Thanks for the video. Over the years I've dove in to my 2012 Mini about a 1/2 dozen times, replacing and upgrading drives. Be careful with the IR cable socket; I broke a couple of prongs last time in but am not losing sleep over it as I've never used IR and never will. 10 years later I've installed Monterey (officially not supported) to keep the device current with updates. Something you may want to attend to: once the logic board is removed, flip it over and you'll see the PRAM battery, a standard watch CR2032 button. If you've never replace, do so. It may save you an extra disassembly session.
@@valramos2003 Well, I upgraded the Mini to Ventura now but it's the same procedure using OCLP. Here's the video for Installing Ventura. th-cam.com/video/3LOqHMo5WSQ/w-d-xo.html
too easy to do - I would avoid using the pry tool as if you try from the wrong side you'll lift the whole socket receptor off the board - my advise would be to use a tiny screwdriver / rod under the ir cables at the back of the socket and pull up from below then use tweezers.
Thanks, did the upgrade, plan to use it as a plex media server. Two issues I ran into. One, I broke the IR sensor. I was gentle with it but apparently not gentle enough. Not worth trying to repair it, only downside is there is no light now to indicate when the mac mini is on. Two, I didn't seat the fan power cord all the way to the logic board. I should have checked to make sure the fan was spinning before putting the back cover on. Thankfully I noticed it was getting hotter than normal after about 20 mins of use and fixed the issue. Also the gentleman that gave the advice about pushing the logic board removal tool all the way down before attempting to slide it out, thank you.
Did all this today and it’s not difficult but the logic board was difficult to get out - didn’t just slide out - and the same was the case with the power unit. And inserting the grommets is not easy at all. I eventually rolled them in my palms and squeezed them to warm them up to be more pliable. Soft they ain’t.
For first-timers, this is *not* a project for the faint-of-heart. Give yourself at least a full morning or afternoon. Or both. Be hyper-organized. Plastic ice cube trays are a good way to separate screws used at each step of the process. Ideally, label each space in the tray to indicate where the screws fit in your mini. Don’t plan to “remember” where the screws went after more than a few hours; you probably won’t as you get tired. *Note: The video sometimes changes the orientation of the demo unit from scene to scene. Double-check that the orientation of your unit matches that in the video.* • The hard drive can be removed after removing the long logic board screw. That will give you more room for this next step: • When detaching the IR cable, *gently* pry up from the lower corners next to the drive bay using the pry tool. The video makes prying out the power supply cable look *much* too easy. As you pry it out at each end, the opposite end will slide back into place. Use the flat screwdriver to hold one end from sliding into place while prying out the opposite end. Work slowly. Do NOT attempt to pull out by the wires. Large needle-nose tweezers would be helpful, if you have them. • (From Kirtan Dreamrezzer ) IMPORTANT!!! : The logic board removal tool needs to be inserted until you feel the underside of the Mac Mini top, until the ends of the tool insert into two anchoring holes, these holes provide a stop, so you can then easily knudge the logic board out. DO NOT PULL or FORCE the Logic Board Tool until feel that the metal tips are secured in those stopping holes on the underside, if not, you run the risk of cracking the logic board. My logic board tool was not exaclty the size to fit so I had to bend it with pliers until it was fitting exactly in the two logic board holes, this is why I wasn't able to knudge the metal tips in the anchoring holes on my first tries. *This is tricky! You may have to insert the tool to release one catch then reverse it to release the other catch. (JKB)* The rubber grommets in the kit are too thick to allow the kit HD screws to thread into a new HD. Insert the rubber grommets into the mini’s carrier holes then use a sharp blade to cut them in half flush with the carrier. These half-thickness grommets work fine. Reassembly: • When reinstalling the power supply, make sure the longer tab on the PS socket will face toward the bottom of the mini after being turned clockwise into place. Confirm the PS socket’s orientation before reseating the PS. (See 3:00-3:03 in the video.) *(Note: You’re working on the mini while it’s upside down; be sure to note what’s the bottom and the top of your unit.)