I need help troubleshooting which hardware is failing on my 2012 Mac Mini.

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I need help troubleshooting which hardware is failing on my 2012 Mac Mini.

I bought this Mac mini to use for Logic Pro X. It is late 2012, 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7. Intel HD 400 gpu

I personally upgraded it with a Samsung 840 EVO 250 GB hard drive and 16 gb of PNY brand DDR3 Ram. I'm currently on Yosimety 10.10.2

I booted from an external hard drive to reload everything and it took a couple hours and it turned out something bad happened. I had not connected the plug for the fan properly and the whole time it was installing it was operating at well above 100 degrees, in fact I had gone out to let it do its thing and when I came back, I could not touch the mini it was so hot.

When all was said and done, I ended up having to replace the RAM as a hardware scan said it was damaged, but nothing else.

I have been operating this computer with minor crashes for a few months. I game, and League of Legends always gets corrupted. I constantly have to update corrupted files, so my first suspicion is that the SSD is failing.

I also worry that the GPU could be the problem but I'd never know what to do in order to find out.

Now more recently, everything crashes. This morning all 4 web browsers I use crashed, Logic crashes the LEAST sporadically, but PS and Ai have both crashed when I was designing posters. Firefox had a big update and it is currently the most 'crashy'.

I'm about to replace the SSD with the original mac hard-drive to see if that solves problems. Not sure if it will affect the performance and latency of Logic, but I guess I'll find out, but I'm worried because I'm in the midst of recording my band's album and I don't want any more hitches in the process.

Are there things I'm overlooking that I could be doing in order to troubleshoot this problem? Are there crash reports somewhere that would give an expert an idea of what is going on? I'd hate to have to go thru all this work and find out it was something simple.

Thanks in advance.

Mac mini (Late 2012)

Posted on Feb 26, 2015 3:52 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

tbirdvet

Level 6

13,653 points

Feb 26, 2015 4:29 PM in response to EnterTheYeti

The mac is very sensitive to RAM design. What brand of RAM did you install? This can cause crashes. I would run the Apple hardware test as noted here:Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support

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Answer 2

EnterTheYeti Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 26, 2015 7:24 PM in response to tbirdvet

Hi tbird.

Although I ran the hardware test recently and found nothing, I tried it again and got a notice that said I had a memory error: 4MEM/62/40000000 ox77885390. Which I assume is my RAM.

I installed PNY brand RAM, which I picked up at Best Buy. I heard about these sensitivities but purchased it anyways as it had an apple logo on it.

I assume I should order the highly rated, Mac specified RAM from Newegg instead of replacing the ram with another set from Best Buy?

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Answer 3

EnterTheYeti Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 26, 2015 7:40 PM in response to EnterTheYeti

Additional information for those who may be able to help:

A friend suggested I restart in recovery mode to repair the disc, all partitions and disc permissions, however when I did it, it immediately crashed out. This is my most recent crash report related to restarting in recovery mode, not sure if this means anything to anyone?

Anonymous UUID:

112DB3A9-92CA-52C5-BC11-9A0648C816A4

Thu Feb 26 20:36:36 2015

*** Panic Report ***

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff800741e80a): Kernel trap at 0xffffff80073d7c33, type 14=page fault, registers:

CR0: 0x000000008001003b, CR2: 0x0000000000000030, CR3: 0x0000000009fe5000, CR4: 0x00000000001626e0

RAX: 0x0000000000000030, RBX: 0xffffff801a76c680, RCX: 0x0000000000000030, RDX: 0x0000000000000000

RSP: 0xffffff81f41abac0, RBP: 0xffffff81f41abaf0, RSI: 0x000000004463b68e, RDI: 0xffffff800ba09588

R8: 0x0000000000000023, R9: 0xfffffffffffff000, R10: 0xffffff800a8d1f00, R11: 0x0000001df0423695

R12: 0x000000000025ab1a, R13: 0xffffff800a8dc000, R14: 0xffffff800ba09588, R15: 0xffffff7f80000000

RFL: 0x0000000000010203, RIP: 0xffffff80073d7c33, CS: 0x0000000000000008, SS: 0x0000000000000010

