Bob Bousfield1

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

 

System Profiler Info.png

Posted on Jun 29, 2011 1:40 AM

Close

Q: Mac Mini (3,1, late 2009) - RAM Upgrade Issues

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by JABaker,Helpful

    JABaker JABaker Jul 7, 2011 4:06 PM in response to Bob Bousfield1
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 7, 2011 4:06 PM in response to Bob Bousfield1

    I'm afraid I'm only here looking for info myself (on a closely related question) -- but I might suggest that you try including the brand of memory which you bought and/or a screenshot of the "Memory" screen from System Profiler as well... particularly in case someone knows that your specific brand has problems in this context. -- I don't know personally if any brands have issues for this machine (yet), but that can sometimes be an issue, and someone else here might recognize the issue if so.

  • by Saul in PA,Helpful

    Saul in PA Saul in PA Jul 7, 2011 7:09 PM in response to Bob Bousfield1
    Level 2 (295 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 7, 2011 7:09 PM in response to Bob Bousfield1

    Here's mine that works.  Same Boot ROM & SMC:

     

    8GB mini.png

  • by Bob Bousfield1,Solvedanswer

    Bob Bousfield1 Bob Bousfield1 Jul 11, 2011 2:25 AM in response to Bob Bousfield1
    Level 1 (119 points)
    Jul 11, 2011 2:25 AM in response to Bob Bousfield1

    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)

     

     


  • by Bob Bousfield1,

    Bob Bousfield1 Bob Bousfield1 Jul 11, 2011 2:29 AM in response to Bob Bousfield1
    Level 1 (119 points)
    Jul 11, 2011 2:29 AM in response to Bob Bousfield1

    Of course, it is likely that using this method would have allowed me to install the original 8 GB kit (2 x 4 GB) mentioned in my first post  but I am leaving the machine as is for now

  • by Smooth Muzic,

    Smooth Muzic Smooth Muzic Apr 12, 2012 12:51 AM in response to Saul in PA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2012 12:51 AM in response to Saul in PA

    How did you do it? im trying it myself and its not working. :/

  • by gozman,

    gozman gozman Apr 3, 2014 12:49 PM in response to Bob Bousfield1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 3, 2014 12:49 PM in response to Bob Bousfield1

    BINGO!! This solved my problem! Bob was right about it making an 8 GB Kit install work too!

     

    I was able to install an 8 GB Crucial 2 x 4GB DDR3/1066 kit in my Late 2009 3,1 2.53 ghz Mac Mini Server using Bob's Step-by-step instructions above!  Prior to following the instructions all I got when turning the Mini on after placing both or either of the new 4GB sticks was the repeating single "beep" on power up as others have posted.  The only info I have to add to this was that after holding down the Power Button as I inserted the AC cable is that the fan ran on "high" wind-tunnel mode right after starting both times after installing the 4 GB Chips. After letting it fully boot after the second chip was installed and confirming both 4GB chips were recognised with the fan blasting,  I fully shut it down then started it back up and the fan behaved normally once again.

     

    With doubling the factory RAM and adding a SSD Boot disk and 1.5 TB 7200RPM storage drive, my Mini feels very snappy running OS X 10.9.2.

  • by anfedoro,

    anfedoro anfedoro Jun 5, 2014 7:53 AM in response to gozman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 5, 2014 7:53 AM in response to gozman

    Will it work for only some certain Ram modules supplier? I have two 4Gb sodimms ddr3 1066 from transcend but unfortunately it only works then i combine original 2Gb sodimm with one new 4Gb (got 6gb which already makes better). Standalone 4g transcend sodimm or 2x4gb wan't boot :-(. Any chanses to fix and run all 8gb with my modules?

     

    Thanks

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Jun 5, 2014 9:35 AM in response to anfedoro
    Level 10 (187,749 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 5, 2014 9:35 AM in response to anfedoro

    Macs are picky about memory. Does Transcend specificially sya they work with your Mini?

    I stalled 2X4GB OWC memory in my late 2009 Mini last year with no problem.

  • by Joseph Grcar,

    Joseph Grcar Joseph Grcar Jan 5, 2015 10:24 PM in response to gozman
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 5, 2015 10:24 PM in response to gozman

    Dear gozman: I am curious to know how you got both an ssd and a 1.5 TB drive in your mac mini.  Did you take out the optical drive?

  • by kleiko,

    kleiko kleiko Jan 26, 2015 3:26 PM in response to Joseph Grcar
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 26, 2015 3:26 PM in response to Joseph Grcar

    Macmini 3,1 server came with 2 hard drives and no optical drive. I guess the thought was the folks would set them up in a raid 1/0 configuration. But, there's no reason the drives can't be used separately.

  • by iheartmacs.com,

    iheartmacs.com iheartmacs.com Aug 22, 2016 10:41 AM in response to Bob Bousfield1
    Level 1 (23 points)
    Aug 22, 2016 10:41 AM in response to Bob Bousfield1

    I was able to upgrade my Late 2009 Mac Mini with 8GB of RAM by following your guide to reset the PMU.  Thank you.