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brentonstrine
New Member
Joined: 03 Feb 2013
Posts: 5
Location: United States
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 Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 3:29 am Post subject: Can I trust Ram from eBay? |
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I have a 2011 Macmini5,2 (MC815LL/a) with the Radeon GPU. I'm thinking of upping to 16gb, and these forums helped me to determine that I need DDR3 1333MHz PC3-10600 204-Pin SO-DIMM.
I found something that matches that on eBay for only $70! The specs are mostly the same as from Ram I see from trusted sellers for my model. (I noticed it has lower voltage, and it doesn't say it's "matched", it just says "kit".) How can I know if it will be good or not since it doesn't tell me the brand or where it came from? Should I take the risk or should I pay $40 more?
Memory Size: 2x8GB (2sticks of 8GB) Kit
Memory Type: DDR3 PC10600 SODIMM
Density: Low Density
Speed: 1333MHz
Machine Base: For Laptop
Pins: 204 Pins
Voltage: 1.35V
Cas Latency: 9
Buffered: Unbuffered
ECC: Non ECC
Registered: Non Registered
Dual Channel: Support |
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Smithcraft
Veteran Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2008
Posts: 3012
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 3:51 am Post subject: |
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You can look at the sellers feedback, and what kind of protection they provide the seller. Is it Joe Schmoe, or a eBay based retail outlet?
SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.
[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8
[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)
Make sure it has pins! |
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Brendan
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Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 199
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:24 am Post subject: |
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I tend not to buy things that might need returning from ebay. As I think SC was stating, look at the return policy, if any.
Brendan |
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brentonstrine
New Member
Joined: 03 Feb 2013
Posts: 5
Location: United States
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Smithcraft wrote: | | Is it Joe Schmoe, or a eBay based retail outlet? |
| Brendan wrote: | | As I think SC was stating, look at the return policy, if any. |
It's a power seller with 99.1% positive feedback--negatives are mostly shipping issues. I'm willing to risk on that, but I worry more that the RAM somehow won't work on the mini or that it will somehow be slower than the RAM that is built in (since I don't know a lot about RAM specs).
For example, are all RAM "kits" also "matched kits"?
The eBay item is here, which I'm comparing to this OWC memory.
This is the best I can do to match the specs based on the descriptions of both. Is there important information missing, or will the eBay RAM be as good as OWC, if delivered as promised?
| Code: |
DDR3 PC10600 1333MHz Non-ECC 204-pin 2x8GB SODIMM
OWC | eBay
Kit: "Matched Kit" |"Kit"
Density: 8GB (8192MB) |"Low Density"
Voltage: 1.5V | 1.35V
RoHS: Yes |
Cycle Time: 1.875ns |
CAS Latency: 9-9-9-24 | 9
Module Ranks: Dual Rank
Dual Channel: | Support
Register: Non Parity
Registered: | Non Registered
Buffered: ? | Unbuffered
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Bandit Bill
Veteran Member
Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 5793
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: Can I trust Ram from eBay? |
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| brentonstrine wrote: | | Should I take the risk or should I pay $40 more? |
I'd pay the extra $40 for the OWC RAM, without even questioning the decision. I would want to know my Mac will be stable, and not have to question the RAM every time, you have an issue. 10s of 1000's of Mac users use OWC RAM with great success. The company is also very good.
Why would you buy a Mac and then shop for the cheapest RAM you can find, that hasn't been tested with your computer? If cheap is good, then cheaper is better... right? I don't think so.
Not all RAM is created equal, even if the specs are equal.
BTW matched pair and kit, are the same thing. It just means both chips are equal.
Also, look at OWCs memory rebate for you old RAM. That will help balance out the difference.
http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/support/rebates/ |
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Smithcraft
Veteran Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2008
Posts: 3012
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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I think I'm one of the two people who found doing any business with OWC to be worse than having a horse kick me in the head. So I won't do any business with them.
SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.
