the Mac mini server.

If they want a mini with some decent graphics ability, the 2.7GHz dual core hyperthreading i7 with the discrete AMD graphics chip should the machine they're interested in.

This little machine, even in it's base 2.5GHz Core i5 (no hyperthreading) configuration, is faster than my '06 Mac Pro quad 2.66GHz Xeon + nVidia 8800GT in nearly every way.

By this, do you mean the base Mac mini? The Sandy bridge i5 found in the base mini does have hyperthreading. I made the same mistake.

[Ruahrc]

It will be interesting to find out, but practically speaking, >512MB VRAM for an Intel HD3000 is very inefficient except in perhaps a handful of very specialized situations. Applications that require >512MB of VRAM usually need vastly more 3D rendering power as well, in which case the HD3000 would be woefully insufficient.

In fact more than 512MB VRAM if you install 16GB would be somehwat of a bad thing, since it's "stealing" some of that added 16GB? i.e. if you have a machine with 8GB RAM and an HD3000, there is only 7.5GB RAM available to the OS. If it were say 1GB for 16GB of installed RAM, the machine would only have 15GB of RAM instead of 16.*

Speaking of which, is there a way to dictate how much system RAM is given to the integrated GPU?

Ruahrc

*Is this the case? I know on my 2009 MBP with 9400M graphics, it does. The 9400M is "stealing" 256MB of system memory for use as VRAM, and in Activity monitor the total available RAM is reported as 3.75GB instead of the full 4.0GB. Maybe the newer integrated graphics are different, I don't know.

[philipma1957]

Originally Posted by Ruahrc

It will be interesting to find out, but practically speaking, >512MB VRAM for an Intel HD3000 is very inefficient except in perhaps a handful of very specialized situations. Applications that require >512MB of VRAM usually need vastly more 3D rendering power as well, in which case the HD3000 would be woefully insufficient.

In fact more than 512MB VRAM if you install 16GB would be somehwat of a bad thing, since it's "stealing" some of that added 16GB? i.e. if you have a machine with 8GB RAM and an HD3000, there is only 7.5GB RAM available to the OS. If it were say 1GB for 16GB of installed RAM, the machine would only have 15GB of RAM instead of 16.*

Speaking of which, is there a way to dictate how much system RAM is given to the integrated GPU?

Ruahrc

*Is this the case? I know on my 2009 MBP with 9400M graphics, it does. The 9400M is "stealing" 256MB of system memory for use as VRAM, and in Activity monitor the total available RAM is reported as 3.75GB instead of the full 4.0GB. Maybe the newer integrated graphics are different, I don't know.

well I know the 2011 server adds more to the graphics with 2gb 4gb 6gb and 8gb beyond that i don't know. The 16gb ram will be good if the max is the same as the 512 it is at 8gb.

a 15.5 to 5 or if it is 15 to 1 it will still be good. I have managed to page out at 8gb ram while serving large files of photos so whether I get 15 to 1 or 15.5 to .5 is not as important as ending page outs.

I did have an interest to see which way it would work. if it gets higher it would help with multiple monitors that don't move fast.

[xraydoc]

Originally Posted by Vermifuge

By this, do you mean the base Mac mini? The Sandy bridge i5 found in the base mini does have hyperthreading. I made the same mistake.

I mean the 2011 Mac mini in general.

And you are correct, the i5 does have hyperthreading (at least the 2.5GHz version; not sure about the 2.3GHz). My mistake. Which is funny, because I have a 2.5GHz model sitting on my desk at work right now and I even noticed the 4 "CPU" graphs in Activity Monitor.

[philipma1957]

the pair of sticks arrived yesterday. I am running a full long rember test will take two or more days. some screen shots below.

[shortcut3d]

I guess the Intel HD 3000 maxes at 512.

[philipma1957]

yes looks like the max is 512mb.. test has been perfect so far 16 hours and 12 passes done, had to boost fans a bit the mini's auto fans control was running at 3000 rpm machine was hot. not killer hot but 176 cpu 132 for one ram stick and 160 for the second ram stick. I boosted fans to 4000rpm 16 hours into the test and reps dropped to 142 for the cpu 122 for one ram stick and 147 for the other stick of ram. you know this machine has 16gb ram and a pair of 750gb hdds. it geek benches around 10 k. I spent 1700 to build this machine.


if you buy a 2010 mac pro it costs 2500 and some ram and a second drive you are at 2700. it geek benches at 10k. depending on what you do with the two machines the mini is going to be a much better deal. save a thousand spend less the 85 watts vs 285 watts plus same speed for many tasks. this machine strikes a blow at certain mac pros.

