OSX 10.9 and Mac Mini Ram

So you're saying it';s probably not a RAM issue, but Hardrive?

It';s a Mac server with 2 HD's and boots up ok, It's slow after I try opening apps, sometime I get a bouncing app logo, and often get a "spinning beachball".

I've run disk repair a few times and don't get much to clean up or repair.

I blew out the original server software and updated it to 10.9.1 which my wife HATES.

I've used activity monitor to check RAM useage:

Physical Ram 4.0 GB

Used: 3.16

Virtual: 4.00

App Memory: 1.06GB

File Cache: 1.33 GB

Wired Memory: 538.1 MB

This is with ONLY Mavericks running, Activity Monitor and a few applets like the trackball mouse, a weather watcher and a few more.

Good advice:

Mac Mini, 4GB Ram, 2 Hd's., running Activity Monitor, Safari, Mail and Itunes.

3.54 GB Memory in use

App Mem: 1.34 GB

Safari: 24Mb ITunes: 71.6Mb Mail: 29.4Mb Activity Monitor: 13.9Mb

Windows open smoothly, no bouncing icons or "Beachballs"

Looks to me any performance issues probably are NOT Memory Related and I probably won't see much of a gain going from 4-8 Gigs, or am I wrong?

Hate to say it, maybe I need to research going back to Snow Leopard or Moutain Lion on this Late 2009 Mini.

Activity Monitor is now showing 3.60 GB Memory in Use.

I do not see a Free Memory Category.

Simple math looks like with 4 apps running and all my other applets active for now, I've got about .4 GB available for actual Ram, plus whatever "Virtual Memory" it might take.

I have plenty of HD space available both on my Primary and Secondary Internal HD's.

Again, this was originally set-up as a Mac Mini Server with the approprioate server software.

I recently laid Mavericks over it since it's a single user now and I don't need all the server capabilities and limitations. I did a routine Mavericks Update, had no installation issues and it's been stable. Just a little slow, some bouncing Icons, delays in opening files and "Beach Balls".

I visited my local Apple store and checked out their latest offerings and spoe to them about my Mini Issues under Mavericks.

I was told downgrading OSX to an earlier release might be a solution, but I'd have to wipe my HD to install everything clean.

Since it's a dual HD System, I'm guessing I could move all the data, pix,music to one drive...and wipe the other///or since my "secondar drive" is basically just for back-up, wipe it, lay a new System OSX on it and use it as a newboot drive.

If I need to, that's a decent option.

Expanding Ram: Cheap enough, it's always nice to have a little extra headroom.

BUT the Mini's at the Apple Store were running Mavericks just fine with no delays, no problem. And when I checked their available Ram, they were running with 4GB just fine.

So I am still not sure my issues are all Ram-Related.

It's a 4+ year old System, seems to be working OK now, and as long as I don't run more than 2-3 full Apps, may still have some life left. I blew out a some logs and other files, found an attached external drive wasnt working right, unplouuged it, did some Disk Utility Permission/Verify runs on the Mini's Intyrenal Droves and the Icon Bouncing, Beach Balls have stopped. Hopefully it'll last. Ram is cheap enojugh, I might upgrade to 8 Gigs at some point too just to increase the headroom a bit.

Help/Advice Appreciated

Got my upgared set of 4 Gig chips and had them installed in about 1/2 an hour. Found a local Mac shop, liked the idea of having someone who knows what they're doing working on the wife's Mac...support local companies at the same time.

It went un-eventfully as expected...and fired up/recognized the new Ram just Fine.

Swtoching between pages/apps seems a little snappier, nothing major but seems like still a bit of an improvment.

The original ram out of my Late 2009, 2 (2) Gig chips would be nice to put into my Early 2009 MacMini under OSX 10.8..would it fit..same spec?

Too bad these older Minis are NOT user friendly when it comes to uograding.

My guess is intentional obsolecense...though the newer ones seem to be better designed for some user installs.

My older Mini under 10.8.5 seems to run just fine for basic single app use, and still works as a video server just fine with my HD Bigscreen.

But I don't think I'm going to Mavericks anytime soon on it.