Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Is RAM upgradeable in the Mac Mini?
- Thread starter bumfluff
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Really??? The last mini had soldered RAM. Why in the world would Apple change that to socketed RAM, at higher cost, then go through even more expense to block the socketed RAM with this "RAM cage" when they already had the "lock you out" problem solved with soldered RAM? Does that really make any sense?
Mike
There is no proof at all, and there won't be until a properly briefed Apple employee states what Apple's position is.
What there is at the moment are lots of opinions, both ways, that may or may not prove to be correct. Also, some of these opinions are based on amateur interpretation of local laws that are just that, local.
It does if they want you to go back to them and pay.
I know, I know. I’m stretching. I’m just frustrated that it’s not like the 2012.
In saying that, I pulled mine apart and it now has a 2Tb + 500GB SSD in fusion. I guess I’ll have to bust out the tools, again...
Well from a business perspective, the mini is more desirable to a wider audience because they think it is more future-proof , at least concerning RAM needs. Not even Apple could upgrade the memory on the 2014 mini, so there was no opportunity for service business there. If they make changing the RAM in the 2018 appear daunting enough, there will many people who will bring it in to Apple to have them upgrade the RAM.
I am doing a little sigh of relief since it appears that the removal of the motherboard in the 2018 mini looks easier than the models before it. You still have to be careful on some of the steps, but for me I believe I would attempt doing it myself. I would like to see a video from OWC to make the final decision.
Really, there's a point where the bitching about RAM changeout and the Apple-is-out-to-get-us theories amount to a complaint that the Mac mini is 7.7" square and 1.4" tall. Simple remedy, buy a whopping big case and build whatever you want 
This is where I got my 32 GB of ram from in the US...
https://www.amazon.com/Patriot-2666...1610900&sr=8-7&keywords=16GB+DDR4-2666+SODIMM
$232 Delivered...
https://www.amazon.com/Patriot-2666...1610900&sr=8-7&keywords=16GB+DDR4-2666+SODIMM
$232 Delivered...
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Really, there's a point where the bitching about RAM changeout and the Apple-is-out-to-get-us theories amount to a complaint that the Mac mini is 7.7" square and 1.4" tall. Simple remedy, buy a whopping big case and build whatever you want
But you can put a 7.7" square computer in many more places that you can a whopping big case.
My first thought was the RAM was shrouded in a Faraday cage. Maybe the higher frequencies of components require shielding.
Nice Find!
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I can't see any other reason for it, and it appears to made of the same material as the WiFi plate. So that would be my guess.
Really, there's a point where the bitching about RAM changeout and the Apple-is-out-to-get-us theories amount to a complaint that the Mac mini is 7.7" square and 1.4" tall. Simple remedy, buy a whopping big case and build whatever you want
I did think the same myself it may just have been so they could put bigger cooling and better components crammed in there.
However, the real bone of contention is simply that they charge double the going rate for RAM. Crucial sell RAM for half the price of the 32GB upgrade and yet they still make money. If its +£50 you think eh ok thats annoying but ok. At +£220 and Apple keep the original 8Gb then it feels like price gouging.
Last edited:
I'm considering buying iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit, because I need (or want) a new electronics toolkit anyway. Of course special kits like this will be updated soon (or just buy that and P5 separately):
https://www.amazon.com/Security-Screwdriver-Drive-Upgrade-Removal/dp/B078PJGGBZ/
EDIT: It turned out that the RAM cage screws are T5, not P5 (unless Apple is screwing us with differing screws). And the big ones are T10, not T9.
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Dang, I didn't have that experience.
I took in an older Mini and was turned away, by way of the Apple Store telling me it was obsolete and they didn't work on it any longer. I didn't question it, recycled the unit.
About a year later I read a story about that exact model being made obsolete at that time, so no more repairs would be possible. Jerks just straight up lied to me.
UPDATE: See posts 452-57, 486, 494.
Here are links with photos of what is apparently required. Some people will consider it unnecessary, but I'm going with ESD (electrostatic discharge) screwdrivers. These links show PB Swiss screwdrivers, but you can purchase much cheaper ones. iFixIt, among others, sells them.
