is the new design too tightly integrated to do this? Does it have different voltage requirements anyway making it more awkward to supply with power?

⟐ Commented septiembre 23, 2024 at 21:43 GMT-7

I have a Mid 2011 Mac Mini (2.5Ghz i5 model A1347) which I bought from the refurb store in 2013.

From mid 2013 to late 2016 it served as a media server, running XBMC/Kodi. Towards the end of that time it started to randomly shut down. I then stopped using it and since then it's been sat in a cupboard.

I was going to wipe it and set it up for my daughter, but I can't get it started. When I try to start it, the power light comes on and I can hear something (I think it's the HDD) and then about one second later it switches off.

Any guidance on troubleshooting this would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Barry

⟐ Commented marzo 27, 2025 at 10:57 GMT-7

I'm looking for a take apart guide for Mac mini Server (Mid 2010). I need to replace both internal hard disks.

⟐ Answer edited septiembre 17, 2014 at 10:37 GMT-7

Is it processor dependent ? (some Intel processors are listed at 16 GB, some at 32 GB)

---

Added:

To be more specific:

If you look at this question:

What are the comercial names of Mac mini 2012 chipset and processor?

there is a link to an Intel comparison:

http://ark.intel.com/compare/67355,65709... .

Here one of the processors accept 16 Gb while the 2 others accept 32. My question is: if I upgrade the processor of the server version, will the Mac Mini accept 32 Gb as listed in the Intel table?

Did anyone tried that?

⟐ Commented marzo 06, 2022 at 8:19 GMT-7

I have been running Catalina Public Beta. I got a notice that an update was available, so I updated. When I came back a few hours later, my Mac Mini was shut down. No light or noise on pushing power button. Verified power available and then contacted Apple support. They verified it was still under warranty until November and made an appointment at the local store. Taking it in today and will follow up.

⟐ Answered diciembre 26, 2020 at 6:32 GMT-7

I'm looking at purchasing a 2012 Mac Mini with an i5 processor. I have a PC at home that is not really used as I am a Mac user. The PC is pretty high spec - well it was 3 years ago. It's running an i7 processor and I was wandering if I could put it in the Mac?

Any help is appreciated.

Many thanks,

Steve

⟐ Commented mayo 29, 2024 at 11:47 GMT-7

My mini is still under warranty as it hasn't been out for very long. This is actually my 2nd mini as I exchanged the first one hoping the 2nd one would run cooler. But they run almost identical. This mini has the discrete gpu thus ~6W idle additional heat to dissipate.

I am irritated that I cannot enjoyably stream Netflix without the cpu die reporting 95C via iStat Menus and Hardware Monitor by Bresink, although it does settle out to ~90C. This i5's thermal limit is 100C. Thankfully the SMC is working as the fan runs at almost full and thus I can hardly even hear the movie. Now I know that the total amount of heat isn't going to change by reapplying thermal compound but I think it might greatly reduce the die temp and thus allow the fan to back off a bit.

The mini is on a metal wire shelf that allows airflow into the bottom intake and the rear cables come down from the top so as to not obstruct the exhaust vent. The room is at 26C (55%RH) and the mini idles (2% cpu) at 71C cpu diode and about 66C cpu proximity with ambient air sensor in mini at 56C.

I recently had Apple fix my MBP6,1 17" as it was also having thermal problems however it took almost a week of *arguing* with Apple to get them to make it right, but now it idles at 42C and never goes over like 86C and it used to hit like 103C. I know the mini won't be that cool but I want to know if it can do better than my current readings? I woud assume do this fix myself as the arguing with Apple is incredibly stressful. Oddly none of the reviewers seemed to mention temperature data? I would be curious to see a picture of the cpu die before you cleaned it off in your tear down if you have it? Oh and if these temps are like clearly showing a problem with my mini to the extent that Apple might listen then please tell me :)

Thanks for any advice / stats you can give. I admit I am a tad scared to tear the mini apart but the needing to know what the temp *could* be is killing me :D

Ryan

[update - AUG 29]

A friend of mine bought a new mac mini (base model) and it runs just as hot. Yet he found a mac mini in an Apple Store didn't run hot. Perhaps some cool units exist? I found that Netflix is just bearable with Plex as it uses slightly less cpu than chrome or safari. Probably will endup getting a ROKU or an Apple TV for the future as the mini just sucks at Netflix. Anyways last night I decided to point a fan at my mini. This drops the idle temp from 70C to ~60C (internal fan chills out too). Kinda annoying having the extra fan noise but helps a lot and makes the top of the mini touchable. So that is my temporary advice. I may try water cooling the top of the mini in the future just to avoid the extra fan noise.

