2014 Mac Mini - RAM upgrade - Where to buy RAM?

[BigMac-w-fries]

Hey all,

I know that it is difficult to upgrade the RAM on a late 2014 mac mini, but I bought a used (late 2014) mac mini for cheap to experiment on.

There are some videos I've seen about how to upgrade it -- I understand how difficult it is, but I want to try. However, I have no idea where to buy the RAM i need to attempt the upgrade?

How can I go about finding it online?

Thanks!

 

[chrfr]

Hey all,

I know that it is difficult to upgrade the RAM on a late 2014 mac mini, but I bought a used (late 2014) mac mini for cheap to experiment on.

The RAM in a 2014 Mac Mini is soldered on. There is no way to upgrade RAM short of finding someone who can do board-level repair and solder new RAM chips on.

 

[BigMac-w-fries]

The RAM in a 2014 Mac Mini is soldered on. There is no way to upgrade RAM short of finding someone who can do board-level repair and solder new RAM chips on.

It is possible. It's just extremely impractical. I want to try to do it.

 

[DeltaMac]

What experience do you already have with board-level repairs?
Do you have access to a soldering station? (a typical soldering pencil won't be useful, as you might know)

 

[BigMac-w-fries]

What experience do you already have with board-level repairs?
Do you have access to a soldering station? (a typical soldering pencil won't be useful, as you might know)

I have a bit of experience. My best friend's brother is a hardware dude. He has a shop and access to all of the heating tools I'll need -- he even said he'll help me.

I appreciate the concern, but I wish someone would just answer my question

 

[DeltaMac]

Another thread here - https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-mini-late-2014-ram-upgrade.2338205/
There's some identification info for the RAM, and a chinese site that the poster (apparently) used to order some replacement ram chips.
SK Hynix made the RAM chips, so I tried searching for SK Hynix LPDDR3 16GB 1600MHz BGA 178 -- and didn't find much, but maybe re-ordering the terms for searching would make a difference.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

Another thread here - https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mac-mini-late-2014-ram-upgrade.2338205/
There's some identification info for the RAM, and a chinese site that the poster (apparently) used to order some replacement ram chips.
SK Hynix made the RAM chips, so I tried searching for SK Hynix LPDDR3 16GB 1600MHz BGA 178 -- and didn't find much, but maybe re-ordering the terms for searching would make a difference.

Because the seller didn't list their item that way.

Below are just some example about how the seller list their RAM chips, not exactly the chips for Mac mini 2014.

8.0US $ |Mxy 100% Ew Original H5tc4g63afr-pba Bga Ddr3 4gb Memory Chip H5tc4g63afr Pba - Integrated Circuits - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

14.54US $ |Mxy 100% New Original H5gc4h24ajr-roc H5gc4h24ajr-r0c Bga Memory Card Chip 4g - Integrated Circuits - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

 

[DeltaMac]

That, uh, makes just searching for those chips a challenge. OK, the whole RAM mod upgrade is a (small) challenge from the beginning.

 

[dosdude1]

The chips you need for this upgrade (to achieve 16GB of RAM) are 32Gbit LPDDR3 chips. The ones I use normally are Elpida EDFB232A1MA-GD-F (rated for 1600 MHz). You'll need 4 for the upgrade, of course, and once soldered on properly, just set the SPD strap configuration resistors on the board accordingly (any 16GB setting will do; manufacturer info does not matter). The chips can be found on AliExpress just by searching the part number. I also recently made a video performing this upgrade on one of my machines, so you can watch that to see the exact process:

 

[gagarin]

The chips you need for this upgrade (to achieve 16GB of RAM) are 32Gbit LPDDR3 chips. The ones I use normally are Elpida EDFB232A1MA-GD-F (rated for 1600 MHz). You'll need 4 for the upgrade, of course, and once soldered on properly, just set the SPD strap configuration resistors on the board accordingly (any 16GB setting will do; manufacturer info does not matter). The chips can be found on AliExpress just by searching the part number. I also recently made a video performing this upgrade on one of my machines, so you can watch that to see the exact process:

Dosdude1 thank you for sharing the info. Are those chips the same for 2013-2015 Airs?