* • The silver metal tab closes the gap between the top black tab of the PS socket and the top of the case. Insert it carefully as it’s easily bent. The video makes it look super-easy. It’s not. Looking at the tab from the inside of the case as you attach it to the top black tab is helpful. • Look at the power supply socket *before* you reinsert the logic board into your mini to get a better idea of how the PS cable will fit in place. • When pushing the logic board into final position, be sure the black insulation surrounding the power socket doesn’t bunch up into the power socket. • To get the upper drive to fit into the available space *and* allow the SATA cables to attach properly, I left the mounting pins off. *(Note: I replaced the original drive with an SSD.)* The kit SATA cable is a hair too long and will need to be pressed gently but firmly into the logic board’s SATA port. • The black cowling screw fits *into* the screw head underneath the black cowling. • The Airport cable is diabolical. It’s a tiny COAX cable. To reattach it, turn the Airport grate counterclockwise so it’s at a right angle to the mini. Focus on getting the cable’s connector over its logic board port without moving the cable too much. Carefully push down on the cable’s round connector so it attaches to the logic board's round port. It’s a friction fit. Immediately push down on the insulation tape above the connector to hold it into place. As you hold down on the insulation tape, adjust the cable as needed so you can move the grate into position. Keep holding down the left side of the grate until you screw it down with a 2mm hex screw. • Reminder: The fan connector pushes *down* into its socket. After you’ve finished, powered up, and if everything works, congratulate yourself. Good job.
Thank you so much for the review, James! We do recommend professional installation for anyone who feels like the installation process is outside of their comfort level!
IMPORTANT!!! : The Logic Board Removal Tool needs to touch be inserted until you feel the underside of the Mac Mini top, until the ends of the tool insert into two anchoring holes, these holes provide a stop, so you can then easily knudge the logic board out. DO NOT PULL or FORCE the Logic Board Tool until feel that the metal tips are secured in those stopping holes on the underside, if not, you run the risk of cracking the logic board. My logic board tool was not exaclty the size to fit so I had to bend it with pliers until it was fitting exactly in the two logic board holes, this is why I wasn't able to knudge the metal tips in the anchoring holes on my first tries.
I've disassembled several Mac minis and never had a problem until the most recent attempt where the IR connector broke when I removed the cable. I was able to find replacement connectors, but I can't get the tip of my soldering iron in past that post that sits next to the connector. Does anyone know if that post can be temporarily removed in order to access the solder points on the connector? Meanwhile, I'm searching for a very thin right-angle soldering iron/tip.
Hi OWC, i have a 2012 mini, which is better- adding a second drive or replacing the main one with an SSD? also, would a 8gig ram to 16 make a significant difference?
Howdy Jason! Well depending on the model we are working with those may be worthwhile upgrades! However if you could reach out to our support team at support@owc.com they would be able to assist with getting you over to the best upgrades!
Congratulations for the excellent tutorial. In my case I want to add a PCIe ssd and keep the original hdd of my mac mini late 2012. Have you a tutorial for my case?
I just upgraded my mac-mini hard drive to an ssd. It is a bit more finicky (seating some of the elements back into place can be tricky) than its made to look here but quite doable with some patience and care. This video was obviously a great help. Thanks!!
I’m about to order the parts kit to do this and don’t know which to buy, for lower or upper drive bay? My Mac doesn’t tell the location so which one is upper and which is lower? Is the upper the first you see when the mini is upside down and you open it up?
This video shows the installation of the 2nd drive. The linked video below is the installation of the main bay SSD. eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/mac_mini2012_hd/Macmini6-1-nonserver/
Thanks for this, will be ordering some items in the near future. Only, I do not understand the need or benefit of second drive? I have a Mac mini 2011 I want to up grade...
I have converted all of my dvd and blue ray collection to digital. It has taken up more than 4TB. I am up grading to second drive so i can keep all of my movies on my mini as it stays attached to my TV.
Mini is not a laptop , it is a desktop computer and an external hard disk or SSD can easily be attached on the USB .. There is absolutely no need to add a second drive. The only thing attractive to me is to replace the existing slow hard disk to an SSD , to make the computer run faster and this is what i will be doing in the near future ..
