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Am I asking for RAM trouble?

B

Bunyak

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 15, 2011
77
3
I bought no-name 2 x 8GB PC3-8500 RAM for my mid-2010 Mini from eBay. When I first installed the RAM, the screen froze up after booting so I tested eack stick individually and had no problems with individual sticks. I have EFI v1.5.

When I installed the two 8GB sticks again, the screen froze again. I switched their positions and this time my system is stable and operational.

Is the freezing problem a sign of bad RAM or did I simply install the RAM poorly the first few times? I would like to come to a conclusion before the RMA period expires. Thanks!
 
Hard to say. I'd google a ram test for the Mac - third party app - they are out there and run it.
 
Thanks everyone. I think that I am seating it properly because when I mixed my old RAM with a new stick to identify the problem, no errors occurred.

My Mini froze up some time during the night with the new RAM. I will run memtest out of curiosity. I will also return the cheapo RAM and buy the Mushkin RAM instead.
 
Last edited:
Giuly said:
What you want is the 16GB 1333MHz G.SKILL kit for Mac or 16GB 1333MHz Apple-certified kit from Corsair, not Mushkin.

16GB only works with RAM specifically tailored to Macs, either 1066MHz which is hard to find, or 1333MHz.
Click to expand...

yeah the 2010 mac mini really picky about ram.

Only mushkin 1066 pc3-8500 has shown to work most repeat most of the time. Not a lot of 2x 8gb 1066 ram on the market. good luck with getting a working pair of sticks. That 2010 is choosy about 2x 4gb sticks so I hope you get it to work. Try mixing an 8gb with a 2gb or a 4gb .
 
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After reading this thread and the other 2010 Mini RAM thread, I decided to go with the 8500 Mushkin RAM. I think that I should push the envelope as little as necessary in this particular situation.

I tried to run memtest on my no-name RAM but the Mini froze up during the test. I will simply conclude that no-name RAM is a bad idea in the 2010 Mini. Thanks for the advice!
 
Bunyak said:
After reading this thread and the other 2010 Mini RAM thread, I decided to go with the 8500 Mushkin RAM. I think that I should push the envelope as little as necessary in this particular situation.

I tried to run memtest on my no-name RAM but the Mini froze up during the test. I will simply conclude that no-name RAM is a bad idea in the 2010 Mini. Thanks for the advice!
Click to expand...

Having same issues, same problem but i bought the Mushkin pair.. Got it working stable with 10GB (1 new 8GB and my existing 2GB) but not the 16 ...

Should i return the ram as defective and try another set?

Thanks in advance,

Lee
 
StreamSurfer said:
Having same issues, same problem but i bought the Mushkin pair.. Got it working stable with 10GB (1 new 8GB and my existing 2GB) but not the 16 ...

Should i return the ram as defective and try another set?

Thanks in advance,

Lee
Click to expand...
Do return them, but maybe try a different brand as Giuly suggested.
 
StreamSurfer said:
Having same issues, same problem but i bought the Mushkin pair.. Got it working stable with 10GB (1 new 8GB and my existing 2GB) but not the 16 ...

Should i return the ram as defective and try another set?

Thanks in advance,

Lee
Click to expand...

make sure you have the correct ram efi upgrade

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1479


if you do then consider a return. this mini is very choosy about ram.
 
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