2012 Mac mini power issue...worth repairing?

[toad77]

I'm the original owner of a 2012 Mac mini i7 2.3 that has developed a power issue. Absolutely nothing happens when I press the power button. There are no beeps and the fan does not move.

I took it to Apple and they suggested replacing the power supply. I swapped the power supply myself and it did not resolve the problem. In fact, the original power supply and the replacement have identical voltage output per a multimeter.

Apple quoted me about $300 to replace the logic board. Does this seem worthwhile or should I chuck it in the bin?

 

[Fishrrman]

Does the motherboard have a small PRAM battery on it?
If so, have you tried replacing it?

A long, long, LONG time ago, folks were having problems trying to start the PowerMac 6100 (also happened with other Macs). The "obvious problem" (at least to many repair places) was that the motherboard had "gone bad" and the only solution was to replace it. $$$$$$.

The REAL cause?
The little motherboard battery was dead.
Replace it, and -- voila! -- starts right up again.

 

[toad77]

Does the motherboard have a small PRAM battery on it?
If so, have you tried replacing it?

Thanks for the suggestion! I forgot to mention that in my post. I couldn't find an exact replacement. I think it was delivered with a BR2032 and I could only find a CR2032. Replaced it with the CR2032 and still no bueno.

 

[chrfr]

I'm the original owner of a 2012 Mac mini i7 2.3 that has developed a power issue. Absolutely nothing happens when I press the power button. There are no beeps and the fan does not move.

I took it to Apple and they suggested replacing the power supply. I swapped the power supply myself and it did not resolve the problem. In fact, the original power supply and the replacement have identical voltage output per a multimeter.

Apple quoted me about $300 to replace the logic board. Does this seem worthwhile or should I chuck it in the bin?

You could get a board for a little less from iFixit: https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Mac/Mac-mini-A1347-Mid-2011-2-3-GHz-Logic-Board/IF171-046?o=1
The computer itself isn't really worth a whole lot more than $300 anyway, so I'd probably recycle it, if it were mine.

 

[Partron22]

Do you still have a use for the machine? Is that use worth $300?
You'll be saving a thousand or so vs a new mini, even if its a $300 repair.
If you decide to chuck it, keep the enclosure. With a little work, they make nice picture frames.

 

[Boyd01]

Are you saying a new Mini would cost $1300? Apple had some base 2018 Mini's in the refurb store for $670 a few days ago, those machines have a geekbench rating a little better than the OP's 2012 quad and a lot of other improvements. But even if you bought new from Apple with 16gb and 256gb SSD, it would only be $1200.

I also have a 2012 2.6ghz quad with 16gb and 256gb original Apple SSD that I use for video/audio editing. It still meets my needs, and I don't want to spend for a replacement yet. But if it died, I wouldn't sink another $300 into a 7 year old computer. But I wouldn't go with the base 2018 for a computer I plan to keep for awhile either, so I'd definitely be spending over $1300.

 

[Partron22]

Are you saying a new Mini would cost $1300?

A somewhat reasonable replacement, not a base model with a 128gB SSD.
Making the right decision requires some calculating here, and it also depends on what he's using it for. I'd be irritated if I bought a Mac and could not down-date below Mojave.

 

[bigfatipod]

If the pram suggestion doesn't work, I'd probably spring for a new mini. You can take the hard drive out and use it as an external drive; or, if that drive is spinning and very old, that could be another things that ends up going in that 2012 mini. let us know what you decide to do?

 

[nollimac]

Based on the ifixit price for a logic board, I would fix it...even if you get a new Mac Mini, you could find multiple use for 2012 model. Price for a used one starts around $385 and up. It has only has eleven screws to remove to completely take out the old board.

 

[toad77]

Thanks for the ideas and discussion. Good stuff. I may spring for the repair and make the 2012 into an overpowered NAS of sorts. My 6 year old Synology is getting a bit long in the tooth. Maybe the repair is the more economical route than replacing the NAS.