@@WaqasNasirHonestly, I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t see the benefits of being able to install a second drive in any computer. Given the height (drive) limitations, no 2.5” drives on the market above 2TB will fit, unless you are using SSDs. Which given the Mac in question, I seriously doubt many could afford or even justify such an expensive drive. But, thanks to Apple’s Fusion drive, you don’t have to compromise on price/performance/capacity. As for the idea of using external drives sure you could, but you could also have internal ones. External drives for me me cover only backup and portables drives/data. I suppose knowing I’ve 6 drives in my PC must bother you, I mean they could all be external right? Only hard drives are safer in a chassis than sitting around where they might get dropped for example. There are many good reasons to keep your working data in the system only, not least that the Mini has only 4 USB ports, all of them located in the dumbest possible place for people who don’t have huge open desks to place it on. Clue’s in the name really, would front USB ports really be so terrible? Not that my views need change yours, but geez I do hate coming across such closed mindedness. I’ll add, Apple themselves offered dual drives in these systems, probably why there is space for them. Likewise, whilst clearly the Mini is a desktop system, it’s parts are not, they are laptop parts. This means they don’t perform anything like their desktop equivalents. Of course, the same is mostly true of all Macs, so whilst it may not be technically correct to call it a laptop, it’s not really a true desktop either in this sense.
Hi, what is the cable to add SSD as a primary drive, 821-1500-A , or 821-1501-A cable. The existing hdd is at top when mac mini is on its correct side up. Pls advice. Are the cables inter changeable?
It really depends on the MacMini you own, A small number of 2012 units were shipped with the drive mounted in the upper drive bay rather than the more typical lower bay shown in this video. If you have a 2012 or later model, you will want to determine the configuration of your Mac mini's drives prior to ordering. To do this, open the Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app and click on the grey drive icon at the left edge of the window. If you see "Lower" after the "Connection ID" at the bottom-left corner of the window, you may proceed using the standard installation instructions. If you see "Upper" then you have a special configuration that will need additional components, and you will need to also refer to the Addendum video.
Fan connector and IR cable connector are stuck - even tho I was gentle and went very slowly, the fan connector came entirely off of the board. Despite needing to buy a new board now, I am trying to pry the IR cable connector apart without ripping it off the board too, so far not successful. Anyone else have similar issue? The video is great but in the video everything comes apart so easily. Not so with my mid-2011 mini
I can't claim to know what happened in your case, but I do know all these connector sockets are weak against any twisting or lifting force. The force must be evenly applied across the connector, but if it's stuck then you can't overcome it with extra force as you might pull off the socket. If the cable won't budge with reasonable force, check for a locking clip that might be doing it's job. As a last resort, you can "wiggle" the cable forward in very small amounts until it starts moving. I had to break the "no twisting" rule above by using a plastic spudger to push one side of the cable forward, then the other side... in very small amounts. Once I saw the tiniest movement on both sides I went back to the recommended approach and the cable slid right out.
Embarrassingly I've just taken it all apart with a 256GB SSD and dual SATA cable bought ready to install only to find that I've already a second drive in the slot. I hadn't realized that's how Apple achieved the Fusion drive - I'd assumed it was a custom 2.5" package, but no 2 x 2.5" drives. Luckily it's not a long job to complete, so now to go buy an enclosure!
If you need any 2.5" drive enclosures, know that OWC has you covered! Here is a link to some of our available 2.5" drive enclosure options: eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/External-Enclosures/2.5-Inch-Drives-HD-SSD Hopefully one of these might be able to help you out. :)
Hi Adam! Regrettably, we do not offer a Mini Stack enclosure with additional ports. However, we do offer the Mercury Elite Pro Dual with 3-Port Hub. Below is the link. eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-mercury-elite-pro-dual
I have a Mac Mini 2011. I’m running out of storage. There’s really nothing wrong with the computer other than it’s slow and my worse apple investment. How can I improve the speed and power? Toying with the idea of a SSD. I purchase this for portability. I write and thought this was a good investment. Not but I gave it and truly don’t want to spend anymore money. Buying another apple product. I do have a 2018 iPad Pro 3 gen, it I still like the idea of having a desk top. Suggestions please?
