What do I have to know about the Mac mini 2011/12 before buying?

[Cox Orange]

Hello,

is there anything I have to beware of or take care of, when buying a used MacMini from 2011 or 2012 (or maybe 2009)?

Any recommendations?

I need an Intel-Mac that is capable of running "Sonic Visualizer". I thought about older MacBooks or MacBookPros, but since I wanted to maybe use a bigger screen anyway... I thought a MacMini would be better. Also I like it, if I don't loose much room on the table.

Are the 2012 MacMinis still user-upgradable re HDD and RAM?

I also plan to sell it again in October, when I have time to make a longer (and thought through) buying decision, so maybe price dropping might be something to look for, too.

Also it has to have Firewire.

Thanks!

 

[cocacolakid]

Everything except the 2014 mini can be upgraded with HD and ram.

The 2012 is holding it's value more than previous models simply because it's the most powerful mini available, far more powerful than the crippled 2014 versions that are only dual core (and not user upgradeable).

The 2011 mini's also are core i series chips, solid computers.

The 2010's are core 2 duo's and significantly lower power than either the 2011 or 2012 versions.

If you go all the way back to the 2009 models, it's the other form factor which is not as easy to open the case and do upgrades.

All of those models have Firewire 800 ports.

 

[Cox Orange]

I would be fine with the older form factor, since it is smaller (though higher, of course), but I will think about it a bit longer, which one of the 2009-2012 ones I will take in the end.


PS: or is it better to maybe buy a 13 or 15" book and connect that to an external display? I have to dig for prices.

 

[Thanks pal]

Sonic Visualiser is pervasively multithreaded, loves multiprocessor and multicore systems, and can make good use of fast processors with plenty of memory.

http://www.sonicvisualiser.org/features.html

Get the 2012 2.6GHz quad core i7 if you can find one.

 

[Cox Orange]

Yes, but

he work Sonic Visualiser does is intrinsically processor-hungry and (often) memory-hungry, but the aim is to allow you to work with long audio files on machines with modest CPU and memory where reasonable. (Disk space is another matter. Sonic Visualiser eats that.)

Someone tested it for me on a Windows machine and his Intel Xeon E3-1231 v3, 4x 3.40GHz and a 50MB wav file took 2% CPU usage during analysation.

 

[Fishrrman]

There is at least one very important reason to choose a late-2012 Mini over a 2011:

The late 2012 has USB3.
The 2011 has USB2.

USB3 is worth having...

 

[dyt1983]

edit: To remove personally identifying info not relevant to the conversation.

 

[mojolicious]

There is at least one very important reason to choose a late-2012 Mini over a 2011:

The late 2012 has USB3.
The 2011 has USB2.

Yep. As a 2011 owner, the thing I most envy 2012ers is the USB3. It makes life so much less dull when doing disky stuff.

 

[Cox Orange]

Thanks for the input to all.

Good to have a real life experience stated about the work-load on a dual-core.

I am now also considering a Book or an iMac (maybe with broken screen) that I can use via external display.
I will have to look through everymac.com's comparison-site and look if other options (feature-wise and price-wise) than the Mini are other options for me.

The USB-3 point is also valid, though, once I have loaded the testfiles on the internal drive, I think I could live without it, having Firewire800.
From my experience on my PowerPC-Mac with USB2 (an ibook G4 mid 2005) USB2 gets one about 16MB/s, while USB2 on PCs is reported to reach the full theoretical throughput of USB2. Is that still the same for Intel-Macs, that USB2 is even slower than usual SUB2?

 

[Cox Orange]

I looked around a bit...

Looks like a 2012 MacMini (base model) will cost 400,-EUR on Ebay.
iMac 2012 21" base models arround 600,-EUR.
MacBook Air 2012 1,7GHz 450,-EUR (236,-EUR with defective Display, but external works).
A Mac Pro 1st Gen 2,66GHz btw. would cost 200,-EUR (though that would not meet my "take little space" criteria, it is certainly a steel, looking, that I could probably add a USB3 PCIe card, right?)

Other Mac Minis:
2011 i5 2,5GHz 225,-EUR (guess that was only once) usually 300,-EUR
2010 = 300,-EUR as ell
C2D 2,26GHz, 2,4GHz 230,-EUR and 2,5GHz for 300,-EUR.

Looks like everything but 2012 model costs about 300,- EUR.

My other option is to built a Linux machine with Intel G1840 for (35,-EUR CPU, 30-50,-EUR for Mainboard, rest I have laying around), but considering, that I have a time problem, I guess learning a new OS would not be wise, right? Even with a pre-packed Ubuntu install, I guess the install alone could be more troublesome, than just sticking to what I know, a Mac.

 

[Cox Orange]

I made a decision!

I will try to get a MacMini 2012.

