Mac mini Late 2012 i7 quadcore freeze with artefacts on screen

I have exactly the same problem in my late 2012 i7 mini but my distortion is by far worse than your photograph. i cant say for sure if its due to the RAM upgrade i recently did (2x8gb Samsung RAM), but i didnt have any crashes before it. My monitor is a 27" LG. I tried reseting RAM, nada, whenever it wants it crashes and its really frustrating as im using it for professional music production and id hate to have a crach during a session which gladly havent happened so far (lucky?). Ill install onyx to see if the problem fixes and will report.

Hi. As You can See i have had the Same Problem. It was impossible to fix it, so i replaced the Mac Mini with a MacBook Pro using the same RAM Modules ... and crash. Change the RAM. I've bought new modules and it works.

so you are pretty sure that is the RAM.. ill try change it and report 🙂 I hope the next samsung modules wont dissapoint..

Like you i have tried to fix it in different ways including mainboard replacing. Only Samsung RAM modules fixed it bought at GRAVIS selling that RAM Build in Apple devices originally but for a much better Price (50%)

This is with the Samsung 2x 8GB 16GB DDR3L RAM 1600 Mhz. Seller told me hes resending. Will report when i have them

Hi... I have the identical problem. This only started when I upgraded my RAM from 4GB to 8GB. I bought the RAM from Microcentre - Crucal RAM. I suspect reading the various reports that this problem is indeed RAM related. I have also changed the monitor and that has not helped at all. Thanks for all your good comments.

Hi jollyarjun,

I have 8GB Crutial RAM too... Could be the root cause of the issue.

It happened twice since my last post in May. Occurence is quite low but I'm afraid to have more problems in the futur. What is the occurency in your side?

hi again. took me a while to report cos ive changed the RAM and all works great now. The root of all seems to be the RAM indeed. Working a kit of 2x8 Samsung and works like a clock, never had a single flick. Big manufacturers often have failed batches. we are plain unlucky.. good luck to all

Hi... It crashes about once every few days.... my mini is still under warrantly so if this is not resolved I think I will send it back to apple care although not sure they will be able to fix this as it seems a pretty widespread issue.

Since I have recently bought the RAM Upgrade, do you suggest I send the RAM back to CRUCAL or take it back to MicroCentre and tell them it does not work? Thanks for your advice. Arjun

Trying to get there from a different angle. I'm having artefact issues with my 2012 i7 Mini Mac and gave it to the repair: They could not reproduce the error.
So I tried with a different monitor and there were no issues. I then got the monitor with the issues reattached, and there they were again: artefacts when playing video. (It never happened with my other computer!) I then removed the monitor plug from the slot and put it in again: no more artefacts. I am not at the end of my investigation, but apparently only this computer and this monitor can't get along well and it seems to have to do with HOW the plug sticks in the slot. Maybe it's only the monitor adapter! Please make sure, that you can rule out these causes. And please report what you experienced! Perhaps these 2012 i7 Minis have a bad montor slot. Maybe we'r all usng the same bad adapters.

My impression is, it has nothing to do with the OS.