MacSales. com I’m not full geeky for a girl but I do ok. I got all the tools but haven’t brought the SSD yet. How costly would this be for a reputable tech to upgrade this? I added memory so I have 8 GB. I could max it out
What’s your thought on upgrading the hard drive and ram vs. a SSD? if a SSD, I know it’s expensive how high would you upgrade the GB? I don’t like doing things and then having to repeat a process.
MacSales. com you nailed it! I’m a kitchen geeky girl who likes to make sure she has everything she needs at her finger tips. She hates starting something and then finds out she doesn’t have everything she needs. Thank you for your suggestions. I.’m taking it to heart.
If your Mini is slow, know that the HDD is the slowest part (bottleneck) in your system. I’ve the i5 2012, with 8gb RAM running Catalina and it does not feel slow to me. Sure, it’s not the fastest machine either, but more than OK, but the SSD is key to this. 100 $/€/£, should easily get you a 1TB SSD, so unless you need a lot of space, it’s not cost prohibitive to add one. Of course that price will probably treble if you need an authorised tech to do it for you. If you really want to cry, ask Apple how much they ‘d charge.
Thank you fir responding. I got an Apple refurbished 256 GB. I mostly write and genealogy, photos and music. No heavy duty stuff! I’m sorta girl geeky 😂 and might try to replace it.I will see.
Honestly if this is your first go at DIY, it's a fiddly job that requires the right tools, patience and sometimes a gentle touch. Not the hardest HDD replacement I've done, that was a Sony Ultra-Mobile that used the same HDD as the original iPods. But if you broke the FAN and IR Sensor, then I suspect you were too rough plugging/unplugging and moving things. Personally I did this in about an hour with just a set of Torx, Phillips and Flathead watchmakers screwdrivers and had no major problems. But if you follow each step as you go along and pause after each step, the instructions are completely comprehensive. I had a tablet near by so I could watch the video whilst working. Take special notice of how any connectors detach/attach when watching the video. You have to gently 'pop' the Antenna cable, which lifts off vertically from the board, don't pull by the cable, but very gently pry at it, being careful not to bend the cap. Do this with a spudger, they cost next to nothing, so if you're not willing to risk using a screwdriver for this, don't. You have to be super-careful removing the HDD cage, to avoid damaging the IR Sensor, just take your time and wiggle things out, if necessary, gently. I just used two small screwdrivers instead of the Logic Board Removal tool, but I think considering if you damage that, your Mac is basically in need of replacement, I'd recommend investing in one. Thanks again to the people at OWC for such a clear instructional video, I wouldn't have taken this on without it.
Thanks for the video. Over the years I've dove in to my 2012 Mini about a 1/2 dozen times, replacing and upgrading drives. Be careful with the IR cable socket; I broke a couple of prongs last time in but am not losing sleep over it as I've never used IR and never will. 10 years later I've installed Monterey (officially not supported) to keep the device current with updates.
Something you may want to attend to: once the logic board is removed, flip it over and you'll see the PRAM battery, a standard watch CR2032 button. If you've never replace, do so. It may save you an extra disassembly session.
Hi Luke, do you have a particular tutorial showing how to install Monterey on the 2012 Mac Mini? Thanks in advance!
@@valramos2003 Well, I upgraded the Mini to Ventura now but it's the same procedure using OCLP. Here's the video for Installing Ventura.
th-cam.com/video/3LOqHMo5WSQ/w-d-xo.html
@@Fetucinee Awesome! Thank you very much!
too easy to do - I would avoid using the pry tool as if you try from the wrong side you'll lift the whole socket receptor off the board - my advise would be to use a tiny screwdriver / rod under the ir cables at the back of the socket and pull up from below then use tweezers.
Thanks, did the upgrade, plan to use it as a plex media server. Two issues I ran into.
One, I broke the IR sensor. I was gentle with it but apparently not gentle enough. Not worth trying to repair it, only downside is there is no light now to indicate when the mac mini is on.
