2.26 mini (2009) HDD and RAM

[davemulheran]

Hi all

been meaning to upgrade from 1GB and the 128 GB HDD for a while but left it too long and am now out of touch with whats available

sooo.. what is the best RAM and HDD upgrade available now for the 2009 2.26 mini?

im thinking 4GB (what type?)
and is 500GB 7200rpm still the best HDD avail? or is there now better?

OR would I be better fitting an SSD? and going external storage? any guides for this?

thanks all

dave

 

[Hellhammer]

RAM:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple_Mac_mini/DDR3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146878

HD:

There are 750GB 7200rpm and 1TB 5400rpm drives available. SSD would definitely be that fastest but they cost more. How much are you ready to pay?

 

[steve2112]

I would go with Crucial or Macsales.com (OWC) for the memory. 4GB should be plenty. I have 4GB in my 2009 Mini, and it runs everything I need. I upgraded the HD in my Mini to a Western Digital 320GB (7200 RPM), but I didn't noticed a huge speed increase. I also use a 1TB WD drive in a FW800 MiniStack enclosure from OWC. I used the Build Your Own kit, but you can buy them pre-configured.

Edit: As Hellhammer pointed out, the SSD would be much faster, but is it worth the extra cost? I haven't used a Mini with an SSD, so I can't say for certain, but it wasn't worth it to me.

 

[davemulheran]

Great, thanks guys

 

[ahankinson]

A Mini with an SSD flies. It's fast and dead silent. You'll notice the lack of CPU/GPU power if you want to make it a gaming rig or number cruncher, but for day-to-day uses—opening applications, spotlight, mail—I'd never go back to spinning disk.

I have SSD drives in both my home mini and my Mac Pro at work. You don't notice it as much on the Mac Pro, but you definitely notice it on the Mini.