mac mini memory upgrade

[natasha69]

is this something apple offers? i have the latest model, and it only has 1 Gig of RAM in it, with an open slot. thinking about upgrading to 4 Gigs, but not sure if this is a standard kit I can buy from Apple? I looked on their store/website and saw nothing, and most google searches showed third party kits.

Can someone shed some more light on this for me?
Thanks,
N

 

[MikeDTyke]

I believe the current one only has a single memory slot, just as it is on my core duo model. Apple tends to offer build to order options on the macmini, just not aftermarket. Probably due to the difficulty in getting the case a part to install it. ie. non-user serviceable.

Crucial or one of the other 3rd parties will serve you handsomely.

I`d invest in a putty knife if you intend on installing it yourself.

 

[Tallest Skil]

Two slots, 4GB max.

 

[Jabbamk1]

The 09 Mac Mini can support up to 4GB or Ram. It has 2 slots with a max of 2GB in each. I recommend you buy the memory from crucial.com as it is cheaper and it has the exact type.

There are lots of tuts on youtube telling you how to open the mini and install the memory.

 

[Hellhammer]

4GB max.

Is it tested that it can only take 4GB?

 

[Jabbamk1]

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Mac mini (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz DDR3) MB463LL/A

here is a kit for $65.

you can probably sell the 1GB for $20 tops.

 

[natasha69]

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Mac mini (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz DDR3) MB463LL/A

here is a kit for $65.

you can probably sell the 1GB for $20 tops.

thank you very much!

 

[shergill]

I just upgraded my RAM this wknd to 4gig. I bought it from Amazon for like $55.. The ram upgrade is a tedious procedure though if you want to do it yourself. I watched this video to get the info I needed.

http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/mac_mini_2009_mem_m/

 

[natasha69]

I just upgraded my RAM this wknd to 4gig. I bought it from Amazon for like $55.. The ram upgrade is a tedious procedure though if you want to do it yourself. I watched this video to get the info I needed.

http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/mac_mini_2009_mem_m/

thanks! great link. i will follow along.

question - how much of a performance increase did you observe after finishing the upgrade?

 

[shergill]

haven't had a chance to use the mini enough to answer that objectively... I could say things feel 'snappier'; but that would be a guess on my part

 

[Tallest Skil]

Is it tested that it can only take 4GB?

I don't remember. I can't recall BareFeats popping six or eight in to see what happens, but I could be wrong.

Though it could still be a chipset limitation for whatever they're using in the newest Mac Mini.

 

[shergill]

About this mac shows the full 4gig that I installed

 

[Thermonuclear]

I don't remember. I can't recall BareFeats popping six or eight in to see what happens, but I could be wrong.

Though it could still be a chipset limitation for whatever they're using in the newest Mac Mini.

The 2009 Mac Mini (I bought one two weeks ago) has two SoDIMM slots and each has a maximum capacity of 2 GB.

OWC: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_Mac_mini/DDR3

I've been a customer of theirs for quite a while and I'm satisfied with their service.

 

[rkdiddy]

I did the upgrade yesterday, as long as you take your time and have the right tools (mainly a thin putty knife) it isn't that difficult.

The youTube video is a HUGE help.

Cheers.

 

[lisaann]

If I could, could I ask, would it cause problems to install just one 2gb module alongside the original 1gb?

 

[Krafty]

Is it tested that it can only take 4GB?

AFAIK, Someone recently said OWC and themselves personally tested with 2x4GB and 4GB was the max it would go.

If I could, could I ask, would it cause problems to install just one 2gb module alongside the original 1gb?

There would probably be some performance issues.

 

[steve knight]

I upgraded a week after I got my mini. you can't run parallels with 1 gig. the computer ran the same but things like playing videos in itunes ha no pauses anymore. far less of the beachball. now windows runs fast.

 

[lisaann]

Thank you Krafty!
I was just trying to find a cheap way out.
But if performance is an issue.....

 

[Krafty]

Thank you Krafty!
I was just trying to find a cheap way out.
But if performance is an issue.....

I understand, but its not worth it.

 

[lisaann]

Well, I broke down and went for a 4 gb kit at frys. I will attempt the upgrade now.
I also have a 320gb wd 7200 drive to go in at the same time. I upgraded my original last generation mini with 4gb of ddr2 and the same 320gb drive five months ago. But it died a few weeks ago, so I put the original ram and hdd back in and had the apple store try to repair it. They replaced the logic board and it still would not boot, so the replaced it with a newer model. So now I am upgrading again, and get to use that spatula again...
And now I have to try to find a use for 4gb of ddr2...

 

[rgarjr]

Good luck on the surgery and do keep us posted on the end results.

 

[lisaann]

Well....
I'm back!
The surgery went well!
My little mini sees 4 gb of ram with 256 of video and my hard drive has returned along with all my data and music. I can actually just barely hear the fan now, where I couldn't before. Maybe I didn't re-stick the hdd heat sensor on as good as it was before? Or maybe it is just my ears ringing because I am so happy and on a natural high?
But anyways, this newer mini was a little easier to upgrade than the last generation. The drive ribbon cable actually has a connector and they got rid of that little connector on the front of the main board. I just wish I had a screwdriver that was magnetized....

I'd like to thank Krafty for helping, and rgarjr for supporting me, and Natasha69 for starting this thread, and all of you here for providing this wonderful site that has informed and inspired me.
Thank you all so much!

 

[multicore]

Maybe I didn't re-stick the hdd heat sensor on as good as it was before?

What steeenking heat sensor?

 

[Krafty]

What steeenking heat sensor?

Theres a cord that is stuck to one end of the HD. If you plan on upgrading the HD, you have to peel off the end of the wire thats stuck to it with double sided tape.

Its the little black cord hanging out on the bottom of the image.

 

[dyn]

I replaced the standard 120 GB hdd from the basic mini early 2009 with an OCZ Vertex ssd. I also placed that "sensor" on the disk. The Vertex doesn't have a temperature sensor inside it. In iStat Pro (and other software) the ssd temperature reported 0 degrees so it takes the input from the temp. sensor inside the hdd/ssd and not that thing in the outside. It could be another temp. sensor, maybe the one that is measuring the temperature inside the mini (ambient temp.).