7/18/2006
Mac Mini RAM Upgrade Tutorial
Want to upgrade the RAM in your Mac Mini? You can definitely save a few bucks by buying a stripped down Mac Mini and upgrading the RAM yourself. But before you can install that extra RAM, you'll need to take a walk down to your local hardware store and grab a couple putty knifes. Thanks to the Mac Mini, the putty knife is now becoming part of the standard set of essential computer hardware tools.Traditionally, Apple computers have easily come apart with a few screws and levers. In fact, some Apple machines, like the PowerMac G5, almost come apart entirely without tools. However, brute force, patience and a putty knife are required to crack open the Mac Mini.
Many people speculate that Apple made opening the Mac Mini difficult on purpose. Apple would prefer that you let an authorized Apple service provider handle all hardware upgrades and part replacements with their consumer level products.
So grab a putty knife and don't be alarmed if your Mac Mini starts to snap, crackle and pop like a bowl of Rice Crispies. This is the sound of the plastic clips and metal rim coming loose.Tutorial: Mac Mini RAM Upgrade Tutorial
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7:27 AM
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Guys; your macMini install instructions were good BUT: I used a metal egg
turner (usually called a spatula)- which is thin and strong and it was easy to pop
the sucker open!! Also, is there no Cuda chip to hit? For so many years Ive been
used to hitting one.
turner (usually called a spatula)- which is thin and strong and it was easy to pop
the sucker open!! Also, is there no Cuda chip to hit? For so many years Ive been
used to hitting one.
Thank you so much for the Mac Mini memory upgrade tutorial. http://www.methodshop.com/tech/articles/macmini-ram/
I just slotted in 2Gig, and my 1.5GHz Solo is like a totally new machine. :-)
Oslo, Norway.
I just slotted in 2Gig, and my 1.5GHz Solo is like a totally new machine. :-)
Oslo, Norway.
Thanks for your great tutorial on upgrading the Mac Mini's RAM. I just did it with the help of your tutorial, and I wouldn't have dared to do it without it.
Thanks for saving me money!
Great website.
Thanks for saving me money!
Great website.
[*] posted by 
: January 24, 2007 7:24 AM
: January 24, 2007 7:24 AM
MethodShop rocks because... I never would've been able to upgrade my mac mini's ram without it. for real. your tutorial is way more detailed than others on the web. from exactly which screws to take out, to how exactly to lift off the airport antenna, everything is there. thanks a million.
thanks for your tutorial on mac mini RAM. It's the best on the web.
I had a heck of a time putting the little battery plug back in, but I got it...
Computer works fine with new 1GB ram in one slot, original 256 in the other, but FAN is running all the time. Does ram generate a lot of heat? Did I bump something?
I had a heck of a time putting the little battery plug back in, but I got it...
Computer works fine with new 1GB ram in one slot, original 256 in the other, but FAN is running all the time. Does ram generate a lot of heat? Did I bump something?
Just upgraded the RAm in my wife's insanely slow 1.5 ghz Intel Mac Mini. Thanks so much for posting great instructions for disassembly. Inventing the wheel on this one would've been a nightmare, rather than the piece of cake it was thanks to you guys. You rock.
[*] posted by : February 05, 2007 7:57 AM
: February 05, 2007 7:57 AM
THANK YOU!!! YOU ROCK - MINI MAC MEMORY UPGRADE
eVERTHING WORKED PERFECTLY. THE ONLY ISSUE I HAD WAS I WAS SURPISED THAT THE ASSEMBLY WAS CONNECTED TO THE MOTHER BOARD BY A BOARD SOCKET (SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS BUT I DIDN'T FLIP IT OVER I HAD SOMEONE HOLD IT). I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE LINING IT UP ON THE REASSMBLY UNTIL I SAW IT.
FUNNY NOTE. I WAS VERY CAREFUL WITH THE LITTLE SCREWS BUT THE PEOPLE AT MAC WERE NOT! I FOUND AN EXTRA HARDDRIVE SCREW FLOATING LOOSE! ALSO ON THE MAC SITE THEY DID NOT EVEN HAVE A NOTE THAT SAID TO TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. WHEN I SEARCHED FOR MEMORY UPGRADES I GOT NOTHING!
YOU GUYS ARE FANTASTIC.
eVERTHING WORKED PERFECTLY. THE ONLY ISSUE I HAD WAS I WAS SURPISED THAT THE ASSEMBLY WAS CONNECTED TO THE MOTHER BOARD BY A BOARD SOCKET (SHOULD HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS BUT I DIDN'T FLIP IT OVER I HAD SOMEONE HOLD IT). I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE LINING IT UP ON THE REASSMBLY UNTIL I SAW IT.
FUNNY NOTE. I WAS VERY CAREFUL WITH THE LITTLE SCREWS BUT THE PEOPLE AT MAC WERE NOT! I FOUND AN EXTRA HARDDRIVE SCREW FLOATING LOOSE! ALSO ON THE MAC SITE THEY DID NOT EVEN HAVE A NOTE THAT SAID TO TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. WHEN I SEARCHED FOR MEMORY UPGRADES I GOT NOTHING!