Though a 1.1 Mac Pro even with 3GHz can be had for 200,- including shipping and the "drawers" are tempting, I guess it is insane to save the 180-200 bucks more, because a MacMini 2012

- saves the 200,-EUR a Mac Pro would cost more after 6h use a day for 1year on the electricity bill
- several drives can be realized via USB3 external cases, also they won't ahve to run all the time, like in the Mac Pro
- I get my aim of using up as less place as possible
- it will probably be even a small tad faster in some scenarios

As has always been with the Minis, the graphics card is the only weak point.

I will buy a 2012 MacMini for the meantime and in October, when I have a lot of time, I will decide weather to keep it or replace it. I hope the price drop is not that much in these 10 months. (Well, this would be a plus for the MP, because it can't get lower as 180,- as I have seen for some models ).

@ dyt1983:
you mentioned the GPU. Will it be ok for the 2012 Mini?


THANKS to you all!

 

[Neodym]

Get the 2012 2.6GHz quad core i7 if you can find one.

I would stay away from the 2.6, as it runs too hot and thus the fan can quickly become annoying. IMHO the 2.3 is the sweet spot to aim for.

 

[thedeske]

There is at least one very important reason to choose a late-2012 Mini over a 2011:

The late 2012 has USB3.
The 2011 has USB2.

USB3 is worth having...

USB3 is THE #1 reason to get the 12. The last to have firewire (if you need it) and Tbolt is there as well. Most complete Mini Ever IF you add a 3rd party SSD
and max the Ram. Last Flexible Mini before the FAIL of 2014/15.

 

[Cox Orange]

I need the FW for my audio-interface. Though USB3 would be great (thunderbolt external enclosures seem a bit pricey still), I think for quick drive use, I can just put a second HDD in there (besides an SSD). If it is right what I read on everymac.com (it says SATA6Gb/s 2x).

I would stay away from the 2.6, as it runs too hot and thus the fan can quickly become annoying. IMHO the 2.3 is the sweet spot to aim for.

Oh, that's good to know. Noise would be a real issue to me. It seemed that there were a few 2012 minis at the weekend, but they went pricier than the one I saw under completed auctions from Nov.. Seems kind of a christmas price rise is still going on.
Sine there are not as much 2012 minis as I previously thought, I am now considerin an older iMac, as well, so I don't have to get a display (that's the only reason for me), of course I won't have USB3 then, but well,...

 

[Omega Mac]

There is at least one very important reason to choose a late-2012 Mini over a 2011:

The late 2012 has USB3.
The 2011 has USB2.

USB3 is worth having...

That probably the most crucial line in the sand.

USB 3 means you can have a meaningful and viable external boot option from an external USB drive that could also be an ext SSD so you'd get the speed performance with probably a larger choice of cases etc. than even thunderbolt and therfore cheaper too. I'll be investigating this myself.

If you get the server with 2 x 1TB's you coudl run these as a raid 0 for your crucial data and boot from ext.

Basically you have A LOT more options with USB3 & TB on such a little box is nifty.

 

[Neodym]

It seemed that there were a few 2012 minis at the weekend, but they went pricier than the one I saw under completed auctions from Nov.. Seems kind of a christmas price rise is still going on.

I think most people have now realized the value of the 2012 mini and thus some people try to get higher prices from those desperately searching. Until a (hopefully improved) Broadwell or Skylake mini appears, prices for a 2012 probably won't come down.

Sine there are not as much 2012 minis as I previously thought, I am now considerin an older iMac, as well, so I don't have to get a display (that's the only reason for me), of course I won't have USB3 then, but well,...

Starting with the Mid-2011, iMacs came with Thunderbolt, so with a good deal you may have money left for a TB dock adding USB3 (a TB dock with USB3 may btw. also be an option to allow for a 2011 mini instead of the much-sought-after 2012's).

Beware though: While very few iMac models were easy to open and upgrade DIY, the 2012 onward models are particularly difficult there. Thus the machine should more or less already offer what you need. Pre-2012 iMacs are easier to open for internal tinkering (yet still not as easy as the mini), but are notorious for problems with overheating, GPU failures and picture quality deterioration from hot PSU's and dust getting between screen and front glass.

Also, with an iMac the machine and the screen can't be placed away of each other to reduce noise (unless you'd buy a second screen, which negates your reason to consider an iMac).

----------

There is at least one very important reason to choose a late-2012 Mini over a 2011:

The late 2012 has USB3.
The 2011 has USB2.

USB3 is worth having...

... and with a Thunderbolt dock you can add USB3 to a 2011 mini as well, in case you didn't manage to catch one of the 2012's ...

 

[Cox Orange]

Great info, you made some good points I should consider.