Fault CR2: 0x0000000000000030, Error code: 0x0000000000000000, Fault CPU: 0x0

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address

0xffffff81f41ab770 : 0xffffff800733a811

0xffffff81f41ab7f0 : 0xffffff800741e80a

0xffffff81f41ab9b0 : 0xffffff800743a443

0xffffff81f41ab9d0 : 0xffffff80073d7c33

0xffffff81f41abaf0 : 0xffffff80073da338

0xffffff81f41abb10 : 0xffffff80073da4b6

0xffffff81f41abb70 : 0xffffff80073be9f3

0xffffff81f41abbf0 : 0xffffff80073c5c3a

0xffffff81f41abc30 : 0xffffff80073c59ce

0xffffff81f41abc60 : 0xffffff80073bce45

0xffffff81f41abca0 : 0xffffff80073b69ea

0xffffff81f41abdb0 : 0xffffff80073acd2c

0xffffff81f41abde0 : 0xffffff80073a9013

0xffffff81f41abe10 : 0xffffff80073431ba

0xffffff81f41abe30 : 0xffffff80078a2486

0xffffff81f41abe50 : 0xffffff7f881d656e

0xffffff81f41abf20 : 0xffffff7f87ffc105

0xffffff81f41abfb0 : 0xffffff80074192c7

	Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
	com.apple.driver.DiskImages.KernelBacked(389.1)[37E985CA-9B0F-37DE-99BF-07D38FAE 5980]@0xffffff7f87ffb000->0xffffff7f8800dfff
	dependency: com.apple.driver.DiskImages(389.1)[E81341E5-7C06-34EA-9D28-33EAB3E87B1F]@0xffff ff7f87fdd000
	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily(2.0)[8C420771-7171-3369-891C-6E24F60E569E]@0xff ffff7f87a82000
	com.apple.driver.DiskImages.UDIFDiskImage(389.1)[00014A18-A85C-357E-A355-833D7A3 6EB7A]@0xffffff7f881d5000->0xffffff7f881dbfff
	dependency: com.apple.driver.DiskImages.KernelBacked(389.1)[37E985CA-9B0F-37DE-99BF-07D38FA E5980]@0xffffff7f87ffb000
	dependency: com.apple.driver.DiskImages(389.1)[E81341E5-7C06-34EA-9D28-33EAB3E87B1F]@0xffff ff7f87fdd000
	dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily(2.0)[8C420771-7171-3369-891C-6E24F60E569E]@0xff ffff7f87a82000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Boot args: rp=file:///com.apple.recovery.boot/BaseSystem.dmg

Mac OS version:

14A389

Kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Fri Sep 19 00:26:44 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2782.1.97~2/RELEASE_X86_64

Kernel UUID: 89E10306-BC78-3A3B-955C-7C4922577E61

Kernel slide:

0x0000000007000000

Kernel text base: 0xffffff8007200000

__HIB text base: 0xffffff8007100000

System model name: Macmini6,2 (Mac-F65AE981FFA204ED)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 32259695466

last loaded kext at 32130670700: com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0 (addr 0xffffff7f89a59000, size 86016)

loaded kexts:

com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltIP 2.0.2

com.apple.iokit.BroadcomBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.3.0f10

com.apple.driver.AppleSMCPDRC 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHV 1

com.apple.driver.AppleMuxControl 3.7.21

com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.7.3

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelFramebufferCapri 10.0.0

com.apple.nke.webcontentfilter 5

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBODD 3.5.0

com.apple.driver.AppleIRController 327.5

com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 3.7.0

com.apple.driver.StorageLynx 3.5.0

com.apple.driver.initioFWBridge 3.5.0

com.apple.driver.IOFireWireSerialBusProtocolSansPhysicalUnit 3.5.0

com.apple.driver.Oxford_Semi 3.5.0

com.apple.driver.LSI_FW_500 3.5.0

com.apple.driver.AppleFireWireStorage 3.5.0

com.apple.driver.DiskImages.SparseDiskImage 389.1

com.apple.driver.DiskImages.ReadWriteDiskImage 389.1

com.apple.driver.DiskImages.UDIFDiskImage 389.1

com.apple.driver.DiskImages.HTTPBackingStore 389.1

com.apple.driver.DiskImages.FileBackingStore 389.1

com.apple.driver.DiskImages.RAMBackingStore 389.1

com.apple.BootCache 35

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1

com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 3.0.1

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless 1.0.0d1

com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 404

com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4331 800.20.24

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 2.6.5

com.apple.iokit.AppleBCM5701Ethernet 10.1.2b3

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 705.4.1

com.apple.driver.AppleSDXC 1.6.5

com.apple.driver.AirPort.Brcm4360 900.19.8

com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 5.5.2

com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 3.0.7

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 705.4.14

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBXHCI 705.4.14

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 3.1

com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.8

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 2.1

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 3.1

com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 218.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementDriver 218.0.0

com.apple.security.quarantine 3

com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 8

com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 161

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 218.0.0

com.apple.kext.MojoKDP 1.0.4

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginLegacy 1.0.0

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothHostControllerUSBTransport 4.3.0f10

