early 2009 mac mini memory upgrade

[pmant]

Dear Everybody,
I am having an early 2009 mac mini in my disposal upgraded and running fine with 2GB RAM DDR3 8500S . EFI version is 1.2 up to date.

The problem is that when I try to install 2x2GB GB RAM DDR 12800S , that a good friend gave me, I get a kernel panic screen. At first i thought that the modules are incompatible since 12800S is used on 2012 model.. but when I set 1GB RAM DDR3 8500S + 2GB GB RAM DDR 12800S it seems to work properly counting 3GB total... Is there a possibility that I could use the whole 4GB of 12800S type?

Thank you in advance..
Good night and good luck!

 

[warvanov]

Have you tested the 1GB + 2GB set up with both of the 2GB sticks? It could be that one of them is bad and causing kernal panics.

 

[Micky Do]

Have you tested the 1GB + 2GB set up with both of the 2GB sticks? It could be that one of them is bad and causing kernal panics.

Could be.

In my base model early 2009 Mini I have the original 1GB alongside another 4GB installed last August, when I upgraded from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion. So now a total of 5GB, and it honks along just fine.

 

[pmant]

Have you tested the 1GB + 2GB set up with both of the 2GB sticks? It could be that one of them is bad and causing kernal panics.

Yes I Have. I have tried both modules of 2GB. First each one of them alone and then each one of them, paired with 1GB module.. Always works fine.. The problem appears only when having 2 x 2GB modules installed. !!!

Other info that might be of interest ? The panic screen appears during boot. I have Snow Leopard OS even though I think it doesn't get to that point.. Thank you for the interest.

 

[Giuly]

Get the proper Kit from Crucial for Macs, which solves the problem.

 

[helios16v]

Get the proper Kit from Crucial for Macs, which solves the problem.

I second this, a friend of mine bought some cheap 8GB kit for his 2009 MacBook Pro and it worked fine for him, he gave the 8GB kit it to another friend who said it would kernal panic as soon as he would start his 2011 MacBook Pro so he gave it to me to try, worked perfect in my 2010 MacBook Pro but would kernal panic in my 2011 iMac but it would work with just one 4GB stick and the factory supplied 2GB stick installed but it won't run on 8GB so you need to buy Mac Approved memory, personally I LOVE using Mushkin Enhanced memory, their packaging is also very "Apple-Inspired" too if you're into that kind of thing.

Doesn't really matter what you get though, just make sure it's approved to be Mac Friendly because there are lots of memory kits that won't work.

 

[The-Pro]

I tried installing 12800 memory in my 2010 MBP, 2x4Gb didn't work, but one of them combined with a 1066MHz 4GB module did work.

the computer probably just cant make both chips run at a slower speed to use them, but when one is the correct speed all ready then the quicker one can be used.