#Mac mini 2012 memory upgrade 32gb mac#
Using a business card again for support, slide the new SSD into place until the screws lock into place on the bracket inside the Mac Mini.
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Connect the same ribbon cable to the new SSD's SATA connectors.Detach the ribbon cable from the existing hard drive.Detach the Torx T8 screws from the existing hard drive.Īttach those same screws to the left-hand side of your new SSD.Pull the existing hard drive clear of the Mac Mini. Carefully detach the SATA cable for the hard drive from the logic board.Slide a business card or something similar beneath the existing hard drive and prize it up slightly.Pull away the black shroud and set it aside.Ĭarefully pull the fan away from the logic board.Remove the two screws on the fan and the single screw on the black shroud. Move the shroud to one side carefully, making sure you don't snap the cable.Remove the screws on the wireless shroud. The base should simply pull away, but may need prying with a plastic tool or even a credit card.Place your thumbs in the circular divots and twist the base anti-clockwise. Data transfer speeds will be at least four times faster, and that will make a huge difference in the day-to-day running of your Mac Mini. One of the best upgrades to make is to swap out the old mechanical hard drive for an SSD. Set aside a couple of hours, and you'll be able to bring your old Mac back to life.īetter than using your fingers, this pry tool kit is worth having in your tool kit for those hard to remove and tiny parts. None of these parts are particularly expensive, and none of the work is particularly complicated or time-consuming. You can upgrade the RAM to a maximum of 16GB you can swap out the internal hard drive for an SSD, and even add a second drive for even more storage. 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. The 2012 model remains to this day Apple's last, properly upgradeable Mac Mini. Magic cable: Mac Mini second drive kit ($15 at Amazon).Right tools: ORIA Magnetic Screwdriver set ($18 at Amazon).A second hard drive: Seagate Firecuda 1TB ($63 at Amazon).The right cable: AmazonBasics miniDP to DP ($11 at Amazon).Blowing cobwebs: Canned air ($11 at Newegg).More memory: Crucial 16GB RAM kit ($90 at Amazon).New storage: Kingston 480GB SSD ($56 at Amazon).Here we'll walk you through breathing new life into your old Mac for not a lot of money. 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. It's always best to use matching pairs when installing RAM for best performance.The 2012 Mac Mini held a special place in many hearts thanks to how easy it was to upgrade. If you don't need this much, simply grab a 16GB kit made up of a pair of 8GB RAM sticks. Those aren't exactly easy to find.įor just over $200, however, you can get a Crucial 32GB SO-DIMM DDR4 RAM kit that will make a terrific upgrade to any 2018 Mac Mini.
#Mac mini 2012 memory upgrade 32gb install#
The happier news is you can install up to 64GB of RAM in the 2018 Mac Mini, though as you only have two slots available, the only way to achieve this is with a pair of 32GB sticks. Luckily, this guide from iFixit+Replacement/115309) will walk you through every step of the process. The rewards will be worthwhile, but you'll basically be disassembling your Mac Mini in order to do a RAM upgrade. The RAM isn't easily accessible and requires a little know-how and a lot of patience to get at.
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While the RAM is a standard sized SO-DIMM module and replaceable by anyone who buys a 2018 Mac Mini, it's far from as simple to accomplish, at least compared to what it used to be back in 2012. You could upgrade to 32GB yourself and save about $400 in the process. When buying a new Mac Mini, increasing the RAM to 16GB costs $200, 32GB costs $600, and 64GB an eye-watering $1,400. That's never been close to as cheap as it is to make the same upgrade yourself. Apple still charges more for RAMĭespite the move back to DIY, if you want more RAM you're shouldn't be stuck paying what Apple wants to charge you for it. The 2018 Mac Mini arrived as a long-awaited follow up to Apple's tiny desktop computer and it came bearing good news: You could once again take out the RAM and upgrade it yourself. However, after the late 2012 Mac Mini, Apple changed the internals, so you couldn't do it yourself anymore. It used to be a matter of unscrewing the bottom and swapping the RAM sticks, a process that took a matter of minutes. Changing out the RAM in the Mac Mini used to be a really simple process.