Mac Mini 2012 automatic shutdown

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Level 1

24 points

Mac Mini 2012 automatic shutdown

Hello.

I experienced my first automatic shut down on my Mac Mini 2012 late model while playing Diablo 3 on 1366x760 Res with all low graphic settings (within game).

I'm not sure if the system/unit is over heating or not. I have the Mac mini resting upon a older thermaltake laptop fan cooler unit that is plugged into a seperate AC/USB adapter to my surge protector. The Thermaltake gives a light steady air current to the underside (plastic lid vincinity) of the mac mini.

The surge protector isn't overloaded. After manual rebooting several seconds from its automatic shut down, my Temperature Guage app read 60c on my Mavericks welcome screen. If the unit were to overheat, wouldn't the internal heat be higher than 60c after a few seconds from the automatic shutdown and manual re-booting?

Plus, I didn't recieve any power/heat warnings prior to the shutdown from Teperature Guage app & OSX Mavericks. Mac Mini internal fan was quiet as well. I didn't hear any uproar of the internal fan. The light upon the front of the Mac mini appeared to be normal. No blinking or audio beeps to otherwise to altert/catch my attention.

One thing I did notice after boot up, OSX Mavericks booted to the blizzard/diablo log in screen automatically.

Help! I am extremely puzzled over this.

My specs/setup:

Mac Mini 2012 late model (2.5 ghz intel core i5)

OSX 10.9.2

8gb 1600 Mhz DDR3 Ram

Thermaltake CLN0009 Massive 23 ST 23cm Notebook Cooler (Powered by usb/ac adapter).

1366x768 VGA monitor

Standard plug in speakers

Standard surge protector

Wireless generic mouse and keyboard

Mac mini (Late 2012), OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on May 17, 2014 1:00 AM

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Answer 1

xbluejayx Author

Level 1

24 points

May 17, 2014 1:18 AM in response to xbluejayx

Last Diag Report was from a few weeks earler. Nothing was noted by osx in this random shutdown.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

92,746 points

May 17, 2014 7:11 AM in response to xbluejayx

The cooling pad may not helping all that much, because the Mac Mini's fan is not moving enough internally air at the default speed.

Many here frown on using manual or sensor based fan control ware, saying that Mac's will take care of itself. I will not argue with them, but personally I have used several different types of fan control ware over the years. I also feel that they greatly increase machine life, when used correctly.

Currently I use Macs Fan Control on my Mac Mini and the only negatives I see are:

1) that it will collect more internal dust and require more frequent cleaning

2) fan damage... personally I never lost one, beside so what, fans are way cheaper than a logic boards or a new Mac

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Answer 3

xbluejayx Author

Level 1

24 points

May 17, 2014 8:51 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks for the info. I've downloaded the Macs Fan app. I'll give it a go here and see what happens in the next few days. I will set the fan speeds to max when I'm playing Diablo 3 again with the same settings as mentioned in my post.

Can the integrated graphics card of the Mac mini overload and cause a auto shutdown? I really don't think it was due to overheating if my regualr temp app says the system was only at 60c upon manual rebooting after a few seconds of the auto shutdown. (I would think the system would be much hotter around 80c or so.) I thought the system would shut it self down once it reached temps over 102C right?

Plus, I was not playing a graphic intesnse game either.

Oi... Technology

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

92,746 points

May 17, 2014 9:08 AM in response to xbluejayx

I wouldn't set it to Max, it will just be noisy and suck in more dust.

Use the sensor based control on the CPU Diode which will slowly ramp up the fan speed as the temp increases.

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Answer 5

xbluejayx Author

Level 1

24 points

May 17, 2014 10:49 AM in response to den.thed

I've configured the app to the way you've told me. I've played D3 for about 35 minutes and noticed a considerable change in heat. The mac mini isn't warm to the touch now. I'll give it a day or two with the diode sensor-based value option. 41C at start to increase and maxium temp set to 51C

Hopefully I won't have another random shut down again. I want it to be my first and last auto shutdown.

Thank you for all your help thus far. 🙂

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Answer 6

den.thed

Level 10

92,746 points

May 17, 2014 4:03 PM in response to xbluejayx

Let us know how it's working.

You are welcome!

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Answer 7

xbluejayx Author

Level 1

24 points

May 22, 2014 12:10 AM in response to den.thed

I've been using Macs Fan Control for the past few days. I've noticed a big shift in heat reduction. The top of the mini doesn't even get warm while playing Diablo 3. I'm hoping that nothing is damaged internally from the overheating/unfortunate event as described in my main post.

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