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Mac Mini (Late 2012) Suggestions for final config please.

MemTest86 v10.2_free seems to boot and run fine on my Mac-Mini_6,1 . Takes a few hours to check the existing 2x2gb=4gb (one complete pass).

OK, now I feel confident to continue-on with the ram-upgrade.
 
Gudi said:
The killer upgrade is to build your own inexpensive 2TB Fusion Drive with just a Terminal command.
Click to expand...

It's been a nice little computer. Not a lick of trouble for 10 years.

I upgraded to a SSD within the first week of ownership. I've always ran it with 4gb of ram. Memory pressure is fine, but the ram upgrade was super-cheap/on-sale at OWC, so I thought one last upgrade was appropriate (and will also help with the Natively-booted Windows-10). It's run every OS-X/macOS since Mavericks. Looks like I'm stopping at Catalina.

I'm a Windows shop here (but all the family's personal devices are Apple). Before I retired I use to develop iOS Apps on it. For a while, it was my Simple-Control/Roomie fixed Hub. Now I mainly use it to natively-access all my stuff in Apple Ecosystem (seems nicer than just bring-up iCloud.com on my Windows machines).

Yeah, I bought one of those little OWC HDMI-Dongles for headless ... but since the Mac-Mini is still on my desk, I just connect it to an alternate Input on one of my monitors. I've got a genuine Apple BT keyboard and a BT mouse.
 
Tesla1856 said:
How much ram do yall run in yours now-days?
Click to expand...
I got 2×4 GB early on and with buying and selling on ebay, it was essentially a free upgrade.

If you ever end up disassembling the Mini completely, you should also replace the PRAM battery.

1672008431715.jpeg
 
Gudi said:
1. I got 2×4 GB early on and with buying and selling on ebay, it was essentially a free upgrade.

2. If you ever end up disassembling the Mini completely, you should also replace the PRAM battery.
Click to expand...
1. Cool

2. Good idea as it IS 10 years old. Coincidencely, I just replaced the CMOS battery on my Lenovo X1-Carbon Laptop (circa 2014). Built like a mobile-phone inside, I had to remove the motherboard to get to it.

However, the Mac-Mini's SSD install (all these 10 years ago) was pretty narly . Maybe it was because it was brand-new but I found it pretty scary.

I'll think about it. However, I was looking forward to just removing the bottom cover, blowing it out real-good with air-compressor, replacing DIMMs, and calling it done. PRAM battery might have to wait for a malfunction of some sort (like maybe the RT-Clock goes crazy at first)?
 
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Gudi said:
Good plan.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

But yeah, easy way is not always the best way, is it? :) Now you have me wondering.

Looks like if I don't change it now I have these to look forward to:
RTC-trouble, No-Boot, and erratic boot. Hmm.

lowendmac.com

Solving Mac Startup Problems

As readers of Low End Mac know, Macs are durable machines that can remain useable and useful a decade or more after they were manufactured. Whether in use to run legacy applications, old games, rep…
lowendmac.com lowendmac.com
 
Gudi said:
Just keep in mind, if your Mini doesn't boot anymore, it might not be dead and only need a fresh battery.
Click to expand...
Right. But, after more thought ... I retracted my previous post.

You were right the first time. It's 10 years old so it's dead, dying, or getting ready to leak. If this is the last upgrade to the old trusty Mac-Mini_6,1 (last time I plan to have it open) now is the time to replace the expendable CR2032 battery. I've got a new/fresh Duracell CR2032 lithium-coin-cell ready to go. A side-effect is that I will be able to clean out all the dust better (to help with cooling in it's final years).

It's a "maintenance item" ... something you replace before it fails. Thinking back, I just did the same thing to my Alienware Aurora R1 (circa 2010). The CR2032 battery wasn't defective yet, but I replaced it anyway (finally, after 12 years). Like how much longer was it going to last?

I'm just not looking forward to pulling the motherboard out ... but I'll just have to get over it and get-er-done.

But let me ask you (I've already re-watched the disassembly videos) :
a. What settings to I need to write down before I shut-down and replace the CR2032 ?
b. After I replace it and boot-up the first time ... What settings to I need to check or re-enter? In none of the videos does anyone ever talk about that.

For instance, on the WinTel machines ... first I write-down all pertinent BIOS settings. After battery replacement, I:
- Load the BIOS Defaults
- Change BIOS options back to what they were before
- Reset/Re-Enter Time and Date.

Thanks again for the help and the reminder that Apple computers have CR2032 batteries also.
 
Tesla1856 said:
But let me ask you (I've already re-watched the disassembly videos) :
a. What settings to I need to write down before I shut-down and replace the CR2032 ?
Click to expand...

Apple said:
NVRAM (or PRAM) is a small amount of memory that your Mac uses to store and quickly access certain system settings such as sound volume, display resolution, startup-disk selection, and time zone. These settings vary by Mac and the devices you're using with it
Click to expand...

Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

If one or more settings stored in NVRAM don't work as expected on an Intel-based Mac, resetting NVRAM might help.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

www.howtogeek.com

What Is NVRAM, and When Should I Reset It On My Mac?

If you're troubleshooting your Mac, you've probably seen this advice before: reset your NVRAM.
www.howtogeek.com www.howtogeek.com
 
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MacCheetah3 said:

Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

If one or more settings stored in NVRAM don't work as expected on an Intel-based Mac, resetting NVRAM might help.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

www.howtogeek.com

What Is NVRAM, and When Should I Reset It On My Mac?

If you're troubleshooting your Mac, you've probably seen this advice before: reset your NVRAM.
www.howtogeek.com www.howtogeek.com
Click to expand...

Thanks @MacCheetah3 .

Those are some good links. Sheds some light on what all settings are included and that is it considered a fairly non-destructive operation.

So, I guess the question is:

After replacing the NVRAM (PRAM) battery on a Mac-Mini_6,1 ... should we pro-actively reset the NVRAM, or just use it, observe it, and hope for the best?

I'm open to educated guesses as I have no prior experience with this occurrence.
 
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Tesla1856 said:
Thanks @MacCheetah3 .

Those are some good links. Sheds some light on what all settings are included and that is it considered a fairly non-destructive operation.

So, I guess the question is:

After replacing the NVRAM (PRAM) battery on a Mac-Mini_6,1 ... should we pro-actively reset the NVRAM, or just use it, observe it, and hope for the best?

I'm open to educated guesses as I have no prior experience with this occurrence.
Click to expand...
It has been quite some time since I’ve done a PRAM/NVRMM battery replacement — or a PRAM/NVRAM reset. However, given your situation, which you don’t mention problems, I’d just replace the battery and assume/note that you may need to reset date, time, time zone if it isn’t auto synced on next boot.
 
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JoeInMilwaukee said:
BR2032 is designed for low-current, slow (long-duration) discharge, whereas CR2032 is designed for high-current, short-duration discharges.

BR2032 is also designed to operate at higher temperatures than CR2032.
Click to expand...
Appears to be a special battery (with slightly unique chemistry and properties) made only by Panasonic (a leader in battery technology).

However, I don't know where you would buy a genuine, fresh one (in retail packaging) outside of Japan. The ones on Amazon look like cheap chinese clones to me.
 
I last ordered a Panasonic BR2032 battery from BBM Battery ( https://bbmbattery.com/ ). I don't know how fresh the battery was, but so far it has worked fine in my Mac mini. I used to order them from Digi-Key, but back when I needed this one Digi-Key had insanely long lead times on the BR2032 batteries; it appears they are now back in stock.

Ultimately, I'm sure > 99% of the BR2032 batteries are replaced with CR2032 batteries. Just be aware that CR2032 batteries will not last as long as the original BR2032 batteries.
 
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