[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8
[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)
Make sure it has pins! |
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Bandit Bill
Veteran Member
Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 5793
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Smithcraft wrote: | I think I'm one of the two people who found doing any business with OWC to be worse than having a horse kick me in the head. So I won't do any business with them.
SC |
I'm sure you aren't the only one. They are a big company, so they are bound to drop the ball every once in a while.
Even if they were terrible. I'd still rather deal with them than an eBay reseller.
BTW, if you like OWC products, you can source their products through resellers as well. My stores sells OWC products along with Monoprice, Newtechnologies etc. |
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marv777
Senior Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2012
Posts: 426
Location: Philippines
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 10:23 pm Post subject: Ram |
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| brentonstrine wrote: | | Smithcraft wrote: | | Is it Joe Schmoe, or a eBay based retail outlet? |
| Brendan wrote: | | As I think SC was stating, look at the return policy, if any. |
It's a power seller with 99.1% positive feedback--negatives are mostly shipping issues. I'm willing to risk on that, but I worry more that the RAM somehow won't work on the mini or that it will somehow be slower than the RAM that is built in (since I don't know a lot about RAM specs).
For example, are all RAM "kits" also "matched kits"?
The eBay item is here, which I'm comparing to this OWC memory.
This is the best I can do to match the specs based on the descriptions of both. Is there important information missing, or will the eBay RAM be as good as OWC, if delivered as promised?
| Code: |
DDR3 PC10600 1333MHz Non-ECC 204-pin 2x8GB SODIMM
OWC | eBay
Kit: "Matched Kit" |"Kit"
Density: 8GB (8192MB) |"Low Density"
Voltage: 1.5V | 1.35V
RoHS: Yes |
Cycle Time: 1.875ns |
CAS Latency: 9-9-9-24 | 9
Module Ranks: Dual Rank
Dual Channel: | Support
Register: Non Parity
Registered: | Non Registered
Buffered: ? | Unbuffered
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It is better to be safe than sorry. Spend a little more money and go for the better ram. I would not take a chance. |
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Smithcraft
Veteran Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2008
Posts: 3012
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 4:14 am Post subject: |
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Another point about the memory - When I bought my G4 mini it had a 512 MB stick, and not wasting time, I picked up a 1 GB stick on the way home. I bought the rated speed of memory, but when I opened it up, it had faster memory from Apple.
I would venture to guess that memory that is sold as whatever the rated speed or other qualifier is, should be fine. Also, look for a brand name, or find out the manufacturer of the memory and Google them.
I would rather deal with a well rated eBay seller than have to deal with OWC dicking me around till after the return window, refuse to accept a return on a product they knew was defective, and push me off to the manufacturer who didn't want to support me either 'cuz I was past the support window.
SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.
[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8
[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)
Make sure it has pins! |
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philiparcario
Veteran Member
Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 4567
Location: Howell NJ USA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:41 am Post subject: |
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read the for sale classified i will post some for you
_________________
2010 Mm 2.4 C2D oem 320gb hdd 8gb ram
2012Mm base 2.5 with 16gb ram diy fusion drive
2012Mm quad with 8gb ram oem 1tb hdd
promise pegasus r6 3x 3tb + 3x 4tb =21tb hdds
lacie little big disk 2x 512gb ssds
synology 2tb disk station |
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marv777
Senior Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2012
Posts: 426
Location: Philippines
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 10:46 pm Post subject: Ram |
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| Smithcraft wrote: | Another point about the memory - When I bought my G4 mini it had a 512 MB stick, and not wasting time, I picked up a 1 GB stick on the way home. I bought the rated speed of memory, but when I opened it up, it had faster memory from Apple.
I would venture to guess that memory that is sold as whatever the rated speed or other qualifier is, should be fine. Also, look for a brand name, or find out the manufacturer of the memory and Google them.
I would rather deal with a well rated eBay seller than have to deal with OWC dicking me around till after the return window, refuse to accept a return on a product they knew was defective, and push me off to the manufacturer who didn't want to support me either 'cuz I was past the support window.
