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Need some advice. Should I keep a 2014 Late Mac Mini 2.5ghz 4gb or go to 2014 Late IMac 1.5ghz 8gb ?

A

applelover4u

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 6, 2012
336
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Right now I have a Mac Mini Late 2014 that’s a i5 (3210M Chip) 2.5ghz with the Intel HD Graphics 4000 and only 4gb ram and SSD drive I installed that is 500GB

I bought as a gift for the kid that no longer wants, a iMac 2014 i5 (4260U Chip) 1.5ghz with regular 500gb drive, Intel HD Graphics 5000 and 8gb of ram
I’m wondering am I downgrading by going to the iMac with a 1.5ghz i5 and regular hardrive? I do gain a extra 4gb of memory or should I keep the max mini?

I’m also not sure if the iMac 1.5ghz chip is better or faster since is newer then the Mac mini 2.5ghz chip
 
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While the chip in the iMac is slightly slower, it does have twice the ram and the graphics are better.
 
RAM only speeds things up if you are constantly swapping to disk. The SSD that you installed in the Mini does far more for the machine than a RAM bump because data is read and written much much faster than with a traditional hard drive. The spinning HDD in the iMac will fell like a slug compared to what you are used to with an SSD-based machine. Have you considered installing RAM in the Mini? You should be able to put in up to 16GB at a fairly reasonable cost these days.

What are you using for a screen for the Mini? The display on the iMac may very well be an upgrade as well.

The guts of that iMac are basically a MacBook Air from that era making it capable for light duty work, but will struggle if you are using CPU intensive software. I think the purpose of those machines were to offer something less expensive for the K-12 education market while the more nicely equipped Retina display machines were still a little pricey.

All that said, if you are willing to buy another SSD for the iMac, you can install macOS on the SSD and boot the machine from the external drive allowing you to take advantage of the speed of the SSD along with having more RAM. As recently as last week, I still had a 2013 iMac with 8GB of RAM booting externally (a step up in processor though) on my desk at work for use as a secondary machine. It is still quite capable as a productivity machine, but then again, the 2012 machine would be as well.
 
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applelover4u said:
Better graphics and yes twice the ram. More ram speeds things up correct?
Click to expand...
Up to a point and depends on what you are doing.

If you run multiple applications or have many browser tabs open at the same time, more RAM will definitely help. It will also help in that the machine should use less swap (disk as RAM). 4GB of RAM is a really small amount in this day and age. My bet is you would notice some gains.

While trying out the iMac seems fine, another option would be to just add RAM to the Mini. For $50 and 10 minutes of time you could have a 16 GB Mini. It doesn't even require a screwdriver on that machine (I miss those days). That way you don't have to migrate machines.
 
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meson said:
What are you using for a screen for the Mini? The display on the iMac may very well be an upgrade as well.
Click to expand...
He can use the iMac in target mode for the Mini if he wants. . .

Maybe that's the best of all worlds - add RAM to the Mini, use the iMac in target mode. No waste!
 
The graphics card on the 2012 mini still works in 2022 and that computer flies with 16BG of ram.
well not flies, but I never had a slow problem with mine(i7), and even OCLP that to Monterey.

just try not to add another ssd drive, when I upgraded my, the fan connector on the logic board popped off.
 
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Upgrade the RAM in the 2012 Mini.
It's very VERY easy to do.
You've "been inside it" already, right?

On my own 2012 Mini, I went from 4gb to 10gb by adding ONE 8gb DIMM to "the top slot". Just closed it back up, and it ran fine.

Or... you could add 2 8gb DIMMs for 16gb.

