Mac Mini 2012 RAM

[njharris97]

Hello Guys,

I have just ordered a late 2012 MacMini quad-core i7.

I know that as standard, it comes with 2x 2 GB RAM cards. In the future I plan to upgrade to 16 GB, would it be OK to replace one of the 2 GB cards with an 8 GB card, and leave the other 2 GB card as it is. Then upgrade the remaining 2 GB card up to 8GB at a later date.

,Thanks

 

[dbroncos78087]

It is my understanding that you can have mixed RAM sizes but it isn't recommended.

The only reason that I can see leaving on 2GB and putting an 8GB would be cost. If you think that 10GB would be enough for you, then perhaps you should just order two 4GB chips and settle on 8GB?

 

[njharris97]

Thanks

Thanks for the reply, but I was going to put the 8 GB in for now and then, when I can afford it, buying another 8 GB to upgrade to 16 GB.

Also could I completely remove the 2 GB card, so I would have one with 8 GB and the other empty?

 

[dbroncos78087]

Thanks for the reply, but I was going to put the 8 GB in for now and then, when I can afford it, buying another 8 GB to upgrade to 16 GB.

Also could I completely remove the 2 GB card, so I would have one with 8 GB and the other empty?

I would recommend purchasing them together if you can (16GB kit will cost less than 8GB kits). But if you must do it one at a time, I would not recommend keeping the stock 2GB in along with the new 8GB.

 

[Gav2k]

Thanks for the reply, but I was going to put the 8 GB in for now and then, when I can afford it, buying another 8 GB to upgrade to 16 GB.

Also could I completely remove the 2 GB card, so I would have one with 8 GB and the other empty?

Either way makes no difference. And the performance hit won't really be noticeable unless your crunching numbers.

 

[Giuly]

This 8GB module is what you'd need, and two of those are only $10 more expensive than the 16GB kit.

However, it's not the best RAM out there for the 2012 Mac Mini, that award would go to the 16GB Kingston HyperX 1866MHz kit - but A) they come only as a kit and B) you couldn't install one of them alongside a 2GB stock module anyways.

 

[njharris97]

Reply

I would recommend purchasing them together if you can (16GB kit will cost less than 8GB kits). But if you must do it one at a time, I would not recommend keeping the stock 2GB in along with the new 8GB.

So you would just leave the second slot free then, if I were to do it that way. Would the mac accept that?

 

[Giuly]

It doesn't really matter. One DIMM or two DIMMs of different sizes both don't run in dual channel mode.

But the Mac will run in dual channel mode again when you install the second 8GB module.

 

[njharris97]

This 8GB module is what you'd need, and two of those are only $10 more expensive than the 16GB kit.

However, it's not the best RAM out there for the 2012 Mac Mini, that award would go to the 16GB Kingston HyperX 1866MHz kit - but A) they come only as a kit and B) you couldn't install one of them alongside a 2GB stock module anyways.

Thanks Mate, But I thought that because the RAM that comes with it, was 1600MHz, then you had to stick to it.

 

[Giuly]

Thanks Mate, But I thought that because the RAM that comes with it, was 1600MHz, then you had to stick to it.

If you're replacing both at the same time, then you can use 1866MHz. If you want to install it together with one of the stock RAM modules, then it needs to be of the same specification (which would be the 8GB 1600MHz module I've posted above).

 

[ad931]

I've done the 16GB upgrade on my mini, very satisfied. As mentioned previously, the cost of the 16GB upgrade is cheaper than the 8GB, so why not max it out?

 

[blanka]

Just go ahead. In theory 2 the same is a tiny tiny bit faster, but 10GB is ALWAYS faster than 8GB. So don't believe the crap, do as you suggest.

 

[dbroncos78087]

Just go ahead. In theory 2 the same is a tiny tiny bit faster, but 10GB is ALWAYS faster than 8GB. So don't believe the crap, do as you suggest.

It's fine if you don't want the RAM running in dual channel mode. But that's an inefficiency that is unnecessary.

 

[Xeronex]

Hello Guys,

I have just ordered a late 2012 MacMini quad-core i7.

I know that as standard, it comes with 2x 2 GB RAM cards. In the future I plan to upgrade to 16 GB, would it be OK to replace one of the 2 GB cards with an 8 GB card, and leave the other 2 GB card as it is. Then upgrade the remaining 2 GB card up to 8GB at a later date.

,Thanks

Done exactly that on mine running 10GB ram will go to 16GB when I can afford it it runs so much better with 10GB instead of 4GB.

 

[scbond]

If you're finding that you cannot afford to buy the full 16 GB kit in one go then you need to ask yourself why you're getting it at all if I'm honest.

 

[dbroncos78087]

If you're finding that you cannot afford to buy the full 16 GB kit in one go then you need to ask yourself why you're getting it at all if I'm honest.

That is my larger point as well. Honestly, if $60 is make or break, then perhaps you shouldn't be spending he money to begin with.

$80 for 8GB
$140 for 16GB

I would stick with 4GB until you can afford to spring for the 16GB kit.