Best time to upgrade 2018 mini RAM in now(ish)

[Nihilvor]

At around $90-$100, 16GB (2x8gb) kit prices have been dropping too, making this an attractive alternative to the $200 install.


This 2666MHz module works in Imacs so should be a good one to test with Mac Minis.
https://www.amazon.com/V-Color-260-Pin-PC4-21300-Notebook-TB48G26S819/dp/B07L9VW8XV/ref=sr_1_10?

Edit: I originally linked the wrong page. I'm now showing the 8gb modules. This apparently "mac-friendly" one goes for $47, so keeping the install under $100.

 

[Cruciarius]

I've been keeping my eye on the 32GB kit, which was $225 when I added to my Amazon wishlist, but maybe a week ago, it dropped to $200.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071H38422/

Very likely going to order this soon... after I get the Mac Mini, which won't be until the end of the month.

 

[nampramos]

Any interesting updates on the 32GB RAM prices worth sharing? Where have you been getting them from?

 

[D.T.]

That RAM upgrade was just $182, it changed from Amazon to Adorama (through Amazon) in my cart, and no tax (Amazon fulfillment had tax), now that's a crazy deal for 32GB

 

[nampramos]

That's a sweet deal indeed. Is that the lowest price ever yet?

 

[Rigby]

I bought a Crucial 2x16GB kit for $189.99, tax-free from B&H together with a new Mini. Crazy how much less expensive than Apple's 32GB option it is. Upgrade took about 20 minutes.

 

[0388631]

That RAM upgrade was just $182, it changed from Amazon to Adorama (through Amazon) in my cart, and no tax (Amazon fulfillment had tax), now that's a crazy deal for 32GB

Yep. I've been eyeing build samples for a Windows box and love these new SSD and RAM prices. Still holding out to fall to see what comes out and strike then. Hopefully this downward trend keeps. I think the best prices I saw within the last decade were around $3.60-4.00/GB which was incredible.

Just with GFX cards were as cheap!

 

[nampramos]

Still nothing on the 2 x 32GB kits though, right?

 

[harriska2]

Amazon is down to $182 now.

 

[D.T.]

CORSAIR Vengeance Performance 32GB (2x16GB) 260-Pin DDR4 SO-DIMM DDR4 2666 (PC4 21300)

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BGZEVHU?ref=em_1p_1_im&ref_=pe_3730140_408169060

$169.99!!

 

[nampramos]

Nice! Are those 100% compatible though?

 

[D.T.]

It's the exact spec, and Corsair is a solid brand, I'd assume so - plus I'm pretty sure someone on this thread/area actually used the Corsair kit[?] Maybe they'll see this and chime in

 

[harriska2]

2 out of 11 claimed the Corsair Vengence performance didn’t work for the 2018 mini with a total of 56 reviews.

1 out of 34 claimed the Crucial didn’t work for the 2018 mini with a total of 1024 reviews.

The Crucial only costs $12 more.

 

[IngerMan]

If I do upgrade to 32GB Ram from my current Apple 16GB, I will use OWC for the $70 rebate on Apple 8gb x 2 sticks. Net cost for me would be $150..

But my usage I’ve yet to see memory pressure over 50%, typically it’s 25% or less. It probably helps I have a eGPU with 8GB

 

[nampramos]

Not worth going with the Corsair with those kind of reviews then.

I'd like to upgrade soon since I run a lot of Safari tabs and use LightRoom almost on a daily basis and all my RAM is always allocated and about 7-9GB of swap memory in use.

 

[seble]

Well I've taken the plunge and ordered £160 currently on Amazon for 32GB, and bagged myself an extra discount through work. 32 gigs for £110, not bad.

 

[killawat]

I made a post about the Samsung 32GB chips about a month ago, single stick for $220. Now it's listed at $188 (holy cow) but out of stock.

Machine flies with 64GB as expected. Sure enough I am still paging to disk at certain times of the day but before (on paltry 32GB ) it would get really bad.

https://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?name=D4S32G26S1

 

[nampramos]

Interesting! Is Samsung the only one with a 32GB stick out so far?

 

[killawat]

Interesting! Is Samsung the only one with a 32GB stick out so far?

No but, kinda. We didn't even have part numbers when the Mac mini first dropped, just a few short months ago and had to scour the web on our own. Apple and OWC were (iirc) the only places that had them readily available, save for a few shady looking outfits on eBay. The modules were out there but primarily available to OEMs.

Since the original 32 sticks were expensive and hard to find no one expected them to drop down to $200 . Had they been available earlier on, I believe more people would have bought the single 32 GB (myself included) running at 36 GB (you lose dual channel but with 32 GB, who cares).

 

[hsadler]

Seeing 3200 speed introduced for just a little more at Crucial. Are these compatible? And is the upgrade from the 2666 worth it as a first buy?


Crucial 32GB Kit (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 SODIMM

CT2K16G4SFD832A currently priced at $214 on the Crucial website.

 

[gimbalboy]

64GB has dropped to $519 at OWC. Much cheaper than 2 months ago, but still way higher than the 32GB Crucial on Amazon ($180).

I just ordered a Mini with i7 6-core, 8GB RAM, 2TB SSD, and 10GBe. Agonizing over whether to buy 64GB (satisfaction of maxing out a new computer) or 32GB (the sensible option, considering that I mainly run Lightroom and process RAW photos).

 

[nampramos]

Seeing 3200 speed introduced for just a little more at Crucial. Are these compatible? And is the upgrade from the 2666 worth it as a first buy?


Crucial 32GB Kit (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200 SODIMM

CT2K16G4SFD832A currently priced at $214 on the Crucial website.

Don't think you will see any difference on the mini at least. Probably best to stick with the recommended ones that have been proven to work.

Nice to see there 64GB kit showing up more regularly but still quite a steep "investment"

I think I am going to wait a a month or two more before getting the 32GB kit.

 

[seble]

Just upgraded the Ram in my mini to crucial 32GB. Overall the process wasn't too bad and managed to not destroy my LED indicator. Took longer than expected though.

Hardest bits were getting the LED indicator connector off the board, one Youtube video said to use a screwdriver and that definitely helped.

Final part was screwing down the wifi attend again, fiddly AF. Other than that, not too complicated a process and mini seems to be happier for it! Let's see if I continue to experience the system slow-downs that I was getting after long amounts of uptime and large-ish workflows ongoing.

 

[mpfuchs]

I'm not in the market yet, but looking at the prices at OWC, maybe it makes sense to just get a single stick of 32GB at $45 extra. That way I could get another 32GB stick later if needed and prices will arguably be lower then...

 

[oneafour]

If I do upgrade to 32GB Ram from my current Apple 16GB, I will use OWC for the $70 rebate on Apple 8gb x 2 sticks. Net cost for me would be $150..

But my usage I’ve yet to see memory pressure over 50%, typically it’s 25% or less. It probably helps I have a eGPU with 8GB

egpu definitely helps since the integrated graphics chip eats a bunch of the ram w/o it