Mac Mini 10gb ram?

[Uplift]

Does memory in a mac work better in dual channel mode similar to a windows setup?

I'm upgrading my mac mini from 4gb to 8gb.. crucial offer single 8gb stick or 2x4gb sticks.

Would it be a bad idea to get the 8gb stick and leave 2gb in there totalling 10gb? or would i get better performance from 2x4gb?

 

[Micky Do]

Should be fine

Does memory in a mac work better in dual channel mode similar to a windows setup?

I'm upgrading my mac mini from 4gb to 8gb.. crucial offer single 8gb stick or 2x4gb sticks.

Would it be a bad idea to get the 8gb stick and leave 2gb in there totalling 10gb? or would i get better performance from 2x4gb?

I have the original 1 GB and an added 4 GB alongside for a total of 5 GB in my early 2009 Mini. It works just fine. I know others with odd RAM pairings in various Macs, with no problems.

 

[Schnort]

If you're not ram limited, 2x4GB is slightly faster than 8GB+2GB. It's an architectural thing that has nothing to do with the OS.

If you're ram limited, having more ram is better if you can avoid paging.

 

[BigRed1]

Do the 1x8. It may be a tad slower at some stuff, but then to go up to 16 if you want to in the future you will save yourself money and make it easier to do.

 

[Fanner50]

I did the 8gb stick and left the 2gb stick in the other slot. It works fine, no problems at all.

 

[blanka]

If you do 2+8, 2+2 of that runs in dual channel mode, the other 6 in single channel. But you do have 2GB extra, so less page outs. In a speed measuring program only running on a little RAM 2x4 will probably win (if it fits in the 2+2 of the 10 GB setup you won't even notice), in RL 2+8 will definitely win.

 

[Uplift]

Thanks for the suggestions i will go with the 8GB stick and leave the 2 in there 🙂

 

[dano0726]

Ditto on the replacing with a new 8gb slot to get to 10gb