It remains Apple's last properly upgradeable Mac Mini, and even in 2020 can be a pretty handy little computer with the right bits inside. The 2012 Mac Mini held a special place in many hearts thanks to how easy it was to upgrade. Geekbench 5 scores are calibrated against a baseline score of 1000 (which is the score of an Intel Core. The data on this chart is gathered from user-submitted Geekbench 5 results from the Geekbench Browser. Benchmark results for the Mac mini (Late 2014) with an Intel Core i5-4308U processor can be found below. Mac mini (Late 2014) Benchmarks.New storage: Kingston 480GB SSD ($56 at Amazon)Our selection includes the following second hand Mac mini models: Refurbished Mac Mini Late 2012. Tested with prerelease Affinity Photo 1.9.0.199 using the built-in benchmark version 1900.For the Mid-2012 MacBook Pro line, Apples Quickstart Guide does not cover hard drive installation, but it is the same process as it is for earlier models. Products used in this guideNew 8GB DDR3 1600MHz PC3-12800 SODIMM 204 pin Sodimm Laptop Memory RAM DDR3L 27.50 16GB 2x 8GB PC3-8500 1067MHz APPLE MacBook Pro Mid 2010 iMac Mac mini.Testing conducted by Apple in October 2020 using preproduction Mac mini systems with Apple M1 chip, and production 3.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i3-based Mac mini systems with Intel UHD Graphics 630, all configured with 16GB of RAM and 2TB SSD.
Ram Mini Late 2012 Mac Mini HeldOn more recent models, users have been able to upgrade some bits, such as the RAM in the 2018 release, but in the 2012 model, you can go ahead and get really crazy.You can upgrade the RAM to a maximum of 16GB you can swap out the internal hard drive for an SSD, and even add a second drive for even more storage.None of these parts are particularly expensive, and none of the work is particularly complicated or time-consuming. Magic cable: Mac Mini second drive kit ($15 at Amazon)The 2012 model remains to this day Apple's last, properly upgradeable Mac Mini. Right tools: ORIA Magnetic Screwdriver set ($18 at Amazon) A second hard drive: Seagate Firecuda 1TB ($63 at Amazon) The right cable: AmazonBasics miniDP to DP ($11 at Amazon) Pull away the black shroud and set it aside.Carefully pull the fan away from the logic board. Move the shroud to one side carefully, making sure you don't snap the cable.Remove the two screws on the fan and the single screw on the black shroud. The base should simply pull away, but may need prying with a plastic tool or even a credit card.Remove the screws on the wireless shroud. Data transfer speeds will be at least four times faster, and that will make a huge difference in the day-to-day running of your Mac Mini.Place your thumbs in the circular divots and twist the base anti-clockwise. Connect the same ribbon cable to the new SSD's SATA connectors. Detach the ribbon cable from the existing hard drive. Detach the Torx T8 screws from the existing hard drive.Attach those same screws to the left-hand side of your new SSD. Carefully detach the SATA cable for the hard drive from the logic board.Pull the existing hard drive clear of the Mac Mini. How to add a second storage driveNot everyone will want to do this, but it is possible to install a second drive in the 2012 Mac Mini to maximize its storage potential. You'll be surprised at how clean the inside of a computer this old is, but it never hurts to clear it out while you're inside. Line the markings on the base up with the corresponding markings on the Mac Mini.One additional thing to do throughout this process is to use some canned air to blast out any dust. Reassemble the Mac Mini reversing the steps above, first installing the black shroud, then the fan, then the wireless shroud. Reconnect the ribbon cable to the logic board. Disconnect the power supply cable from the logic board. Remove the final screw from the logic board with a Torx T6 screwdriver.Insert the logic board removal tool into the holes pictured.Gently pull the logic board away from the case. You will need to detach any remaining items from the logic board at this point, including the wireless shroud and the IR cable. Follow steps 1-17 from the section above to remove the existing drive and prepare your new SSD boot drive. Attach the rubber grommets from the install kit to the holes on the drive bracket.Attach the ribbon cable from the install kit to the new drive. Pull the power supply away and slide it out of the back of the case. Slide out the retaining clip from the power supply.Turn the power socket 90-degrees anti-clockwise. Follow steps 18-23 from the section above to insert the new main SSD and reassemble what remains of the Mac Mini.Once everything is back in place, and the Mac Mini is closed up, it's time to do a fresh install of macOS. Reverse the steps above to reinsert the logic board, all fixings, and connectors, including the new hard drive ribbon cable. Re-attach both by screwing the T6 screws back into the case. Slide the power supply back into the case until it locks into the place. Place the hard drive bracket back into the case and line up the fixing holes. Line up the new RAM sticks and push gently into the slots. Pry apart the metal brackets around the current RAM sticks. Place your thumbs in the circular divots and twist the base clockwise. So the best you can do is grab a 16GB kit made up of a pair of 8GB sticks. Ultimate performance will always be better on newer models. Pair it with a good monitorA new Mac is an expensive thing there's no denying that. If this is the case, the system won't post, so it's easy to spot. Remove one, reboot, and check About This Mac again to verify.By doing it a stick at a time, you can easily identify if you have any bad RAM. If not, you'll need to go back in and troubleshoot your installation one stick at a time. If it shows the amount of RAM you installed, all is well. Traktor dj software free download full version for macOur top equipment picksYou can pick and choose which of the upgrades you want to do, but here's a handy list of all our picks for the bits that went into our Mac Mini upgrade, along with the tools and accessories you need to install them. Don't overpay, though, for one that someone else has upgraded, when you can likely do the work yourself for less.Whether you buy or already have an old Mac Mini sat around doing nothing, with not a lot of money and a couple of hours of your time, you can turn it into a fantastic little computer to use in the present day.
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