[Sdevante]

Originally Posted by philipma1957

yes looks like the max is 512mb.. test has been perfect so far 16 hours and 12 passes done, had to boost fans a bit the mini's auto fans control was running at 3000 rpm machine was hot. not killer hot but 176 cpu 132 for one ram stick and 160 for the second ram stick. I boosted fans to 4000rpm 16 hours into the test and reps dropped to 142 for the cpu 122 for one ram stick and 147 for the other stick of ram. you know this machine has 16gb ram and a pair of 750gb hdds. it geek benches around 10 k. I spent 1700 to build this machine.


if you buy a 2010 mac pro it costs 2500 and some ram and a second drive you are at 2700. it geek benches at 10k. depending on what you do with the two machines the mini is going to be a much better deal. save a thousand spend less the 85 watts vs 285 watts plus same speed for many tasks. this machine strikes blow at certain mac pros.

And, in my humble opinion, looks better too!!!! FTW!

[philipma1957]

passed remeber test two tests one was too long so I turned it off after 20 hours. the second gets was short 2 hours. passed both so the ram appears flawless. will do a geek bench and some more tests. 32 bit geek bench gave me 8970. now running cpu tests. with all cores maxed 4 real 4 virtual cpu is 172 f .

I have stats/menu 3 fan control at 5000 rpm.

seems to pass all tests I will check idle speeds temps power draw etc.

[Ice Dragon]

I'm curious Phil. What brand is the RAM you are using?

[TheRdungeon]

Thanks heaps, I jsut purchased a sever to use for Logic so finding these results interesting, I'll definitely get 16gb one day when logic will actually use it all

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Also is that seriously true about the mac pros? I thought they were faster than ones around '08, isn't the '10 the current model?

[philipma1957]

Originally Posted by Ice Dragon

I'm curious Phil. What brand is the RAM you are using?

Originally Posted by TheRdungeon

Thanks heaps, I jsut purchased a sever to use for Logic so finding these results interesting, I'll definitely get 16gb one day when logic will actually use it all

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http://www.ebay.com/itm/150651797746...#ht_500wt_1413

this was the ebay seller. he said yes to my offer of 300 a stick it is samsung ram. BTW samsung and minis have worked very well in 2009 2010 2011 minis.



Also is that seriously true about the mac pros? I thought they were faster than ones around '08, isn't the '10 the current model?

I own the base 2010 mac pro it geek benches about 9800 with 64 bit. the mini server geek benches about the same . 2120 is the best price for a 2010 mac pro with warranty apple refurb has them. add 16gb ram for about 200 you are at 2320 add a hdd for about 80 and you spent 2400 the tax on the mac pro refurb in my state is about 140 so 2540 is what you spent. the mini server cost me 1143 with the better 750 hdds and the tax. add 600 for the ram I am at 1743 vs 2540. for handbrake work they will tie or the mini will win. 800 lower in price and 85 max watts vs 285-350 watts. but the base mac pro can be greatly improved for 500 to 600 dollars more.


http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1122551



It really depends on what you do with the machines. if you are doing lots of handbrake the mini server is really good.

[TheRdungeon]

Awesome reply, yeah the hyperthreading lets logic see 8 cores too so should be a little screamer

[Zedcars]

I really really want to get the 16GB RAM for the Mini, but $880 is still just a little too high at the moment, even though it's dropped a hella lot over the last month. Buying this kind of RAM on eBay would scare me half to death, so I'm not willing to even go there.

I guess I'll just have to wait it out for the OWC price to drop to a reasonable amount.

[philipma1957]

Originally Posted by Zedcars

I really really want to get the 16GB RAM for the Mini, but $880 is still just a little too high at the moment, even though it's dropped a hella lot over the last month. Buying this kind of RAM on eBay would scare me half to death, so I'm not willing to even go there.

I guess I'll just have to wait it out for the OWC price to drop to a reasonable amount.

I can buy on ebay with a little more security then the average buyer . I sell a lot I have a squaretrade account I buy in bulk. Still I have been burned a few times scammers have new scams and you can get screwed by clever ones.

To be honest buying 2 sticks at 300 each and discounted down to about 575 usd still makes me nervous. If they are bad it will take up to a month for refund.

Since I buy and sell a lot and really make an effort to do right to both buyers and sellers I am given a bit better service from ebay,square trade, amazon and apple online.

I try to post a lot of tests of some of the gear i buy on macrumors, macmini 123 and partsexpress. It can help buyers and users. This ram will drop in price and at 150 for the pair it would be very nice for some buyers.


Right now the best deal from a real seller is 760 for a pair from crucial website. it would be 800 but there is a 5 percent promo. That is crucial micron ram not the samsung I tested.
I will keep looking for a good deal from a real seller.

[Ice Dragon]

Can someone link me to the Crucial 16 GB (2x8) pack? I am only seeing the 8 GB (2x4) pack.

[philipma1957]

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspe...CT102464BF1339


this is the link to 1 8gb stick for 400

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspe...IT102464BF1339


link for 2 sticks of 8gb

I am going to try to find the discount link

I did not test crucial I did samsung.

http://www.retailmenot.com/view/crucial.com


try this link to get 5% off the link for 5% works.

when it comes up click : upper left ( memory ram )

then click ddr3 under the words shop by memory type.


then list by price high to low

scroll down to the 799 for two 8gb sticks put it in the cart

and you should get 40 bucks off total of 759 not 799