Comments on: CONFIRMED! OWC supports 8.0GB memory in Mac mini 3,1 machines

By: Ravi Maharaj

Ravi Maharaj — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:23:50 +0000

got a mac mini 3,1 late 2009 model. This didn’t need the firmware update. Im running snow leopard 10.6.8. Even though apple says this machine will only take a maximum of 4GB ram, thanks to the advice from the guys at OWC i purchased the 8GB pack, installed & it works. All 8 gigs are being fully utilized!

By: OWC Michael

OWC Michael — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:12:26 +0000

MM31.0081.B06 is the most current EFI Boot ROM version and will allow you to use the full 8GB of memory.

By: Matt Moore

Matt Moore — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:17:59 +0000

Will this work on my Mac Mini (3,1) with a Boot ROM of MM31.0081.B06?

By: OWC Michael

OWC Michael — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:30:38 +0000

Without the updated firmware, the Mac mini did not effectively address a full 8.0GB of memory and experienced slowdowns when addressing more than 6.0GB of memory in the system. However, updating your mini to the latest firmware revision alleviates the issue and allows all 8.0GB to be used.

By: Cesar

Cesar — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:30:48 +0000

Hi!

So, did your machine supported the 8Gb without updated of the firmware?
I am thinking about the upgrade also, after lion my machine kind a slow.

Thanks on advance,

By: OWC Michael

OWC Michael — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:43:40 +0000

The memory you're looking for is located here. Orders made with a credit card can be placed via our website and we do ship worldwide. Alternate payment options are available by contacting our sales department directly.

By: francis love

francis love — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:01:26 +0000

I am totally interested in the upgrade to my MacMini3,1, from 4 to 8 GB. However, I am now living in India, quite happily with my MacMini!!, and so hope you can send the upgrade by registered mail or another secure method. I have usa credit card so payment is not a problem. After installing 10.6.8 I see a definite slow down. Please reply about this.
thanks so much. Francis

By: OWC Chris S.

OWC Chris S. — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:48:02 +0000

It is entirely possible that the EFI was already up-to-date, Software Update usually takes care of that automatically. Unfortunately, Apple's KB page for the updater doesn't mention what the revision numbers are, so we can't compare to be sure. It is also possible that maybe one of the RAM modules themselves has an issue. Have you tried swapping which slots the modules are in? It's a simple way of checking whether it's a single module that's off or possibly another problem. Check System Profiler to see which module is not being recognized. Then, switch the slots the modules are in, and check System Profiler again. If the problem follows a single module, then it may be just a matter of getting a replacement. If it's following the slot, then there may be something else going on with your Mac mini. Either way, contacting our Tech Support crew will probably be your next logical step after that.

By: Tim K

Tim K — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:17:12 +0000

As of 11/2011, Apple’s EFI updater app will not let me install the 1.2 firmware in my 3,1 mini (2009). Unless there is some way to force the firmware upgrade via commands in terminal, I don’t see how it matters at this point. The two 4GB sticks OWC sold me fit the slots, but the mini only sees 4GB!

By: Lucio

Lucio — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 07:16:35 +0000

I realize now my Macmini is a late 2009 model so the EFI Firmware Update 1.2 is not necessary as it is intended for the early2009 model.
Thanks anyway!

By: Lucio

Lucio — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 06:43:23 +0000

Hi, I downloaded the EFI Firmware Update 1.2. opened it, clicked on the .pkg file and a few seconds later a message saying “This computer does not need this update.”. So The software did’t even install the update Firmware Updater application on the /Applications/Utilities folder for me to run it as you suggested. :(

By: OWC Michael

OWC Michael — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:10:26 +0000

Your Boot ROM should be MB31.008E.B02 after the update.

MM31.00AD.B00 is a prior version of the EFI firmware.

Try installing the update again by opening the Firmware Updater application first, which is located under /Applications/Utilities.

By: Lucio

Lucio — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:17:30 +0000

I am thinking about the 8gb upgrade. My mini is the Macmini3.1 with ROM MM31.00AD.B00 but after trying to apply the Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.2 it says the mini doesn’t need the update. Is it because the rom I have is even a later update thus doesn’t need the suggested update and I can safely buy the memories?

By: OWC Michael

OWC Michael — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 21:54:28 +0000

Hello Randy,

We had a chance to re-test this out and are still coming up with the same results. 4GB can be installed, but only 3GB is addressed. It does show that 4GB is installed in the machine under system profiler, but when you open Activity Monitor and go to the System Memory tab – only 3GB shows as available memory.

By: OWC Michael

OWC Michael — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:12:55 +0000

Hello Randy,

The original issue we found with this model wasn’t that the 4GB wasn’t showing up, but that it offered no performance difference between 3GB and 4GB. When 4GB was installed, only 3GB was physically addressed in actual usage. We’ve forwarded your findings onto our product development team to test again for any changes based on your findings, but have you checked in activity monitor that the final GB of memory is actually being used?

By: Randy Kaempen

Randy Kaempen — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:32:05 +0000

I installed the OWC 4GB upgrade in a MacMini 2,1 and although it is supposedly only able to use 3GB, it shows all 4GB and all of it works fine. I think Apple must have fixed that restriction in a later update.

By: Erick

Erick — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:33:17 +0000

Using all 8 gigs and everything works fine and is fully used.

By: OWC Michael

OWC Michael — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:16:43 +0000

The extra 4GB of RAM is utilized without the speed detriment that we found with many memory modules prior to Apple's release of the EFI firmware update. This is exactly why it is so exiting that OWC can now support up to 8.0GB of memory in the Mac mini. I encourage you to check out our benchmarks of the Mac mini, especially the "RAM Hog I Test" showing just how much quicker the additional memory can make the mini run.