New '09 Mac Mini - Maximum Addressable Memory? (4GB, 6GB, or 8GB?)

[txnoob]

What's silly to me is not display preference. What's silly to me is paying the same price for a lesser machine.

"the 24" is a far nicer display than the 20" period. It's not taste, it's fact"

... "this is fact because I say it is fact" is the circular logic of a nine-year-old. That you are an adult does not actually make it less circular, or more true. It's not fact; it's your opinion.

And my opinion is: the 20" display on the $1200 iMac is a much nicer display than the one on the $1200 mini.

To each his own. I doubt there a single person that would tell you the 20" is better than the 24", regardless of size. But I guess it's all moot now, since 6GB doesn't appear to be possible. That would drop $330 from the price, and you could have a nice 24" Matte monitor for that much. Where in you'd have your Mac Mini, w/ a larger monitor than the 20" iMac!

And honestly, it's not just fact because I say so, the panel is actually superior. LOL. Really! Don't you agree? J/K

 

[DannySmurf]

I doubt there a single person that would tell you the 20" is better than the 24", regardless of size.

Well, you're really arguing with nobody about that. If you'll re-read what I wrote, you'll notice I haven't actually disagreed with that (actually, didn't even mention it at all until you brought it up).

 

[txnoob]

Well, you're really arguing with nobody about that. If you'll re-read what I wrote, you'll notice I haven't actually disagreed with that (actually, didn't even mention it at all until you brought it up).

Of course I am, I'm arguing with the voices in my head. Seriously, I wasn't arguing with anyone, just making a point. Everyone's entitled to what they think $1200 is worth. And I'd agree with you that $1200 is not worth a machine without a display.

 

[GT500Shlby]

I just got an '09 Mini with the 2.26Ghz processor, 1GB of ram and 120Gb HDD w/ Applecare. Ordered 2x2Gb Kingston memory and a 256GB Intel M-25 SSD.

$1300 in total (w/ Corp. Discount).

 

[ppc750fx]

a 256GB Intel M-25 SSD.

Uh... do you mean a 160GB X-25M?

 

[fhall1]

I just got an '09 Mini with the 2.26Ghz processor, 1GB of ram and 120Gb HDD w/ Applecare. Ordered 2x2Gb Kingston memory and a 256GB Intel M-25 SSD.

$1300 in total (w/ Corp. Discount).

What's this got to do with the max amount of addressable RAM (thread title)?

 

[Hugh]

Sorry for the misleading post. txnoob got my meaning.

The $600 base model allows you to upgrade the CPU for $150. That's where I got my $750 2.26ghz quote.

IMHO, it's better to get the base model over the upgraded model if you're going to crack it open anyways. 1GB of RAM and an extra 160GB of HDD isn't worth $200. You might as well buy 4GB of RAM and a 320GB HDD for less than $200 and install yourself. And you end up with a 1GB RAM chip and a 160GB HDD that you could use/sell/etc.

ft

Isn't the memory in the Mac Mini (09) pared? Wouldn't you have to put two 2gig in there?

Hugh

 

[brentsg]

Isn't the memory in the Mac Mini (09) pared? Wouldn't you have to put two 2gig in there?

Hugh

The base model ships with a single 1GB module so it's pretty flexible. I have a pair of 2's in mine at the moment.

 

[belltree]

OWC technical support just replied to me with the following:

"We have tested the 6GB and 8GB configurations and they do not work.

Tech Support
Other World Computing, Inc."

A safe bet would be that Apple is intentionally hobbling the Mini's addressable memory at the bios level.

 

[ADent]

A safe bet would be that Apple is intentionally hobbling the Mini's addressable memory at the bios level.

Just like they did with the CD/CS intel minis - they won't boot with more than 2GB installed. The later C2D minis with the exact same hardware could address 4GB - though the chipset limits usable RAM to 3.x GB.

 

[opeter]

I think, it will be better to wait for a new generation of Mac minis, where there will be 8 GB of RAM adressable.

 

[numediaman]

I think, it will be better to wait for a new generation of Mac minis, where there will be 8 GB of RAM adressable.

You could be waiting a very long time -- look how long it has been between mini updates in the past.

I would either buy now, or wait until the new OS is available. I wouldn't look for any hardware upgrades in the mini at this point (but that's just my uneducated opinion).

I recently got my hands on another 20" display that was a floor model -- still way over priced, but it matches my other 20". For me, two 20" displays are more than enough simply because of the configuration of my desk.

I plan on buying my new mini right after WWDC. Then my MBP will be next to be replaced -- a much bigger investment, to be sure.

 

[ADent]

First intel mini was introduced 2/28/06. The first C2D machine (bigger RAM limits) came out 8/7/07 - only 18 months later.

The first real hardware change (besides CPU upgrades and such) 3/3/09 - 36 months after initial introduction.

 

[JeepGuy]

A safe bet would be that Apple is intentionally hobbling the Mini's addressable memory at the bios level.

That's what i think as well, the memory controller is part of the 9400m chip.

