1 Mac Mini Unibody 2014 RAM
Has the Mac Mini Unibody 2014 removable and upgradeable RAM-Modules?
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The ram is no longer upgradeable after purchase.
The Apple Store allows you to configure the Mac with 4/8/16GB of ram which you will be stuck with, so choose wisely. A 32GB version should be available shortly as Apple have issued Logic Board part numbers to Service Providers which include the 32GB model.
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Confirmed! Apple has gone with soldered in RAM in the '14 mini!
Confirmed by macminicolo, RAM is soldered:
http://blog.macminicolo.net/post/1002404...
Also tamper proof screws on bottom. Hard to see Apple's reasoning behind this to be anything else except just a way to make more money off the Mac mini. It's not like the new model is (or needs to be) ultra slim or draw very little power.
Very disappointing!
Ok so the guy from macminicolo website tweeted that - but where's the proof ? A photo perhaps ? Information source ? For all i know it might not even be true. Lets just wait for a teardown...
Sorry to be the messenger, but...
Apple confirms at link :
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6496
Mac mini (Late 2014): Memory specifications
Learn about the memory in your Mac mini (Late 2014).
Specifications
Depending on the configuration you order from the Apple Store, your Mac mini (Late 2014) comes with one of these configurations of LPDDR3 SDRAM installed into two channels integrated to the main logic board:
4 GB
8 GB
16 GB
Memory Replacement
The memory for Mac mini (Late 2014) computers isn't user accessible and is integrated into the main logic board. You can configure your computer's memory at the time of purchase.
Last Modified: Oct 17, 2014
Ps. What apple says regarding Memory Replacement for new Imac is:-
Memory Replacement-
The memory for iMac (21.5-inch, Mid 2014) computers are not user-accessible and is integrated into the main logic board. Visit an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider if you need to service or replace your computer's SDRAM.
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I spoke with someone at the Apple Store (online) yesterday and she checked and said it was non-user upgradable. If she was correct, this means that unlike prior models, it's soldered on. We'll have to wait for a tear-down (or appearance in a store), to confirm this.
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Here is our tear down
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This info in the upgrade options for systems indicates it is. There is no important note disclaimer for the Mac mini.
Mac mini
Memory:
- Upgrade your memory to enjoy greater performance for more intensive computing tasks or multitasking. Your Mac mini uses one of the fastest memory technologies available today — 1600MHz Low-Power Double Data Rate 3 (LPDDR3) synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) — ensuring that the processor is constantly fed with data without wasting clock cycles.
iMac
Memory:
- Upgrade the memory in your iMac to enjoy greater performance for more intensive computing tasks and allow professional applications like Aperture and Final Cut Pro to run at peak performance.
Important note: Every 21.5-inch iMac comes with 8GB of memory built into the computer. If you think you may need 16GB of memory in the future, it is important to upgrade at the time of purchase, because memory cannot be upgraded later in this model.
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Jim, The Apple note on the 21.5" models is not quite true you can upgrade later its just dam hard! You need to completely tear it down to get to the memory slots (no door access like the 27" model has).
LPDDR3 indicates it's soldered in RAM, but former Minis had SO-DIMM.
I am confused. I see a lot of people say LPDDR3 means it is soldered but I think the LP just stands for Low Power. Not sure why that has to equate to soldered. Would be incredibly crappy of Apple to solder RAM unnecessarily on a desktop system.
Yes I was wondering that myself, because I know low voltage SODIMM RAM is now popular in a lot of PC ultrabooks (called DDR3-L).
Not sure if that's the same as "LPDDR3," never heard of that before. But I would think LPDDR3 does not necessarily mean soldered. http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails...
But unfortunately the Mac mini RAM is confirmed as soldered. :(
(see my post below)
There are still many possibilities how to design the Mac Mini:
A) Do it like before in the older versions of the Mac Mini = SO-DIMM (easy to upgrade)
B) Create a Design Failure like 21.5" iMac = SO-DIMM, but with a really hard to open case (makes it kind of unlikely to upgrade by user)
C) Macbook-Air-like = Soldered RAM (the only way to upgrade is when ordering)
Of course LP stands for Low Power, but I saw the similarities of Apple's naming (marketing) convention (in the MacBook Air and Macbook Pro Retina), they 'hide' the RAM soldering behind the term: 'LPDDR3'.
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Dismantling the mini 2014 is expected soon?
by oliviertableau