Mac Mini memory upgrade question

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Hey guys, I have a mid 2010 Mac Mini with the 4 gig factory upgrade (2x2).
Following everyone's advice here I bought a OWC 8 gig ram upgrade. I was was expecting two 4x4' sticks, but they sent one 8 gig stick instead.

Question #1 does the 8 gig stick go on the bottom or on the top when installed?
Question #2 can I use the 8 gig stick and one of my 2 gig sticks for a total of 10 gigs?
If so, does the 8 gig stick go on the bottom or the top?

I switched to a Mac in 2010 and haven't looked back. I am a real Apple fan boy :), but I don't know a lot about hardware and software and how it all works together.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I really need it. :)
 

chscag

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That's strange and unusual for OWC to only send you one module instead of two. Are you sure you didn't order it like that?

Anyway, since your Mini can take up to 16 GB of memory, you can keep the 2 GB module along with the 8 GB. Put the 8 GB module in the top slot and the 2 GB in the bottom.
 

pigoo3

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Hey guys, I have a mid 2010 Mac Mini with the 4 gig factory upgrade (2x2).
Following everyone's advice here I bought a OWC 8 gig ram upgrade. I was was expecting two 4x4' sticks, but they sent one 8 gig stick instead.

OWC sells both...so you might want to check exactly what you ordered (part number). But in any case...your Mac-Mini can have up to 16gig of ram. Since there is very little price difference between the single 8gig module and 2 x 4gig modules...you may have done yourself a big favor (on purpose or by accident)...since:

- if you wanted to upgrade to 16gig...you just need another 8gig module (if you had gotten 2 x 4gig modules...they would have had to be removed).
- as chscag mentioned...you can leave one of those 2gig modules in the Mac-Mini for a total of 10gig of ram.:)

I think that the whole thing really turned out better than you would have expected!:)

- Nick
 
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That's strange and unusual for OWC to only send you one module instead of two. Are you sure you didn't order it like that?

Anyway, since your Mini can take up to 16 GB of memory, you can keep the 2 GB module along with the 8 GB. Put the 8 GB module in the top slot and the 2 GB in the bottom.

I may have ordered it like that, but on their web site that was the only option that I found for my mid 2010 mini. I really thought that I was ordering 2 4x4's though.
 

pigoo3

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I may have ordered it like that, but on their web site that was the only option that I found for my mid 2010 mini. I really thought that I was ordering 2 4x4's though.

From OWC website:

2 x 4gig: OWC OWC8566DDR3S8GP 8.0GB (4.0GB + 4.0GB Kit)... in stock at OWC
1 x 8gig: OWC 8566DDR3S8GB 8.0GB PC3-8500 DDR3 1066MHz... in stock at OWC

Like I mentioned above. With so little price difference...the single 8gig module is the better buy.:) Now you will have a total of 10gig...and if you want 16gig in the future...you just need one more 8gig module (otherwise you would have had to remove the 2 x 4gig modules) to get 16gig (2 x 8gig).

- Nick
 
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Thank You very much Nick. I appreciate your answer and your research. I screwed up on my order, but in the end I will be the best option. Thank You for the help.
There is a lot that I don't know about all this. I turn it on and hope it works. LOL Thanks all for all of your help. I'm getting ready to install the 8 gig stick in a few minutes.
 

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Keep us posted how it works.
 
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Keep us posted how it works.

As of right now it seems to be working well. "About this Mac" is showing 10 GB of RAM, so it looks like everything is fine. Thank you So Much for all the help. It is So Nice to have a place to go for answers, and where even a newbe can post questions and get factual answers without feeling like a newbe and feeling stupid. Thank You again Nick and Dennis.
 

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Great to hear! Glad it works. Glad we could all be of help to you. Do not ever be afraid to ask us any question. We will all do our best to help you!
 

pigoo3

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Congratulations...a successful install!:)

- Nick
 
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Thanks Guys! I am so proud of myself for doing just this simple little thing. Thank You! :)

Alan
 

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