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Advice / Best Mac Mini model for upgrade

Hi guys,


Which do you think of the previous Mac Mini models admits the most intense and also cost-benefits hardware upgrades?


I would like to buy an used Mac Mini for Office Work and browsing the Net. Anyhow i would like to be reasonable fast.


I have seen than previous model admit really interesting hardware upgrades like an a internal SDD or having two drives disks as well and important RAM boost as well. Not the new model. Here is a list of the upgrades regarding models


http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/mac-mini/


There is this website that sell used models and i was wondering which could be the best choice for buying and doing a RAM and SDD later on.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Apple-Systems/Used/Mac-mini?APC=READERSPC&Source= Blast15Jul3



Thanks for any help ;-)

iPhone 3GS, iOS 6.1.6

Posted on Jul 3, 2015 8:05 AM

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Posted on Jul 3, 2015 9:02 AM

Hands down the Late 2012.


I recently put a 240GB SSD into the lower (the original HDD) bay and move the 500GB HGST 7200rpm that I was using into the upper bay with the OWCs data doubler kit. So far I have only up graded one of the 2GB module to an 8GB module for a total on 10GB and it is plenty for my usage. I also run dual 21.5 Samsung DVI monitors and it handles anything that I throw it's way very nicely.


The Mid 2010 that I have is a very good machine as well. It is also if fitted with an HGST 7200rpm HDD, 8GB of RAM and for several years it also ran dual DVI monitors without any trouble.


FWIW, both model will run warm when running graphic's intense activities and dual monitors. To protect then from cooking, I use Macs-fan-control and have it set up to slowly ramp up the fan in order to maintain more consistent CPU and GPU temperatures.

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Question marked as Best reply

Jul 3, 2015 9:02 AM in response to uzapucax

Hands down the Late 2012.


I recently put a 240GB SSD into the lower (the original HDD) bay and move the 500GB HGST 7200rpm that I was using into the upper bay with the OWCs data doubler kit. So far I have only up graded one of the 2GB module to an 8GB module for a total on 10GB and it is plenty for my usage. I also run dual 21.5 Samsung DVI monitors and it handles anything that I throw it's way very nicely.


The Mid 2010 that I have is a very good machine as well. It is also if fitted with an HGST 7200rpm HDD, 8GB of RAM and for several years it also ran dual DVI monitors without any trouble.


FWIW, both model will run warm when running graphic's intense activities and dual monitors. To protect then from cooking, I use Macs-fan-control and have it set up to slowly ramp up the fan in order to maintain more consistent CPU and GPU temperatures.

Jul 4, 2015 3:31 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks for the extra info den.thed,


I am looking for a used late 2012 and there is quite a variation of price range. The i7 model even as 3 years used cost as much as the brand new model 2014 with a bit lower specs. But it is brand new 😕


http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Mini-MD388LL-Desktop-VERSION/dp/B007477COO/ref=sr_1_ 2?ie=UTF8&qid=1436005237&sr=8-2&keywords=mac+mini+late+2012


Maybe i am looking in the wrong place. Do you or anybody has a suggestion where to look for used models beside Amazon and OWC?


Best -:)

Jul 4, 2015 8:32 AM in response to lllaass

I was thinking the same thing.


There are some 2012 i5s and i7s on Craigslist in my local area. It also seems like most of the sellers have caught onto the fact that they are special and worth more than they were new.


I saw one 2021 i5 at $600 and another with 8GB of RAM at $800

I also saw several 2012 i7s that were going for anywhere from $1000 to $1300

Jul 6, 2015 12:11 PM in response to den.thed

Yes you are right it is amazing what people is asking for the Mac Mini Late 2012 model. I guess it might be a mix of both things, the model is better and more upgradable than the new ones and also there is a certain collector items feel to it.


I don't if Amazon could be a goodl place to look for. I don't like when the put real photos of the product but all perfect Photoshop Studio pictures. I found this used one for $429.-


http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Mini-MD387LL-Desktop-VERSION/dp/B007476KRY/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436209722&sr=8-1&keywords=mac+mini+2012


what do you think?

Jul 6, 2015 5:11 PM in response to uzapucax

Yes, thae2.5GHz i5 is a Late 2012.


The newer model listed, the 1.4GHz i5 is a Late 2014


also check out > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_Mini

User uploaded file


I would first check to see if I couldn't get that Refurbished one that is eligible for Applecare.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B007476KRY/ref=dp_olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8 &condition=refurbished


Edit: careful though, after looking closer it maybe either a mixed up or a bate and you'll end up with a late 2014 instead....???????

Jul 7, 2015 3:56 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks for the good info ;-)


Very good comparison between models from Wikipedia. I did also checked


http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/index-macmini.html


If the Amazon post. They are selling the



Late 2012 most basic model

MD387*/A


2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5,

4 Gb,

500 HDD at

Refurbished

$ 579



Late 2014

MGEM2*/A

1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5

4GB memory

500GB hard drive1

Intel HD Graphics 5000

Brand New

$ 499


I guess is the Refurbished is done right (i don´t know if that is an Apple Refurbished or not) still the used one while a bit expensive is a better option because is more cheaply upgradable and has a faster processor, right?


What would you do?

Jul 7, 2015 4:12 PM in response to uzapucax

uzapucax wrote:


I guess if the Refurbished is done right (i don´t know if that is an Apple Refurbished or not) still the used one while a bit expensive is a better option because is more cheaply upgradable and has a faster processor, right?


Right... I don't think that it is from Apple though, because I haven't seen any 2012s in their refurbished section for quite some time.


http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac


What would you do?


Hard to say now! After rolling the dice several times, I bought a new 2012 on clearence for $430 just about a month before the 2014 model was released.


Personally I would shop around for one locally that I could test instead of buying one sight unseen form Amazon.

Advice / Best Mac Mini model for upgrade

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