Thinking of getting a Mac Mini and am looking to upgrade the ram. I saw a post on a forum (not sure if it was here or not and I have been looking) that there was some "generic" 1gb ram for the whopping price of $66. I'm ready to jump on that. Anyone have any recommendations? Thks. Cheers
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Mac Mini .....Cheap Ram?
- Thread starter zagato27
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zagato27 said:
Buy ram from a reputable company. I had apple do mine for me, after i sold my 512 stick it cost me $225 installed.. the ram is covered under warranty (if you install your own youre voiding the mini warranty and the ram isn't covered). Then again ive never been cheap when it came to doing things the RIGHT way.
Ed
freeorangeshoes said:
Call apple care, why do you think ram is a SERVICE PART and not an ACCESSORY for the mini? I was told by 4 separate apple care reps and the apple store that it would void your warranty. Try looking on the apple store for mac mini ram, you wont find it since its a service part and not a user serviceable case.
I've said it before and ill say it again, just cause you can open the case and not break it doesn't mean that legally it doesn't violate the contract you have between yourself and apple. For 100 or less its not worth it to me to risk something that cost you more to replace if it did break or fry something during installation.
Its like the people that buy a BMW, put crappy fuel in to it and then wonder why their engine knocks.. stop being so cheap and get it done the right way and you wont risk losing your mini to a $100 savings..
Ed
sigh, i dont make this stuff up.
found on:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=13946
so get your stuff straight before you go playing the big smart know-it-all. cool?
hugs and kisses.
dra
found on:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=13946
so get your stuff straight before you go playing the big smart know-it-all. cool?
hugs and kisses.
dra
freeorangeshoes said:
This doesn't apply to the Mac mini, call applecare and find out for yourself, or even better call the apple store and ask to order ram for a mini, you will get transferred to applecare since its a service item, see there is the difference ive been through this all and ive spoken to apple reps on this it seems YOURE the one that doesn't know
make a call and you do some research before opening your know-it-all trapEd
simply not true. you were either told wrong or misunderstood. its explicit. read the link i gave you. there is no reason the mac mini would be excluded from that.
freeorangeshoes said:
It's excluded because the mini is NOT USER SERVICEABLE which part of that statement don't you understand?
Being cheap and risking your mini for such a little savings just isn't worth it.. But to each their own if they feel like taking the risk.
Ed
It doesnt void your warranty. Evn if it did, you could just take the RAM out before you send it in.
here it is for $81
It's $111 from crucial. IF you're gonna go no name then you might as well just go ebay:
here it is for $67 including shipping.
It's $111 from crucial. IF you're gonna go no name then you might as well just go ebay:
here it is for $67 including shipping.
Mumble mumble mumble
#1: You don't want no steenking heat-spreaders on your RAM, it won't fit properly in Minis or iMac G5's. Scratch that $81 unit.
#2: Corsair do not warranty their ValueSelect, CMS or TwinX RAM for Macs. NewEgg does not guarantee mac compatibility. NewEgg charges 15% fees on non-defective returns (according to their written policies). I don't know why someone would buy PC Generic RAM from NewEgg for their Mac
#3: I REALLY don't know why someone would risk their money buying RAM on eBay. Esp. from someone who says returns have to be made within 7 days. How do you suppose you'll get any warranty honoured from an eBay seller???
My advice is to buy RAM from a reputable dealer who guarantees Mac compatibility, tested on your specific model, offers a lifetime warranty and a no-charge return if it doesn't work.
#1: You don't want no steenking heat-spreaders on your RAM, it won't fit properly in Minis or iMac G5's. Scratch that $81 unit.
#2: Corsair do not warranty their ValueSelect, CMS or TwinX RAM for Macs. NewEgg does not guarantee mac compatibility. NewEgg charges 15% fees on non-defective returns (according to their written policies). I don't know why someone would buy PC Generic RAM from NewEgg for their Mac
#3: I REALLY don't know why someone would risk their money buying RAM on eBay. Esp. from someone who says returns have to be made within 7 days. How do you suppose you'll get any warranty honoured from an eBay seller???
My advice is to buy RAM from a reputable dealer who guarantees Mac compatibility, tested on your specific model, offers a lifetime warranty and a no-charge return if it doesn't work.
Saving a few bucks on bad RAM isn't worth the kernal panics if you know what I mean. Make sure you buy something that is guaranteed to work.
Hopefully this will end the dicussion and not flare it up again, but upgrading the RAM in the Mac mini will not void your warranty.
In addition to freeorangeshoes' link, here is another from MacWorld.
I am very confident that upgrading your RAM will not void your warranty and that the Apple reps are most likely just trying to get you to fork over some cash to do the task.
Good Luck.
Hopefully this will end the dicussion and not flare it up again, but upgrading the RAM in the Mac mini will not void your warranty.
In addition to freeorangeshoes' link, here is another from MacWorld.
I am very confident that upgrading your RAM will not void your warranty and that the Apple reps are most likely just trying to get you to fork over some cash to do the task.
Good Luck.
Go with that RAM from Newegg, it's ok stuff. Just BE CAREFUL when you install it in the mini. It doesn't void your warranty... unless you break it. Then you're screwed, and those things ain't easy to open. Have an Apple tech do it for you (for a small fee), or get a putty knife and do everything really gently. Just be prepared for the worst. It is value ram, but it should work fine in your mini. If it doesn't, you're out the shipping costs, but Newegg will send you a replacement. I use them all the time.zagato27 said:Well, been doing some searching in other forums and found some 1gb ram (Corsair) from Newegg. It's about $88. Couple of guys have installed it in their Mini's and no problems. Sounds good to me. Cheers
I sell on eBay all the time and I'm pretty scrupulous, but not everyone there is. I've been screwed a couple of time there. Luckily, it's all been small stuff. I'd never trust them for stuff like this, especially when you're saving so little.
