How do you upgrade the RAM in the Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini models? How much RAM of what type do they actually support?

There are two different lines of Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini models, which each support different types of memory.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Non-Server Mid-2010 - Left, Mid-2011 - Right)

Actual Maximum RAM Capacities

The "Mid-2010" Mac mini models -- the Mac mini "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 (Mid-2010), "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 (Mid-2010), and "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 Server (Mid-2010) -- have two memory slots that support 1066 MHz PC3-8500 DDR3 SO-DIMMs and both officially and unofficially support a maximum of 8 GB of RAM with two 4 GB memory modules.

The "Mid-2011" Mac mini models -- the Mac mini "Core i5" 2.3 (Mid-2011), "Core i5" 2.5 (Mid-2011), "Core i7" 2.7 (Mid-2011) and "Core i7" 2.0 Server (Mid-2011) -- likewise have two memory slots but instead support faster 1333 MHz PC3-10600 DDR3 SO-DIMMs. Officially, these models only support 8 GB of RAM, but unofficially -- as first discovered by site sponsor Other World Computing -- they actually are capable of supporting 16 GB of RAM with dual 8 GB memory modules.

Although the type of memory is different, the upgrade procedure for both lines is easy and essentially the same. Unlike earlier Mac mini models, which require one to pry open the case and are not particularly easy to upgrade, the Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini models have a "spin off" black plastic base on the bottom that can be removed quickly to access the RAM slots.

Identification Help

If you're not sure which Aluminum Mac mini model you have, the two lines can be differentiated externally by EMC Number -- visible upon removing the bottom "spin off" panel to the right of the memory slots (when the ports are facing you). Accordingly, EveryMac.com has hand noted that the "Mid-2010" Mac mini models display EMC Number 2364 whereas the "Mid-2011" Mac mini models display EMC Number 2442.

In software, the "Mid-2010" Mac mini models all share the Macmini4,1 Model Identifier whereas the "Mid-2011" Mac mini models can be identified by Model Identifiers of Macmini5,1, Macmini5,2 and Macmini5,3 for the entry-level 2.3 GHz model, the mid-level 2.5 GHz and BTO/CTO models, and the Server model, respectively.

EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature also can identify these models by the last four characters of their Serial Numbers.

RAM Upgrade Instructions

For earlier Mac mini models, Apple does not provide instructions or recommend that users upgrade their own memory. However, for the Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini lines, the company provides instructions on pages 31-38 and 39-46 of the respective User's Guides.

The manuals provide installation instructions complete with drawings, which absolutely should be read in their entirety before one installs memory, but you also may find this video -- specifically covering the optical drive-equipped "Mid-2010" models -- from YouTube user DetroitBORG helpful:

The procedure essentially is the same for the models without optical drives, but OWC provides a video covering the slotless Server (Mid-2010) and "Mid-2011" models as well:

After watching these videos, it should be clear that upgrading the RAM is a simple procedure. Long-term Mac mini enthusiasts no doubt are pleased that the process has been improved so dramatically compared to the earlier polycarbonate Mac mini design.

Site sponsor OWC sells Mac mini compatible memory, hard drives and SSDs at affordable prices. Mission Repair offers a professional Mac mini upgrade service by mail with a 24-hour turnaround.

Also see:

• How do you upgrade the hard drive(s) in the Aluminum "Unibody" Mac mini models? What type of hard drive do they support?
• How do you upgrade the RAM in the Polycarbonate Intel Mac mini models? How much RAM of what type do they actually support?