Does the Mac Mini require special memory?

[TheGeek]

Im wondering, does the Mac Mini require special memory, or will any ol' memory work?

 

[TheGeek]

would this stuff work??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...8&item=6739008376&rd=1

 

[halfadder]

Originally posted by: TheGeek
Im wondering, does the Mac Mini require special memory, or will any ol' memory work?

Details here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300572

I would only buy memory that has a guarantee because some Apple models in the past have been very picky about their RAM causing many Mac users to suggest only using Crucial.com or similar name brand guaranteed memory.

 

[halfadder]

Originally posted by: TheGeek
would this stuff work??
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...8&item=6739008376&rd=1

Based on the specs posted, I would assume so.
Caveat emptor.

 

[imported_2x]

Based on my Mac experience, anything less than Crucial is a risk unless you go through MacMall.com which is a ripoff IMO. Crucial ram only for Macs. I have never had an issue with them. Other brands Macs are finicky about. In the specs for that memory it states that it is not Apple Mac compatible.

 

[addragyn]

OWC always has good prices on RAM if you're want guaranteed compatibility.

http://eshop.macsales.com/MyOW...?model=210&type=Memory

 

[acemcmac]

ever since SDRAM, unless speaking of laptops, pc and mac ram has been pretty much interchangable. I don't understand why this would change now- it's a cost cutting move.

 

[addragyn]

That's basically correct, Apple machines just require that the memory has SPD correctly programmed into it. Some cheaper sticks do not. Quality stuff will work. This is a quality control issue.

 

[TheGeek]

is PQI quality enough??? (<<---not gramatically correct)
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...emory&CMP=OTC-d3alt1me

 

[Childs]

For what its worth, I threw in some Kingston Value and it worked fine.

 

[imported_2x]

If it is not in the section Newegg designates as Mac products I would not try it unless you are willing to risk a RMA. Newegg only sells 10 types/kinds of RAM that they say work with Macs (and not all Macs at that.) Of those 10, only Crucial, Kingston and Corsair are available. This is along the lines of what most have said in regards to high quality manufacturers only. You will pay more, but 1) this is par for the course with Apple stuff - although to a lesser extent than in the past and 2) you almost guarantee compatibility (especially with Crucial).

 

[addragyn]

Based on specs the PQI will work.

YMMV, so report back and let us know.

 

[Eug]

$109 for a stick of 1 GB RAM? Sounds too good to be true.

For both my PCs and my Macs, I tend to like using name brand RAM. I've had far too many problems on both sides with noname brand RAM.

That said, I put in some noname RAM in my current Mac (1.7 GHz Cube) simply because the local stores didn't have name brand RAM available without a ridiculous price, and the RAM worked fine. But the difference is that the store is local, so it'd be easy to return the RAM if it didn't work.

 

[metalmania]

I have faith in Kingston brand. Never have problem with 3 ibooks and 1 emac. The best thing is you don't need to buy "for mac" model at all.

 

[tribbles]

I've owned more Macs than I can count since 1992, and I would recommend you follow the advice of everyone here and buy either Kingston or Crucial. Neither one should cause you any problems.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: addragyn
That's basically correct, Apple machines just require that the memory has SPD correctly programmed into it. Some cheaper sticks do not. Quality stuff will work. This is a quality control issue.

I've not kept up with the current state-of-the-art in terms of Mac low-level hardware, but do they even have the capability to vary the various chipset-level memory timing parameters? They may require memory with specific timings/capabilities (or specific SPD programming info), as you mention.

Do the Macs even have a "BIOS setup" program, per se? The last time that I messed about with PRAM setting on a Mac, was on a Classic SE or an LC Color model. Guess I should update my Mac knowledge, even though they only have like 3% of the PC market-share these days.

;Course, when buying memory in general, even for PCs, I personally try to stick to the big name-brands for quality anyways. Generic RAM is usually the pits.

 

[addragyn]

"They may require memory with specific timings/capabilities (or specific SPD programming info), as you mention. "

Exactly.


Macs use Open Firmware.

http://www.firmworks.com/www/ofw.htm
http://playground.sun.com/1275/
http://www.openfirmware.org/

 

[thirdlegstump]

They CAN be finicky about certain ram. Most of the time I buy used Crucial dimms and they work fine. I actually bought some VDATA ram a week ago and it worked fine. YMMV though.