Mac Mini RAM - 3rd party installation?

[Stormz]

I'm looking to buy a new Mac Mini. I'd like 32GB RAM, but £540 seems a ludicrous amount to pay for it, given how much it costs elsewhere. I'm reading that installing RAM in these newer Minis is fiddly. Given that I'm not the most 'handy' of people, I'd rather not risk doing it myself. So this is probably a dumb question but where do I begin looking for a person or firm to install RAM in a Mac Mini?

 

[OldMike]

If you get an iFixit toolkit, the process of upgrading the RAM in the Mini is really easy. It was actually a lot easier than what the guides made it look like. I might have been lucky, but nothing on the Mini was gorilla tight from the factory and it disassembled with ease. I was mostly concerned about reattaching the wifi connector since it is so small - but even that popped back on first try.

I watched three youtube videos on how to do it - the iFixit one, the MacSales one and one from Apple Insider I believe. I decided I liked the MacSales video the best and watched it on a laptop as I worked on the Mini.

If you want to find someone to do it, I would look for a shop that is an authorized repair center for Apple, this way your warranty would still stay in tact. I'm not sure what shops you have by you, but I think even some online shops like B&H Photo here in the US will install RAM for a service fee.

Good Luck!

 

[Stormz]

That's really helpful. I'll look at those YouTube vids. Thanks Mike.

 

[mr_hyde]

My only suggestion: make sure to use the right tools (I used one of the iFixit kit and everything went smooth) otherwise the procedure can become a nightmare

 

[Ethosik]

My only suggestion: make sure to use the right tools (I used one of the iFixit kit and everything went smooth) otherwise the procedure can become a nightmare

Do you happen to have a link for it? I found the kit but it includes RAM.

 

[MacRS4]

I've upgraded a couple of them now - the kit I used is this one. All it takes is a bit of care and patience - don't force anything and watch out for the cables.

 

[LFO8]

I've upgraded a couple of them now - the kit I used is this one. All it takes is a bit of care and patience - don't force anything and watch out for the cables.

I'd advise the OP to just get the more stripped down 'iFixit Essantial Electronics Toolkit'
That will be suffice to this taks and many other Mac servicing tasks (as well as iPhone and iPad).

 

[MacRS4]

This one?

 

[ladodger5]

I just upgraded my 2018 mac mini today from 8gb to 16gb. I bought this tool kit on Amazon and it comes with everything you need to upgrade and it was only 10 bucks.

 

[marclondon]

Will do mine at weekend - new Mini and 32 GB Crucial ram both arrived yesterday. It looks easier than taking the 2012 Mini apart to install an SSD in the upper bay, which I did a few years ago.

 

[Hessel89]

Just get an ifixit toolkit for 20 bucks and some crucial ram for 200 bucks. I upgraded my mini to 32GB for only €220 total. It may be a little fiddly but if you follow ifixit instructions exactly it's not that hard.

 

[mr_hyde]

Do you happen to have a link for it? I found the kit but it includes RAM.

On Amazon (Italy) mine is called iFixit ProTech toolkit (https://www.amazon.it/iFixit-attrez...ywords=Ifixit&qid=1560683973&s=gateway&sr=8-3). I bought that because I need not only for my Macmini but you can find other kits from iFixit with less tools anyway suitable to just open the mini and upgrade the ram.
I instead bought the ram from Amazon (crucial)