Mid-2010 Mac Mini runs fine on 1333MHz RAM

[Giuly]

Hi,
I just threw 8GB of 1333MHz DDR3 into my Mac Mini (2,66GHz). It seems to recognize it correctly as 1333MHz, but I guess the bus speed of 1066MHz limits it anyway.

If the RAM would run on 1066MHz, it should show up on System Profiler, shouldn't it?

http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/view/265076

It don't know whether this is known yet, or brings any advantage because of the bus speed.
Things are blazing fast compared to 2x1GB 1066MHz, just for the record 🙂 It should come with 2x2GB as default, as the cost for DDR3 reduced in the past anyway. 2GB is just insufficient, even for minor simultaneous daily tasks.

Regards

Edit: According to Geekbench they are as fast as the original ones. Maybe 1066MHz 7-7-7-20 are even faster, because these are 1333MHz 9-9-9-24 and there is no faster timing available.

 

[TxMacAddict]

The 2 x 1 GB is definitely slowing down my 2010 mini. It should have 4 GB standard the same as the newly refreshed Macbook Pros. My plan is to buy an 8GB kit for my Pro and move the olf 4GB sticks to the mini.

 

[i7QuadCoreMania]

Good to know, though my iMac i7 late 2009 would not take anything lower than CAS7

I did find that kingston makes 1333 in CAS7 HyperX line though at the time I looked they were the 2gb chips.

 

[Mr.T]

I only find my mini slow when using ssh, not sure why, but it responds like the machine is downloading and flat lining my dsl connection. Other then that when physically at it, it handles fine with 2gb of ram. Although I intend to upgrade to 4gb asap as I know I'll be utilizing it sooner than later.

 

[JacaByte]

The 2 x 1 GB is definitely slowing down my 2010 mini. It should have 4 GB standard the same as the newly refreshed Macbook Pros. My plan is to buy an 8GB kit for my Pro and move the olf 4GB sticks to the mini.

Doesn't the Mini use SO-DIMMs and not full sized DIMMs like the Mac Pro? If so, you won't physically be able to do that.

 

[GodWhomIsMike]

Doesn't the Mini use SO-DIMMs and not full sized DIMMs like the Mac Pro? If so, you won't physically be able to do that.

He said Macbook Pro 😉

 

[ykmn]

Hi,
I just threw 8GB of 1333MHz DDR3 into my Mac Mini (2,66GHz). It seems to recognize it correctly as 1333MHz, but I guess the bus speed of 1066MHz limits it anyway.

I had similar case on my Mac mini 2010 (2.4GHz): just bought Samsung 2 x 2GB SO-DIMMs with CF9, but made a mistake and got PC3-10600 memory instead of PC3-8500. Inside computer there were two Samsung 1GB PC3-8500 with CF8. Okay, I thought, downclocking should works.

Anyway... when I installed 2 x 2GB modules, Mac Mini said "BEEP BEEP BEEP" and refused work at all.

Well, I remove one PC3-10600 module and left one 2GB - computer boots fine.

Then I add one old 1GB module (so first slot has 2GB-10600, second slot has 1GB-8500) - computer boots fine again (and shows in System Profiler 2+1GB both working on 1067MHz).

Changing DIMM in second slot again to 2GB-10600 causes fail beeps again. PRAM zapping wasn't successfull (I mean it can zap PRAM in case of 2+1GB or 2+0GB, but with 2+2GB there's only beeps).

 

[nicklad]

The MCP89 chipset supports a 1333MHz FSB, doesn't it!?

 

[Giuly]

It does, but there is no mobile Core 2 Duo which connects to it at FSB 1333, so you don't get any advantage out of it. The RAM is indeed connected via FSB1333 to the MCP89. The i3/i5/i7 dual core max out at DDR3-1066 as well, so the only applicable scenario is on the (i3/)i5/i7-iMac, if they carry Lynnfield CPUs. CL7 should improve memory speed more then DDR3-1333 in the laptops and minis.