For RAM, I'd suggest:

Mac Mini Memory - Intel Core i5 Dual-Core 2.5GHz MD387LL/A Late 2012 - DMS

DMS offers DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800) Memory for your Intel Core i5 Dual-Core 2.5GHz Mac Mini Late 2012 MD387LL/A . 100% Apple Compatible and backed by a Lifetime Warranty.
www.datamemorysystems.com
 
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meson said:
RAM only speeds things up if you are constantly swapping to disk. The SSD that you installed in the Mini does far more for the machine than a RAM bump because data is read and written much much faster than with a traditional hard drive. The spinning HDD in the iMac will fell like a slug compared to what you are used to with an SSD-based machine. Have you considered installing RAM in the Mini? You should be able to put in up to 16GB at a fairly reasonable cost these days.

What are you using for a screen for the Mini? The display on the iMac may very well be an upgrade as well.

The guts of that iMac are basically a MacBook Air from that era making it capable for light duty work, but will struggle if you are using CPU intensive software. I think the purpose of those machines were to offer something less expensive for the K-12 education market while the more nicely equipped Retina display machines were still a little pricey.

All that said, if you are willing to buy another SSD for the iMac, you can install macOS on the SSD and boot the machine from the external drive allowing you to take advantage of the speed of the SSD along with having more RAM. As recently as last week, I still had a 2013 iMac with 8GB of RAM booting externally (a step up in processor though) on my desk at work for use as a secondary machine. It is still quite capable as a productivity machine, but then again, the 2012 machine would be as well.
Click to expand...

Humm thanks. The Mac mini I cannot upgrade the ram as its soldered in?

The display I’m using is a Samsung Curved CF591 1080p 3000:1 contrast ratio

Sounds like I might as well keep my Mac mini right?
 
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tstafford said:
Up to a point and depends on what you are doing.

If you run multiple applications or have many browser tabs open at the same time, more RAM will definitely help. It will also help in that the machine should use less swap (disk as RAM). 4GB of RAM is a really small amount in this day and age. My bet is you would notice some gains.

While trying out the iMac seems fine, another option would be to just add RAM to the Mini. For $50 and 10 minutes of time you could have a 16 GB Mini. It doesn't even require a screwdriver on that machine (I miss those days). That way you don't have to migrate machines.
Click to expand...

Wait, I can add more memory to the max mini late 2012? I thought it was soldered on the board and can’t be upgraded ? And how does it not require a screw driver? If I could upgrade the ram I definitely would keep the mini for now
 
tstafford said:
He can use the iMac in target mode for the Mini if he wants. . .

Maybe that's the best of all worlds - add RAM to the Mini, use the iMac in target mode. No waste!
Click to expand...

What is target mode? And I’m confused? How do I add more memory to the mini? I thought I couldn’t
 
Fishrrman said:
Upgrade the RAM in the 2012 Mini.
It's very VERY easy to do.
You've "been inside it" already, right?

On my own 2012 Mini, I went from 4gb to 10gb by adding ONE 8gb DIMM to "the top slot". Just closed it back up, and it ran fine.

Or... you could add 2 8gb DIMMs for 16gb.

For RAM, I'd suggest:

Mac Mini Memory - Intel Core i5 Dual-Core 2.5GHz MD387LL/A Late 2012 - DMS

DMS offers DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800) Memory for your Intel Core i5 Dual-Core 2.5GHz Mac Mini Late 2012 MD387LL/A . 100% Apple Compatible and backed by a Lifetime Warranty.
www.datamemorysystems.com
Click to expand...


I never knew I could add memory to this mac mini. I’ve always thought it was soldered on. Is there a tutorial? I always have multiple apps open and would love more memory and I would keep the Mac mini for now
 
so we are on the same ism, you have a Mac-Mini 2012?

if yes- good!
Unplug Mac mini, twist off the back cover, see the RAM slots, add what every you need!

if no I need a week break time off from macrumors
 
MBAir2010 said:
so we are on the same ism, you have a Mac-Mini 2012?

if yes- good!
Unplug Mac mini, twist off the back cover, see the RAM slots, add what every you need!

