Can you use PC-1066 memory in 2011 Mac Mini?

Question

Can you use PC-1066 memory in 2011 Mac Mini?

I have a Mid-2010 Macbook Pro 15" with the standard 4Gb of PC-1066 and I'm looking into buying the 2011 Mac Mini base model.

Now, if I purchase 8Gb of PC-1066 for my MBP, is the Mini compatible with the PC-1066 memory? I know both the MBP and Mini use the same form factor memory, but the Mini takes PC-10600. With PCs, this sort of backwards compatibility is pretty standard but I'm still pretty new to Macs and I'm not sure how fickle they are.

Anyone know if you can use PC-1066 in place of PC-10600 in the Mac Mini?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Nov 13, 2011 8:43 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

91,504 points

Nov 13, 2011 8:59 AM in response to one800higgins

Works physically, but the 1066MHz RAM is a lower speed than the 1333MHz RAM that 2011 Mini uses.

Personally I'd leave the MacBook as is and order the correct upgrade for the Mini.

Apple Mac mini Memory DDR3 / Ram upgrades for 2011 Mac mini unibody models

Computer memory upgrades for Apple Mac mini (Intel Core i7 2.7Ghz) DDR3 - Mid 2011 Desktop/PC from Crucial.com

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Answer 2

Nov 13, 2011 9:03 AM in response to den.thed

Okay, thanks.

To me, $40 to go from 4Gb to 8Gb of the same speed memory in my MBP and from 2Gb to 4Gb of slightly slower speed memory in the Mac Mini sounds worth it. I doubt its worth the extra $30-40 to upgrade both separately.

Either way, MBP upgrade was my main upgrade focus and Mac Mini getting 4Gb of 1066Mhz memory was just an added bonus.

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Answer 3

steve359

Level 6

17,187 points

Nov 13, 2011 9:07 AM in response to one800higgins

I upgraded my MBP from 4 to 8, but kept the old memory, even though macsales would have taken the old memory and paid me some money for it.

I just like having "something that worked *once*" hanging around for emergencies.

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

91,504 points

Nov 13, 2011 9:09 AM in response to one800higgins

Of course, that's if the slower RAM even works in the Mini.....?

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Answer 5

Nov 13, 2011 9:11 AM in response to den.thed

That was my original question haha. I figured you were saying yes. I guess I can just buy the MBP upgrade and see if my current MBP memory works in the Mac Mini. No harm if it doesn't, since I want to upgrade my MBP either way.

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