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Enthusiasts Detail RAM Upgrade Process for the 2018 Mac mini
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I get that bit, but where do the EVO numbers come from though? ie. '970 Evo: 3.5,2.5GB/s'.
That interior design is MUCH better than previous models. It's easy-peasy to get into and out of. I changed drives on the 2012 and it was hell on earth.
I'm shocked--SHOCKED--they didn't redesign the Mini into a smaller package, due to all the free room in there... wait, this is Cook's Apple, so I'm NOT surprised.
I'm shocked--SHOCKED--they didn't redesign the Mini into a smaller package, due to all the free room in there... wait, this is Cook's Apple, so I'm NOT surprised.
This is Cook's Apple, so am I even more surprised, isn't the Apple today obsessed with making their devices thin?
Lame. The RAM upgrade should be simple. You shouldn't have to disassemble the ENTIRE thing. And the SSD and CPU really ought to be user-upgradeable too. With a company like Apple who claims to be "green," you'd think they would want to make computers tbat aren't disposable.
Those SSDs use QLC or TLC memory. Apple uses MLC, which is much more expensive.
I'm sure they'll improve it - the "old" photos do make it look a but suspect, but if you watch the Youtube vid you'll see that the procedure is, pretty much, as described. It looks long, but straightforward if you have the right screwdriver, trickiest bit looks like the antenna cable - no glue-breaking, no taking the heatsink off and having to re-apply the thermal grease etc.
I don't think I'd want to do this on a brand new machine, but it might be feasible for a mid-life upgrade - it would make me more comfortable with the official 16GB version rather than coughing up $600 extra for the 32GB model for "future proofing".
Probably helps the re-sale value down the road, too.
To those complaining about the iFixit guide using old photos - you may notice the Memory upgrade is listed under the category of '
In Progress Guides'
If you read the guide it explains the are using old photos as the case is similar in design to the 2014 release.
In Progress Guides'
If you read the guide it explains the are using old photos as the case is similar in design to the 2014 release.
Because not just anyone can build a hackintosh. I'm pretty technical, but find Hackintoshes full of compromises, difficult (or impossible) to get everything working without having years of knowledge or the patience of a saint putting up with all the less-than-helpful people on the hackintosh forums.
Then, there are macOS updates which take your mostly-working hackintosh and renders it unbootable due to something Apple decided to include in the update. Too fragile.
For tinkerers with nothing but time and stacks of knowledge on their hands, a hackintosh is fun. But for someone wanting all that a real Mac offers, a hackintosh is compromise after compromise.
Show me a Windows laptop or desktop that I can go through a standard Clover install on (or Uni/Multibeast) and have everything working and can be easily updated by anyone, and I'll concede.
yes, way too much time and way too much patience, as far as I am concerned
any software update is just like playing Russian roulette, no thank you very much
I do not hackintosh any more (because I simply do not have the time any more, nor the patience) but here is a link to a website I remember from years ago:
http://www.osx86project.org
You do NOT void your warranty when you replace RAM. Where do these myths come from?
This! 8 GB will work for me for now, just like the original 2GB in my current 2011 mini did. As time went on, I upgraded the memory in that old workhorse as it became both necessary and cheaper.
Super disappointed with the soldered SSD and without a 2.5" bay. I can deal with the 128GB if it had a 2.5" bay to add an internal drive, or if the SSD was replaceable. My wishlist with the new mini is any processor newer than Haswell, 8GB minimum even if it was soldered, and replaceable onboard SSD and/or 2.5" drive bay. As always I can only choose two.
I know all about PCIe SSD vs SATA. In everyday use, you will not feel the difference from the fastest PCIe vs even the slowest SATA. I don't know what SSD Apple uses, but if it's the typical TLC like the Samsung 970 EVO, the max sustained write speed can only be maintained until the SLC cache is filled, in the 970EVO is about 18GB. Once that cache is filled, it drops to ~300MB/s, slower than that of SATA SSDs.
I know all about PCIe SSD vs SATA. In everyday use, you will not feel the difference from the fastest PCIe vs even the slowest SATA. I don't know what SSD Apple uses, but if it's the typical TLC like the Samsung 970 EVO, the max sustained write speed can only be maintained until the SLC cache is filled, in the 970EVO is about 18GB. Once that cache is filled, it drops to ~300MB/s, slower than that of SATA SSDs.
