Mac mini 2009
Supports up to 4.0GB memory
(PC3-8500 DDR3 1066MHz DIMM)
The Mac mini is a great computer but is under powered when it comes to RAM. You can buy more RAM from Apple and have them install it from you but that can cost almost as much as the mini itself! This is a Do-It-Yourself guide to upgrading the memory in your 2009 model Mac Mini for under$80 USD!
You Need RAM!
The RAM has to be “PC3-8500 DDR3 1066MHz DIMM”. The Mac mini has 2 ram slots and supports up to 4GB. I suggest you buy 2 x 2GB modules. I was able to buy 4GB of RAM from MacSales.com for $69.99 USD.
Tools Needed
- Phillips head screw driver
- Metal putty knife
- A clean work surface
- New RAM – up to 4 GB (2x 2GB) of PC3-8500 DDR3 1066MHz DIMM)
Tear Down
You need a screw driver, a putty knife, and new ram
Flip the mini over. Insert the blade of the putty knife between the plastic and metal housing on the computer. It's going to be a tight fit.
Pull down on the putty knife to release the clips holding the case together. Work your way slowly around the entire computer.
This is what it will look like when you are ready to move on to the next steps.
At the back of the computer you should be able to see a gap between the housings that is similar to this.
Flip the mini back over. Remove the outer housing and set it aside.
Proof that we are working with a 2009 model Mac mini
Highlighted are 3 antennas that need to be disconnected before we can move on.
The smaller antenna, on the left side can be removed by pulling straight up with gentle pressure
After removing the smaller antennas, remove the springs on the posts under them.
Detach the tape that holds down the wire to the second antenna.
The larger antenna on the right side is attached by 2 clips, they are highlighted in this photo.
Release the antenna by gently squeezing the posts together. Remove the antenna and the spring.
After the antennas have been disconnected, we need to remove the screws holding the drive assembly to the base. The screw locations are highlighted here.
The screw on the lower left side is easy to find and remove.
The screw on the upper left side is a bit harder to find and remove.
This is where the next screw is. Make sure not to lose them after they are removed.
The last screw is the hardest to get to. It's a bit larger then the others. Remember where is went.
Next we have to find and detach the ribbon cable. It's highlighted in this photo.
I stuck the corner of the putty knife behind the connector and gently twisted until the connection popped off.
The ribbon cable should disconnect with out much force.
You can now gently lift the drive assembly off of the base. Set the drive assembly to the side, the RAM is in the base.
Removing the RAM
The RAM is held in place by 2 retention clips. One of them is highlighted here.
Gently press outward on both clips at the same time to free the RAM.
The RAM will pop up at an angle. Remove the RAM by pulling it straight out of its slot.
The RAM has been removed. This is a factory 1GB RAM module.
Installing the new RAM
We are going to be installing 2 x 2GB RAM modules.
Put the new RAM in the slot we just took the old RAM out of.
Press down on the RAM with 2 finger applying even pressure. The retention clips should catch the RAM.
The retention clips will hold the RAM in place. Congratulations, you just installed some RAM!
Install the second RAM module into the second slot.
Press down on the RAM until the clips catch.
This is what the RAM will look like once installed.
Re-Assembly
Place the drive assembly back onto the base. Make sure that the antenna wires aren't getting pinched.
Screw the drive assembly back onto the base. The screw locations are highlighted.
Re-Attach the ribbon cable.
Apply gently pressure on the connector until it snaps into place.
Replace the antenna springs.
Replace the antena and press down on it until snaps into place. Re-attach the tape on the wire to the drive assembly.
Replace the next antenna. Press down on it until is locks into place.
Attach the last antenna by gently squeezing together the 2 posts under it (highlighted here), pressing down on the antenna and releasing the posts.
Replace the top cover.
Gently press down with even pressure until the clips grab the top cover and lock into place.
That’s insane, wouldn’t be able to do it without your detailed instructions!
Thank you SO much. Yours is the best step-by-step I found on the web. Really essential.
Thank you for the instructions. Please note that a #0 (small) Phillips head screwdriver is needed to get access to the recessed drive assembly screws. This item might not be in typical tool set (like mine…it is now).
These instructions worked for me.
I tried it with a butter knife and a steak knife but had to go buy a putty knife to get the cover off.
I used the steak knife to keep the cover detached as I moved the putty knife around the Mini.
