Installed/Upgraded Ram Experience

flash · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 3:50 pm Post subject: Installed/Upgraded Ram Experience

First I wanted to note the mini is awesome Smile

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OK back to business...

I ordered and received my 1.42Ghz BT AE SD 256MB mini recently. I upgraded everthing but overpriced ram. After using this config for a few days, I could tell that 256MB wasn't going to cut it (I do more than just surf and check email). After getting over the excitement of having this little beast I decided to ordered and install 1GB of ram (ordered next day air of course). At first I wasn't to crazy about cracking the mini open but it was either write to the slow VM or get the mini blazing along with a GB of ram.

The installation wasn't that bad but I will mention to be very careful and I would highly suggest using a putty knife that isn't to wide. The one I had was very wide and made it a bit more difficult to open. Thank goodness the edge had a nice bevel or it would of been a trip to home depot. My recommendation is to be careful, I could tell with carelessness you could do some damage. After I had it opened up it was pretty easy from there to install the new module.

After getting the mini together and ready to fire up I did happen to notice a HUGE difference in performance when opening up a few apps and files. It was well worth the 189.00 dollars for the ram upgrade. Apple did drop their prices but from the looks of it I still saved 125.00 dollars with quality ram Smile

. Reason I say quality (correct me if Im wrong), but the ram that I took out (stock 256MB) was single sided and the one that went in was doube sided. The brand it looks like Apple is using:

HYNIX
PC3200U-30330
256MB DDR 400MHz CL3

Hopefully you find this helpful and oh yeah hello fellow Mac Mini owners Smile

P.S. If anyone is intersted I picked my ram up from http://macsales.com The reason I shop with them is the fact all their products are Apple Hardware tested. I'm sure there are other good places to buy ram but feels better to know it's been tested on Apple hardware and OSX Smile

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macMini = { apple:G4 }

idave · Senior Member Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 463

billabong · Member Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 147 Location: Texas

Flash nice post! I've not yet received my mini. I want to open it as soon as I get it to put in more memory. About how wide of a putty knife would you recommend I use? Did it make a loud cracking sound? Are the clips small and easy to break?

flash · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 1:04 am Post subject:

The thinner the putty knife the better. The putty knife I had was beveled with a decent sharp edge so it was easy to get into the crack. But next time I open it I'm going to get a putty knife about 1 or so inches wide. Far as the clicks they seem not that bad, but I could see someone getting careless and cracking a click off, but again that would be someone who's careless. It did make a few cracking sounds at times scare the crap out of me lol. But I think it was from the little clips snapping in and out while trying to remove.
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macMini = { apple:G4 }

billabong · Member Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 147 Location: Texas

Hoffer · Junior Member Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 39

My mini should be delivered today. 1.42 with BT and superdrive. I got it with 256 megs of ram also. I've already got a 1 GB stick at home that I ordered the same time I ordered the mini. I'm stopping by a hardware store on the way home to buy myself a putty knife.

My second upgrade will be adding a 100 gig 7200 rpm hard drive. Seagate has one coming out sometime in the near future. I won't do the upgrade right away though. I'll probably do it by the end of the year though.

billabong · Member Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 147 Location: Texas

I bet your happy! Most orders are a 3-4 week wait or longer. Make sure you sand down your putty knife and get a sharp edge. That way you won't scratch the plastic or metal.. The gap can be tight between the plastic and metal.

bubba · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 10:15 am Post subject:

Where did you read about this 100GB, 7200RPM drive...

As far as memory, I know coast memory is selling 1GB modules for $185.
http://www.18004memory.com/category.asp?catid=9&subcatid=912

But, if you look at PowerMac G5 memory you can find a PC3200/400MHZ/CL3 1GB for $6 less (PC3200/400mhz/CL3 is what the Mini's are shipping with even though the specs say PC2700/333mhz).

http://www.18004memory.com/cart/addcart.asp?itemID=502403&itemTYPE=cat

Hoffer · Junior Member Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 39

bubba · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 6:31 pm Post subject:

awesome.. thanks for the link. I just hope it won't be too $$$.

Brian

Hoffer · Junior Member Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 39

I got my mini today. I booted it up and played around for about 30 minutes. Then I pulled out the putty knife, cracked it open and put in the new ram.

Everything's working great. It's an awesome little computer.

idave · Senior Member Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 463

James T. Kirk© · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:56 pm Post subject:

bubba · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:59 pm Post subject:

1GB ram installed with no problem. Did have to bend back the metal clips a bit on the back above the vent area. Putty knife sanded down to an angle worked great. Left no marks or anything to show that it had been opened. Now if they'd get the DVI issues worked out I'd be golden.

iMav · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 9:52 pm Post subject:


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