2018 Mac mini Teardown: User-Upgradeable RAM, But Soldered Down CPU and StorageThe repair experts at iFixit have completed their
teardown of the new Mac mini, providing a look inside the portable desktop computer.
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Disassembly of the new
Mac mini remains fairly straightforward. iFixit popped off the plastic bottom cover with its
opening tool and then used a
Torx screwdriver to unfasten the familiar antenna plate underneath.
With access to the inside, iFixit then unscrewed the fan and popped out the logic board with some old-fashioned thumb pressing. While the RAM in the previous-gen <!---->Mac mini<!----> from 2014 was soldered to the logic board, the
new Mac mini has user-upgradeable RAM, as discovered earlier this week.
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As seen in older iMacs, the RAM is protected by a perforated shield that allows the memory modules to operate at a high frequency of 2666 MHz without interfering with other device functions, according to iFixit. To upgrade the RAM, the shield can be removed by unfastening four Torx screws.
Other silicon on the logic board of this particular <!---->Mac mini<!----> includes the Apple T2 security chip, a 3.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i3 processor, Intel UHD Graphics 630, 128GB of flash storage from Toshiba, an Intel JHL7540 Thunderbolt 3 controller, and a Gigabit Ethernet controller from Broadcom.
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Despite the good news about the RAM, the CPU and SSD are soldered to the logic board, as are many ports, so this isn't a truly modular <!---->Mac mini<!---->.
iFixit awarded the new <!---->Mac mini<!----> a repairability score of 6/10, with 10 being the easiest to repair,
topping the latest MacBook Air,
MacBook,
MacBook Pro,
iMac, and
iMac Pro, and trailing only the 2013
Mac Pro.
"Back in the day, a Pro Mac meant a computer you could upgrade, configure, and connect as you pleased," iFixit's teardown concludes. "This new mini aligns so well with that ideal that we're surprised it didn't earn itself a "Pro" title—especially compared to the increasingly closed-off <!---->MacBook Pro<!----> line."
The new <!---->Mac mini<!----> earned its higher repairability score thanks to its straightforward disassembly with no tough adhesive or proprietary pentalobe screws and user-upgradeable RAM. However, it didn't earn a perfect score due to the soldered-down CPU, storage, and ports, impacting repairs and upgrades.
<div class="linkback">Related Roundup:
Mac mini</div><div class="linkback">Tags:
iFixit,
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Mac Mini (Buy Now)</div>
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2018 Mac mini Teardown: User-Upgradeable RAM, But Soldered Down CPU and Storage
