Again, in the USA the FTC has been warning companies all year that they can't void warranties for customers opening electronics and/or repairing and/or using "unauthorized" parts.
Apple was on the receiving end of some of these warnings.
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Is RAM upgradeable in the Mac Mini?
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Again, in the USA the FTC has been warning companies all year that they can't void warranties for customers opening electronics and/or repairing and/or using "unauthorized" parts.
Apple was on the receiving end of some of these warnings.
I replaced the RAM and hard disks on my 2012 Mini - and the hard disk swap was quite a difficult job (especially to get it all back perfectly aligned again). I was hoping that this one - a replacement for the 2012 one that has been running more or less non-stop since 2012 - would offer the same level of replaceability. Oh well. That machine goes on to a relative of mine and hopefully keeps running for many more years.
The non-readily user replaceable RAM is annoying. Apple win this one as I think I'd rather pay for 32GB RAM from Apple than muck around with the machine in the first couple of years. External storage for a desktop machine is less of an issue, so I don't mind about the smaller SSD so much.
The non-readily user replaceable RAM is annoying. Apple win this one as I think I'd rather pay for 32GB RAM from Apple than muck around with the machine in the first couple of years. External storage for a desktop machine is less of an issue, so I don't mind about the smaller SSD so much.
You want to pay an additional $330 over turning a few screws yourself?! Send it to me along with the cash and i'll do it for you! Hell, i'll do it for less!
Not wanting to “tinker” with devices, and preferences for devices that work out the box flawlessly, even if it costs more than competition is one of the main reasons why people buy Apple.
Or at least it used to be, maybe something has changed now.
I'd rather not tinker too. But there comes a point where the cost savings by doing it yourself is so huge that it's worth it. I apply that to working on vehicles and home maintenance. If the cost difference is minor i'll pay someone to do it as my time is valuable. But with hundreds of dollars in savings i'll do it myself. I had a burst pipe a number of years ago in our crawlspace. A plumber would charge hundreds of dollars to fix it. I did it myself for $12. A mechanic charges $400 to replace the fuel filters on my diesel. It costs me $90 to do it myself. You get the idea.
And replacing ram is such a quick and simple thing to do too.
B&H's web site says that the base model is its largest ordered configuration and that the second is i7, 8GB RAM, 512GB Flash.
To me, that suggests that a lot of B&H's customers, especially their photo and video base, are planning to add RAM themselves.
To me, that suggests that a lot of B&H's customers, especially their photo and video base, are planning to add RAM themselves.
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Missed that someone already pointed out the macworld video. Hopefully ifixit or someone else can show a quick video on how to change the ram. That RAM cage and soldiered bluetooth cable is BS.
I might have to return my ordered mini for a 16gb model and suck up the $50 mark up.
I might have to return my ordered mini for a 16gb model and suck up the $50 mark up.
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I've replaced a lot of stuff in Apple hardware over time; batteries, disks, SSDs, RAM, screens - lots of repairs and upgrades.
However this is going to be my main Computer for many years and I want the warranty to last. The cost of 32GB of RAM + the computer + the warranty is worth more to me than the markup that Apple are charging on the difference between 8GB and 32GB. Your milage may vary.
Yes, I don't fancy the hassle of this. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
Question...
If I purchase 8GB of RAM, decide that I’m never going to make it as a pro RAM installer, and ask Apple to install, say, 16GB, will it cost me $200 or $200 plus labour? In other words, after purchase, is it $200, labour included, or $200 plus labour?
Anybody know?
If I purchase 8GB of RAM, decide that I’m never going to make it as a pro RAM installer, and ask Apple to install, say, 16GB, will it cost me $200 or $200 plus labour? In other words, after purchase, is it $200, labour included, or $200 plus labour?
Anybody know?
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Previous minis coped just fine without any extra ‘protection’. How is this any different?
Let's just assume the newer tech requires the shielding for some reason. There's still no excuse why Apple didn't make the RAM cage easy to remove somehow. Apple choose to have it protected in a way not easily accessible...