What I think about the heating/GPU/dust problems, though, is, that if the PSU has survived till now, it may be a good sign, but who knows... It could either be, that one fails every 4 weeks and then is brought back to life and then I am the lucky one who buys it.

Upgradability is important, too, to me. I knew the more recent iMacs are bad too tinker with, but I wasn't sure, when it started. When again, did they start to solder the RAM in the 21,5" models and make it unaccessable from the bottom? Is it just the last generation?
I will buy an iMac only, if I happen to find a really good deal, I think. On the other hand I migth just save the time for searching and comparing prices of completed auctions and stick to the 2011 and 2012 Mini.

Well, ok, I might better get one of the minis.

If I decide I can live without USB3 and TB, I guess I shouldn't go lower than an i- CPU, right?
I mean in the years from 2010 downwards the price stays pretty similar now matter how weak the C2D is that came with one of the previous gens.

Btw. I actually planned to get a flicker-free (without PWM) screen to use with it. So this is another point against an iMac.

 

[Celerondon]

Does It Idle at 1800 rpm Like the i5 2.5 and i7 2.3?

http://www.sonicvisualiser.org/features.html

Get the 2012 2.6GHz quad core i7 if you can find one.

I would stay away from the 2.6, as it runs too hot and thus the fan can quickly become annoying. IMHO the 2.3 is the sweet spot to aim for.

Which is correct? Get the 2012 2.6 or stay away from the sizzling beast.

I have a 2.3 but I never knew that the 2.6 was that different. My 2.3 is dead quiet until I put it to work. Does it take less load to make the 2.6 exceed the 1800 rpm fan idle speed?

 

[Fishrrman]

Neodym wrote above:
[[ I would stay away from the 2.6, as it runs too hot and thus the fan can quickly become annoying. ]]

I've owned a late-2012 2.6 i7 Mini for two years now, used up to 10 hours daily, and the fans have never been annoying.

Only a few times have I even noticed them AT ALL, and that was "early on" in the ownership.

 

[Cox Orange]

Hm, so maybe it changes through its lifetime? Build up of dust or a fan that wore out?

 

[Celerondon]

Hm, so maybe it changes through its lifetime? Build up of dust or a fan that wore out?

Naw, I doubt it. Dust can be cleaned out and fans should last equally well on either of the two 2012 i7 options. Why would the 2.6 be handicapped?


Fishrrman's experience with fan noise is similar to mine. Sometimes I get so caught up in my video workflow that I am confused momentarily when I become aware of a low whooshing sound. The noise means that I am nearly finished. Handbrake is a different story. I know what is coming when I click that pineapple!

 

[Cox Orange]

I have bought one!

Unfortunately I didn't think it through enough, allthough I had thought forth and back.
I now have 2,4GHz C2D 2010 Mini with 8GB RAM (can unofficially be upgraded to 16GB, though) and a 500GB Samsung Evo840 SSD. No keyboard+mouse.
I paid 448,-EUR.

I saw 2,4GHz 2010 Minis with 2-4GB RAM around 320-350,-EUR in November.

If you add the price for
4GB RAM = 25-30EUR (incl shipping)
500GB Samsung evo840 SSD = 170-180,-EUR (incl. shipping)

So, it is ok. But on the other hand the 2012 Minis range from 330,- (that was a singular event, I think) and 380-550,- with the base config (Nov-Jan.).

I guess I will see it this way. Now I have something to work with and have more time to search for a 2012 Mini. Then, when I have one, I will sell the 2010 and put in a 640GB 5400rpm HDD I have here in it (current worth on Ebay 35-45eur) and keep the SSD and the 2012 Mini.

Well, ok, that may be over priced somehow, but on the other hand with the SSD it is not hurting that much, I guess. The pricing is crazy anyway, as if there is no reason behind it.

I know, I don't have USB3 nor TB, now... also a C2D even at the same clock speed as an i5 is considerably slower. I will see, if I recognise that.

Naw, I doubt it. Dust can be cleaned out and fans should last equally well on either of the two 2012 i7 options. Why would the 2.6 be handicapped?


Fishrrman's experience with fan noise is similar to mine. Sometimes I get so caught up in my video workflow that I am confused momentarily when I become aware of a low whooshing sound. The noise means that I am nearly finished. Handbrake is a different story. I know what is coming when I click that pineapple!

No of course the fans should be similar in one generation, but if one person uses his mini more often as the other, the first one's fan might get worn out earlier, that was what I wanted to say. (Although I have seen in the last ibook G4 Generation, in 4 ibooks, that there were two different fans used by Apple).

Interesting to know, that Handbrake puts such a stress on it.

 

[adamcarvell]

I got the i7 2012 mini on thursday got handbrake today and its the first time i heard the fan running mine!.

 

[Cox Orange]

Hi, again.

