Mac mini (late 2012): low latency/voltage RAM recommendations

[BigMa]

Hello everybody!

Looking for 8 + 8 kit and would appreciate any opinions/recommendations, please.

Any experience using Kingston KHX16LS9P1K2/16 (http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con...t=&LinkBack=&ktcpartno=KHX16LS9P1K2/16&id=1)?

 

[magebarf]

Hello everybody!

Looking for 8 + 8 kit and would appreciate any opinions/recommendations, please.

Any experience using Kingston KHX16LS9P1K2/16 (http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/con...t=&LinkBack=&ktcpartno=KHX16LS9P1K2/16&id=1)?

Sorry to say, experiences with different memories for the 2012 Mini seems quite scarce...

I've been trying to pull some of that out in a different thread lately:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1516840/

What can be said is that the 4 + 4 kit, non-low voltage, seems to be running smoothly.

Also, running at Kingstons own spec sheets for the RAM, the specs are exactly identical to the non-low voltage version, which makes me believe that they are the exact same product, just that the low voltage version is coming out of the quality check successful when running at 1.35V, and the rest is branded as the 1.5V modules instead.

Will have to see if I can get a hold of the Corsair Vengeance 8+8 kit running at 1866MHz, otherwise I will have to revert to the same kit your are asking about. So... Maybe I can give you a review in two weeks.

 

[BigMa]

Thank you very kindly magebarf!

I am impressed with the amount of work you have already done investigating the issue and am eagerly awaiting for your findings regarding the Corsair Vengeance 8+8 kit running at 1866MHz. A million dollar question I have: Will it be able to run at 1866MHz or just at 1600MHz… As Philip, I am a bit skeptical here.

To tell you the truth, I would rather go with the low voltage version: “top-of-the-class” in the quality check and less heat emissions.

Not sure if I remember correctly, but somebody on these forums mentioned less than stellar experience with Corsair RAM…

 

[53x12]

In every day use will you notice a difference with the low latency RAM?

 

[magebarf]

In every day use will you notice a difference with the low latency RAM?

I think this is a highly subjective question, as the threshold for what one can notice a difference for varies quite a lot.

In addition, the more memory intense applications you use (not talking about amount of memory the use, but HOW they use it) will also affect the performance gains.

The two combined is going to give you the answer.

In general though, my belief is that going from CL11, as the stock memory, to a CL9 RAM instead, will hardly be noticeable by most users.

Doing things like handbrake encoding will probably drop a minute or two, but in the scope of things, what's a minute on a hour of encoding?

 

[53x12]

I think this is a highly subjective question, as the threshold for what one can notice a difference for varies quite a lot.

In addition, the more memory intense applications you use (not talking about amount of memory the use, but HOW they use it) will also affect the performance gains.

The two combined is going to give you the answer.

In general though, my belief is that going from CL11, as the stock memory, to a CL9 RAM instead, will hardly be noticeable by most users.

Doing things like handbrake encoding will probably drop a minute or two, but in the scope of things, what's a minute on a hour of encoding?

I have been told by those who are much more knowledgeable than me, that outside of benchmarking you will be hard pressed to notice any real difference in day to day use with lower latency memory.

Interesting article:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4503/sandy-bridge-memory-scaling-choosing-the-best-ddr3