As for repasting I will indeed hold off as that seems like the wise thing to do. Also it seems that the GPU either has hardware problems or is in serious need of better drivers. As youtube videos will get like weird green stuff going on and windows with transparency on my other monitor will get weird crosshatch patterns (concurrent). Thus I want to wait and see if Apple is gonna software update or if this unit has issues. Once all that is sorted out and my warranty is nearing the end I will reapply z paste.

[pictures of mini w/ fan xD]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2091843/ifixit/m...

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2091843/ifixit/m...

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2091843/ifixit/m...

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2091843/ifixit/m...

⟐ Commented octubre 16, 2015 at 18:14 GMT-7

Last week, I woke up to find my mini completely dead. The power light was still on, the hard drive was still spinning, but nothing going on. I powered it off, and back on, and it still sat silent. The light came on, but no chime, and no booting.

What I've tried so far:

- resetting the PRAM => fan runs @ max until I turn it off, front light does not come on.

- resetting the SMC => back to the normal state where the front light comes on, but nothing else.

- replacing the original 1.66 Core Duo CPU to see if I'd smoked the T7200.

- pulling one of the 1G chips out, and then the other.

At this point, is there much chance that it could be anything but a failed logic board? (The thing was quite dusty around the intake vents ...). I suppose it could be the power supply, but it seems sort of unlikely.

Nobody seems to sell logic boards, so I guess it's time to pick up the cheapest old mini I can find ($350 is what I've seen), or fork over ~$750 for a brand new one.

-/\/

⟐ Commented abril 19, 2022 at 22:47 GMT-7

⟐ Commented abril 22, 2021 at 11:18 GMT-7

⟐ Commented febrero 16, 2021 at 8:54 GMT-7

Regardless of the cost, we still need an answer. As one person commented, some of us may have an existing case or 2010 mini. I noted a similar question posted recently as well.

⟐ Commented octubre 14, 2024 at 4:42 GMT-7

Do I need any extra cables for example ? Is there sth else that I should be aware of? Thank you very much for the support.

⟐ Answer deleted septiembre 08, 2022 at 17:08 GMT-7

⟐ Commented febrero 17, 2022 at 12:53 GMT-7

I have a friend with a 2011 MacBook Pro. The idea is to clone a freshly installed SL onto the Mini. The two Macs seem to be identical, but I'm afraid that there is something that I'm overlooking. Any ideas or observations regarding this idea?

⟐ Answered septiembre 02, 2012 at 8:49 GMT-7

⟐ Commented agosto 05, 2019 at 18:39 GMT-7

I managed to disabled the discrete GPU (Radeon 6630M) and now it boots to desktop but the graphics are pretty awful using the integrated GPU.

My options seem to be:

1. Try to 'reflow' the chip. However, it seems this would only be a temporary fix. Or can anyone recommend a high quality repair service that could fix it in a more permanent way? (reball the chip?)

2. Replace logic board. Second hand logic board $150 to $200 on ebay. Some risk that it would fail again.

3. Buy a new system (most expensive, $800ish for comparable specs).

Anyone else faced this? Any other options to consider?

If you reflow/reballed, how long did it last?

⟐ Answered marzo 16, 2021 at 14:02 GMT-7

Everything works fine, but I'm not able to secure wi-fi antenna plate back, like it was before.

Antenna plate secured by 4 screws, but I can tighten only one of 2 5mm T8 torx screws - remained screw just doesn't fit to the hole. I tried to remove and reinstall antenna plate many times, but things doesn't change - it's impossible to align holes in antenna and in the case exactly

⟐ Commented febrero 18, 2019 at 20:02 GMT-7

My hope is it is memory - not main board - I really need to salvage the data on HDD.

Thanks.

(This is a question asked by noneone from our discussion forums that did not get an answer. We'll see if you guys can help!)

⟐ Answer deleted septiembre 27, 2021 at 23:18 GMT-7

⟐ Answered noviembre 17, 2025 at 2:21 GMT-7

Thanks in advance.

⟐ Commented agosto 25, 2020 at 4:15 GMT-7