Mac Mini Late 2014 Ram vs SSD

Yes an SSD will improve performance and partially make up for not enough RAM. However, how good it gets depends upon what apps you run. Some apps are very memory intensive and might not show that much of an improvement

For a lot of users like yours, except for Photshop, an SSD will help most. Photoshop is memory intensive so might not show that much improvement but the improvement will be noticeable.

I would not get a ssd to make up for not having enough memory and have the faster speed of ssd swapping fix it

ssd memory cells have a limited number of times you can write to them before they die

the trim feature largely make up for this limitation but if you swap data back and forth on it even trim will be hard pressed

For an app like Photoshop, there is no substitute for having sufficient RAM.

Yes, if Photoshop does get into disk swapping mode an SSD will be better

than an HDD, however, it will still be quite slow.

I say an SSD with be fine then

Question is how much stock RAM does the 2014 have...?

If it is only the 4GB model, then you might be better off re-purposing or re-selling the 2014 and souping up your 2012 with an SSD and more RAM. see > http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/mac-mini/

FWIW my 2012 screams... I moved the HDD to the upper bay for library storage and put a 240GB SSD in the lower bay using an OWC DATA Doubler kit. I upgraded the RAM to 10GB using one stock 2GB and one 8GB module. I had planned to go the full 16GB, but never did because most times it never uses more than 6 or 7GB no matter what I do. I also run dual 21.5" DVI Samsung monitors without any issues whatsoever.

Apple will not upgrade your Mini, all they MAY do is offer a good trade-in for one with more RAM. You are right that the 2014 low-end Mini are not in demand. The 2012 i7 Mini are in demand

As mentioned above, Apple doesn’t upgrade computers but an independent Apple provider will. Also, check iFixit’s guides to see what is involved for a DIY upgrade - it looks worse than it is. With the correct tools and patience it isn’t that bad. BTW I’m running Photoshop 5.5 on a 2011 MBA with 4GB and a 2013 iMac with 16GB and an SSD. Obviously the iMac runs it faster due to the faster CPU but I have no complaints about how well my MBA runs it.

dwb wrote:

As mentioned above, Apple doesn’t upgrade computers but an independent Apple provider will. Also, check iFixit’s guides to see what is involved for a DIY upgrade - it looks worse than it is. With the correct tools and patience it isn’t that bad. BTW I’m running Photoshop 5.5 on a 2011 MBA with 4GB and a 2013 iMac with 16GB and an SSD. Obviously the iMac runs it faster due to the faster CPU but I have no complaints about how well my MBA runs it.

Hypothetically yes an engineer with the right tools could possibly remove the current chips and fit new ones. However as the current chips are surface mounted/glued to the logic and chips have far higher density connections then they used to this is nowhere near as straight forward as the old days. (I had a 128K Mac upgraded to a 512K Mac by swapping the original soldered chips.)

Note: No way is your average PC store going to have the right tools for this level of work.

See https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Mac+Mini+Late+2014+Teardown/30410#s71241

Any such attempt to replace the original memory chips this way would definitely invalidate the warranty. I would not risk it, far better to sell it secondhand or trade in against a new one.

I was referring to the SSD, not RAM.

Okay, excuse the length of this, but I've been working on this for awhile. I've got a 'late 2012' Mac Mini, which I was excited to get as I'm 'apple to the Core', as they say: previously, Mac classic, iMac DVD (1999), 13" PowerBook, gave daughter 2010 MacBook, have iPad Mini, iPhone 5C, . . . and now she's got the MacBook Air, which is astonishing, I have to say.

Because, my Mini, which I thought I could ramp up to 21st century speed given my previous experience, has ALWAYS been slow, slow, very slow. And I've never figured out why.

There are many options: remove memory heavy images & videos from desktop (done), ensure at least 1/3 harddrive available (it is), reduce screen icon animations in dock and other Finder options (done), never rely on wi-fi (don't).

But, today I timed the startup time from the chime to when the Apple disappears offscreen (56 seconds) and then when I can simply open a Finder window (2 minutes, 50 seconds). And then after THAT, I can open an application! Is this REALLY normal?

I have low vision, so I have my screen inverted and use VoiceOver, which I know is QUITE processor heavy, I believe, but there seems to be inconsistency as to the ability of the Mini to deal with what is not a new part of the operating system.

I got excited by the response from Den.thead with the link to the memory and SSD options and How-To videos, until I realized that I already HAVE the 16Gb (maximum) memory installed. I remember, when upgrading the RAM, thinking "THIS will pick us up!"

What am I missing? Here's images of my desktop (connected 1 terabyte drive partitioned into Rama 1,2,3)

and the images of my applications and Utilities folders

file:///var/folders/x5/qc1ms7g126j8ff_sw48_5l500000gn/T/com.apple.Preview/com.ap ple.Preview.PasteboardItems/ScreenApp-iMovie.png

could there be something happening which I don't know about here? If I run Mail and Safari and Pages (my most common configuration), while connected to a cable modem through a Belkin router, I can watch a beachball spin when switching between applications, and wait for 15-30 seconds for "Save" dialog boxes to appear, if at all.

AND, Pages, used always with VoiceOver, is constantly screwing up, and other applications seem to follow suit, which I assume is caused by the memory issues.

So then I thought maybe the Mini is just a pice of crap, Until I read Den.thead's comment about how his 2012 Mini 'screams' with more devices, displays, and less memory . Is VoiceOver the Kiss of Death?

I have tried looking at the Activity Monitor, but there seems to be lots of memory available at any given time, but it's not great for the visually challenged! The only OTHER thing I can note is that I use Mail as a storagesystem, as I send a LOT of emails with business and coursework in the 'On My Mac' section there are 39 nested folders, and then a few folder on a separate .ca domain: I don't know if that's significant, but that's the only other thing I'm unsure of. The only applications running at startup is a screensaver called BOINC from Berkeley for Setiathome, but I've always figured they'd know their stuff.

I keep talking 'cause I'm kind of desperate. This is the WORST Mac I've ever owned, bar none!

Carey

Let me suggest two things: 1) start a new thread of your own rather than piggybacking on this one and 2) download and run EtreCheck so we can take a look at what you have going on with your computer. The EtreCheck program was written by a person who frequents the ASC site to help us diagnose problems.

I probably have the same Mac mini sitting on my office desk and I was quite disappointed when the IT fellows delivered it. My initial disappointment was caused by the fact that I ordered it with an SSD and it came with a 1TB hard drive. My second disappointment was how slow it booted. Not a whole lot different from yours - not quite as bad but still so. My third disappointment was how slow applications launched. That was largely why I ordered it with the SSD option. I grabbed a USB 3 enclosure from the IT closet and a spare SSD I had on my desk (I teach IT and programming at the local community college) and cloned the internal drive. About 45 minutes later I was happily running a very snappy little mini.