The 2012 Mac Mini - Eleven Years Later

In late 2012, Apple released a slate of new Macs to complement their new ecosystem, and the 2012 Mac Mini was one of them.
It proved to be one of Apple's most understated yet surprisingly capable machines...but can it live up to that same legacy 11 years after it was released, in 2023? Find out in this video!
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[@encinobalboa]

Just joined the club, this time a thrift store buy for $60. It has 2.3GHz i7, 16GB RAM, and dual spinner hard drives. I upgraded to SSD and installed Catalina. It can handle my Cinema Display 27 with ease. 60fps video at 2.5k plays perfect. This machine is more than usable for the casual home user.

[@oscaviation]

How does it deal with light gaming, such as Roblox?

[@mikepxg6406]

I still have my old i7 Mac Mini with EVO SSD running Ventura via OPLP My main machine is a M1 Mac mini.

[@TechAmbr]

I recently picked up a mid-2012 MacBook Pro. Same architecture. Absolutely love it, and it's only 2 cores! The minis getting the full quad-core QM parts was brilliant, what great little machines!

[@tux4tosh]

I daily drive the 2012 Core i5 version of this Mac Mini with 8gb of RAM, running Linux (like many others) and it runs flawlessly and very snappy. These older Macs are perfect candidates for Linux

[@tanzkatzen]

I'm still running a 2012 quad core I7, it's been pretty much on 24/7 for all these years as I only turn it off when I go on holidays. I am however buying the new M2 as I would like to be able to edit some video in higher resolution.

[@lovesbonzibuddy]

far more speedy than i thought it would be. nice job dude.

[@TheUrbanRebel]

I bought this model to start my video editing buainess. Fully used it to the max till I sold it at the tail end of 2019, or maybe it was early 2020. Upgraded it with an ssd and 16GB ram. Now I have the M2 mac mini

[@brokenelectronics3665]

The 2011 Mac minis were the first that did not have optical drives, not the 2012s.

[@xBruceLee88x]

You know why you can't trust that version of the OS? Because its a Lion!

[@brianboman7224]

Another Solar Strike video!!!! Keep it up!

[@thisismyname007]

I bought a Akitio PCIE box that supports the Thunderbolt 2 in/out port on the back of the Late 2012 Mac mini. I don’t want to go into that too deep. I can upgrade to a full speed (800? Or 900?) external SSD. But I think an Ifixit data doubler thingamajig is a better idea. Or else an external USB SSD would pick up the slack that the slow internal hard drive leaves.

[@jorgehmr]

I have one to my F1 multiviewer setup. Works fine, the fan works at top.

[@retropipes8863]

I have the server edition of this Mac mini alongside my M1 model!

Got one with opencore, Photoshop runa fine and edit video whith CapCut

[@mauricioflores3732]

Linux mint can boost those machines 👌🏻

[@bm-xi4bw]

mine still moving with 2010

[@cinemaipswich4636]

It's something your grand parents would buy.

[@jonos138]

Catalina is 'Officially ' last supported OS, but it can run Ventura with the OC Legacy patcher. I recently experimented with the mac mini and Ventura and found it runs hotter than Catalina on the mac mini 2012. The fan kicks in more often on lesser taxing tasks.

[@josephgrassa3085]

Open core legacy patcher works great on my Mac mini. running on my BenQ projector through a pioneer vex 1120 reciever 2.5 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 , ntel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB , 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 , 1tb hd ,Sonoma14.0 (23A344)

[@brokenelectronics3665]

Um, if I recall correctly, the 2011 Mac mini did not hve an optical drive, the last mini that had one was the 3010.

[@mikewilsher1005]

I bought my 2012 i5 new, 8GB, HD, in 2014 I upgraded the memory to 16GB and added a 500GB SSD, and I run OpenCore+Ventura, and I dual boot to OpenSuSE,... this is a very very useable machine!

[@SolarstrikeVG]

It is, but in my case I've somehow been unable to install OpenCore (at least with Ventura)...somehow.

[@Aarcellego]

@@SolarstrikeVG I can't get safari to even work or update it to install ventura luancher , the whole computer it's stuck on version 10.9.5 OS X and idk how to fix it , any help ?

[@georgwor8955]

@@Aarcellego Stick closely to the Tutorials of Mr. MacIntosh here on YT. First, always check the info box of his videos regarding Open Core Legacy to find the latest developments and warnings. The Intel graphics needed an update. You should always update the OCL Catcher FIRST and then download the Installation file for the fitting iOS. Do a full Install. You don't want to choose an automatic upgrade. Best would be to prekäre the boot stick as explained in his videos. Then completely erase the SSD with the Macs built in option and do a brand new Installation. I have a late 2012 i5 standard with a 480 GB Sandisk SSD and 16 GB or RAM. Works fine on the latest version of Ventura. :) Good luck and keep them old machines alive!!

[@stewsmith3536]

Mike, how did you perform the OpenCore+Ventura upgrade? I would like to do this but I am not that Tech Guy

[@mikewilsher1005]

​@@stewsmith3536I would google up a how to page there are a few steps involved, but it is not hard, and is not something i can easily document in the comment section here.

[@JesusLover3033]

What's that black circle next to the light in the front of the mac

[@monodistortion]

It’s the infrared receiver for a remote.

[@DacMan777]

I have a quad core i7 16GB Ram 2012 Mac mini with twin EVO SSD I use it as a server I run Ventura on it using OCLP it flies

[@tomstorm255]

Can't wait for the next video!!

[@noblelies]

Still using mine to this very day!

[@m4airsoftmaster]

well we're waiting

[@philipslighting8240]

Whats a Dool core ???