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Is RAM upgradeable in the Mac Mini?

I think the biggest concern i have is how much it will cost to upgrade in the future? Has anyone on these boards actually paid an Apple Authorized Service Provider to put in RAM?

I agree with many posters on here that if you just need 16GB, that it makes sense to buy it from Apple from the start. It's a bit more, but if you're like me, and don't want to tear apart your new mini just to add RAM, it's the right choice.

What I really want to know is if in the future I decide I want to upgrade to 32GB, how much will it cost me to pay Apple to upgrade it?
And do Apple Stores even do this? Or do I have to find another Apple service provider that does this?
 
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starkmj said:
I think the biggest concern i have is how much it will cost to upgrade in the future? Has anyone on these boards actually paid an Apple Authorized Service Provider to put in RAM?
Click to expand...

I sent an email to an Apple Authorized Service Provider, here in the Netherlands this morning, asking what costs would be involved to upgrade the RAM after purchase. Will let you know if/when they respond.
 
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Ghokun said:
I guess the SSD is the black rectangle on the top left, and soldered to board
Click to expand...

That's actually the rectangulator, it handles parallelogramic operations ...
[doublepost=1541595426][/doublepost]
starkmj said:
I think the biggest concern i have is how much it will cost to upgrade in the future? Has anyone on these boards actually paid an Apple Authorized Service Provider to put in RAM?

I agree with many posters on here that if you just need 16GB, that it makes sense to buy it from Apple from the start. It's a bit more, but if you're like me, and don't want to tear apart your new mini just to add RAM, it's the right choice.

What I really want to know is if in the future I decide I want to upgrade to 32GB, how much will it cost me to pay Apple to upgrade it?
And do Apple Stores even do this? Or do I have to find another Apple service provider that does this?
Click to expand...

I asked about this in another thread, very curious how that works (and I'm sure there's a bit of variation by country).

I would __think__ that the iMac Pro would be a good reference point since Apple offers a RAM upgrade after purchase, service center only, and the upgrade vs. pre-purchase configuration difference would indicate at least the parts price, and I'd kind of figure the labor would be a bit lower on the Mini vs. the iMP.
 
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Summary of what we know :

What you are "allowed to do"

Apple do not consider the RAM user upgradeable and doing so will void your warranty (if they find out).
Multiple people have contacted support staff who confirm the warranty void part
You can however take your machine to an Apple store or authorised re seller and they can upgrade the RAM for you in the future without voiding warranty.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205041#one


What is technically possible

It is technically possible to upgrade the ram yourself. This requires :
Removing the bottom case hatch with T6 driver
Remove the fan assembly
Remove the motherboard
Remove the RAM Cage
 
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...and I got a reply.

Amac said:
Bij deze Mac mini is het niet mogelijk om achteraf het RAM-geheugen uit te breiden. Dit kan alleen bij aanschaf. Alleen bij Mac mini model 2012 en eerdere generaties was dit mogelijk, bij model 2014 en later is dit niet meer mogelijk.
Click to expand...

Which roughly translate to that in the 2012 model this was possible and in models built after 2014 this is not possible.

I sent them a link to the Apple support document and told them they might want to have a chat with Apple about this.

--Edit--

Well that was quick. Got another reply

Amac said:
Mijn excuses voor het verkeerd informeren over deze upgrade. Wij waren helaas nog niet allemaal op de hoogte dat het bij de Mac mini 2018 model weer mogelijk is om up te graden. Je kunt het model inleveren in één van onze Amac winkels. Deze zal dan opgestuurd worden naar onze technische dienst en zij zullen je een prijsopgave sturen. Helaas hebben we geen overzicht met prijzen van deze upgrade. Dit is namelijk per model verschillend. Onze technische dienst zal dit vastleggen.
Click to expand...

Which roughly translates to that they were unaware that the 2018 was upgradable. The Mac mini needs to be sent to their technical services department (which from experience means they just send it to Apple) and then you'll get a quote for the work. However, they have no idea what it will actually cost.

Guess I better just email Apple directly and ask!
 
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BillyBobBongo said:
...and I got a reply.



Which roughly translate to that in the 2012 model this was possible and in models built after 2014 this is not possible.

I sent them a link to the Apple support document and told them they might want to have a chat with Apple about this.

--Edit--

Well that was quick. Got another reply



Which roughly translates to that they were unaware that the 2018 was upgradable. The Mac mini needs to be sent to their technical services department (which from experience means they just send it to Apple) and then you'll get a quote for the work. However, they have no idea what it will actually cost.

Guess I better just email Apple directly and ask!
Click to expand...


I believe I have found out how the support advisers are coming up with different answers on this.

 
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Ok folks, my mini has arrived in uk (i5, 256GB, 8GB ram). I have just finished installing my crucial 16GB ram kit and I am setting it up now. All working well, new ram recognised fine :) 20 mins job - just make sure you are careful :)
 

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BillyBobBongo said:
...and I got a reply.



