Upgrading Memory in my Mac Mini (Early 2009) - VYAU

This is my first Mac (early 2009 model) and the first time opening it up EVER so you will see things go wrong like antennas popping off and wires getting disconnected. Just roll with it.

Recently purchased an Apple Mac Mini for iPhone development. (iPhone SDK 3.0 requires an Intel Mac with OSX 10.5.7 [Leopard]). 1GB of RAM was not enough for me, so I decided to upgrade to 4GBs. (1GB is plenty for running Xcode/iPhone SDK, but I want to run Warcraft at the same time on a different screen space, and then YouTube on another space, and then some movie off iTunes on another space just to prove I can without some dumb out of memory warning popping up).

Know that I've built a couple PCs from parts, and that I've been swapping cards and RAM in PCs since I was a kid. I'm not about to take this machine to the "Genius Bar" so that some teen in an Apple shirt can feel like he's smarter than me just because it's a MAC and not a PC. I'm a MAN, and I have pride and complete disregard for the Apple Warranty on my BRAND NEW Mac Mini.

I also vividly remember as a kid watching my Dad pull out RAM from a PC that was still running on accident... poor computer never ran the same after. So there are dangers from mishaps and static discharge if you're not careful.

Disclaimer: Follow this video AT YOUR OWN RISK and know that you could possibly void your warranty and/or destroy your Mac Mini. Every time I operate on a computer, I'm mentally prepared to be left with an expensive paperweight and I have fun doing it. If you are not at ease with the risk (or at least respect it), then don't attempt this.

Thanks for watching! Post any questions you may have and I'll try to answer them.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• upgrade
• ram
• memory
• apple
• mac
• mini
• computer
• howto
• install
• intel
• nvidia
• core
• duo
• 4gb
• ddr3

[fifbeat]

I have this same computer (or maybe i don't). But, I think mine is only upgradeable to 2 gig? I guess the early 2009 model is upgraded to 4 gig upgrade? Thanks again - please answer my question. I have the 1.83 GHz, intel Core 2 duo

[VYauTube]

@fifbeat Right, if you got yours back in 2007, it's upgradable to 2gb.

[thatulsta]

did you notice a big speed increase? would you say it was worth it?

[VYauTube]

@thatulsta It's definitely worth it for me, I run a lot of memory intensive applications such as graphics/video editing and games. Also I run my 24" monitor at 1920x1200 resolution, and since graphics memory is shared on the Mini, the extra RAM really helps.

If you just casually use say iLife apps you probably won't need it. You probably won't notice a speed increase as much as you find that you can push your system to do more without slowing down.

[VYauTube]

Thanks, have fun with that! 2x2GB Crucial 204-pin 256MX64 DDR3 PC3 8500 CL7 is what I used. Got it bundled from Amazon.

[yoshlad]

Great video man! Very helpful. I liked that you went into detail about the things that can, and probably will go wrong. haha. I'm probably getting my Mini this week, and upgrading to 4GB of RAM shortly thereafter. I'm gonna use your video to help me through. What kind of RAM did you use?