It remains Apple's last properly upgradeable Mac Mini, and even in 2020 can be a pretty handy little computer with the right bits inside. The 2012 Mac Mini held a special place in many hearts thanks to how easy it was to upgrade. As a result, many people in recent years have found they could buy a used Mac Mini from as far back as 2010 and that it will hold its own with a Mac from 2020 in numerous tasks.A-Tech 4GB RAM for Apple MacBook Pro (Mid 2012), iMac (Late 2012, Early/Late 2013, Late 2014, Mid 2015), Mac Mini (Late 2012) DDR3 1600MHz PC3-12800 204-Pin SODIMM Memory Upgrade Module. For example, it’s common to see Minis from 2010 that shipped with 4GB of RAM or Minis from 2012 with 8GB of RAM yet, a 2010 can upgrade to 8GB, and the 2012 to 16GB.For a late-2012 Mac mini, see According to them, this Mac can go up to 16GB (2 SO-DIMMs of 8GB each). New storage: Kingston 480GB SSD ($56 at Amazon)I always consult Crucial's memory configuration tool. Products used in this guideWe use cookies and similar tools that are necessary to enable you to make purchases, to enhance your shopping experience, and provide our services, as detailed in our Cookie Notice.We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements.
Ram Memory Mini Late 2012 Upgrade To 8GBMagic cable: Mac Mini second drive kit ($15 at Amazon)The 2012 model remains to this day Apple's last, properly upgradeable Mac Mini. Right tools: ORIA Magnetic Screwdriver set ($18 at Amazon) A second hard drive: Seagate Firecuda 1TB ($63 at Amazon) The right cable: AmazonBasics miniDP to DP ($11 at Amazon) Blowing cobwebs: Canned air ($11 at Newegg) More memory: Crucial 16GB RAM kit ($90 at Amazon) Pull away the black shroud and set it aside.Carefully pull the fan away from the logic board. Move the shroud to one side carefully, making sure you don't snap the cable.Remove the two screws on the fan and the single screw on the black shroud. The base should simply pull away, but may need prying with a plastic tool or even a credit card.Remove the screws on the wireless shroud. Data transfer speeds will be at least four times faster, and that will make a huge difference in the day-to-day running of your Mac Mini.Place your thumbs in the circular divots and twist the base anti-clockwise. Set aside a couple of hours, and you'll be able to bring your old Mac back to life.Better than using your fingers, this pry tool kit is worth having in your tool kit for those hard to remove and tiny parts.One of the best upgrades to make is to swap out the old mechanical hard drive for an SSD. Connect the same ribbon cable to the new SSD's SATA connectors. Detach the ribbon cable from the existing hard drive. Detach the Torx T8 screws from the existing hard drive.Attach those same screws to the left-hand side of your new SSD. Carefully detach the SATA cable for the hard drive from the logic board.Pull the existing hard drive clear of the Mac Mini. Line the markings on the base up with the corresponding markings on the Mac Mini.One additional thing to do throughout this process is to use some canned air to blast out any dust. Reassemble the Mac Mini reversing the steps above, first installing the black shroud, then the fan, then the wireless shroud. Reconnect the ribbon cable to the logic board. Remove the final screw from the logic board with a Torx T6 screwdriver.Insert the logic board removal tool into the holes pictured.Gently pull the logic board away from the case. You will need to detach any remaining items from the logic board at this point, including the wireless shroud and the IR cable. Follow steps 1-17 from the section above to remove the existing drive and prepare your new SSD boot drive. You could reuse the existing hard drive, but since it's over six years old, it makes much better sense to use a fresh one.You can use either a hard drive or an SSD, or as we have here, a Seagate Firecuda hybrid drive, not unlike the Fusion Drive Apple uses in some of its machines. How to add a second storage driveNot everyone will want to do this, but it is possible to install a second drive in the 2012 Mac Mini to maximize its storage potential. Pull the power supply away and slide it out of the back of the case. Slide out the retaining clip from the power supply.Turn the power socket 90-degrees anti-clockwise. Pull the logic board out of the rear of the case.Remove the two Torx T6 screws that hold the drive bracket and power supply in place. Reverse the steps above to reinsert the logic board, all fixings, and connectors, including the new hard drive ribbon cable. Re-attach both by screwing the T6 screws back into the case. Slide the power supply back into the case until it locks into the place. Place the hard drive bracket back into the case and line up the fixing holes. Ensuring the ribbon cable is facing upwards, screw the new drive into the bracketwith the screws from your installation kit. Download football manager 2018 for free macLine up the new RAM sticks and push gently into the slots. Pry apart the metal brackets around the current RAM sticks. Place your thumbs in the circular divots and twist the base clockwise. So the best you can do is grab a 16GB kit made up of a pair of 8GB sticks. Reinstalling macOSBesides adding an SSD, the next best thing to do to give your old Mac Mini some additional legs for present-day computing is to add more RAM.The 2012 Mac Mini uses 1600MHz DDR3 SODIMM modules and can accept up to 16GB across two slots. ![]() ![]()
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