Do I need an adapter like this http://www.ebay.de/itm/Tosl-SSD-Dat...otebook_Gehäuse_Touchpads&hash=item5d5401cf49 if I want to install a second HDD?

 

[Cox Orange]

I'm such a weirdo!!!

So, I reconsidered...

I have the above Mini 2010 now an, but I had to order a hdmi-dvi adapter. (4,-EUR). So I can test on Friday.

I did a bit math and considerations. I tried to estimate the value of certain offers without upgrades.

This is what I have now.

The one I bought

2010 Mac Mini, 2,4GHz

448,68 eur

- 170,-eur 512Gb SSD
- 20,-eur 4GB RAM

+ 30,-eur 320GB HDD

= 288,68eur

When I resell it:
keep the SSD

+ put in 30-40,- 640GB HDD

effective cost = 328,68

Private offer in another forum

570,-EUR Mac MIni late 2012, i5 2,5GHz, 8GB RAM, 120GB SSD

+ 3 years Gravis-Shop warranty (invoice from Sept., 19th, 2014)
"includes faults in the material or production, costs for repairing and parts"

- 40,-eur Magic Mouse (sealed)
- 40,-eur Keyboard blutooth (sealed)
- 50-65,-eur Samsung Evo840 120GB SATA-III SSD (estimated 60,-)
- 20,- 4GB RAM

+25-30,-eur 500GB HDD (estimated 30,-)

actual device worth = ca. 440,-EUR

Seller-shop 1

549,-EUR Mac MIni late 2012, i5 2,5GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD
+ 1 year manufacturer guarantee (EU demands 2 years, apple sends one away, seller tries to send away, so maybe you don't get the 2 years in real life, but on the other hand, it is law.)

new sealed

seller-shop 2

649,-eur 2014 mac mini i5-4278U 2x2,6GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD.
+ 1 year warranty (see above)

new sealed

I would have to get a thunderbolt-Firewire adapter, that makes
+20-25,-EUR

= 674,-eur

COMPARISON OF PRICES (only lower bids taken into account)

L 2009
2,66ghz 320gb, 4gb 250?
500GB, 8GB 300,-

2010:
6/2010 2,4GHz, 2GB, 320GB 309,- (So.19:10) / 343,- / (+Maus+Trackpad+Tastatur) 330,- /
2010 C2D 2,4 Ghz, 4GB, 320GB, Tastatur+Track+Maus+10.6.3DVD = 340,- (18.1. 19Uhr)
2010 2,66GHZ, 5GB RAM, 320GB 340,- (1TB 408,-)

2012:
general overview 2012 i5 2,5GHz, 4GB, 500GB 330-380 (January: 416,- /+120SSD 495,-)

7.dez 407,- (ohne OS)
10.dez. 336,- (ohne OS)
18.Jan 472,- (incl. keys+mouse + hdmi-dvi-adapter, OS only installed)
18.jan 412+7,50 (18:33o'clock) ohne Angaben, nur 2012 + invoice 2014

22.Oct 451,-
3.nov 400,99 ohne HD
427,-
11.nov 440,- (256gb ssd statt 500gb hdd)
16.nov 429,-
7.dez 407,-
437,- (+Rapoo-keyboard + Touchpad)
10.dez. 335,- (os dvd)
12.dez 409,-
13.dez 433,-
14.dez 407
19.dez 450,-
21.dez. 371,00
01.Jan 451,-
08.Jan 451,- +warranty
10.Jan 432,50 (+4GB)
18.Jan 472,- (incl. keys+mouse + hdmi-dvi-adapter, OS only installed)
20.Jan 429,-
20.Jan (-14 o'clock) 587,50 2x 2GB RAM given along (15-20,-) 2x 8GB (60,-) + hdmi Adapter to DVI (4,-EUR).

8GB 2012-RAM = 45-50,-EUR
4GB = 12-16,-EUR

Plan1:
- sell 2010 Mini
- get 2012 Mini (or/+ Macbook Pro 2008, 2,4GHz, 6GB RAM, 250GB HDD = 200,-EUR for taking the library, in case the Open Office documents can't be migrated from my ibook-2005 to the mini at home. If the ibook's Open Office documents are compatible, I don't need the macbook Pro)
Usage: Mini-2012 for Sonic Visualizer and MacBookPro-2008 (or ibook) for Library writing documents and having a look into SV's data
- sell MacBook Pro after Oct. (final exam)

Plan2:
- sell Mini-2010
- get G1840-based-PC with Linux for 216,-eur new (or parts for 100,- plus parts I have already) for Sonic + take existing ibook for writing documents in the library (or laptop for 300,- Lenovo B50-70, Core i3-4005U, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, but buy new?)
- sell PC in October and get (then cheaper???) 2012-Mini for new life after October.