if no I need a week break time off from macrumors
Click to expand...
opps sorry I have a model A1347 which is a late 2014 Mac mini not 2012

So it looks like the only thing I can do is buy a used board off eBay that have higher ram to replace mines? But that might get expensive


Or it might be better to keep the iMac with 8gb ram already and open it up and put the SSD inside

I could also buy another Mac mini 2014with 8gb for about $115 and sell my 4gb max mini

I don’t know what to do lol
 
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tstafford said:
It's just what MBAir says - twist off the bottom, slots are right there. Various sites sell the RAM. I've had good luck with OWC. RAM should cost about $40 for two 8GB (total of 16GB). They will also have install videos.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Apple/Mac_mini/DDR3_1600
Click to expand...
opps sorry I have a model A1347 which is a late 2014 Mac mini not 2012

So it looks like the only thing I can do is buy a used board off eBay that have higher ram to replace mines? But that might get expensive

Or it might be better to keep the iMac with 8gb ram already and open it up and put the SSD inside

I could also buy another Mac mini 2014with 8gb for about $115 and sell my 4gb max mini

I don’t know what to do lol
 
Last edited:
Fishrrman said:
It's very VERY easy to do.
You've "been inside it" already, right?

On my own 2012 Mini, I went from 4gb to 10gb by adding ONE 8gb DIMM to "the top slot". Just closed it back up, and it ran fine.

Or... you could add 2 8gb DIMMs for 16gb.

For RAM, I'd suggest:

Mac Mini Memory - Intel Core i5 Dual-Core 2.5GHz MD387LL/A Late 2012 - DMS

DMS offers DDR3-1600 (PC3-12800) Memory for your Intel Core i5 Dual-Core 2.5GHz Mac Mini Late 2012 MD387LL/A . 100% Apple Compatible and backed by a Lifetime Warranty.
www.datamemorysystems.com
Click to expand...
I just checked again and it’s actually a late 2014 not 12 model a1347

So it looks like the only thing I can do is buy a used board off eBay that have higher ram to replace mines but that may be a little expensive

Or it might be better to keep the iMac with 8gb ram already and open it up and put the SSD inside

I could also buy another Mac mini 2014with 8gb for about $115 and sell my 4gb max mini

I don’t know what to do lol
 
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applelover4u said:
opps sorry I have a model A1347 which is a late 2014 Mac mini not 2012


I don’t know what to do lol
Click to expand...
As for advice on Mac_Mini's, I have a Mac mini 2012 sitting in a drawer and might bet that running one of these days
since i have 3 MacBooks, I just dont need another one taking juice!
tempImageEeDQPp.png

good luck tho!
 
The SSD vs HDD is going to be the biggest difference. The iMac will never be as peppy as the Mini until you get an SSD into it.

If you can open up the iMac confidently and put an SSD in there then it will be a nice computer. Is it the 21" or 27"? The 27" is easy to upgrade the RAM on, but the 21" is soldered.

I bought my daughter a 27" iMac in 2019. Core i5 3.7ghz, 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD. I upgraded the RAM to 16GB myself as paying Apple was a waste, but I did spend the money on the SSD because I knew it would make all the difference and couldn't be easily upgraded.

Booting and running the OS off an external drive will likely be faster than the internal HDD, but nowhere near as fast as a properly installed internal SSD.

Given neither computer is worth much, I'd take a crack (no pun intended) at opening the iMac and installing an SSD, and bump the RAM up to 16GB. It will be pretty peppy.

My wife still uses her 2009 white unibody MacBook that I put an SSD and more RAM into and it's just fine for day to day use, but she's starting to use the iMac more as my daughter has moved onto an M1 Pro 14" MBP we picked up at launch for her last couple of years of university.
 
tstafford said:
FYI - You're a little late to the game. The OP originally said it was a 2012. We all posted our replies based on that.
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm too late to the game, but all I see is, that he wrote 2014 in his first post. Or did he change that afterwards?
 
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