#2009 mac mini memory upgrade mac os x#
#2009 mac mini memory upgrade full#
#2009 mac mini memory upgrade plus#

If you later replace the Mini with a more capable machine (eg a Mac Pro), the monitor can be swapped between machines. The MacMini offers several differences over an iMac: Apple’s 24' LED display is $899, which costs more than an nicely configured MacMini! So the assumption here is that you’ll buy a used display, or something not quite so spend as the (very nice) Apple display. But if you already have some or all of those items, the MacMini is a great way to get a snappy and capable computer at the lowest cost. If you have none of these to begin with, then it makes sense to also consider the low-end iMac.

The MacMini doesn’t come with a keyboard, mouse or monitor.

#2009 mac mini memory upgrade full#

Sleep: 0.0 watts (0.04 amps) Idle, hard drive spun down: 17.6 watts Idle, hard drive spinning: 19.6 watts Full load both CPU cores at 100%, constant hard drive access: 35 watts The keyboard, mouse and monitor PERMALINK Presumably the additional power draw over Apple’s figures is due to having 4GB of memory instead of 1GB. With the upgraded MacMini using 4GB memory (2 X 2GB) and the Hitachi 5K500.B 500GB hard drive, these are the figures I measured using a Watts Up power meter. Power usage figures were not obtained prior to upgrading the unit, which Apple claims to draw 12 watts at “idle”, which presumably means doing no useful work and with the hard drive spun down and 1GB of memory. Noise is absolutely minimal- the MacMini is very quiet, even under a full MemoryTester stress test with 4GB memory and continuous access to the hard disk. The MacMini is very compact, and always shown by itself without its power supply brick, which is 1/3 the size of the MacMini itself! It does detract from the compact feel when you place the MacMini on the top of the desk, as I do, as does use of a dual-link DVI adapter: a mess of cables results.

#2009 mac mini memory upgrade mac os x#

Update Oct 25, 2009: OWC reports that 8GB memory now works in the 2009 MacMini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard!Ģ009 Mac Mini with the cover off Ergonomics, noise, power PERMALINK Still, for many users it will work quite well with 4GB. It’s a shame that the MacMini cannot accept 8GB of memory, which could have expanded its range of useful tasks considerably. Of course, a display is required to interact with the MacMini (80-200 watts), but it means that the MacMini could be a superb choice for a home server which is left running 24 X 7.

more energy efficient: only 13 watts at idle for the base model.

#2009 mac mini memory upgrade plus#

faster graphics (a dubious claim for everyday use, but a plus nonetheless).

the ability to support up to a 30' monitor (with a Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link adapter).

the addition of a Firewire 800 port (replacing the aging Firewire 400), making much faster disk I/O possible than in prior models.

The revamped March 2009 MacMini, offers several improvements over the prior model which make it more more attractive than the prior model: But can it serve as a workstation for more demanding users, such as photographers shooting large RAW files? We’ll explore that question here. Not everyone needs a Mac Pro, or even an iMac - a well-configured MacMini is just fine for mainstream tasks. Send Feedback Related: computer display, hard drive, iMac, laptop, Mac mini, MacBook, MacBook Pro, memory, Photoshop, RAW, storage, video