Two, I didn't seat the fan power cord all the way to the logic board. I should have checked to make sure the fan was spinning before putting the back cover on. Thankfully I noticed it was getting hotter than normal after about 20 mins of use and fixed the issue.
Also the gentleman that gave the advice about pushing the logic board removal tool all the way down before attempting to slide it out, thank you.
Did all this today and it’s not difficult but the logic board was difficult to get out - didn’t just slide out - and the same was the case with the power unit. And inserting the grommets is not easy at all. I eventually rolled them in my palms and squeezed them to warm them up to be more pliable. Soft they ain’t.
I bought the satachi add on with the ssd compartment . Simple quick and you have a ssd back up in 10 minutes.
Thank you for sharing that with us. We're delighted to hear that everything worked out great for you!
I’m about to upgrade my current 120GB SSD / 500GB HDD Fusion Drive, with a 512GB SSD / 2TB HDD, this tutorial is very helpful, thanks.
We are happy to hear. Thank you for your feedback :)
Thank you for this video. Truly. I’ve updated my late 2012 model yesterday and it works flawlessly 🙏🏼
For first-timers, this is *not* a project for the faint-of-heart. Give yourself at least a full morning or afternoon. Or both. Be hyper-organized. Plastic ice cube trays are a good way to separate screws used at each step of the process. Ideally, label each space in the tray to indicate where the screws fit in your mini. Don’t plan to “remember” where the screws went after more than a few hours; you probably won’t as you get tired. *Note: The video sometimes changes the orientation of the demo unit from scene to scene. Double-check that the orientation of your unit matches that in the video.*
• The hard drive can be removed after removing the long logic board screw. That will give you more room for this next step:
• When detaching the IR cable, *gently* pry up from the lower corners next to the drive bay using the pry tool.
The video makes prying out the power supply cable look *much* too easy. As you pry it out at each end, the opposite end will slide back into place. Use the flat screwdriver to hold one end from sliding into place while prying out the opposite end. Work slowly. Do NOT attempt to pull out by the wires. Large needle-nose tweezers would be helpful, if you have them.
• (From Kirtan Dreamrezzer ) IMPORTANT!!! : The logic board removal tool needs to be inserted until you feel the underside of the Mac Mini top, until the ends of the tool insert into two anchoring holes, these holes provide a stop, so you can then easily knudge the logic board out. DO NOT PULL or FORCE the Logic Board Tool until feel that the metal tips are secured in those stopping holes on the underside, if not, you run the risk of cracking the logic board. My logic board tool was not exaclty the size to fit so I had to bend it with pliers until it was fitting exactly in the two logic board holes, this is why I wasn't able to knudge the metal tips in the anchoring holes on my first tries. *This is tricky! You may have to insert the tool to release one catch then reverse it to release the other catch. (JKB)*
The rubber grommets in the kit are too thick to allow the kit HD screws to thread into a new HD. Insert the rubber grommets into the mini’s carrier holes then use a sharp blade to cut them in half flush with the carrier. These half-thickness grommets work fine.
Reassembly:
• When reinstalling the power supply, make sure the longer tab on the PS socket will face toward the bottom of the mini after being turned clockwise into place. Confirm the PS socket’s orientation before reseating the PS. (See 3:00-3:03 in the video.) *(Note: You’re working on the mini while it’s upside down; be sure to note what’s the bottom and the top of your unit.)*
• The silver metal tab closes the gap between the top black tab of the PS socket and the top of the case. Insert it carefully as it’s easily bent. The video makes it look super-easy. It’s not. Looking at the tab from the inside of the case as you attach it to the top black tab is helpful.
• Look at the power supply socket *before* you reinsert the logic board into your mini to get a better idea of how the PS cable will fit in place.
• When pushing the logic board into final position, be sure the black insulation surrounding the power socket doesn’t bunch up into the power socket.
• To get the upper drive to fit into the available space *and* allow the SATA cables to attach properly, I left the mounting pins off. *(Note: I replaced the original drive with an SSD.)* The kit SATA cable is a hair too long and will need to be pressed gently but firmly into the logic board’s SATA port.