And the screws require a VERY small screw driver.
Thanks.
I have seen that altough you put 4GB RAM in mini, only 3GB can be addressed. What the? I am talking about my mini bought in early 2009, before the NEWEST ones came out…. Is there a benefit to putting in 2x2GB dimms? Or is it fine to put in a 1GB & a 2GB…. anyone?
Thanx, JD
I’m upgraded! This site is amazing! Who knows how much you spared me in the way of scrapes, cracks and frustration…
Soiunds great but would that work on a 2005 or a 2007 series??
Worked perfectly for us. Thanks! It is like we bought a new mac-mini, so you saved us quite a bit of money
I have a question. The instructions say buy 4GB’s total, but it already has 2GB’s, so is he saying to take out all the old ram or put 4GB in with an existing 2GB for a total of 6GB? I haven’t taken mine apart, so I just wanted to confirm.
The maximum is 4 gigs of ram on the model in the photos. The old ram was removed, discarded, and new ram was used in its place.
I have old Mac Mini (Intel 1.3 GHz) that has 2* 256 MB, DDR2 667 MHz RAM. I want to make it 2 * 1 GB now. Do I have to buy DDR2 667 MHz only ? I can get RAM with say 800 MHz ? Will it work on this motherboard ?
Thanks..!! buddy..
Very well done. Much more thorough than any other tutorial I found. The best part was showing how to put it back together. Most take apart guides say, “This is how you take it apart. Good luck putting it back together on your own!” I’ve always found taking things apart to be easy on my own: it’s the putting it back together and having it work properly with no parts left over that is the real challenge! Thanks again!
You rocked my mac minis world. Thanks
this mac mini in the photo supports up to 8gb.
Hi, is it possible to replace Mac Mini Ram using an iMac G5 Ram? Just beacause I have a dead iMac G5 and is useless. Thanks
Judging by the way you write, you seem like a professional writer.’…”
Thanks a bunch
When I look the “About this Mac” info it says 2GB instead of 4 GB(i installed 4 GB).
Any Idea?
I have a 2006 vintage Core Duo (not Core 2 Duo) Mac mini. This website was extremely helpful. I upgraded my memory without problems but there are a few differences between my model and the 2009 shown here.
1) I believe the maximum memory for mine is 2 gigabytes (two 1-gig notebook RAM modules).
2) There are only two antennas.
3) The ribbon cable connector on mine is a ZIF connector requiring slightly different procedure to disconnect it. You will need to gently pry up on the ends of the brown segment of the connector so it lifts up about 1/4 inch. Once that is loose, the ribbon cable will almost pop out on its own. If the connector is loosened properly, it will take almost zero effort to pull this cable out.
4) There is one more connector that needs to be removed from my model. This one is a little black two-pin connector on the opposite side of the computer from the ribbon cable. Use needle-nose pliers to pull it out. (Don’t forget to push this connector back in before putting on the cover back at the end.)
Is there anyway to find out what year my MacMini was manufactured and what the maximum RAM it can run would be, short of pulling it apart?
Will this work for a 2004 Mac Mini? I tried to upgrade to Snow Leopard the other day, but apparently my Mini is not intel-based, so I couldn’t.
Thank you very much. Your description works a dream.
Just used this website for instructions to install 2×4 megs in my mac mini. Awesome! Thank you for the guidelines! My Mac runs GREAT now!!!
Yep! Identify your Mac here:
http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/
… then find out its maximum memory here:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/by_capability/actual-maximum-ram-capacity-of-macs.html
here there – just wanna drop a quick note to say thanks for the detailed instructions. i just did it and it worked! Just got my 2009 mini upgraded to 8G + 120G SSD to serve as my primary computer audio server. Large 192/24 lossless music files used to skip as it ran out of free memory. it’s now working flawlessly since the upgrade. again thanks for taking the time to serve the larger mac mini community. keep this up
Dude, you have no idea how grateful I am for this tutorial… 64-bit kernel extensions in Lion and this f**king awesome tutorial gave my late 2009 Mac Mini chance to run with 8 gig which saved me huge amount of money that I don’t have.
Thanks again, keep up with good work
Thank you! This was great – easy to follow, and assuring amidst my freak out once I got into it. First time doing this and grateful to be successful, thanks to your generosity!
Perfect instructions, thanks. I’d been worried about dismantling my early 2009 Mini until I saw the terrific instructions here. Upgraded my Mini from 2GB to 8GB in only 15 minutes.
