Used mini came with slower running memory. Is that OK?

Hi all,

I'm new here on the forums. I just bought a used 6,1 mini and the previous owner put in 16gb of 1333 mhz memory instead of the spec'ed 1600mhz. It seems to boot up just fine. Is this a problem?

Thanks in advance, Gary

Wcats said:

It seems to boot up just fine. Is this a problem?

Click to expand...

It probably would have been best if the 1600mhz ram was used...but if everything seems fine...then probably not a problem. It's not like the computer is going to fly apart or something!

But if you replaced the 1333mhz ram with 1600mhz ram...you may squeeze a bit more performance out of it.

- Nick

Thumbs up on it not flying apart. Any idea how much I'm hampered by the current setup vs swapping out the to 1600?

Wcats said:

Thumbs up on it not flying apart. Any idea how much I'm hampered by the current setup vs swapping out the to 1600?

Click to expand...

No idea. Normally using non-recommended ram is not done...because in many cases the:

- wrong ram simply won't fit into the ram slots
- and if it does fit...it won't work (computer won't boot or will freeze up).

So folks usually don't purposely install the wrong ram (then run a benchmark test)...then install the correct ram (then repeat the benchmark test)...to see what the performance difference is.

But hey...if you decide to purchase and install the correct ram...you could run this test...and share the results! That would be interesting!

But if someone held my "feet to the fire"...and I absolutely was FORCED to make an educated guess as to the performance penalty for having the wrong ram installed (in this case 1333mhz vs. 1600mhz)...I would guess no more than a 5% performance penalty.

But remember...this is just a conservative guess (worst case scenario)...and the actual performance penalty could be much less.

- Nick

Actually I just had an idea. Please post the exact model Mac-Mini you have...and I will post an idea for you.

BTW...I know that it's "Late 2012" Mac-Mini (if it's a model 6,1 as you mentioned)...but need to know the exact cpu speed and cpu type (i5 or i7).

- Nick

Thanks for the response. BTW If you had a budget of 250.00 for a monitor new or used what would you recommend? I had a 24" 4-5 year old imac that I loved the display on, so anthying equal or better than that would be fine. I do some photo editing work but not hardcore, just using Iphoto, aperture. Mostly jpeg but will delve into raw work soon.

Will check after I get home tonite.

Wcats said:

Thanks for the response. BTW If you had a budget of 250.00 for a monitor new or used what would you recommend? I had a 24" 4-5 year old imac that I loved the display on, so anthying equal or better than that would be fine. I do some photo editing work but not hardcore, just using Iphoto, aperture. Mostly jpeg but will delve into raw work soon.

Click to expand...

Yes...the iMac's do have very nice display's...you should have gotten another iMac!

There are basically two common display types used in the iMac's (and sold as stand alone monitors)...TFT and IPS (this is the panel type used in the display).

To keep things simple...TFT is less expensive...IPS is more expensive, less common, better quality, and what Apple is now using in the current iMac's (and has been for year's).

The display type used in your old 24" iMac was TFT. Since it was TFT...purchasing a new monitor to use with your Mac-Mini that's similar in quality to your old iMac shouldn't be very difficult.

But...the difficult part is...buying a monitor is a VERY personal choice. The person using it is the one to say...it looks good or it doesn't look good (hard for someone else to say "what looks good"!

On the other hand...if you purchase a brand new display...hook it up to the computer...and look at it...generally speaking...they all look pretty good (when you just have one monitor in front of you). If you have two or three monitors in front of you...then you can see differences.

So what I'm really trying to say is...if you're not super picky or need professional level color calibration/accuracy...most monitors will be fine...and then basically you shop for the best price.

I would say get a 24" monitor (1920 x 1080)...and just shop for the best price. Of course if you have specific port requirements (DVI, HDMI, USB, etc.)...then you have to keep your eye out for that as well.

