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Best RAM for Mac Mini 2011?

S

StewieGriffin76

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 14, 2012
4
0
Hey Everybody-

Can someone tell me what the best RAM is for a Mac Mini 2011? I did have 8GB Corsair (2 x 4GB) sticks, but the machine was barely crawling, and all I had open was iTunes and a few webpages. Quite unsatisfactory. Can't return the RAM as it has been too long since I bought them. I have went back to the stock 2 GB RAM for now. Thanks for your input.
 
StewieGriffin76 said:
Hey Everybody-

Can someone tell me what the best RAM is for a Mac Mini 2011? I did have 8GB Corsair (2 x 4GB) sticks, but the machine was barely crawling, and all I had open was iTunes and a few webpages. Quite unsatisfactory. Can't return the RAM as it has been too long since I bought them. I have went back to the stock 2 GB RAM for now. Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...

look before you blame the ram (it may be the ram) down load this free test.


http://www.kelleycomputing.net:16080/rember/

run the 2x 4gb sticks of ram pick all ram and 2 passes. see if it passes. See the thumbnails below i am running a test on my ram.
 

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If you do decide to get new RAM, personally I use the guaranteed compatible memory direct from Crucial. Just go to the crucial.com website, select your model of mac, and they'll display all compatible options. Not bad prices and delivery. That way, if you still have problems, you can send it back. :)
 
I am trying to confirm whether or not the 2011 Mini can use RAM at the 1866 Mhz frequency. I'm debating whether to install 1600 Mhz RAM or wait for 8GB 1867 Mhz sticks.

Has anyone been able to confirm the upper limit of actual RAM speed? I've read differing opinions but nothing conclusive.
 
Rember doesn't work, from what I've read, because it can't take total control over all the memory.
 
Occamsrazr said:
Rember doesn't work, from what I've read, because it can't take total control over all the memory.
Click to expand...

None of them can. Note how the popular method is to run memtest in single user mode over several cycles so as to test as much of it as possible.
 
cheesygrin said:
If you do decide to get new RAM, personally I use the guaranteed compatible memory direct from Crucial. Just go to the crucial.com website, select your model of mac, and they'll display all compatible options. Not bad prices and delivery. That way, if you still have problems, you can send it back. :)
Click to expand...

I got memory from Crucial for my brand new base mini. I can vouch that it works perfectly fine. Going from 2 to 8 gb's made an insanely huge difference!
 
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If the Mini is running well using the stock 2GB RAM, then it would appear that the problem is most likely the third-party RAM.

I read a lot of threads about bargain RAM such as Corsair and I am struck by the number of bad RAM stories and negative reviews on retailer websites.

Even though it is more expensive I think that I will stick with OWC RAM. I've never received bad RAM from OWC; when I tried another less expensive online RAM source the original sticks and their replacement were both bad.
 
Or Gskill ram from Amazon..

Purchased this ram in different sizes over a period of 5 months, from 4 GB to 8 GB and finally 16 GB without one hiccup. Cheap as well. ;)
 
I just got the cheap PNY DDR3 from best buy and went from 2 to 8 in a base model 2011. I can say between that and Mountain Lion my machine is running much faster.
 
ram like ram, nothing special about it - I use rectangular one from amazon, corsair make.
 
kc2ine said:
ram like ram, nothing special about it - I use rectangular one from amazon, corsair make.
Click to expand...

Wrong!
Please don't post things like this if you don't know what you're talking about.

Mac RAM does have specific requirements to do with timing. That's why there is Mac specific RAM. It seems many users have had no problems with generic RAM but if you want to be sure you should buy the Mac Ram (it's only maybe %10 more expensive)
 
If your machine is running better w/ 2GB ram, compared to the 8GB corsair, then it'd logically be bad ram.

There are reports of 1866 working (kingston hyperx), but I never tested that myself. I originally used 1333 corsair (labeled for macs) and had to return it, as one of the sticks was bad. I eventually decided on corsair vengeance, 4GB x2, 1600.

It's worked quite well (had it for months now) and wasn't much more than 1333 prices (like $40 or so at the time). I'd like to think I get a minor boost with my intel graphics too, but who really knows there... just happy that I could get Diablo playing on this thing (under bootcamp) with no real problems.
 
TinHead88 said:
Wrong!
Please don't post things like this if you don't know what you're talking about.

Mac RAM does have specific requirements to do with timing. That's why there is Mac specific RAM. It seems many users have had no problems with generic RAM but if you want to be sure you should buy the Mac Ram (it's only maybe %10 more expensive)
Click to expand...

That was years ago. Since Apple started using regular Intel chipsets in all Macs (2011), there have been no timing requirements. Even the NVidia chipsets accepted most RAM.
 
RAM Question.

So I know a LOT of people recommend Crucial RAM for Macs, especially the Mac Mini.

My question is this: Is this memory (Amazon Link) The same as this memory (Crucial Link) or is it different? I figure I'm ordering my SSD flex cable, and a few other things off amazon, so I would try to get this from there as well. Basically to save shipping. I can pretty much add the RAM to the 2-day shipping for about 2-3$ but on the crucial website it's 9$ for shipping. I know its not much, but it's enough for me to consider getting from Amazon if they're both the same.


http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-1...8&qid=1345577867&sr=8-5&keywords=crucial+16gb


http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=C3E8EF06A5CA7304
 
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bAdNitro said:
So I know a LOT of people recommend Crucial RAM for Macs, especially the Mac Mini.

My question is this: Is this memory (Amazon Link) The same as this memory (Crucial Link) or is it different? I figure I'm ordering my SSD flex cable, and a few other things off amazon, so I would try to get this from there as well. Basically to save shipping. I can pretty much add the RAM to the 2-day shipping for about 2-3$ but on the crucial website it's 9$ for shipping. I know its not much, but it's enough for me to consider getting from Amazon if they're both the same.


http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-PC3-1...8&qid=1345577867&sr=8-5&keywords=crucial+16gb


http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=C3E8EF06A5CA7304
Click to expand...


Can anyone confirm or deny that the two RAMs linked are the same? I'm just trying to save like 5$ and make sure all the other items I need (SSD flex cable, tools for putting my SSD from my win machine into the Mac Mini, Flash drive, etc) arrive at the same time with the same shipment. If they're different, obviously I'll order from Crucial's website, but if they're the same, I'd like same shipment convenience.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
It should work. I haven't used 1600mhz ram in my mini but I know many have. Worst case is it under clocks to 1333
 
paulrbeers said:
It should work. I haven't used 1600mhz ram in my mini but I know many have. Worst case is it under clocks to 1333
Click to expand...

I know that both 1600mhz and 1867mhz work in the mini. Utilizing the full speed, so that I'm not worried about :p

What I'm worried about is the one from amazon has a different part/model number than the one from crucial's website. The one from crucial says guaranteed compatibility with the 2011 Mac Mini 2.7ghz i7 (with a lifetime warranty). I want to make sure I'll be getting the same thing if I order from amazon.
 
bAdNitro said:
I know that both 1600mhz and 1867mhz work in the mini. Utilizing the full speed, so that I'm not worried about :p

What I'm worried about is the one from amazon has a different part/model number than the one from crucial's website. The one from crucial says guaranteed compatibility with the 2011 Mac Mini 2.7ghz i7 (with a lifetime warranty). I want to make sure I'll be getting the same thing if I order from amazon.
Click to expand...

Apple compatible RAM is basically marketing anymore. There really is no difference. You are probably buying "pc" ram but it won't matter because they are the same. I've never bought "Mac" ram for any of my intel macs and they do just fine.
 
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