• The black cowling screw fits *into* the screw head underneath the black cowling.
• The Airport cable is diabolical. It’s a tiny COAX cable. To reattach it, turn the Airport grate counterclockwise so it’s at a right angle to the mini. Focus on getting the cable’s connector over its logic board port without moving the cable too much. Carefully push down on the cable’s round connector so it attaches to the logic board's round port. It’s a friction fit. Immediately push down on the insulation tape above the connector to hold it into place. As you hold down on the insulation tape, adjust the cable as needed so you can move the grate into position. Keep holding down the left side of the grate until you screw it down with a 2mm hex screw.
• Reminder: The fan connector pushes *down* into its socket.
After you’ve finished, powered up, and if everything works, congratulate yourself. Good job.
Thank you so much for the review, James! We do recommend professional installation for anyone who feels like the installation process is outside of their comfort level!
IMPORTANT!!! : The Logic Board Removal Tool needs to touch be inserted until you feel the underside of the Mac Mini top, until the ends of the tool insert into two anchoring holes, these holes provide a stop, so you can then easily knudge the logic board out. DO NOT PULL or FORCE the Logic Board Tool until feel that the metal tips are secured in those stopping holes on the underside, if not, you run the risk of cracking the logic board. My logic board tool was not exaclty the size to fit so I had to bend it with pliers until it was fitting exactly in the two logic board holes, this is why I wasn't able to knudge the metal tips in the anchoring holes on my first tries.
Thanks for the helpful advice Kirtan! If you run into any further issues please send us a ticket at support@owc.com and we can advise further!
@@poweredbyowc I have a question if I 2011 version can swap the motherboard with 2012 version only
Does it matter where the bootable drive is placed (i.e. Top or bottom) or either will be fine?
I've disassembled several Mac minis and never had a problem until the most recent attempt where the IR connector broke when I removed the cable. I was able to find replacement connectors, but I can't get the tip of my soldering iron in past that post that sits next to the connector.
Does anyone know if that post can be temporarily removed in order to access the solder points on the connector?
Meanwhile, I'm searching for a very thin right-angle soldering iron/tip.
May i use átb ssd hdd (for audioo server for roon or audirvana apps)?
Hi OWC, i have a 2012 mini, which is better- adding a second drive or replacing the main one with an SSD? also, would a 8gig ram to 16 make a significant difference?
Howdy Jason! Well depending on the model we are working with those may be worthwhile upgrades! However if you could reach out to our support team at support@owc.com they would be able to assist with getting you over to the best upgrades!
Hey Jason. I was wanting to ask the same question- what did you end up doing?
Congratulations for the excellent tutorial.
In my case I want to add a PCIe ssd and keep the original hdd of my mac mini late 2012. Have you a tutorial for my case?
These machines do not have either PCIe or M2 sockets, so if you are thinking about an SSD, you’re stuck with a SATA III drive as your only option.
@@MGBNAM Thank you.
@@MGBNAM there are adapters that covert m2 ssd to work with sata
@@MGBNAM there are adapters that covert m2 ssd to work with sata
@@cleitonpena4578 there are adapters that covert m2 ssd to work with sata
He makes it look very easy. I'm yet to try mine.
I just upgraded my mac-mini hard drive to an ssd. It is a bit more finicky (seating some of the elements back into place can be tricky) than its made to look here but quite doable with some patience and care. This video was obviously a great help. Thanks!!
I’m about to order the parts kit to do this and don’t know which to buy, for lower or upper drive bay? My Mac doesn’t tell the location so which one is upper and which is lower? Is the upper the first you see when the mini is upside down and you open it up?
The lower bay is the first bay you see when you open the Mac Mini, Upper is nearest the top of the Mac mini.
If I install two SSDs the video is not clear how to connect the second SSD to motherboard?
This video shows the installation of the 2nd drive. The linked video below is the installation of the main bay SSD.
eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/mac_mini2012_hd/Macmini6-1-nonserver/
Bloody awesome video. Thank you :)
thx 4 sharing!