HTH,

- Nick

p.s. I generally say stay away from Samsung monitors. I've always had problems with them. But I'm sure like any product...there are folks that LOVE Samsung monitors (Silly People)!

p.p.s. I pretty commonly see 24" monitors (as I described above) sell for around $125 (maybe $150)...so no need to spend your whole $250 monitor budget!

Just came across a pretty interesting and affordable 23" display you might be interested in (with an IPS panel):

HP Pavilion 23xi

- Nick

Specs

2.5 Ghz I5, 500gb Hard Drive,Intel HD 4000 graphic card w HDMI and thunderbolt output, sdxc card slot, firewire 800, 4 USB3.

Wcats said:

2.5 Ghz I5, 500gb Hard Drive,Intel HD 4000 graphic card w HDMI and thunderbolt output, sdxc card slot, firewire 800, 4 USB3.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. Here's what you want to do to see if that "slower" ram has any sort of performance penalty.

- Download, install, and run "Geekbench":

Geekbench - Cross-Platform Processor Benchmark

With the proper ram (1600mhz)...your Mac-Mini is supposed to have a Geekbench score of:

- 6643 (32-bit mode)
- 7469 (64-bit mode)

If your benchmark score is significantly lower than these scores...then it could be due to the slower ram.

Also remember that these Mac-Mini's came with 4gig of ram. Since your Mac-Mini has 16gig of ram...this may actually improve your benchmark score slighty.

Please let us know your results!

- Nick

here is the 32 bit. not sure which number to look at

Mac mini (Late 2012)
Section Description Score Geekbench Score
Geekbench 2.4.0 Tryout for Mac OS X x86 (32-bit)
Integer Processor integer performance 5039 6745
Floating Point Processor floating point performance 9058
Memory Memory performance 6019
Stream Memory bandwidth performance 6081
Result Information
Upload Date March 01 2013 02:41 AM
Views 1
System Information
Mac mini (Late 2012)
Operating System Mac OS X 10.8.2 (Build 12C3104)
Model Mac mini (Late 2012)
Processor Intel Core i5-3210M @ 2.50 GHz
1 processor, 2 cores, 4 threads
Processor ID GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9
L1 Instruction Cache 32 KB x 2
L1 Data Cache 32 KB x 2
L2 Cache 256 KB x 2
L3 Cache 3072 KB
Motherboard Apple Inc. Mac-031AEE4D24BFF0B1 Macmini6,1
BIOS Apple Inc. MM61.88Z.0106.B03.1211161202
Memory 16384 MB 1333 MHz DDR3
Integer Performance
Integer 5039
Blowfish
single-core scalar 2301
101 MB/sec

Blowfish
multi-core scalar 7564
310 MB/sec

Text Compress
single-core scalar 2669
8.54 MB/sec

Text Compress
multi-core scalar 6831
22.4 MB/sec

Text Decompress
single-core scalar 2920
12.0 MB/sec

Text Decompress
multi-core scalar 7733
30.8 MB/sec

Image Compress
single-core scalar 2302
19.0 Mpixels/sec

Image Compress
multi-core scalar 5992
50.4 Mpixels/sec

Image Decompress
single-core scalar 2364
39.7 Mpixels/sec

Image Decompress
multi-core scalar 5412
88.3 Mpixels/sec

Lua
single-core scalar 4584
1.77 Mnodes/sec

Lua
multi-core scalar 9799
3.77 Mnodes/sec

Floating Point Performance
Floating Point 9058
Mandelbrot
single-core scalar 2714
1.81 Gflops

Mandelbrot
multi-core scalar 10223
6.69 Gflops

Dot Product
single-core scalar 4150
2.01 Gflops

Dot Product
multi-core scalar 11403
5.20 Gflops

Dot Product
single-core vector 6421
7.69 Gflops

Dot Product
multi-core vector 14149
14.7 Gflops

LU Decomposition
single-core scalar 1391
1.24 Gflops

LU Decomposition
multi-core scalar 2630
2.31 Gflops

Primality Test
single-core scalar 6377
952 Mflops

Primality Test
multi-core scalar 12192
2.26 Gflops

Sharpen Image
single-core scalar 5976
13.9 Mpixels/sec

Sharpen Image
multi-core scalar 18437
42.5 Mpixels/sec

Blur Image
single-core scalar 7042
5.57 Mpixels/sec

Blur Image
multi-core scalar 23717
18.6 Mpixels/sec

Memory Performance
Memory 6019
Read Sequential
single-core scalar 7234
8.86 GB/sec

