Buy Mac Mini 2012 __HOT__
The Apple Mac mini "Core i5" 2.5 (Late 2012/Aluminum Unibody) features a 22-nm "Ivy Bridge" 2.5 GHz Intel "Core i5" (3210M) processor with two independent processor "cores" on a single chip, a 3 MB shared level 3 cache, 4 GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-12800) memory, a 500 GB hard drive, and Intel HD Graphics 4000 which shares system memory. It does not have an internal optical drive, although an external one was offered for US$79. Connectivity includes a Firewire "800" port, four USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, Thunderbolt, combined "audio line in (digital/analog)" and combined "audio line out/headphone (digital/analog)" minijacks, a 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet port, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and an SDXC card slot.Compared to its predecessor, this model looks identical, but it has a faster internal architecture with a faster processor, faster graphics, faster RAM, and USB 3.0 ports.All Mac mini systems are configured by default without a display, keyboard, or mouse, but numerous Apple and third-party options are available.Also see: What are all the differences between the "Late 2012" Aluminum Mac mini models? Which is best for my needs?
What are all the differences between the "Late 2012" Aluminum Mac mini models and the models replaced?
buy mac mini 2012
Buying a used Mac mini from OWC is wise for anyone looking to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a small yet mighty desktop computer. We have various Mac mini models in gently used conditions ready for you to configure. Find one that best suits your needs!
Their small form factor makes them suitable for any room, and most models have HDMI ports, so you can connect an HDTV or use the built-in Bluetooth to stream your favorite podcast or connect a pair of wireless headphones for watching Netflix, YouTube, and more. Also, many of our used Mac mini models have Thunderbolt ports to connect an array of high-speed devices.
Are you a professional on the go? You can take a Mac mini with you everywhere. It can be a great alternative to a laptop, especially for creative professionals that collaborate with clients outside of their working environment. You can enjoy the performance features of a desktop computer with the bonus of added mobility!
Mac Mini (stylized as Mac mini) is a small form factor desktop computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. As of 2022[update], it is positioned between the consumer all-in-one iMac and the professional Mac Studio and Mac Pro as one of four current Mac desktop computers. Since launch, it has shipped without a display, keyboard, and mouse. The machine was initially branded as "BYODKM" (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse) as a strategic pitch to encourage users to switch from Windows and Linux computers.
The Mac Mini G4 has two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port. Networking is supported with 10/100 Ethernet and a 56k V.92 modem, while 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth were additional, build-to-order options. External displays are supported via a DVI port, and adapters for VGA, S-Video, and composite video output were available. The system contains a built-in speaker and an 1/8-inch stereo mini jack for analog sound output. The new Wi-Fi card no longer used an MMCX-Female connector for the antenna, as do prior models, but rather a proprietary Apple one.[19]
The Intel-based Mac Mini includes four USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port. The I/O ports were changed with the early 2009 revision, adding a fifth USB 2.0 and swapping the FireWire 400 port for a FireWire 800 port. An infrared receiver was added, allowing the use of an Apple Remote. Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and 802.11g Wi-Fi became standard and the Ethernet port was upgraded to Gigabit. A built-in 56k modem was no longer available.[42] The 2009 models added 802.11 draft-n and later 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth was upgraded from 2.0 to 2.1. External displays are supported through a DVI port. The 2009 models have Mini-DVI and Mini DisplayPort video output, allowing the use of two displays. The Mini DisplayPort supports displays with a resolution up to 25601600, which allows use of the 30-inch Cinema Display. The Intel-based Mac Mini has separate Mini-TOSLINK/3.5 mm mini-jacks that support both analog audio input and output, and optical digital S/PDIF input and output.[43][44]
In July 2011, a hardware update was announced; models were now fitted with a Thunderbolt port, dual-core Intel Core i5 and 4-core i7 CPUs, support for up to 16 GB of memory, Bluetooth 4.0, and either an Intel HD Graphics 3000 integrated graphics or an AMD Radeon HD 6630M dedicated graphics. The revision, however, removed the internal CD/DVD optical drive. The server model was upgraded to a quad-core Core i7 processor. Apple updated the line in October 2012, with Ivy Bridge processors, USB 3.0, and upgraded graphics.[60] In October 2014, the line was updated with Haswell processors, improved graphics, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Thunderbolt 2 ports, one of which replaced the FireWire 800 port. The price of the base model was lowered by $100. Two holes that were used to open the case were removed from the case because the memory, being soldered to the logic board, was no longer upgradable. Because the integrated GPU does not have its own dedicated memory, the system shares some of the main system memory with it.[61] 4K video output via HDMI was added.[62]
