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Mac Mini Late 2012 or 2014 questions.. Big Sur?

trerep

trerep

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 9, 2008
321
85
Venice, ITALY
Hi i have a 2012 Mac mini with 250gb crucial ssd drive and 8gb ram
it runs perfectly smooth with Catalina...I use it for browsing and word processing,,
do you think it will be smooth at the same way with Big Sur?

what about using a 2014 Mac mini with ssd but only 4gb of ram (not upgradable :( )? it is better than the 2012 model that I have?

the question is: better 2012 ssd 8gb. or 2014 ssd but 4gb?
 

Differences Between Late 2012 and Late 2014 Mac mini Models: EveryMac.com

Compares and contrasts all differences between the Late 2012 and Late 2014 Aluminum Mac mini. Aluminum Mac mini specs, ports, upgrades and more.
everymac.com everymac.com

My problem is with the meager and un-upgradeable RAM in the 2014 model. Unless you need better HDMI and AC wireless, the 2012 is better. Mind you though: I do not care about Big Sur at this point and have not looked to see if the 2012 can run that OS.
 
TreRep said:
Hi i have a 2012 Mac mini with 250gb crucial ssd drive and 8gb ram
it runs perfectly smooth with Catalina...I use it for browsing and word processing,,
do you think it will be smooth at the same way with Big Sur?

what about using a 2014 Mac mini with ssd but only 4gb of ram (not upgradable :( )? it is better than the 2012 model that I have?

the question is: better 2012 ssd 8gb. or 2014 ssd but 4gb?
Click to expand...
The 2012 does not natively support Big Sur. There are some ways to get it to install on there, but you're probably better off just staying with Catalina.
 
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Considering Catalina will get security updates for over 18 months there's plenty of time for unsupported Big Sur to mature before taking the leap to run that on a 2012 mini, if at all.
 
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Hate to be a nube but how can I tell if my Mac Mini (late 2012) is a hdd or ssd? I want to beef it up with upgrades. Currently: 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5; 4 GB 1600 MHz DDR3; Intel HD Graphics 4000 1024 MB; OS X 10.9.5 (13F1911).
Also not showing any available software updates... what's up with that?
Any help or guidance appreciated.
 
10.9.5 is the last version from that OS ...
Here are other version, but you will need to make a DVD/USB installation disk.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download and install current or previous versions of the Mac operating system on compatible Mac computers.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

If it is HDD or SSD? How long it takes, that you system boots up?
Anyway, I am somehow sure, that you computer is still using a mechanical/spinning drive.

But, to be clear...

Go to Apple -> About this Mac -> Click on the More Info button
There you go, somewhere there must be the option for storage
All the info, you are looking for, should be there.

 
opeter said:
10.9.5 is the last version from that OS ...
Here are other version, but you will need to make a DVD/USB installation disk.
Click to expand...
It's not necessary to create a DVD or USB installer to upgrade to newer major versions of macOS at all.
 
Thanks all, I have now determined it is a HDD, so I think I will order and conduct an upgrade install to SSD. Appreciate the help.

Next issue is the 10.9.5, any way to move past this to newer OS?
I need to update if I'm going to keep and upgrade this Mini. Hate to spend on a new system if I can avoid, tight $ times.
 
itserga said:
Thanks all, I have now determined it is a HDD, so I think I will order and conduct an upgrade install to SSD. Appreciate the help.

Next issue is the 10.9.5, any way to move past this to newer OS?
I need to update if I'm going to keep and upgrade this Mini. Hate to spend on a new system if I can avoid, tight $ times.
Click to expand...
With an SSD and memory upgrade the computer will run Catalina without a problem. You can get it at this page: How to get old versions of macOS
 
itserga wrote:
"Next issue is the 10.9.5, any way to move past this to newer OS?"

I'd suggest OS 10.12 "Low" Sierra.
Or possibly OS 10.14 "Mojave".

BE CAREFUL about going to Catalina.
Any 32-bit software you currently have WILL NOT RUN under Catalina.
You either have to "give it up" or get upgraded versions.
 
Fishrrman said:
Any 32-bit software you currently have WILL NOT RUN under Catalina.
You either have to "give it up" or get upgraded versions.
Click to expand...

Actually, you can run older versions of MacOS in a virtual machine under Catalina. This works great on my 2018 Mini with Catalina. With an older, slower Mini it might not work as well however.
 
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