Have you got a video for a Late 2014 version or is it the same? Thanks
The Late 2014 model cannot fit more than one 2,5” drive inside
M600 M.2 SATA instalation.
Thanks for this, will be ordering some items in the near future. Only, I do not understand the need or benefit of second drive? I have a Mac mini 2011 I want to up grade...
I have converted all of my dvd and blue ray collection to digital. It has taken up more than 4TB. I am up grading to second drive so i can keep all of my movies on my mini as it stays attached to my TV.
Mini is not a laptop , it is a desktop computer and an external hard disk or SSD can easily be attached on the USB .. There is absolutely no need to add a second drive. The only thing attractive to me is to replace the existing slow hard disk to an SSD , to make the computer run faster and this is what i will be doing in the near future ..
@@WaqasNasirHonestly, I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t see the benefits of being able to install a second drive in any computer. Given the height (drive) limitations, no 2.5” drives on the market above 2TB will fit, unless you are using SSDs. Which given the Mac in question, I seriously doubt many could afford or even justify such an expensive drive. But, thanks to Apple’s Fusion drive, you don’t have to compromise on price/performance/capacity.
As for the idea of using external drives sure you could, but you could also have internal ones. External drives for me me cover only backup and portables drives/data. I suppose knowing I’ve 6 drives in my PC must bother you, I mean they could all be external right? Only hard drives are safer in a chassis than sitting around where they might get dropped for example. There are many good reasons to keep your working data in the system only, not least that the Mini has only 4 USB ports, all of them located in the dumbest possible place for people who don’t have huge open desks to place it on. Clue’s in the name really, would front USB ports really be so terrible? Not that my views need change yours, but geez I do hate coming across such closed mindedness. I’ll add, Apple themselves offered dual drives in these systems, probably why there is space for them.
Likewise, whilst clearly the Mini is a desktop system, it’s parts are not, they are laptop parts. This means they don’t perform anything like their desktop equivalents. Of course, the same is mostly true of all Macs, so whilst it may not be technically correct to call it a laptop, it’s not really a true desktop either in this sense.
Hi, what is the cable to add SSD as a primary drive, 821-1500-A , or 821-1501-A cable. The existing hdd is at top when mac mini is on its correct side up. Pls advice. Are the cables inter changeable?
It really depends on the MacMini you own, A small number of 2012 units were shipped with the drive mounted in the upper drive bay rather than the more typical lower bay shown in this video. If you have a 2012 or later model, you will want to determine the configuration of your Mac mini's drives prior to ordering. To do this, open the Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.app and click on the grey drive icon at the left edge of the window. If you see "Lower" after the "Connection ID" at the bottom-left corner of the window, you may proceed using the standard installation instructions. If you see "Upper" then you have a special configuration that will need additional components, and you will need to also refer to the Addendum video.
Fan connector and IR cable connector are stuck - even tho I was gentle and went very slowly, the fan connector came entirely off of the board. Despite needing to buy a new board now, I am trying to pry the IR cable connector apart without ripping it off the board too, so far not successful. Anyone else have similar issue? The video is great but in the video everything comes apart so easily. Not so with my mid-2011 mini
I can't claim to know what happened in your case, but I do know all these connector sockets are weak against any twisting or lifting force. The force must be evenly applied across the connector, but if it's stuck then you can't overcome it with extra force as you might pull off the socket.
If the cable won't budge with reasonable force, check for a locking clip that might be doing it's job. As a last resort, you can "wiggle" the cable forward in very small amounts until it starts moving. I had to break the "no twisting" rule above by using a plastic spudger to push one side of the cable forward, then the other side... in very small amounts. Once I saw the tiniest movement on both sides I went back to the recommended approach and the cable slid right out.
A local tech or Makerspace could probably reflow or solder the fan header, BTW.
Embarrassingly I've just taken it all apart with a 256GB SSD and dual SATA cable bought ready to install only to find that I've already a second drive in the slot. I hadn't realized that's how Apple achieved the Fusion drive - I'd assumed it was a custom 2.5" package, but no 2 x 2.5" drives. Luckily it's not a long job to complete, so now to go buy an enclosure!
