I have a late 2012 Mac Mini (2.3 GHz i7, 16 GB and 1TB hard drive, 500GB Samsung T5 external SSD) connected to a Thunderbolt Display. It pretty much just sits in a spare room and doesn’t get any use. I’m trying to figure out if there is anything I can use it for. Maybe something I’m not thinking of. Or, if I should sell it. In that case, what is it worth?
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What to do with my 2012 Mac Mini (uses or sell)?
- Thread starter iMas70
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I got a 2018 Mini and converted my 2012 quad Mini into a file and backup server with 20 tb of external disks. It runs headless, so that leaves all four USB ports open for disks. I considered also using it as a media server, but already have a 2014 Mini that works really well for that, so I am going to keep them separate.
But the 2012 quad Mini's are still very nice machines and just using it for a file server doesn't take full advantage of its capabilities. Since you can't think of any use, I assume that you don't need a file or media server. I don't follow prices on used Macs, but know that the value of the 2012 quads really dropped when the 2018 Mini was introduced (they used to be in high demand).
But the 2012 quad Mini's are still very nice machines and just using it for a file server doesn't take full advantage of its capabilities. Since you can't think of any use, I assume that you don't need a file or media server. I don't follow prices on used Macs, but know that the value of the 2012 quads really dropped when the 2018 Mini was introduced (they used to be in high demand).
You could use it as an NVR using Security Spy for IP cams. I have a headless Mini running
7- 3 and 4mp cams. It will put your 4 cores to use. Where I live it's worth $300-$400+ USD. Depending on if the internal drive has been upgraded to an SSD.
www.bensoftware.com
7- 3 and 4mp cams. It will put your 4 cores to use. Where I live it's worth $300-$400+ USD. Depending on if the internal drive has been upgraded to an SSD.
High-quality video input software for the Mac - Ben Software
www.bensoftware.com
I use my 2011 mini with KDE neon to keep my toe in the linux world. It also hosts an internal apache web server for development purposes as well as runs Syncthing (thus it is one of my file servers).
My 2014 mini acts as the family's main file/backup server (using Carbon Copy Cloner), runs Content Caching for all our Apple products, and also runs Folding@home.
Plus, with the ideas from @Boyd01 and @Meatsuit you can see there are plenty of options for a spare Mac mini.
My 2014 mini acts as the family's main file/backup server (using Carbon Copy Cloner), runs Content Caching for all our Apple products, and also runs Folding@home.
Plus, with the ideas from @Boyd01 and @Meatsuit you can see there are plenty of options for a spare Mac mini.
It's worthless. Please send it to a poor, starving artist like me.
I still use my 2012 i5 Mini as a daily driver. Running Catalina and Windows 10
I use my 2012 mini everyday for everything, it is the only computer I have.
I'm in the same spot. Late 2012 Mac mini with 16GB RAM and a 250GB SDD and 1TB HD internally. Works great but won't be able to upgrade to the latest macOS. I've moved over to using a newer Dell for a Plex server, so that's not really a need from this machine. Currently have it connected to 2x 24" monitors and it works awesome for daily use and basic stuff like normal work.
Likely that one of the first new Macs on Apple Silicon will be the Mac mini, as it's already in such form for the developer machines. Might go that route. Hopefully they give developers free Apple Silicon machines, like they did when the first Intel Macs were released.
Likely that one of the first new Macs on Apple Silicon will be the Mac mini, as it's already in such form for the developer machines. Might go that route. Hopefully they give developers free Apple Silicon machines, like they did when the first Intel Macs were released.
Do you have 4 individual external HDDs plugged in? Or have you mounted them in another enclosure?
Just thinking about relegating my 2012 Mac mini to be my server.
I have four individual Seagate 5tb drives, each plugged into a USB port. Have had these for a number of years already. I considered pulling the drives out and putting them in an enclosure, or just getting a new enclosure with disks from OWC. In the end, I just decided to use them as-is, since I invested a considerable amount on the new Mini and peripherals and was not anxious to spend any more. 
Thanks, I have 5x4TB drives in a HP Microserver at the mo with ubuntu server in a raidZ config - It works great as a NAS but finding it a bit underpowered for most other tasks.
I might keep it as a NAS and then use the Mini for other tasks.
I might keep it as a NAS and then use the Mini for other tasks.
I am also thinking of selling my 2012 Mini, the one in my signature. Trying to decide how to sell it.
Same boat as some of y'all. 2012 i7 quad paired with a Thunderbolt Display that is doing everything I need a desktop to do. My 1080p iMovie projects can be a little slow but they are a hobby, not a business. I retired my 2013 dual core macbook pro last year, which is a shame because the retina screen is still gorgeous.
Current plan is to wait until the rumoured pro-sumer offerings in mid-2021 become available and make a choice then.
Putting Linux on the 2012 MM would be a hoot; loved tinkering with that OS.
Current plan is to wait until the rumoured pro-sumer offerings in mid-2021 become available and make a choice then.
Putting Linux on the 2012 MM would be a hoot; loved tinkering with that OS.
Funny how people think because newer things come out their older mac instantaneously becomes useless.
The 2012 mac mini still runs great with macOS Catalina and can still be used as a daily driver. Intel i7 4-Core, 16 GB RAM with an SSD put in it, how can it automatically become useless When a newer model comes out? Still good for a few more years with security updates etc.
This mac mini in 2020 stills holds up on general use as it was designed for. Too bad no Big Sur for it.
The 2012 mac mini still runs great with macOS Catalina and can still be used as a daily driver. Intel i7 4-Core, 16 GB RAM with an SSD put in it, how can it automatically become useless When a newer model comes out? Still good for a few more years with security updates etc.
This mac mini in 2020 stills holds up on general use as it was designed for. Too bad no Big Sur for it.
I have a 2012 Mac Mini and all I want it to do really is stream movies from netflix etc. I have not upgraded it at all and I am worried that if I do the streaming will still not work because I am not good with this stuff. Is anyone running netflix on their mac mini 2012? and if so what did you have to upgrade top get it to work?
Hey Rob,
You shouldn’t need a MM to stream Netflix to your TV.
If your TV is older, and doesn’t have a built in app, then there are other stream options, like Roku, Chromecast or the Apple TV that plug directly into the TV.
Good luck
You can stream Netflix on any modern macOS version with Google Chrome, if you are just wanting to watch it on the computer that is.
So are you saying the issue might be the monitor not the mac mini? I was using a projector with an hdmi cable?
I believe that Netflix uses HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection), and you need to have hardware that supports it. Using my 2005 30" Apple display will not work, but my small, much newer HDMI monitor does. It's possible that your projector &/or HDMI cable are to blame for the issues you are having, I can stream Netflix using Google Chrome on my 2012 Mac mini. I'm running macOS Mojave on it.