+- MacResource (https://forums.macresource.com)
+-- Forum: My Category (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Tips and Deals (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: Mac Mini RAM matching (/showthread.php?tid=200081)
Pages:
1
2
Mac Mini RAM matching - RecipeForDisaster - 01-06-2017
I had a local reputable shop add RAM to my 2007 Mini so that I can upgrade to Mavs and therefore sync my iPad.
It had two 512mb sticks and I need at least 2gb. They said that when they put two 2gb sticks in, it still only recognized 3gb total. I thought that was odd. They had already swapped out one of the 2gbs for a 1gb and they are assuring me that it's okay that the RAM doesn't match. I just thought that was gospel... also a little strange about only seeing 3gb.
I haven't tested it yet (am sort of afraid to) but the shop promises that it's running fine. They would only have been able to test in in 10.4 because I boot into 10.6 from an external HD. I think that I will put Mavs on the internal but haven't decided yet. I don't need 10.4 anymore!
If this isn't fine, please help me to argue.... I brought it up a few times, that I was pretty sure they had to match, and they promise me that it's fine. I figure that even if it works okay, something may become a problem in the future... right? On the other hand, I really wanted 4gb and if I match, I'll either have to have 2gb or a weird arrangement with two 2gbs and the machine only sees half of one. Is that any better?
Re: Mac Mini RAM matching - space-time - 01-06-2017
many machines of that era can only see 3 GB, in fact I think the limit was 3.3 GB. You can find more info at OWC or other sites.
EDIT
https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/mac_mini/intel
http://lowendmac.com/2007/mac-mini-mid-2007/
There’s one memory bank with two DIMM sockets, so to upgrade RAM, you have to remove the modules that came with the Mini. Apple says that memory upgrades should only be done in matched pairs, but Other World Computing has discovered that you can use “mismatched” memory in the Mac mini (and some other Intel-based Macs where Apple specifies that upgrades should only be done with matched pairs). Their test results show that in general there is more benefit from having more RAM – even mismatched – than there is from having less RAM that is matched.
Re: Mac Mini RAM matching - RecipeForDisaster - 01-06-2017
Oh thank you! I would love to not bring it back and argue. That's weird but I get it. Phew. A lovely forum member is sending me Mavs, so hopefully soon I will be able to sync and have a few other modern conveniences.
Re: Mac Mini RAM matching - PeterW - 01-06-2017
If you have a 2007 mini, you cannot get it to run Mavericks regardless of the amount of memory. That model tops out at 10.7.5 (Lion).
Re: Mac Mini RAM matching - bobinmurphy - 01-06-2017
PeterW wrote:
If you have a 2007 mini, you cannot get it to run Mavericks regardless of the amount of memory. That model tops out at 10.7.5 (Lion).
I understand the technological need for dropping support for older hardware - it's not always just a marketing thing to try and force people to upgrade to newer hardware. BUT, I sure miss the old days when just about any new version of the OS just ran on any older hardware. Maybe didn't run all that great but it gave one a chance to test out the new features and then decide if they really needed them enough to want to upgrade to newer hardware.
Re: Mac Mini RAM matching - RecipeForDisaster - 01-06-2017
Ugh really??? i looked it up by component and I swear it said I was okay.
Anyone got a copy of 10.7? Not that it will help me much
Re: Mac Mini RAM matching - tenders - 01-06-2017
If you really want to get jiggy with that machine, there is a hack to allow it to run 10.8. I've done this on two similar machines so far, and would strongly advise anyone considering doing it to wipe and restore rather than trying to install it on top of an existing system. Because that's what I ended up having to do, not once but twice.
The hack is called "MacPostFactor."
http://osxhackers.net/macpostfactor.html
Re: Mac Mini RAM matching - clay - 01-06-2017
RecipeForDisaster wrote:
Ugh really??? i looked it up by component and I swear it said I was okay.
Anyone got a copy of 10.7? Not that it will help me much
you can still buy it: http://www.apple.com/shop/product/D6106Z/A/os-x-lion
Re: Mac Mini RAM matching - RecipeForDisaster - 01-06-2017
Thanks, I'm glad I can buy at least! I need to see whether Lion will help me. I'm not sure I want to play with a nuke and pave and sort of Jailbreak, but it's nice to have the option.
Re: Mac Mini RAM matching - space-time - 01-06-2017
I have a 2010 mini with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB SSD in mint condition, PM if interested.