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  • Mac Mini 2018 memory installation : Incredibly (not) difficult -

    From Alan Browne@Blackhole@entropy.ultimateorg to comp.sys.mac.system on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 12:48:55
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system


    Biggest screwup was I didn't pay attention when ordering and ended up
    with 32 GB instead of 16 GB ... Worse problems in life.

    I budgeted 15 minutes. It took 25.

    Apple use "security" Torx screws for the RF (WiFi) plate which is the
    biggest obstacle to getting into it. All other Torx were standard.
    These were also a bit of a pain to put back in because: man sized hands/fingers.

    The Power on LED connector is hard to re-connect. Well, if you're not a
    tiny handed person. I do wonder why they use such small connectors when
    there is a ton of room available.

    The RF connector for the WiFi is a little finicky to reconnect - or
    rather the strain relief screw...

    Pretty much anyone can do this "Apple authorized repair center only!"
    memory upgrade in little time.

    Beautiful engineering in there. But the memory probably could have been
    made much more accessible than it is: pop off the plastic bottom plate
    should have been all that was required.

    Before:
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/uflevaggm2x9jwk/mempress8.jpg

    After:
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/2gcgv2z666g9r0q/Mempress32.jpg

    8GB of RAM for sale.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From JF Mezei@jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca to comp.sys.mac.system on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 18:09:58
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

    On 2021-03-30 12:48, Alan Browne wrote:

    The Power on LED connector is hard to re-connect. Well, if you're not a
    tiny handed person. I do wonder why they use such small connectors when there is a ton of room available.


    Dissassembling only to the point where you have access to the RAM slots
    may not have the same order as the original assembly at the plant where
    a lot may be plugged in on bare board where it is easy to connect prior
    to being put into the enclosure.

    Apple is very good (by necessity) at designing product that are easy to assemble by hand when done in the proper order. As I recall, the
    original Mac Pro was the only one assembed by robots in USA.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Alan Browne@bitbucket@blackhole.com to comp.sys.mac.system on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 07:55:26
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

    On 2021-03-30 18:09, JF Mezei wrote:
    On 2021-03-30 12:48, Alan Browne wrote:

    The Power on LED connector is hard to re-connect. Well, if you're not a
    tiny handed person. I do wonder why they use such small connectors when
    there is a ton of room available.


    Dissassembling only to the point where you have access to the RAM slots
    may not have the same order as the original assembly at the plant where
    a lot may be plugged in on bare board where it is easy to connect prior
    to being put into the enclosure.

    No. The main board slides into the enclosure from the back edge. The
    LED is on the front of the enclosure and that connection would be made
    after the main board is inside the enclosure.

    Apple is very good (by necessity) at designing product that are easy to assemble by hand when done in the proper order. As I recall, the
    original Mac Pro was the only one assembed by robots in USA.

    They also employ Asian labour who have training, smaller hands and much
    better assembly skill than I do. Had I known the right way to connect
    that connector, it would have taken far less time.[1] It's conceivable
    that that particular operation is automated too.

    [1] I assumed it slid in as usual for connectors. This one snapped the
    female part over the male pin part.

    --
    "...there are many humorous things in this world; among them the white
    man's notion that he is less savage than the other savages."
    -Samuel Clemens
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113