 

[dosdude1]

Dosdude1 thank you for sharing the info. Are those chips the same for 2013-2015 Airs?

Yes, though for 2015 you can use EDFB232A1MA-JD-F chips instead, which are rated for 1866 MHz, as Broadwell supports it. 2015 Air's "16GB Elpida" SPD setting runs at 1866 MHz.

 

[BigMac-w-fries]

The chips you need for this upgrade (to achieve 16GB of RAM) are 32Gbit LPDDR3 chips. The ones I use normally are Elpida EDFB232A1MA-GD-F (rated for 1600 MHz). You'll need 4 for the upgrade, of course, and once soldered on properly, just set the SPD strap configuration resistors on the board accordingly (any 16GB setting will do; manufacturer info does not matter). The chips can be found on AliExpress just by searching the part number. I also recently made a video performing this upgrade on one of my machines, so you can watch that to see the exact process:

Holy crap! You're the guy whose video I saw that made me want to try this?! I feel like a celebrity just answered my question hah. I am so pissed that I never saw your message until now. Thanks so much for the info. I'm going to try this asap and let y'all know how it goes

 

[joshuax500]

The RAM in a 2014 Mac Mini is soldered on. There is no way to upgrade RAM short of finding someone who can do board-level repair and solder new RAM chips on.

My recent research suggests, "certain" Mac mini 2014, Part no A1347, have logic boards, with 2x DIMM Sockets, taking SODIMM DDR3 PC3-12800 204pin DDR3-1600 1.5V

This is from my Mac mini Late 2014, i5 1.4ghz, 8gb

Info on memorial model

 

[joshuax500]

A1347 Logic board on Aliexpress...
Even suggests CPU & GFX Chip upgradable

 

[chrfr]

A1347 Logic board on Aliexpress...
Even suggests CPU & GFX Chip upgradable

Those are just standard CPU options that were available from Apple. Presumably one could solder on a new CPU, same as Apple did with those boards.
The picture is of one of the 2011-2012 boards, not a 2014.

 

[chrfr]

My recent research suggests, "certain" Mac mini 2014, Part no A1347, have logic boards, with 2x DIMM Sockets, taking SODIMM DDR3 PC3-12800 204pin DDR3-1600 1.5V

In spite of how the RAM is reported in System Report, there are no DIMM slots in any 2014 Mac mini.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

A1347 Logic board on Aliexpress...
Even suggests CPU & GFX Chip upgradable

View attachment 2074076

I tried that link.
Prices are more expensive than fully working Mac Minis of the same model (year), with wifi and SSD included.

 

[Canary813]

The chips you need for this upgrade (to achieve 16GB of RAM) are 32Gbit LPDDR3 chips. The ones I use normally are Elpida EDFB232A1MA-GD-F (rated for 1600 MHz). You'll need 4 for the upgrade, of course, and once soldered on properly, just set the SPD strap configuration resistors on the board accordingly (any 16GB setting will do; manufacturer info does not matter). The chips can be found on AliExpress just by searching the part number. I also recently made a video performing this upgrade on one of my machines, so you can watch that to see the exact process:

Hey Dosdude1, first I’d like to send my praises on your skills. Was wondering if your talents are for hire? Have a late 2014 Mac mini from eBay, all was working fine but after a factory reset and issues reinstalling OS I was told by Genius Bar the memory is bad and would cost $350+ for repairs. Thanks in advance.

 

[zvaniel4o]

Hey Dosdude1, first I’d like to send my praises on your skills. Was wondering if your talents are for hire? Have a late 2014 Mac mini from eBay, all was working fine but after a factory reset and issues reinstalling OS I was told by Genius Bar the memory is bad and would cost $350+ for repairs. Thanks in advance.

I would like to know this too!