SC |
Apple I found out uses samsung memory in their computers sometimes. |
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philiparcario
Veteran Member
Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 4567
Location: Howell NJ USA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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apple uses;
samsung
hynix
micron /crucial
elpida
once in a while mushkin.
this is based on about 400 macs that I have upgraded ram in.
_________________
2010 Mm 2.4 C2D oem 320gb hdd 8gb ram
2012Mm base 2.5 with 16gb ram diy fusion drive
2012Mm quad with 8gb ram oem 1tb hdd
promise pegasus r6 3x 3tb + 3x 4tb =21tb hdds
lacie little big disk 2x 512gb ssds
synology 2tb disk station |
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b0bb
Member
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
Posts: 90
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 2:53 am Post subject: Re: Can I trust Ram from eBay? |
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| brentonstrine wrote: | I have a 2011 Macmini5,2 (MC815LL/a) with the Radeon GPU. I'm thinking of upping to 16gb, and these forums helped me to determine that I need DDR3 1333MHz PC3-10600 204-Pin SO-DIMM.
I found something that matches that on eBay for only $70! The specs are mostly the same as from Ram I see from trusted sellers for my model. (I noticed it has lower voltage, and it doesn't say it's "matched", it just says "kit".) How can I know if it will be good or not since it doesn't tell me the brand or where it came from? Should I take the risk or should I pay $40 more?
Memory Size: 2x8GB (2sticks of 8GB) Kit
Memory Type: DDR3 PC10600 SODIMM
Density: Low Density
Speed: 1333MHz
Machine Base: For Laptop
Pins: 204 Pins
Voltage: 1.35V
Cas Latency: 9
Buffered: Unbuffered
ECC: Non ECC
Registered: Non Registered
Dual Channel: Support |
I would go for 1.5V memory for a 2011. The 2012s use 1.35V.
Ebay can be a mixed bag. Your best bet would be to locate the right memory module using the online configurators like the ones from Kingston, Micron/Crucial make available and then get the module on Ebay.
OWC is good and most of their stuff including memory just works on the Mac if you are willing to pay 20-40 extra.
If you want to get a non recommended module, it is better to get one made by the manufacturer themselves. Samsung, Micron/Crucial and Elpida all make their own branded memory. DDR3-1333 CL9 1.5V Unregistered Non-ECC are the ones most likely to work.
I have a 2011 i7 and I am using the Kingston DDR-1600 CL9 HyperX PnP (KHX16S9P1K2/16). This is pushing the envelope on a 2011 Mini.
I also used the a pair of 8GB modules made by Elpida I got off Ebay (EBJ81UG8BAS0-DJ-F). I believe the seller is still on Ebay.
Compared to Apple memory , I lose the temperature sensor built into the DIMM in both the Elpida and Kingston cases. Elpida makes a version with a temp sensor as well. |
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marv777
Senior Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2012
Posts: 426
Location: Philippines
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:08 pm Post subject: RAM |
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| philiparcario wrote: | apple uses;
samsung
hynix
micron /crucial
elpida
once in a while mushkin.
this is based on about 400 macs that I have upgraded ram in. |
So what is your point?Mushkin is this a joke on your part? |
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ez061111
Veteran Member
Joined: 29 Mar 2009
Posts: 887
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:55 pm Post subject: Re: RAM |
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| marv777 wrote: | | So what is your point?Mushkin is this a joke on your part? |
I'm guessing his point is that Apple uses various suppliers for RAM. You made an out of the blue comment that Apple uses Samsung and Phil pointed out all fo the suppliers he has come across. Why would he joke about Mushkin? I've seen it in a few of my machines, Samsung in several and Hynix in one or two.
_________________
2.0 GHz i7 Mini 8 GB RAM, OWC Merc Extreme SSD & Samsung Spinpoint
2.6 GHz i7 Mini 16 GB RAM, Samsung 830 & Hitachi
15" 2.3 GHz i7 MBP 16 GB RAM, OWC Extreme Pro 6G SSD & WD Black |
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