Tips for opening up the mini for a RAM upgrade

livatlantis

I'm going to be upgrading my mini's RAM (currently a standard 1.42GHz) soon; tips from those of us who've already succeeded in opening up a mini. Which putty knife did you use? Any special caution areas?

I've downloaded the Smashsworld video, but can't get to the "complete technical pdf". It'd be really great if someone could help me out with that as well Smile

Thanks.
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Mac mini - 1.42GHz
Griffin iMic

Susurrus

livatlantis · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:58 am Post subject:

Hey, thanks! Smile

I wonder if shops around here will understand what a 1.5" beveled putty knife is... or have it at all. Guess I'll have to do some hunting Wink

Thanks for the tips about the flexibility and avoiding bent corners. Two heads up that should save me some sweat. That part about pushing it outside so it seems as if it's going to break sounds scary. What if it DOES break? There's not a single Apple repair centre in this country! lol Especially for the mini...

Thanks again. If there's anything else, I'd love to know! Wink

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Mac mini - 1.42GHz
Griffin iMic

fullroast · Junior Member Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 40

Hi. I just opened my Mac Mini for the first time a few days ago to upgrade the memory. It is a scary process. I did as Susurrus described, but I was not pushing out far enough the first several times I tried. I finally pushed enough and the retention tabs released. Once you done have it and know what to expect, opening the Mac mini is not a big deal.

Hope it goes well, and that you find a putty knife (also called a paint scraper). I am not sure what other tool would work. It needs to be very thin, with a sharp edge. If you are careful, you can open the case with no marks at all.

Oh, I did find this link that shows how to open the case with wires. I looked at it, but I already owned two putty knives and went that route. Smile

TheModWiki.org · Member Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 145

I recommend, just for the very first time opening your mini, that you wrap up the sides of the mini in electrical tape... or something that comes off easily while providing protection incase your putty knife slips
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idave · Senior Member Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 463

blackjaw · Member Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 112

my problem was that the slot to put the paint scraper in was so small that i had to make a mark in order to fit the thing inside...while it is a small mark (just where i jammed the scraper in) and you can barely tell its there
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1.42 ghz mac mini w/ 1gig ram
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devo · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 5:30 am Post subject:

The gap between the white plastic and silver metal was very tight. I had to sand down the blade to a really sharp edge before it would fit in. It left a few marks, but they're on the bottom. Who cares about that? Also had a problem lining up those metal tabs on the back. I couldn't get the back panel flush with the metal. It took me like 3-4 tries. I finally realized I bent one of those tabs and it was throwing everything off. I straightened it out with a jeweler's screwdriver and it popped right back together.

livatlantis · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:23 am Post subject:

Thanks for the tips.

All this probably means I'm going to have to get a VERY sharp edge. It does seem... well, for now, a daunting task to open. A Mac dealer here (not authorized by Apple, of course) said they had 'engineers' who could do the upgrade. Don't know if I trust them, but I'll go have a talk anyway.

Anyway, I was curious. What's the best way to reassemble after installing the RAM? (It would have sounded weird if I said "Put the lid back on" lol) Wink

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Mac mini - 1.42GHz
Griffin iMic

devo · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:56 am Post subject:

Line everything up and put your hands around both sides of the case and squeeze hard. You can place it on a table and press down on it, to get some weight behind it. The key is to evenly distribute the weight so it snaps back together without leaving one side lopsided. Not sure if that makes sense.

TheModWiki.org · Member Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 145

and like that Other World Computing video showed... put a cloth down so you don't scratch the front of the mini...

http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=Video/mini/med.html
_________________
Computational Media Major Student @ Georgia Tech
1.42 @ 1.5 Mac Mini, Wifi, BT
1GB PNY Optima DDR400
Maxtor 300GB Ext. FW
Pioneer DVR-K05 SD

www.PaulStamatiou.com , 9rules Network

devo · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:37 am Post subject:

Susurrus · Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:40 am Post subject:

Definitely use a cloth. The blade for the putty knife doesn't need to be that sharp. Mine I used just how I bought it, it's barely tapered at the end (that should be a more correct word than beveled) and I just went to work. If you find it hard to get the knife in the other side once you get one side popped out, just work along the side of the Mini opening it up wherever there is enough room. That was easier for me to do because I was sick of trying to jam my knife in where there's no space.

About their "engineers," if they guarantee their work, then it might be worth it if it costs $20 or so, but otherwise I would just skip them and do it yourself.
_________________
Computer Engineer
Junior, Brown University
15" NC8430 HP Laptop
1.42Ghz PPC Mac Mini, 1Gb RAM, 1st Gen
40GB G4 iPod
2GB Black iPod Nano

livatlantis · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:31 am Post subject:

Hey, thanks for the OWC video. Downloading it...

I guess I'll have to use some lint-free cloth, then. Thanks for the tip. The top of the mini does seem easy to scratch.

Susurrus, thanks. I think I have a better idea about getting the top out by pressing out on loose areas.

devo... another mini!? Noooooo *gets jealous* Get a cat instead. Rolling Eyes

Equal distribution of weight. I'll remember that.

Thanks all for the great tips. Smile

I'm that much more closer to a more confident opening of the mini (lol sounds like some ritual, no?)

Next week, I'll post again about how it goes Wink

_________________
Mac mini - 1.42GHz
Griffin iMic

Susurrus · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject:

Make sure the metal tabs that are above the ports on the back on the actual case are lined up. Mine got bent or something so they need to be pushed back inside every time I put the case back on. It's not hard, though, I just use my putty knife to push them in.
_________________
Computer Engineer
Junior, Brown University
15" NC8430 HP Laptop
1.42Ghz PPC Mac Mini, 1Gb RAM, 1st Gen
40GB G4 iPod
2GB Black iPod Nano


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