Not easy replaceable, start at 7:55: https://www.idg.tv/video/91907/new-mac-mini-unboxing
I don't know for sure— but it's extremely doubtful that any Apple Service shop including Apple Stores will install new RAM without a labor charge.
On the old 2005-2009 white top Mac minis, shops would charge a fee to install new ram + the ram cost. I don't remember what it was back then, but it was over $50. But if you upgraded the ram at mini purchase time, installation was free.
I could be a minority here, but the RAM is easy to upgrade. Even after these videos, screenshots and reviews.
I'm aware that this is dependent on each individual person, as I have taken apart car engines, built PCs, so when it comes to some RAM in the Mini, its really not a problem. This is easily changed out and i wouldn't expect to need a guide for it either.
However, I do understand the hesitation to changing memory if you were to void your warranty. I personally have no qualms taking that risk and putting everything back with the precision to look like no on was ever there. Lol.
Regardless, if you aren't comfortable moving about a few components to access the RAM, you best option is to tap into your bank account and prepare to drop a large amount to get into the 32GB+ arena.
If I'm to buy a Mini, I'm doing it myself.
I'm aware that this is dependent on each individual person, as I have taken apart car engines, built PCs, so when it comes to some RAM in the Mini, its really not a problem. This is easily changed out and i wouldn't expect to need a guide for it either.
However, I do understand the hesitation to changing memory if you were to void your warranty. I personally have no qualms taking that risk and putting everything back with the precision to look like no on was ever there. Lol.
Regardless, if you aren't comfortable moving about a few components to access the RAM, you best option is to tap into your bank account and prepare to drop a large amount to get into the 32GB+ arena.
If I'm to buy a Mini, I'm doing it myself.
Getting to this RAM will be easy. As someone who's replaced the CPUs on Mac Pro 1,1s and 3,1s, this will not be a problem. Remove a fan and a cage? Childs play.
Waiting for Apple to say on-line that its NY stores have minis in stock, and have made a decision. I'm going with 8GB of RAM. If I can replace it with 32GB myself, great. It's an excuse to purchase a new Torx driver from my favourite toolmaker. If it looks to be beyond my skill level, I reckon that I won't have a lot of trouble identifying someone in New York, maybe even in my neighbourhood, who can do the job for a reasonable price. I'll watch over his/her shoulder and maybe learn something.
I spent way too much time dithering over this
I spent way too much time dithering over this
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No they didn't. There are many people with poor bluetooth reception/range. A well-known cause is USB3 storage--Intel did a white paper on the topic in general, and here's an article about the problem specifically in the Mac Mini. The Mac Mini is so prone to this that OWC made a Bluetooth Module shielding kit to fix the problem.
Once people started adding USB 3 PCIe cards in their Mac Pros, the problem popped up there as well, which some people fixed by adding shielding.
Waiting for Apple to say on-line that its NY stores have minis in stock, and have made a decision. I'm going with 8GB of RAM. If I can replace it with 32GB myself, great. It's an excuse to purchase a new Torx driver from my favourite toolmaker. If it looks to be beyond my skill level, I reckon that I won't have a lot of trouble identifying someone in New York, maybe even in my neighbourhood, who can do the job for a reasonable price. I'll watch over his/her shoulder and maybe learn something.
I spent way too much time dithering over this
Louis Rossmann is in New York right? I bet he'd be willing to do it for cheap.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/rossmann-repair-group-new-york-2
I will not be surprised if Rossmann does a video on this, especially if he figures that there's material for a full-on bitching session
According to this video it looks super easy, all torx, no pentalobe even. I would classify this as easily user replaceable, as long as the fan assembly is not physically attached to some sort of heatpipe / heat exchanger that makes direct contact with the CPU die. Even then sometimes in laptops those devices use a dry contact thermal pad instead of thermal paste. I wish the guy went further in the video instead of just speculating, he had all his tools out already!