Which roughly translate to that in the 2012 model this was possible and in models built after 2014 this is not possible.

I sent them a link to the Apple support document and told them they might want to have a chat with Apple about this.

--Edit--

Well that was quick. Got another reply



Which roughly translates to that they were unaware that the 2018 was upgradable. The Mac mini needs to be sent to their technical services department (which from experience means they just send it to Apple) and then you'll get a quote for the work. However, they have no idea what it will actually cost.

Guess I better just email Apple directly and ask!
Click to expand...


I got a smile from that exchange.

I think that it underscores that the answer needs to come from a major Apple store or Apple Support from someone who can say that he/she has been briefed on the question for this product.

I also think that the same applies to the questions about warranty.
 
dombera said:
Ok gents, my mini has arrived in uk (i5, 256GB, 6GB ram). I have just finished installing my crucial 16GB ram kit and I am setting it up now. All working well, new ram recognised fine :) 20 mins job - just make sure you are careful :)
Click to expand...
Why didn't you record the process? And new Mac Mini with 6 GB of RAM doesn't exist.

Now that it's over, can you describe us how to do it step by step, in words?
 
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whitedragon101 said:
Summary of what we know :

What you are "allowed to do"

Apple do not consider the RAM user upgradeable and doing so will void your warranty (if they find out).
Multiple people have contacted support staff who confirm the warranty void part
Click to expand...

I don't think that we know anything of the kind.

We will know what Apple's position is when an Apple employee who has been briefed on the issue addresses it.
 
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Ok, steps taken:
- remove plastic bottom (pray off)
- unscrew metal base - be very careful - wifi connection cable is super short
- unscrew wifi connector and undo the wifi connector cable
- unscrew fan (4 screws) and lift it up
- remove two large screws on the motherboard
- undo two connectors at the back of the motherboard (one is psu, second no idea)
- slide off the motherboard
- unscrew ram cage (4 screws)
- remove rubber sides from ram
- remove ram
- put new ram in - do it properly (there are two tiny holes on the bottom of the sticks - they need to align once inserted)
- reverse and enjoy.

Be super careful and take your time. I am not great at writing things up, sorry folks.
 
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dombera said:
Ok, steps taken:
- remove plastic bottom (pray off)
- unscrew metal base - be very careful - wifi connection cable is super short
- unscrew wifi connector and undo the wifi connector cable
- unscrew fan (4 screws) and lift it up
- remove two large screws on the motherboard
- undo two connectors at the back of the motherboard (one is psu, second no idea)
- slide off the motherboard
- unscrew ram cage (4 screws)
- remove rubber sides from ram
- remove ram
- put new ram in - do it properly (there are two tiny holes on the bottom of the sticks - they need to align once inserted)
- reverse and enjoy.

Be super careful and take your time. I am not great at writing things up, sorry folks.
Click to expand...


Thanks very much. Do any of the components involve a tricky alignment issue when they are put back together?
 
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dombera said:
Ok, steps taken:
- remove plastic bottom (pray off)
- unscrew metal base - be very careful - wifi connection cable is super short
- unscrew wifi connector and undo the wifi connector cable
- unscrew fan (4 screws) and lift it up
- remove two large screws on the motherboard
- undo two connectors at the back of the motherboard (one is psu, second no idea)
- slide off the motherboard
- unscrew ram cage (4 screws)
- remove rubber sides from ram
- remove ram
- put new ram in - do it properly (there are two tiny holes on the bottom of the sticks - they need to align once inserted)
- reverse and enjoy.

Be super careful and take your time. I am not great at writing things up, sorry folks.
Click to expand...
OK, thank you very much. Not a gigantic task, at least it looks that way.

This is my favorite part:

dombera said:
- undo two connectors at the back of the motherboard (one is psu, second no idea)
Click to expand...

"I have no idea what this is, but heck, I am gonna rip it off and hope that everything will be fine. :)"
 
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dombera said:
Ok, steps taken:
- remove plastic bottom (pray off)
- unscrew metal base - be very careful - wifi connection cable is super short
- unscrew wifi connector and undo the wifi connector cable
- unscrew fan (4 screws) and lift it up
- remove two large screws on the motherboard
- undo two connectors at the back of the motherboard (one is psu, second no idea)
- slide off the motherboard
- unscrew ram cage (4 screws)
- remove rubber sides from ram
- remove ram
- put new ram in - do it properly (there are two tiny holes on the bottom of the sticks - they need to align once inserted)
- reverse and enjoy.

Be super careful and take your time. I am not great at writing things up, sorry folks.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Any tools needed to slide off the motherboard?
 
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Some pics (sorry for the quality), highlighted areas wher you need to be careful.
[doublepost=1541599169][/doublepost]More:
[doublepost=1541599262][/doublepost]I will be testing it more (i5 noisem etc) but cannot spend more time on this right now, sorry folks. Hopefully you've found it useful ;)
 

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