Write Sequential
single-core scalar 10091
6.90 GB/sec

Stdlib Allocate
single-core scalar 4164
15.5 Mallocs/sec

Stdlib Write
single-core scalar 3680
7.62 GB/sec

Stdlib Copy
single-core scalar 4928
5.08 GB/sec

Stream Performance
Stream 6081
Stream Copy
single-core scalar 6927
9.47 GB/sec

Stream Copy
single-core vector 7856
10.2 GB/sec

Stream Scale
single-core scalar 7285
9.45 GB/sec

Stream Scale
single-core vector 7458
10.1 GB/sec

Stream Add
single-core scalar 2463
3.72 GB/sec

Stream Add
single-core vector 7951
11.1 GB/sec

Stream Triad
single-core scalar 2821
3.90 GB/sec

Stream Triad
single-core vector 5889
11.0 GB/sec

COMPARE
Set Baseline
Mac mini (Late 2012) Benchmark Chart
Mac Benchmark Chart
Processor Benchmark Chart
SHARE

Here is the 64 bit. not sure which number to look at

Mac mini (Late 2012)
Section Description Score Geekbench Score
Geekbench 2.4.0 Tryout for Mac OS X x86 (32-bit)
Integer Processor integer performance 5050 6751
Floating Point Processor floating point performance 9060
Memory Memory performance 6047
Stream Memory bandwidth performance 6036
Result Information
Upload Date March 01 2013 02:47 AM
Views 1
System Information
Mac mini (Late 2012)
Operating System Mac OS X 10.8.2 (Build 12C3104)
Model Mac mini (Late 2012)
Processor Intel Core i5-3210M @ 2.50 GHz
1 processor, 2 cores, 4 threads
Processor ID GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9
L1 Instruction Cache 32 KB x 2
L1 Data Cache 32 KB x 2
L2 Cache 256 KB x 2
L3 Cache 3072 KB
Motherboard Apple Inc. Mac-031AEE4D24BFF0B1 Macmini6,1
BIOS Apple Inc. MM61.88Z.0106.B03.1211161202
Memory 16384 MB 1333 MHz DDR3
Integer Performance
Integer 5050
Blowfish
single-core scalar 2300
101 MB/sec

Blowfish
multi-core scalar 7560
310 MB/sec

Text Compress
single-core scalar 2670
8.54 MB/sec

Text Compress
multi-core scalar 6832
22.4 MB/sec

Text Decompress
single-core scalar 2922
12.0 MB/sec

Text Decompress
multi-core scalar 7716
30.7 MB/sec

Image Compress
single-core scalar 2294
19.0 Mpixels/sec

Image Compress
multi-core scalar 5983
50.3 Mpixels/sec

Image Decompress
single-core scalar 2354
39.5 Mpixels/sec

Image Decompress
multi-core scalar 5387
87.9 Mpixels/sec

Lua
single-core scalar 4565
1.76 Mnodes/sec

Lua
multi-core scalar 10028
3.86 Mnodes/sec

Floating Point Performance
Floating Point 9060
Mandelbrot
single-core scalar 2713
1.81 Gflops

