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Mac Mini $599 - Install RAM, etc.

powerbook911

powerbook911

macrumors 601
Original poster
Mar 15, 2005
4,009
397
I might buy a $599 Mac Mini this week, to connect to my television.

Question: How hard is it to open to add memory?

Or would it even suffice with 1 GB a while?

Appreciate the help.
 
powerbook911 said:
I might buy a $599 Mac Mini this week, to connect to my television.

Question: How hard is it to open to add memory?

Or would it even suffice with 1 GB a while?

Appreciate the help.
Click to expand...

It depends how comfortable you are wedging a putty knife in between the metallic and plastic bits and working with internals you'd see inside a videogame console or laptop. Here's a video.
 
I used my mac mini as a HTPC for two years with just 1 GB of ram. I never ran PLEX with this, but it never felt like it needed more. If you plan to use plex however, I think a ram upgrade might be sensible.

It's easy enough opening it up. I've done it twice with just my pocket knife. Whip in a 500 GB HDD while your in there though.
 
Use care while inside

Many people have performed the upgrades w/o difficulty, however more than a few have manage to break a few minis as well.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/671600/

The above thread was started as a word of caution and has a few links to those who've broken their minis and plenty of folks who've had no issue with the upgrades.

While Apple's upgrades are too expensive, you can buy your gear and have an Apple authorized service center do the install for $50-$100, still save money over the Apple configs and not worry about breakage or warranty issues.

Cheers,
 
Everyone makes sort of a big deal out of it but it takes 5min to change the ram.
 
yeah but keep in mind this upgrade is WAY more involved than... per say changing the RAM in a UMB like my own.

a stay-at-home mom probably couldn't do THAT right so why would they be able to disassemble a Mini?
 
michael.lauden said:
yeah but keep in mind this upgrade is WAY more involved than... per say changing the RAM in a UMB like my own.

a stay-at-home mom probably couldn't do THAT right so why would they be able to disassemble a Mini?
Click to expand...

Agreed, it is involved. If you have experience working PCs or Laptops and are comfortable taking those things apart without fear of damaging things, then it should be no problem. Especially when using OWCs video as a guide.

Otherwise, as panzer suggested, buy the parts and find an authorized service center to do it for you.
 
txnoob said:
Agreed, it is involved. If you have experience working PCs or Laptops and are comfortable taking those things apart without fear of damaging things, then it should be no problem. Especially when using OWCs video as a guide.

Otherwise, as panzer suggested, buy the parts and find an authorized service center to do it for you.
Click to expand...

It should also be noted that many of the videos are of older minis and may not be accurate as this poor unfortunate soul found out the hard way.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/678530/

Cheers,
 
panzer06 said:
It should also be noted that many of the videos are of older minis and may not be accurate as this poor unfortunate soul found out the hard way.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/678530/

Cheers,
Click to expand...

That's why I specifically recommended OWCs video which is of a new '09 Mini :cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KaHNLR6Aac

EDIT: Also, it's clear the OP in the post you linked did not make sure he was watching instructions
specifically for the model he purchased. I think history shows us that even within the same
CPU architecture that changes are made when they otherwise don't even seem necessary.
So it's important to make sure that you have a guide/video for the specific model you're attempting
to upgrade. I ran into this with my eMac. Had to "wing it" a little, but because of my general
understanding of computers the crossroads I came came to was solved logically. Obviously
that may not be the case with everyone. So Research, Research, Research, and ask questions
of people who have done it on the same model.
 
I went ahead and ordered the new $599 model.

I should have it Wednesday.

Since I will only use it on TV, I'm going to try with the 1GB for a while, but I feel comfortable adding some more, if needed. I've always added memory to other computers and notebooks.

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm going to connect it via VGA because on my TV, if I connect a Mac to HDMI, the overscan is about 10x worst than on VGA. Plus, I think the quality of digital is more hype, VGA looks pretty good to me, just analog.
 
Ok, Mac Mini arrived!

This thing is fun. for regular stuff, even with only 1 GB still in it, feels about as fast as my 2.4 GHZ imac with 4GB of memory.

Question though: Is having some of your picture chopped off, when connected to a HD television just something you live with, when you connect a computer? All my Macs do it to this TV. Like the menu bar and dock are partially lopped off.

Mac Mini is amazing for what it is.
 
powerbook911 said:
Question though: Is having some of your picture chopped off, when connected to a HD television just something you live with, when you connect a computer? All my Macs do it to this TV. Like the menu bar and dock are partially lopped off.
Click to expand...

I've got my Mini hooked up to my Samsung HD via VGA and don't suffer any picture lopped off. Sorry for the obvious question but have you got your resolution settings correct and is the TV correctly set up to receive the signal on the appropriate source?
 
LostLogik said:
I've got my Mini hooked up to my Samsung HD via VGA and don't suffer any picture lopped off. Sorry for the obvious question but have you got your resolution settings correct and is the TV correctly set up to receive the signal on the appropriate source?
Click to expand...

Yes, mine is Samsung too. All the settings are correct.
 
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