If you need any 2.5" drive enclosures, know that OWC has you covered! Here is a link to some of our available 2.5" drive enclosure options: eshop.macsales.com/shop/hard-drives/External-Enclosures/2.5-Inch-Drives-HD-SSD Hopefully one of these might be able to help you out. :)
@@poweredbyowc thanks do you do a Mini Stack or something that brings some extra ports to the party at the same time?
Hi Adam! Regrettably, we do not offer a Mini Stack enclosure with additional ports. However, we do offer the Mercury Elite Pro Dual with 3-Port Hub. Below is the link.
eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-mercury-elite-pro-dual
I have a Mac Mini 2011. I’m running out of storage. There’s really nothing wrong with the computer other than it’s slow and my worse apple investment. How can I improve the speed and power? Toying with the idea of a SSD. I purchase this for portability. I write and thought this was a good investment. Not but I gave it and truly don’t want to spend anymore money. Buying another apple product. I do have a 2018 iPad Pro 3 gen, it I still like the idea of having a desk top. Suggestions please?
MacSales. com I’m not full geeky for a girl but I do ok. I got all the tools but haven’t brought the SSD yet. How costly would this be for a reputable tech to upgrade this? I added memory so I have 8 GB. I could max it out
What’s your thought on upgrading the hard drive and ram vs. a SSD? if a SSD, I know it’s expensive how high would you upgrade the GB? I don’t like doing things and then having to repeat a process.
MacSales. com you nailed it! I’m a kitchen geeky girl who likes to make sure she has everything she needs at her finger tips. She hates starting something and then finds out she doesn’t have everything she needs. Thank you for your suggestions. I.’m taking it to heart.
If your Mini is slow, know that the HDD is the slowest part (bottleneck) in your system. I’ve the i5 2012, with 8gb RAM running Catalina and it does not feel slow to me. Sure, it’s not the fastest machine either, but more than OK, but the SSD is key to this. 100 $/€/£, should easily get you a 1TB SSD, so unless you need a lot of space, it’s not cost prohibitive to add one. Of course that price will probably treble if you need an authorised tech to do it for you. If you really want to cry, ask Apple how much they ‘d charge.
Thank you fir responding. I got an Apple refurbished 256 GB. I mostly write and genealogy, photos and music. No heavy duty stuff! I’m sorta girl geeky 😂 and might try to replace it.I will see.
sorry, 8TB
LET A PROFESSIONAL DO THIS MY FAN BROKE AND MY IR SENSOR
oh nooo! :(
Thanks, I'm not sure whether to attempt this myself. Your comment makes me think I shouldn't.
@@imonymous Pick up a plastic spudger kit, be gentle, and go slow. Nothing to it.
The keyboard too?
Honestly if this is your first go at DIY, it's a fiddly job that requires the right tools, patience and sometimes a gentle touch. Not the hardest HDD replacement I've done, that was a Sony Ultra-Mobile that used the same HDD as the original iPods.
But if you broke the FAN and IR Sensor, then I suspect you were too rough plugging/unplugging and moving things. Personally I did this in about an hour with just a set of Torx, Phillips and Flathead watchmakers screwdrivers and had no major problems. But if you follow each step as you go along and pause after each step, the instructions are completely comprehensive. I had a tablet near by so I could watch the video whilst working. Take special notice of how any connectors detach/attach when watching the video. You have to gently 'pop' the Antenna cable, which lifts off vertically from the board, don't pull by the cable, but very gently pry at it, being careful not to bend the cap. Do this with a spudger, they cost next to nothing, so if you're not willing to risk using a screwdriver for this, don't. You have to be super-careful removing the HDD cage, to avoid damaging the IR Sensor, just take your time and wiggle things out, if necessary, gently. I just used two small screwdrivers instead of the Logic Board Removal tool, but I think considering if you damage that, your Mac is basically in need of replacement, I'd recommend investing in one.
Thanks again to the people at OWC for such a clear instructional video, I wouldn't have taken this on without it.