Mandelbrot
multi-core scalar 10240
6.70 Gflops

Dot Product
single-core scalar 4152
2.01 Gflops

Dot Product
multi-core scalar 11373
5.18 Gflops

Dot Product
single-core vector 6427
7.70 Gflops

Dot Product
multi-core vector 14217
14.8 Gflops

LU Decomposition
single-core scalar 1391
1.24 Gflops

LU Decomposition
multi-core scalar 2631
2.31 Gflops

Primality Test
single-core scalar 6369
951 Mflops

Primality Test
multi-core scalar 12157
2.26 Gflops

Sharpen Image
single-core scalar 5989
14.0 Mpixels/sec

Sharpen Image
multi-core scalar 18563
42.8 Mpixels/sec

Blur Image
single-core scalar 7037
5.57 Mpixels/sec

Blur Image
multi-core scalar 23581
18.5 Mpixels/sec

Memory Performance
Memory 6047
Read Sequential
single-core scalar 7184
8.80 GB/sec

Write Sequential
single-core scalar 10244
7.01 GB/sec

Stdlib Allocate
single-core scalar 4141
15.5 Mallocs/sec

Stdlib Write
single-core scalar 3730
7.72 GB/sec

Stdlib Copy
single-core scalar 4936
5.09 GB/sec

Stream Performance
Stream 6036
Stream Copy
single-core scalar 6907
9.45 GB/sec

Stream Copy
single-core vector 7700
9.99 GB/sec

Stream Scale
single-core scalar 7236
9.39 GB/sec

Stream Scale
single-core vector 7459
10.1 GB/sec

Stream Add
single-core scalar 2463
3.72 GB/sec

Stream Add
single-core vector 7866
10.9 GB/sec

Stream Triad
single-core scalar 2825
3.90 GB/sec

Stream Triad
single-core vector 5834
10.9 GB/sec

COMPARE
Set Baseline
Mac mini (Late 2012) Benchmark Chart
Mac Benchmark Chart
Processor Benchmark Chart
SHARE

Ay! Caramba...didn't need that much info. Just needed the "main score" that should be in a larger bold font!

Just need the "bold Geekbench number" like in this link:

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/sc...ac-stack-up-geekbench-thread.html#post1231213

- Nick

My bad. for 32 bit it was 6745

Wcats said:

My bad. for 32 bit it was 6745

Click to expand...

That compares very well with the 6643 mentioned above. So I would say that the slower 1333mhz ram really is not causing much (if any) performance issues!

- Nick

Just so that I understand. The procedure tested both the processor and 16GB/1330 memory installed and it came in about 1.5% faster than just the 4GB/1600 ram and processor. Would 16GB/1600 showed substantially more improvement or does the test not work that way. I admit I don't know what the benchmark test really is.

Wcats said:

Just so that I understand. The procedure tested both the processor and 16GB/1330 memory installed and it came in about 1.5% faster than just the 4GB/1600 ram and processor.

Click to expand...

That is essentially correct.

But don't put too much "stock" in the "1.5% better number. You can run the test multiple times on the same exact computer (your computer)...and get slightly different numbers each time.

AND the same Geekbench test run on 10 other Mac-Mini's (EXACTLY the same model & ram)...and you would get slightly different results. This is because the cpu in each computer (even though they are all 2.5ghz i5 cpu's)...will perform a little differently (slightly faster or slower).

Wcats said:

Would 16GB/1600 showed substantially more improvement or does the test not work that way.

Click to expand...

I doubt if the difference would be anything major or noticable. Certainly not worth purchasing another 16gig of 1600mhz ram.

But if it will make you "sleep easier"! You could always try to sell the 16gig of 1333mhz ram you have now...and put that money towards purchasing 16gig of 1600mhz ram. If you feel it's worth the effort.

- Nick

p.s. FYI...I just ran Geekbench twice on my computer...and got about a 1.0% difference on the benchmark number.

Thanks for all your help. Any ideas on where to get the best price on and apple wireless keyboard and magic trackpad?

Wcats said:

Thanks for all your help. Any ideas on where to get the best price on and apple wireless keyboard and magic trackpad?

Click to expand...

New or used?

- Used: e-Bay or Craig's List

- New: Sometimes these things can sell for slightly less on a website like Amazon. But honestly...Apple doesn't really cut many retailers any deals. So these items usually sell for just about the same price you see at the Apple Store.

- Nick