(By the way, a kitchen palette knife works just as well as a putty knife!)
Can’t believe how easy it actually was with this guide.
You just “made” me a media center of an old Mini who was going out if not upgraded. Thanks!
AWESOME! great detailed instructions. I was able to max mine out at 8gig of ram with snow leopard – what a speed difference!
This website is great bu is a little dated, and on the 2011 Mac Mini models it’s much easier to add ram to a mac Mini that what’s pictured above. Whatever you do, don’t buy apple ram as it’s priced at outrageous amounts. You can buy ram for Mac Mini from a selection of memory stores at much better prices.
http://www.ramseeker.com/news/mac-mini-ddr3-memory-upgrade-prices/
Great information and well laid out.
I have an original version Mac Mini 2.1- Intel core 2 Duo 2GHz with 1Gb (2 x 500Mb) RAM 667MHz
Can I upgrade with 2Gb (2x1Gb) DDR3 SDRAMM 1066MHz ?
@gordon
Your hardware is going to be static. If you’ve got DDR2 you need to stick with DDR2, likewise with the other specs 667MHz. You can only upgrade the RAM to within those specifications. So no you can’t upgrade to DDR3, but you can probably add up to 4GB (2x2GB DDR2 667MHz) depending on your model. Take a look at Mactracker from the Mac App Store. Great little tool.
Just saw this website. Excellent! Saved time is figuring out how to upgrade the memory to 8GB. Total cost of new memory was about $35.00 including shipping from e-bay. Been buying these 4GB sodimm modules for the PC laptops I have and the memory is the same. Also upgraded the disk to a 750GB drive, I just cloned the drive with Linux DD and it works fine.
I tried a couple of 8GB sodimms out of my laptop, and the machine worked ok too. Just make sure you have the latest BIOS loaded in the mini. Did not leave them in there year cause the 8GB sodimms are still around $150 each. Price is falling though. A 16GB mini would be ok too!
I am going to get a Blu-ray drive and update this mini, but unfortunately the Mac-in-slosh uses that breakdown prone electric eject drive. Oh well.
Have to get an electric eject drive then.
But again, this was an excellent resource for the Mac.
Thanks a million!
Ed
Yet not year… Oops
BTW, forgot to mention, I have a Mac mini “A1283″
I had a late 2009 Mini sitting around that I gutted and put in a G4 Cube enclosure along with a second optical drive (Blu Ray) and four 1 TB HDD’s. I modified the interior heat sink to accommodate the drives and put a fan in built in alcove at the cases base to keep it all cool. It makes very little noise at it’s busiest and does everything I could hope for. I was going to do the same with a 2011, but they made the motherboard larger in the newer models so it doesn’t fit in the squirrel cage of the Cube. I’m looking into having a custom enclosure built to house my Monster Mini that will feature hot swappable HDD trays and Mac Pro-like optical bays. It should end up looking like a half size Mac Pro. Hopefully, they will be making a Thunderbolt header splitter by then so I can put multiple Thunderbolt ports front and back on it.
Great instructions! Thanks. If, like me, you knock the wifi or the Bluetooth wires loose, they do just snap back on and don’t require any soldering. Check out the tear down pages like http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Mac-mini-Model-A1283-Teardown/659/2 to see where the wires should connect.
Fantastic description. I’d make a suggestion to replace screws 2,3,4 into place prior to replacing the drive assembly to the base. This way, you don’t have to fight (and loose) the battle of placing the screws in a tight spot. (leave screw 1 to last as it is the easiest to access and will most likely pop back out.
Also, noting how the antenna wires are threaded with respect to the base ‘prior’ to detaching them would be great.
Thanks again!
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/mac-mini/
This site provides and idiot-proof way of determining what your Mac Mini will support by way of RAM. Look at about 1/2 page down to where it says “View: About this Mac examples” and you’ll see how easy it is. It’s basically all picture driven.
Thanks for very good instruction. I could follow your instruction easily and now done. Now my Mini work @ 4GB OK.
My Mac Mini is mark: MFD May 2009
I could not find DDR3 1066 MHz as in the original Mac Mini so I tested with 2 pcs of 2G Byte DDR3 speed 1333 MHz which very easy to find and lower cost. I paid only $12 each. It seem to me work perfect.
Thanks