Comparing the high-end models of both releases, the 2012 model has a 4-core, 8-thread Intel Core i7-3720QM whereas the 2014 model has a 2-core, 4-thread Intel Core i7-4578U. The 2014 updated model has Intel Iris graphics (GT3), which greatly outperforms the Intel HD Graphics 4000 (GT2) in the previous models.[63] The 2014 CPUs were more energy-efficient: their maximal thermal design power (TDP) was 62% lower than that of the 2012 models.[64][65] The 2014 revision underwent internal process transition to dual-core CPUs, performing a lower-quality of multi-threaded workloads compared to the quad-core processors in the 2012 model, though the single-threaded workload interactions speeds increased.[66]
Pre-2009 models have a video connector that is compatible with DVI, HDMI (video only), SVGA, S-Video, and composite video with appropriate adapters; for audio output, it has both the analog mini-headphone port and a digital optical fiber port.[144] The addition of a HDMI port on the 2010 Mac Mini simplified connection to high-definition televisions and home theater AV receivers. The HDMI port supports video resolutions of up to 1080p and eight-channel, 24-bit audio at 192 kHz, and Dolby Surround 5.1 and stereo output. The 2014 model added 4K output, and the 2018 model supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and HDR10, and uses the macOS Catalina operating system.[62][94]
The 2012 Mac Mini held a special place in many hearts thanks to how easy it was to upgrade. It remains Apple's last properly upgradeable Mac Mini, and even in 2020 can be a pretty handy little computer with the right bits inside. Here we'll walk you through breathing new life into your old Mac for not a lot of money.
The 2012 model remains to this day Apple's last, properly upgradeable Mac Mini. On more recent models, users have been able to upgrade some bits, such as the RAM in the 2018 release, but in the 2012 model, you can go ahead and get really crazy.
Not everyone will want to do this, but it is possible to install a second drive in the 2012 Mac Mini to maximize its storage potential. You could reuse the existing hard drive, but since it's over six years old, it makes much better sense to use a fresh one.
A new Mac is an expensive thing; there's no denying that. Ultimate performance will always be better on newer models. Still, if you're looking for a really expensive way to get into Mac computing, or want a solid secondary machine, you can do a lot worse than picking up a used 2012 Mac Mini and upgrading it.
This kind of setup has long been possible to create yourself, but Apple's trying to make it totally seamless and automatic. Basically, here's how it works: the first 128GB of data you put onto the hard drive of your iMac or Mac mini (including the OS itself) goes onto the computer's SSD. For most people, the 1TB spinning drive will be totally superfluous because 128GB is a lot of storage, but if you do fill it up, anything you add after goes onto the regular hard drive. Then, if you access something from the spinning disk often enough (Apple reps say two or three times in a reasonably short period), it gets moved to the solid-state drive so it can be accessed and used more easily. Apple's software figures out which data on the SSD you haven't accessed in a while, and moves it to the larger drive to make room for the files you need.
Supported by the following Mac models:MacBook (2016 or newer)
MacBook Air (2018 or newer)
MacBook Pro (2016 or newer)
Mac mini (2018 or newer)
iMac (late 2015 or newer)
iMac Pro (2017 or newer)
Mac Pro (2019)
Supported by all iPad models with Apple Pencil support:12.9-inch iPad Pro
11-inch iPad Pro
10.5-inch iPad Pro
9.7-inch iPad Pro
iPad (6th generation or later)
iPad mini (5th generation)
iPad Air (3rd generation)
Update On 10 December 2012, Apple posted the called for Mac Mini HDMI-centric firmware update, after this review was written and published. We will be testing the machine with the new code, and will report back here shortly.
Measuring 1.4 by 7.7 by 7.7 inches (HWD), the compact Mac mini is small enough to sit unobtrusively on your desk, next to your display and keyboard. The rounded corners and subtle curves will be familiar looking to anyone that's seen an Apple product in the last few years. Unlike other tiny desktops that set up vertically, like the Polywell Poly i1000A-3770T, the Mac mini sticks with the low horizontal design it has used for years. On the top is a glossy black Apple logo; on the bottom is a round black plastic hatch. It can be opened without any tools, giving you a limited view of the internals, only providing real access to a few specific components. RAM modules can be added and swapped, the fan removed for cleaning, though the rest of the components can be accessed, assuming you have the necessary tools and a lot of patience. In such a small, tightly packed package, there's not really room for upgrades. 041b061a72