Q: Mac Mini (3,1, late 2009) - RAM Upgrade Issues
Hi everyone,
I recently purchased some memory to take my late 2009 Mac Mini(mac model 3,1) up to 8 GB, but with no success - on startup the machine gives a beep and goes no further.
I was told that the machine would need a firmware update so I followed the instructions on the Apple firmware update page and downloaded the designated updater (1.2)
This reported that the firmware update was not required.
My system info is below.
Can someone tell me if:
a) The firmware revision below should allow me to have the full 8GB of RAM
or
b) Should I actually be able to upgrade to the version listed by Apple and have some kind of issue with this box
Many thanks,
Bob
Posted on Jun 29, 2011 1:40 AM
Hi there,
Many thanks for your comments.
I finally have a machine that now has a working 4 GB RAM upgrade
How I got there may be useful for others to know.
I called Apple about this issues and they said that "officially" this model would only support a maximum of 4 GB of RAM (despite all the other discussion threads I had read on this stating that you can actually have 8)
Based on this I sent the 8 GB back to Crucial and re-ordered a 4 GB kit (2 x 2 GB).
This arrived and I installed it only to have the exact same problem - when powered up the machine would not start and give a single beep, which would be repeated after a short interval.
I called Apple again but they were unable to help me - stating that "perhaps" the type of memory I had purchased was not correct.
I called Crucial and explained the situation and they were also unable to help and gave me a returns code for a refund.
Disappointed I did one more search on Google and came across a thread that mentioned a PMU reset had resolved some RAM upgrade issues. (PMU Update Info here - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2183)
Based on this I did the following:
1. Install only one of the supplied 2 GB DIMMs (bottom slot).
2. Reassemble Mac Mini
3. Reset PMU by holding down Power button at the same time as inserting power lead.
Started Mac Mini and this time ti chimed and started up (previously it would not even with a single DIMM and emitted a single beep repeatedly). Showed 2 GB installed
4. Add second DIMM (top slot)
5. Reassemble Mac Mini
6. Reset PMU by holding down Power button at the same time as inserting power lead.
Started Mac Mini, again it chimed and started up (previously it would not with 2 DIMMs installed and emitted a single beep repeatedly). Showed 4 GB installed
Please note that the process HAD to be done exactly as described above.
I did try inserting both DIMMs at first and resetting the PMU as described above but this resulted in the beeping.
I also tried adding the second DIMM (once the first one was working) without the second PMU reset and this also did not work (beeping)
Posted on Jul 11, 2011 2:25 AM

