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roders · Sep 30, 2006, 01:08 PM

Just a quickie, I wana get some more ram for my mac mini, was going to get a total of 1 gig (2x 512MB) but noticed 1-Gig sticks seem to be much better value, can I install just 1 (1 Gig) ram stick in one slot of the Mac mini? will it still work?
I've got a feeling the onboard Graphics performance of the GMA950 will be reduced due to the video memory bandwidth being halved (i.e. it won't be dual channel) as Apple says the Memory for the Mac Mini (which the onboard Gfx shares for video memory) should (must???) be dual channel (i.e. two equivalent sticks), I'm not too bothered about this in the short term (as long as the Mac Mini still works and recognizes all the ram) as I might upgrade to another 1-Gig stick in the long-run. I just want to know if it'll work in the meantime.
That was my idea of a quickie

mduell · Sep 30, 2006, 04:20 PM

Yes, it will work.

soonlar · Oct 3, 2006, 08:28 PM

go ahead and add the 1gb stick and leave one of the original 256mb sticks in the other slot. This should give you 1.25gb which should be a nice boost.

roders · Oct 4, 2006, 02:49 PM

exactly what I'm goign to do to start with, bought a 1Gig stick for £25 ($50?) on eBay, suppossed to b the right spec, just have to c if it's legit now!

roders · 08:02 AM

Just so people know, I've purchased a 1Gig ram stick (to go with the 256MB SODIMM currently installed) and found out the memory buss width is halved if the ram sticks aren't of equal capacity/size. The Vram bandwidth is also havled as main memory is used for this too, both of which impact on the Mini's performance.
So although you can install uneaqual sized pairs (i.e. they will both work) you will not get the same "bandwidth" performance from them as two equaly sized Sodimms

mduell · Nov 4, 2006, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by roders

Just so people know, I've purchased a 1Gig ram stick (to go with the 256MB SODIMM currently installed) and found out the memory buss width is halved if the ram sticks aren't of equal capacity/size. The Vram bandwidth is also havled as main memory is used for this too, both of which impact on the Mini's performance.
So although you can install uneaqual sized pairs (i.e. they will both work) you will not get the same "bandwidth" performance from them as two equaly sized Sodimms

Correct. In your original post you asked if it would work, not if it would be optimal.

It's fairly common knowledge that dual-channel mode requires a pair of matched modules, so no one bothered to mention it. What isn't common knowledge, especially in the Mac world, is that some systems that support dual channel can still run in single channel; the G5s didn't support this behavior, so I think a lot of us assumed this was your question.

roders · 05:59 AM

In the pc world a lot of motherboards that are dual channel can handle different sized ram sticks, and or can use uneven amounts (say like three sticks).
It was only when DDR Mobo's first went dual channel, that they had to have equally sized dimms or sodimms.
Pc Mobo manufacturers quickly found ways round this, Apple never bothered, not quite sure why.
Still, my 1GB stick only cost me �30 english pounds incl. delivery so I guess I shouldn't be too upset.

mduell · Nov 5, 2006, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by roders

In the pc world a lot of motherboards that are dual channel can handle different sized ram sticks, and or can use uneven amounts (say like three sticks).
It was only when DDR Mobo's first went dual channel, that they had to have equally sized dimms or sodimms.
Pc Mobo manufacturers quickly found ways round this, Apple never bothered, not quite sure why.

No, they can't. I'm not aware of any dual channel implementation that allows for an odd number or unmatched set of DIMMs.
Like the Intel Macs, many PCs support dual channel or unmatched modules, but not at the same time.