YOU GUYS ARE FANTASTIC.
Hey, I just wanted to say that the Mac Mini ram upgrade article was a great help. I just bought the Mini yesterday to open my eyes to the Mac world (though I do have a G4 and had an iMac) and it's a great little computer.
I wanted to add that since I chew on my nails, I used thumb tacks to help get the mini open. They're really helpful since you can put them in multiple places to create a larger gap to slide in the putty knife.
Thanks for the article!
I wanted to add that since I chew on my nails, I used thumb tacks to help get the mini open. They're really helpful since you can put them in multiple places to create a larger gap to slide in the putty knife.
Thanks for the article!
Thanks for your information on installing new memory in the Mac Mini. We followed your directions and also found some plastic putty knives at Lowes. However, they were not thin or stiff enough to really enable us to pry open the lower case. The plastic putty knife would not fit down into the opening in the case, and was not stiff enough to pry with. We used a metal putty knife which worked fine and left minimal marks. Put in 1 GB and every thing went back together OK. Memory shows up in the Finder too!
Great tutorial, thanks so much. I just upgraded two Mac minis from 512mb to 2gb in about 20 mins thanks to your tutorial. Wouldn't have dared without it, so thank a million!!!
[*] posted by : July 08, 2007 1:57 PM
: July 08, 2007 1:57 PM
Great tutorial, thx. I upgraded from 512 to 2GB in about 45 minutes and my daughter was amazed that Dad could do this and it worked afterwards!
[*] posted by : November 05, 2007 11:24 AM
: November 05, 2007 11:24 AM
i just upgraded my memory on my mac mini using your excellent tutorial - I just can't thank you enough
Thanks so much, your tutorial really helped me out. It took a few tries of making sure the RAM was installed correctly and also making sure the PRAM was zapped but after I did, everything worked perfectly. Thanks again!
[*] posted by : January 20, 2008 4:57 AM
: January 20, 2008 4:57 AM
Thanks for your fab article on replacing the RAM in the MAC Mini. http://www.methodshop.com/gadgets/tutorials/macmini-ram/index.shtml I'm a 4 day old Mac owner (switched from PC last Friday) and somehow that sticker that says "No user servicable parts inside" seems so much more intimidating on the Mac than on the PC even though I know on the PC it is B.S. I suppose because the Mac looks completely impenetrable with no obvious way in. Your article allowed me to upgrade my RAM myself and saved me a ton of money.
Omg.. You guys have melted this little girl-geek's heart. Your tutorial on the Mac Mini memory upgrade is a LIFESAVER!
Your notes on installing a RAM upgrade to the Mac Mini were really helpful. I managed it the first time. The only snag was that I disconnected the airport antenna. I thought I had broken a soldered point, but it actually plugs back in right where I saw it lying. Airport works! Everything works! Thank you!
[*] posted by : March 15, 2008 4:59 PM
: March 15, 2008 4:59 PM
Thanks so much for your tutorial, would never had attempted my 2GB upgrade without you.
I had one problem and almost had a heart attack: i was really struggling to put the upper chassis back on the base/mobo...something seemed to be pushing up against it at the back, could get all for corners to line up flush...after many attempts, I realised that the WIRES IN THE BACK HADE SLIPPED OUT!!! Thats the falt connector connectinng the mobo to the chassis.
At this point I almost fainted. I then realised that I could sliip the flat connector back in what seemed to be the plug...did I rip it out of the plug or is that how it normaly holds? dunno...but i booted up and so far everything seems to work. finngers crossed.
So don't be a dork like me and be extra extra carefull when manipulating the upper chassis.
I had one problem and almost had a heart attack: i was really struggling to put the upper chassis back on the base/mobo...something seemed to be pushing up against it at the back, could get all for corners to line up flush...after many attempts, I realised that the WIRES IN THE BACK HADE SLIPPED OUT!!! Thats the falt connector connectinng the mobo to the chassis.
At this point I almost fainted. I then realised that I could sliip the flat connector back in what seemed to be the plug...did I rip it out of the plug or is that how it normaly holds? dunno...but i booted up and so far everything seems to work. finngers crossed.
So don't be a dork like me and be extra extra carefull when manipulating the upper chassis.
Thanks so much. You saved me over $100, not to mention the guys at the Mac store said it would take 3 days to a week to get the mini back after I drop it off.
I was able to perform this operation in about 15minutes, very nice. NOTE: I was lucky and I have the old model, so I did not have to remove any screws, but I'd have never thought of just prying that case apart even to get started.
Thanks again!
Very satisfied,
Randy
I was able to perform this operation in about 15minutes, very nice. NOTE: I was lucky and I have the old model, so I did not have to remove any screws, but I'd have never thought of just prying that case apart even to get started.
Thanks again!
Very satisfied,
Randy
[*] posted by : March 31, 2008 5:33 PM
: March 31, 2008 5:33 PMPost a Comment
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