Haven't read through all the comments, but this doesn't look too bad at all. I had to replace the hard drive in my original Intel iMac, and that was much more involved than this. Yeah, this isn't something an average user can do, but anyone who has experience working on computer hardware could handle this.
Apple doesn't claim it will "void your warranty" and that's also law in USA, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. But, any damage you cause doing the upgrade is not covered - and Apple can require you to put it back to original RAM before servicing, which doubles your chances of damaging something.
The only reason it was designed this way was to benefit Apple. Customer interests are secondary.
Looks like EMI shielding to me. The WiFi antenna is close enough to worry about signal interference.
The best explanation for not changing the size I’ve seen is that the mini has become popular as a server. There are places with hundreds of minis racked together. By keeping the mini enclosure the same they made it very easy for people to buy hundreds of new minis to replace their old ones.
The video posted this morning by a user on this site [ https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pgrade-options-can-get-pricey.2152719/page-22 ] demonstrated that it is not difficult to replace the RAM. However, the SSD is soldered in place, and I would not consider doing anything with that. According to another poster to the same article, the price being charged by Apple for the SSD upgrade is 40% higher than it would cost from outside sources, a price increase that is not as high a markup as what I see at auto mechanic shops (often double what it costs at a parts store) BEFORE labor charges are included.
Just checked Crucial, and the price for the 32GB (2 X 16GB) RAM is $330.
Follow the video to see the warnings about what a person could damage if he were not prepared. In the previous 2012 model, for example, only the bottom cover had to be removed to access the RAM - an easy replacement. This will take a little longer - but maybe not as long as it took me to replace the HDD in a 2011 MBP with a SSD. Lots of dust had to be cleaned out of that one, too.
Just checked Crucial, and the price for the 32GB (2 X 16GB) RAM is $330.
Follow the video to see the warnings about what a person could damage if he were not prepared. In the previous 2012 model, for example, only the bottom cover had to be removed to access the RAM - an easy replacement. This will take a little longer - but maybe not as long as it took me to replace the HDD in a 2011 MBP with a SSD. Lots of dust had to be cleaned out of that one, too.
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Depends if the barrier is general technophobia or just lack of confidence (and tools) when taking a screwdriver to (expensive) hardware.
You don't have to build a Hackintosh - provided you have a that PC doesn't rely on any unsupported components, its just installing and configuring software (not a job for the tech-illiterate, but the Hackintosh community have done a sterling job of making as simple and well documented as could be expected) - just read the list of compatible hardware and do your homework when choosing the PC.
If all else fails you give up, re-install Windows - or Linux if the PC didn't come with Windows - and you've got a working computer to use or sell. Even "building" a Mini-tower PC is far less fiddly than working on a small-form-factor Mac where you're terrified a mistake could leave you with a $1000 brick. You can also get part-assembled "bare bones" PC kits with the trickiest/scariest stuff like fitting the CPU and heatsink to the motherboard done for you (worst case scenario is probably breaking the motherboard socket when fitting the CPU - even that is less expensive than bricking a Mac).
However, they're really only for hobby/personal use. Tim Cook probably isn't going to hunt you down and sue you for playing with one, but you shouldn't use what is, effectively, a pirated version of MacOS in any sort of professional context and while, yes, you can get updates but sometimes they cause problems and you need to double check the Hackintosh forums before hitting that "update" button. Your decision, but personally I wouldn't sink money into one unless you had other potential uses for that hardware.
64GB (i.e. 2x32GB) still seems to be rare and expensive so if you want 64GB today you might as well re-mortgage and pay Apple. However - 32GB - 2x16GB @ 2666 SODIMM - is about $280 from crucual.com whereas I think Apple are asking $600 for the upgrade. 16GB is about $140 vs. $200 from Apple (probably not worth the hassle of SIY, but still chafes since the difference from 8GB is only about £70)
Maybe it is to prevent someone from pulling out the electronics and damaging the RAM or to ensure that the RAM had been completely seated.
That's a big part of where Apple keeps higher margins. They have lower gross margins on base configs of devices and then have substantial markups for upgrades. Doing this, Apple is able to keep about 40% gross margins and 20% net margins.