They don't always know the answers, and this has been argued ad naseum, but if you don't break anything it doesn't void the warranty.Gary King said:
It does indeed void your warranty now. You can "have" upgraded RAM installed by an Apple Authorized Service Provider, but if you install the RAM yourself... according to Apple phone support and my local Apple Store it will void your AppleCare or 1-Year Limited Warranty.
Intially, one of Apple's hardware execs said it would not, however Apple's policy has changed. Call them up and ask yourself! Memory is not a "user-installable" part on the Mac mini.
Intially, one of Apple's hardware execs said it would not, however Apple's policy has changed. Call them up and ask yourself! Memory is not a "user-installable" part on the Mac mini.
I don't know why they're telling people it'll void the warranty. It's just recommended. If you don't break anything, they'd never know anyway. Judging by the posts on Newegg, a lot of people are doing it without issue.Apple said:
Just be careful when you do it.
Regardless of what any of Apples docs, reps, techs, etc say, Apple CANNOT void your warranty for upgrading RAM. They can, and will, deny warranty coverage if you damage something during the install, or if the RAM is somehow responsible for the problem. However, the act of installing new RAM will not effect the warranty of the rest of the system.
This is very clear under US law, specifically the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. A company cannot require that you buy additional parts or service from them in order to maintain warranty status on an original purchase. This is true for all products, from computers to cars (does Ford void your warranty if you get your oil changed at Jiffy Lube?).
You can read more about this here. Or you can go back to arguing about what a sale monkey at an Apple store told you. For those of you who aren't going to read the link,
Also, if something should go wrong with you mini, say the HD fails, after you upgrade the RAM, and Apple tries to claim that the RAM was what caused it, the burden of proof is on them to prove that it was the RAM. In other words, they can't just deny service because you have upgraded it yourself. They have to PROVE that your upgrade was the problem. This law is very important to the after-market car types, and is becoming more important to computer owners as machines get so fast that we don't NEED to get a new computer as often, as an occasional upgrade will suffice.
This is very clear under US law, specifically the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. A company cannot require that you buy additional parts or service from them in order to maintain warranty status on an original purchase. This is true for all products, from computers to cars (does Ford void your warranty if you get your oil changed at Jiffy Lube?).
You can read more about this here. Or you can go back to arguing about what a sale monkey at an Apple store told you. For those of you who aren't going to read the link,
Also, if something should go wrong with you mini, say the HD fails, after you upgrade the RAM, and Apple tries to claim that the RAM was what caused it, the burden of proof is on them to prove that it was the RAM. In other words, they can't just deny service because you have upgraded it yourself. They have to PROVE that your upgrade was the problem. This law is very important to the after-market car types, and is becoming more important to computer owners as machines get so fast that we don't NEED to get a new computer as often, as an occasional upgrade will suffice.
It apparently does void your warranty
For everyone debating the issue of whether installing RAM voids your warranty, it apparently does. I installed a gig of RAM in my mini. It worked flawlessly for more than 4 months, and then the hard drive went out. Now they claim that since I opened it, I somehow broke it. How's that for being honest with them.
Here is the email:
---
Dear (my name),
(Removed), enclosed is your quote to complete your repair.
As I explained to you at the bar when you brought your unit into the store, the Mac Mini has no customer installable parts.
Since the unit was opened, this unit is now OOW.
After reassembling & testing the unit, I confirmed that the HD & optical drive need to be replaced. Since this is not a covered repair, I have not taken out the media currently stuck in the optical drive.
Current Quote:
661-3438 (Drive, Combo, 24X, Slot Loading) $165.52
661-3439 (Hard Drive, 40 GB, 2.5", 4200 rpm) $198.96
S1490LL/A (HARDWARE REPAIR-LEVEL 1) $90.95
Total Cost of Repair: $455.43
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call: 305-234-4565 (Option 5).
Sincerely,
Nestor A. Gonzalez
Mac Genius
Apple Store - The Falls
8888 SW 136 ST, Suite 450
Miami, FL 33176
305-234-4565
---
I emailled him back and let him know that I would like to receive the machine back unrepaired and I will just put a new hard drive in myself. I hope that someone here can help me out. It sounds like they should have to prove that I broke it, which I can assure you I did not.
For everyone debating the issue of whether installing RAM voids your warranty, it apparently does. I installed a gig of RAM in my mini. It worked flawlessly for more than 4 months, and then the hard drive went out. Now they claim that since I opened it, I somehow broke it. How's that for being honest with them.
Here is the email:
---
Dear (my name),
(Removed), enclosed is your quote to complete your repair.
As I explained to you at the bar when you brought your unit into the store, the Mac Mini has no customer installable parts.
Since the unit was opened, this unit is now OOW.
After reassembling & testing the unit, I confirmed that the HD & optical drive need to be replaced. Since this is not a covered repair, I have not taken out the media currently stuck in the optical drive.
Current Quote:
661-3438 (Drive, Combo, 24X, Slot Loading) $165.52
661-3439 (Hard Drive, 40 GB, 2.5", 4200 rpm) $198.96
S1490LL/A (HARDWARE REPAIR-LEVEL 1) $90.95
Total Cost of Repair: $455.43
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call: 305-234-4565 (Option 5).
Sincerely,
Nestor A. Gonzalez
Mac Genius
Apple Store - The Falls
8888 SW 136 ST, Suite 450
Miami, FL 33176
305-234-4565
---
I emailled him back and let him know that I would like to receive the machine back unrepaired and I will just put a new hard drive in myself. I hope that someone here can help me out. It sounds like they should have to prove that I broke it, which I can assure you I did not.