Regards

 

[atascon]

I had similar case on my Mac mini 2010 (2.4GHz): just bought Samsung 2 x 2GB SO-DIMMs with CF9, but made a mistake and got PC3-10600 memory instead of PC3-8500. Inside computer there were two Samsung 1GB PC3-8500 with CF8. Okay, I thought, downclocking should works.

Anyway... when I installed 2 x 2GB modules, Mac Mini said "BEEP BEEP BEEP" and refused work at all.

Well, I remove one PC3-10600 module and left one 2GB - computer boots fine.

Then I add one old 1GB module (so first slot has 2GB-10600, second slot has 1GB-8500) - computer boots fine again (and shows in System Profiler 2+1GB both working on 1067MHz).

Changing DIMM in second slot again to 2GB-10600 causes fail beeps again. PRAM zapping wasn't successfull (I mean it can zap PRAM in case of 2+1GB or 2+0GB, but with 2+2GB there's only beeps).

I am getting the same problem on my 2.4GHz mid 2010 mac mini but with two 4G DIMMs.
Also I'll add that if I use the old 1G DIMM on the bottom(back) it also boots.
so in summay:

Slot 1(bottom)  Slot 2(top)    Boots   Speed
1G               1G             Yes     1067MHz    Standard Installation
1G               empty          Yes     1067MHz   Testing configurations
empty            1G             Yes     1067MHz  Testing configurations
4G               empty          Yes     1333MHz
4G               1G             Yes     1067MHz
1G               4G             Yes     1067MHz
empty            4G             No              Single Beeps
4G               4G             No              Single Beeps

Since 8G has been installed successfully by others I am also thinking that it is
to do with using the faster RAM on a 2.4GHz system?
Could this be due to the chipset going into Dual Channel mode or something and trying to do this at 1333MHz isnt supported by the chipset or motherboard design on the 2.4GHz model?

If so, could something be told (EFI? RAM timing romy thingies?) to slow down when accessing the RAM?

Anyone else have an idea or clue as to what might be going on?

PS
Ram timing as stamped on the DIMMs are:
CL=9-9-9-24

 

[remmark]

I don't quite understand, if I used the 1333 MHz RAM in the new Mini, would it be in effect underclocked? Or would the memory itself still operate at 1333 MHz? I was hoping it could run cooler if it were underclocked.

 

[Giuly]

I am getting the same problem on my 2.4GHz mid 2010 mac mini but with two 4G DIMMs.
Also I'll add that if I use the old 1G DIMM on the bottom(back) it also boots.
so in summay:

Slot 1(bottom)  Slot 2(top)    Boots   Speed
1G               1G             Yes     1067MHz    Standard Installation
1G               empty          Yes     1067MHz   Testing configurations
empty            1G             Yes     1067MHz  Testing configurations
4G               empty          Yes     1333MHz
4G               1G             Yes     1067MHz
1G               4G             Yes     1067MHz
empty            4G             No              Single Beeps
4G               4G             No              Single Beeps

Since 8G has been installed successfully by others I am also thinking that it is
to do with using the faster RAM on a 2.4GHz system?
Could this be due to the chipset going into Dual Channel mode or something and trying to do this at 1333MHz isnt supported by the chipset or motherboard design on the 2.4GHz model?

If so, could something be told (EFI? RAM timing romy thingies?) to slow down when accessing the RAM?

Anyone else have an idea or clue as to what might be going on?

PS
Ram timing as stamped on the DIMMs are:
CL=9-9-9-24

I use G.Skill FA-10666CL9D-8GBSQ, specially designed for Macs. Get these, they are not that expensive, there is 2x2GB 1333MHz and 4/8GB 1066MHz, too, and they work. NewEgg is out of stock now on the 8GB 1333MHz-Kit, but they were $230 or so. Indeed, they were the cheapest 8GB DDR3-Kit at all, as I bought them. OWC may have similar RAM which works in Macs. I guess you have tested random PC RAM?