NVIDIA® GeForce® 9400M G motherboard GPU redefines the notebook architecture by combining a mainstream GPU, system memory controller, and system I/O into a single chip for the smallest, most power efficient visual computing experience ever available in notebooks.

 

[mista2]

Best Mini

That's what i think as well, the memory controller is part of the 9400m chip.

So looks like the best way to go at the moment then is to buy the 2.25GHz Mini with 2 GB RAM and the 320GB HDD. Then buy a 500GB 7200RPM drive and external case, and 2x2GB RAM sticks, replace drive and RAM, sell original RAM on trademe or e-bay to someone who only bought a base 1GB macbook, and keep the old 320GB as an external backup.
Oh, I forgot to add a dual port display adapter to run my TV and an LCD panel 8) or 2 LCDs (matt 24" displays - I'm very happy with my Phillips thanks)

 

[dubhe]

So looks like the best way to go at the moment then is to buy the 2.25GHz Mini with 2 GB RAM and the 320GB HDD. Then buy a 500GB 7200RPM drive and external case, and 2x2GB RAM sticks, replace drive and RAM, sell original RAM on trademe or e-bay to someone who only bought a base 1GB macbook, and keep the old 320GB as an external backup.

Or you could buy the base model with the optional 2.26GHz, and do the upgrade of the memory and HDD yourself. Less to sell on eBay but would be cheaper.

 

[fhall1]

I recommend not ebaying the old RAM and drive...if you ever have to have Apple repair the machine, you should put the old stuff back in before you take it to Apple. If they need to replace the machine, you won't get your upgraded parts back...just whatever you originally bought.

 

[Krafty]

I recommend not ebaying the old RAM and drive...if you ever have to have Apple repair the machine, you should put the old stuff back in before you take it to Apple. If they need to replace the machine, you won't get your upgraded parts back...just whatever you originally bought.

Is there a certain part of replacement? Cause my MacBook went through an optical and 2 logic board replacements and my upgraded HD & RAM we're still in there.

 

[txnoob]

Is there a certain part of replacement? Cause my MacBook went through an optical and 2 logic board replacements and my upgraded HD & RAM we're still in there.

You were lucky. It's just good practice because their only obligation os to make sure it works as it came configured. Besides, youre not going to get much for a 1GB stick, even if it is DDR3 1066.

 

[Duper]

somebody has a mac mini with 8gb on ebay.com

i am not a seller of mac mini with 8gb but I guess we can upgrade to 8gb memory ->

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-FASTEST-APP...633f75c16&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_2781wt_1100

 

[Cave Man]

i am not a seller of mac mini with 8gb but I guess we can upgrade to 8gb memory ->

No, you can't. That posting is bogus so don't waste your money.

 

[Krafty]

i am not a seller of mac mini with 8gb but I guess we can upgrade to 8gb memory ->

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-FASTEST-APPLE-MAC-MINI-2-26GHz-8GB-500GB-7200RPM_W0QQitemZ370239036438QQcmdZViewItemQQptZApple_Desktops?hash=item5633f75c16&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_2781wt_1100

Already been addressed.

 

[Duper]

i am going to ask a seller of mac mini with 8gb

I will ask some questions about 8gb let's see

i am not going to buy 'caus it is too expensive

 

[madcran]

I am going to buy a CTO Mac mini 2.26GHz with 4GB RAM. The mini with the 320GB HD can support 256MB shared VRAM so it is appealing to me versus the base model with only 128MB VRAM. The way I see it if at some point (probably won't happen) Apple decides to upgrade the EFI to support more RAM then great. I am going to be using this as a media center device and for encoding and ripping my DVDs. I see that an iMac is very close to the price, but it doesn't fit under my TV and I live in a small one bedroom house that doesn't have room for a computer desk without removing my dining room table. I would love to have 8GB of RAM in this, the more the merrier, and with Snow Leopard I think it would be awesome. But of course we all have to follow Apple's rules.

 

[ftaok]

I am going to buy a CTO Mac mini 2.26GHz with 4GB RAM. The mini with the 320GB HD can support 256MB shared VRAM so it is appealing to me versus the base model with only 128MB VRAM. The way I see it if at some point (probably won't happen) Apple decides to upgrade the EFI to support more RAM then great. I am going to be using this as a media center device and for encoding and ripping my DVDs. I see that an iMac is very close to the price, but it doesn't fit under my TV and I live in a small one bedroom house that doesn't have room for a computer desk without removing my dining room table. I would love to have 8GB of RAM in this, the more the merrier, and with Snow Leopard I think it would be awesome. But of course we all have to follow Apple's rules.

If you are comfortable with opening the mini, please note that the amount of shared VRAM is set by the amount of RAM the mini has. What that means is that the base mini with 1GB will run with 256MB s-VRAM is you add more RAM to it. Doesn't matter what it started out at.

So if you are comfy with cracking the mini open, you could buy the mini and upgrade the RAM and HDD for less that the CTO mini. The only thing is that the processor would be slower. Or, you could just upgrade the base mini with the 2.26ghz chip.

I won't comment on warranty issues .. you could read a couple of threads on here to review the debate.

ft