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 266.5

com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 266.5

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.2.6

com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert 1.1.0

com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.4.1

com.apple.driver.AppleGraphicsControl 3.7.21

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.12d1

com.apple.driver.X86PlatformPlugin 1.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.9

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 5.8.0d49

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltEDMSink 4.0.2

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPOutAdapter 4.0.6

com.apple.iokit.IOAcceleratorFamily2 156.4

com.apple.AppleGraphicsDeviceControl 3.7.21

com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.4.1

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 705.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHIDKeyboard 175.5

com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard 175.5

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 3.7.0

com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.7

com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.7.1

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 3.7.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 705.4.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 705.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 705.4.9

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 3.7.0

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireSerialBusProtocolTransport 2.5.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 3.7.0

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireSBP2 4.2.5

com.apple.driver.DiskImages.KernelBacked 389.1

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPInAdapter 4.0.6

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltDPAdapterFamily 4.0.6

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltPCIDownAdapter 2.0.2

com.apple.driver.AppleThunderboltNHI 3.1.7

com.apple.iokit.IOThunderboltFamily 4.2.1

com.apple.iokit.IOEthernetAVBController 1.0.3b3

com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 700.52

com.apple.driver.mDNSOffloadUserClient 1.0.1b8

com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 3.2

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.5.6

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.7.0

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 705.4.14

com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 2.0.0

com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1

com.apple.security.sandbox 300.0

com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1

com.apple.driver.AppleKeyStore 2

com.apple.driver.AppleMobileFileIntegrity 1.0.5

com.apple.driver.DiskImages 389.1

com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 2.0

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 4.3.0f10

com.apple.driver.AppleFDEKeyStore 28.30

com.apple.iokit.IOReportFamily 31

com.apple.driver.AppleCredentialManager 1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 3.1

com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.9

com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.4

com.apple.kec.pthread 1

com.apple.kec.Libm 1

com.apple.kec.corecrypto 1.0

Model: Macmini6,2, BootROM MM61.0106.B03, 4 processors, Intel Core i7, 2.3 GHz, 16 GB, SMC 2.8f1

Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Built-In

Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x01BA, 0x202020202020202020202020202020202020

Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM0, 8 GB, DDR3, 1600 MHz, 0x01BA, 0x202020202020202020202020202020202020

AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x10E), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (7.15.159.13.12)

Bluetooth: Version 4.3.2f6 15235, 3 services, 27 devices, 1 incoming serial ports

Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1

Serial ATA Device: Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB, 250.06 GB

USB Device: Hub

USB Device: Apple USB SuperDrive

USB Device: USB 2.0 Hub

USB Device: Keyboard Hub

USB Device: Apple Keyboard

USB Device: USB Keyboard

USB Device: Hub

USB Device: IR Receiver

USB Device: BRCM20702 Hub

USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller

USB Device: USB Receiver

FireWire Device: G-DRIVE, HGST, Up to 800 Mb/sec

Thunderbolt Bus: Mac mini, Apple Inc., 23.4

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Answer 4

lllaass

Level 10

210,411 points

Feb 27, 2015 2:09 AM in response to EnterTheYeti

Try inspecting the contact in the memory slots and on the memory sticks. Clean them as necessary. It may be that the overheating oxidized some contact surfaces in the slot contacts.

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Answer 5

Feb 27, 2015 3:59 AM in response to EnterTheYeti

Get rid of the PNY RAM, they are trash!!!!!!! They were supposedly

"Mac compatible".

I had purchased that brand and put it in my 27", late 2013 iMac

and had periodic unexplained app crashes and kernel panics, especially

once I upgraded to Yosemite. I should have known better but I was

eager to expand the RAM.

I replaced that junk RAM with RAM from OWC and my system has been

running without issue for many months now.

Do yourself a favor and bite the bullet and replace that trash RAM.

Reply

Answer 6

tbirdvet

Level 6

13,653 points

Feb 27, 2015 4:12 AM in response to lllaass

I suspect the RAM. I use Crucial and no issues in my 2012 unit. If you have the original RAM you can install and see if that has an impact then you will know.

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Answer 7

EnterTheYeti Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 27, 2015 3:26 PM in response to EnterTheYeti

Thanks folks. I'm going to order some decent ram and consider this problem solved. If I have more problems I'll start another thread.

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