If anybody does decide to purchase PB Swiss brand, do not purchase via Amazon U.S. or Canada. There are only two reasonably priced vendors, Count On Tools in Georgia and Tool Lady in Washington State. For name brand screwdrivers, also consider Wera, Wiha and the U.S. brand Bondhus, which are available via Amazon at reasonable prices.
Pentalobe screwdriver, size P5, for 1.2mm screws [PB Swiss code PB 8129.1,2-40 ESD]*
https://www.pbswisstools.com/en/too...ronics-screwdrivers/product/pb-812908-40-esd/
Torx screwdriver, size T9 [PB Swiss code PB 8400.9-60 ESD or 1124.9-60 ESD]
https://www.pbswisstools.com/en/too...tronics-screwdrivers/product/pb-84006-50-esd/
Torx Tamper-proof screwdriver, size T6 (for special Torx screws called Security, Tamper-proof or Tamper-resistant) [PB Swiss code PB 8124.B 6-50 ESD]
https://www.pbswisstools.com/en/too...tronics-screwdrivers/product/pb-81243-40-esd/
A spudger might come in handy too, particularly for removing the back plate.
* Count On Tools calls this a Pentalobe nut driver, which is the same thing as a Pentalobe screwdriver.
Last edited:
I would consider it unnecessary. Never had an issue with this. Not in all my years working on computers. Even laying on the carpet with a case open in probably the worst scenario for ESD.
But thanks for the links! I've found lots of options on amazon i'll probably grab. I just need to go home first and very which tools I already have.
Apple has been increasingly pushing "services" as part of their business model. Having the memory in the Mac mini and iMac pro only serviceable by Apple falls right in line with this. No surprise. Where there's money to be made, will figure out a way to do it.
Everyone is having a cow about this. I had a 2007 Mac mini and I was too lazy & chicken to upgrade the ram myself so I took it to an authorized Apple service center (with my 3rd party RAM) and they swapped it in for a $60 service fee.
I was happy to pay it. I didn't want to accidentally screw up my main machine. Not worth the risk.
$60. That's it. Not worth getting hysterical about.
Everyone is having a cow about this. I had a 2007 Mac mini and I was too lazy & chicken to upgrade the ram myself so I took it to an authorized Apple service center (with my 3rd party RAM) and they swapped it in for a $60 service fee.
I was happy to pay it. I didn't want to accidentally screw up my main machine. Not worth the risk.
$60. That's it. Not worth getting hysterical about.
I appreciate your view, but I want to point out the other side. ESD screwdrivers cost $2-$3 more than non-ESD. For all the discussion here about warranty, one thing is clear. If you zap your Mac mini, Apple is not going to be in a hurry to cover it.
I own a standard Torx T9, but I've ordered an ESD T9 for this project.
Last edited:
This page says that RAM is not user-upgradeable in the 2018 Mac mini:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205041
And this page says that Apple’s warranty will not cover damage caused by unauthorised repair or modifications:
https://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/products/embedded-mac-warranty-us.html
So whilst upgrading the RAM yourself doesn’t appear to automatically invalidate the warranty thereafter, the risk is that if you do cause damage in the process then Apple can refuse to fix it. And of course you run the risk that even if the upgrade is successful, if you do ever need warranty service and Apple notices the unauthorised modification then they may get difficult about it.
Of course, many people will decide that that’s a risk worth taking.
Sometimes I even rub a balloon on my head before touching electronic components!
Woo!
Hell yes!
Grab a drink, put on some metal, get it __done__.
With the appropriate photographic documentation of course
Hi,
Can you (or dombera) confirm that the Torx T9 needed is a standard T9 rather than a Security/Tamper-proof T9?
Last edited:
This is a long way from what you and others have been asserting. Not one word of what you have referred to here supports the proposition that installing RAM oneself in and of itself voids the warranty.
It doesn't take a lot of thinking power to figure out that if you damage the computer in the process, Apple may not be keen to take responsibility for your stupidity/clumsiness. On this question, my personal view, for what it's worth, is in post #444 re using ESD screwdrivers.
Last edited: