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Mac Mini (Late 2012) Suggestions for final config please.
- Thread starter Tesla1856
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Gudi
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The killer upgrade is to build your own inexpensive 2TB Fusion Drive with just a Terminal command.
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.
Gudi
Suspended
The M1 Macs have a higher single-core score than my Mini's multi-core score, but other than that it's a great little machine. No need to retire it.
Mac mini (Late 2012) Benchmarks
Gudi
Suspended
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.
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.
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Gudi
Suspended
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.
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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.
MacCheetah3
macrumors 68040
Apple 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.
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
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
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.
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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MacCheetah3
macrumors 68040
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.
Gudi
Suspended
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.
BR2032 is also designed to operate at higher temperatures than CR2032.
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.
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.
Not sure if anyone else is still using their Mac-Mini 6,1 (Late 2012) other than me. Mine is still running fine on Catalina v10.15. iCloud Files, Photos Library, Notes, etc. still syncs and what-not. I run iCloud-for-Windows (and sync into real Outlook 2021) on my Intel-i9 Windows-11 daily-driver.
I DID buy the ram-upgrade from OWC on sale for $15 (2x 4gb = 8gb). Took me years to get back to it and install it but it works perfectly. (2x 4gb DIMMs) of PC3L-12800S 1600Mhz (OWC1600DDR3S08S 8gB Kit 4Gb-x2) .
Battery was fine, so I didn't mess with it. It hasn't been opened in over 10 years, so I did carefully brush the fan and fins and blew it all out good with air-compressor at 40-psi.
Passed the Memtest86 Test (outside of Catalina) ... whole 2 of 4 passes with 0-errors
The new 4gb-DIMMs x2 = 8gb - Currently shows:
Memory: 8099M 12.6GB/s
RAM Info: PC3-12800 DDR3 1600Mhz / 11-11-11-28 /
AddrMode: 64-bit (timings same as old Elpida DIMMs)
Memory Pressure is also lower (now, down to 25% at idle desktop) with my memory now doubled. SSD is still fine (that Trim setting on this Kingston is working fine). Time-Machine backups still work to it's old original spinning 500gb HDD (that I long-ago moved to little USB-3 Enclosure).
I don't turn-it-on and use it much any more, but I'm not one to get rid of working (and still relevant) computers, so I guess I'll keep it going a while longer. I have all this other Apple stuff (and heavy into Apple Ecosystem) so it's nice to have at least one macOS actual-computer in the house.
I DID buy the ram-upgrade from OWC on sale for $15 (2x 4gb = 8gb). Took me years to get back to it and install it but it works perfectly. (2x 4gb DIMMs) of PC3L-12800S 1600Mhz (OWC1600DDR3S08S 8gB Kit 4Gb-x2) .
Battery was fine, so I didn't mess with it. It hasn't been opened in over 10 years, so I did carefully brush the fan and fins and blew it all out good with air-compressor at 40-psi.
Passed the Memtest86 Test (outside of Catalina) ... whole 2 of 4 passes with 0-errors
The new 4gb-DIMMs x2 = 8gb - Currently shows:
Memory: 8099M 12.6GB/s
RAM Info: PC3-12800 DDR3 1600Mhz / 11-11-11-28 /
AddrMode: 64-bit (timings same as old Elpida DIMMs)
Memory Pressure is also lower (now, down to 25% at idle desktop) with my memory now doubled. SSD is still fine (that Trim setting on this Kingston is working fine). Time-Machine backups still work to it's old original spinning 500gb HDD (that I long-ago moved to little USB-3 Enclosure).
I don't turn-it-on and use it much any more, but I'm not one to get rid of working (and still relevant) computers, so I guess I'll keep it going a while longer. I have all this other Apple stuff (and heavy into Apple Ecosystem) so it's nice to have at least one macOS actual-computer in the house.
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Mine is connected to two external HDD + one SSD and one Pioneer Blu-Ray drive / Superdrive, running Windows 10 with Parallels without problems. May get the upcoming M5 ...or M6.
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After using my 2012 i7 quad for a number of years editing video and audio, I retired it to a file server and time machine destination in 2020. Worked well until a month or two ago when two 5tb hard drives connected to it died. Have been busy and not willing to take the time to mess with old computers and disks recently. So, there the Mini sits, basically doing nothing.
When I get it together, will just completely retire it, get some new disks and connect them to the m4 Mini that I use as a media server, it is certainly capable of also being a file server and time machine destination. I certainly understand the desire to keep using hardware that still works, but at some point it becomes a liability instead of an asset IMO. I am ready to move on and it can join the two 2014 Mini's that are already in the closet.
Glad that you have not yet reached that point with your 2012 Mini and are still finding good use for it.
When I get it together, will just completely retire it, get some new disks and connect them to the m4 Mini that I use as a media server, it is certainly capable of also being a file server and time machine destination. I certainly understand the desire to keep using hardware that still works, but at some point it becomes a liability instead of an asset IMO. I am ready to move on and it can join the two 2014 Mini's that are already in the closet.
Glad that you have not yet reached that point with your 2012 Mini and are still finding good use for it.
Cool. Yeah, I got one of those OWC Mercury Pro's for my older (but still good ... a "real and sturdy one") LG BluRay 5.25in Optical-Drive Burner/Ripper. Works perfect on my Windows-11 Tower (where I have the proper software for it to work fully).
Looks like we both held-out long enough to get a new Mac Desktop (with Apple-made CPU chip) if we so choose. I'm retired now (and don't really use X-Code much any more) but I still think the Macs are cool. I like not having to try to turn my iPads into real-computers (I just use the Mac on a extra video-input on my regular monitors).
Looks like OWC has (clean/tested/refurbished ones around $1000) ... either a M-chip Mac-Mini or even a mid-level Studio. I think either would run-circles around mine (and I'd be able to run a current macOS again). We'll see.
Edit: Added my newish Monitor to my Sig.
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Yeah, I too try not to get over-attached to my old computers (jokingly call them Expendable Crew-Members) . However, if they continue to work, I try to find a use for them. If not, they get recycled. Sounds like we all "got our money's worth" out of these Mac-Mini 6,1 .
My (circa 2010) 24-in Dell UltraSharp 16:10 (loved that) Monitor just died recently. Really caught me off guard for some reason (but it WAS 14 years old). But then you have my wife's $2000 Lenovo X1-Carbon UltraBook that only lasted 4 years before it went flakey (lame) ... I just "Forced-Overlay Server-Installed" Windows-11 Pro 64-bit onto my old (circa 2010) Alienware Aurora-R1 and it works fine as a Kodi-box (so I got that going for me). 🙂
My 6,1 was bought used and has always been flaky. So I retired it in favour of a 6,2 last year. Replaced the stock drive with an SSD and maxed out the RAM to 16GB. It and its predecessor have been my lounge computer for years and is happy running Sequoia for what I need it to do. I am sure that Tahoe will run just fine on it as well.
Cave Man
macrumors 604
Still running mine as my main Plex server and EyeTV recorder with a SiliconDust HDConnect tuner.