Dan S. Pedersen

Q: Mac Mini (mid '11) won't accept RAM

My dad bought a used Mac Mini (mid '11) and it came with 2 x 1 GB RAM installed. We have tried to upgrade to 2 x 4 GB of RAM and here's the problem: First we bought Kingston RAM, using Mactracker as a guide, telling us to get 204-pin PC-10600 (1333 MHz) DDR3 SO-DIMM, which we did. No good - the Mac refused to start and we got beeps instead. We thought it had to be the RAM - installing the original RAM and the Mini runs fine again. We returned the Kingston RAM, got some new in return, only to find that they did the same: The Mini just beeps and cannot start with the Kingston RAM. Thus, we returned the RAM once again and then we found another manufacturer, i.e. Crucial. Low and behold, they do the exact same! The Mini will not recognize them, even if they switch places or if we try with one of the original + new, it fails.

 

We bought these Corsair: Corsair Mac Memory - DDR3 - 8 GB : 2 x 4 GB - SO DIMM 204-pin (CMSA8GX3M2A1333C9).

 

When we gave up and tried to install the original RAM, it beeped again! Switching the originals and it finally worked again.

 

Anyone who knows what is happening here??

 

Thanks in advance,

Dan

Posted on Nov 2, 2014 7:48 AM

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Q: Mac Mini (mid '11) won't accept RAM

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  • by aaBUBA,

    aaBUBA aaBUBA May 15, 2016 11:19 AM in response to aaBUBA
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 15, 2016 11:19 AM in response to aaBUBA

    Surprisingly it's working now. I played a bit with module in bank 0. All like mentioned by Webfountain

    "It seems to be a seating issue as if you apply some gentle pressure on the 4GB module in the lower slot whilst booting it seems to work"

    I tried to apply "gentle pressure" and at first made it working with one module. Then rolled up the piece of soft paper and put under second module (in-between of modules). Attaching the photo. Now writing this post with new 8Gb memory.IMG_0001.jpg

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass May 15, 2016 12:19 PM in response to aaBUBA
    Level 10 (188,672 points)
    Desktops
    May 15, 2016 12:19 PM in response to aaBUBA

    Sounds like either out of tolerance slots or memory sticks

  • by aaBUBA,

    aaBUBA aaBUBA May 16, 2016 2:18 AM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 16, 2016 2:18 AM in response to lllaass

    According to Corsair (http://www.corsair.com/en/corsair-mac-memory-4gb-ddr3-sodimm-memory-kit-cmsa4gx3 m1a1333c9)

    "Corsair's Mac memory kits are tested at Apple Developer Compatibility Labs and work with most MacBook® Pro, iMac®, and Mac mini systems shipped in 2011."

    And taking into account that modules work fine in bank 1 (top) slot- I believe the issue is in bank 0 slot. Also I heard about a very similar problem on Macbook Pro.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass May 16, 2016 6:55 AM in response to aaBUBA
    Level 10 (188,672 points)
    Desktops
    May 16, 2016 6:55 AM in response to aaBUBA

    The word "most" is too squishy in their statement ""Corsair's Mac memory kits are tested at Apple Developer Compatibility Labs and work with most MacBook® Pro, iMac®, and Mac mini systems shipped in 2011."".

     

    Sinc yo said similar problem with MacBook Pros that would point to a memory incompatiblity

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