Descriptive Colour White
Display Type None
Manufacturer's Warranty
12 month
Model Number
MGEM2X/A
Operating System
macOS High Sierra
Detailed Specification
You can get it upgraded from 4GB to 16GB, but you can't do it yourself - have to take it to Apple or a bootlegger.
UMart are selling this for $725 https://www.umart.com.au/Apple-Mac-Mini---1-4GHz--MGEM2X-A_3…
iFixIt indicated the RAM chips are soldered. Drive could be changed.
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Mac+mini+Late+2014+Teardown/…
(scroll all the way towards the end, last bullet point: The RAM is now also soldered to the logic board, and not user-upgradeable.)
CPU matches, so it's best to assume RAM not user upgradable.
That's a real shame, the previous model (late 2012) had upgradeable ram and HDD - I'm running one I upgraded to 8GB and with a Sata SSD.
Still not bad with 4GB and an SSD upgrade
I'm running this right now with the main drive running on 32GB USB stick, and the 500GB drive for storage. Much faster than the HDD.
Only issue is I don't have enough space for updates, so I have to format the stick and start again. Would recommend a 64GB USB stick!!
I have a smallish external SSD attached to mine. It transformed it from a slug to moderate.
It easily runs Mojave.
I'd recommend an external thunderbolt enclosure with an SSD. Runs as fast as (if not faster than) internally, at least on my old iMac.
Was it hard to get it to boot off a stick? I thought USB sticks were significantly slower than SSD
Pretty easy to install:
You can even make a bootable installation USB stick (using a second stick, or an SD card in a USB adapter if you’re crazy like me) and install from there. That’s what I do because my 500GB HDD isn’t bootable and used only for storage.
As for USB speed vs SSD, I can’t comment because I haven’t tried it. It’s faster than HDD and cheaper/easier than installing an SSD internally.
Just downloadmoreram.com
That might even work on a decent NBN connection.
Many years ago we used swap-space over 10Mb ethernet.
Plus with all the Intel chip security issues, the patches will take a hit to performace also.
All out of stock around my area! 😪
Sad, R U OK?
$629 refurbished from Apple (About the only other place you can find this model)
https://www.apple.com/au/shop/product/FGEM2X/A/Refurbished-M…
Originally released October 2014
This costs $500 !!!!
o 0
.|
O
500 bucks to put your balls in a vice
Decent price for this model if you just need a relatively cheap Mac Mini and you want this new.
They're available for $629 Certified Refurbished directly from Apple's refurb store although worth noting that this model was originally released in 2014 (so has the CPU from that time) and has a mechanical HDD rather than an SSD.
For such an old model, better to look at a second hand one with 8GB and an SSD.
Refurbish in this case means clean and wipe, they arent refurbishing chips, he'd, ram, etc. It could have been thrashed for 5 years
2014 Model
Intel Core i5-4260U (1.4GHz Dual-Core / Turbo to 2.7Ghz)
4GB (2 x 2GB) 1600MHz DDR3 memory
500GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
Intel HD 5000 Graphics
2 x Thunderbolt Ports and HDMI output
Four USB 3.0 ports
SDXC Slot
Gigabit Ethernet
Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (802.11ac)
Bluetooth 4.0
Where did you get the info that this is the 2014 model? I don't think it is
The cpu is released in 2014 so sounds about right
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/75030/i…
Launch Date Q2'14.
These are 4th Generation Intel Core processors aka Haswell.
OK thanks
Model number gives it away. Its certainly the one released in 2014. Apple didn't update it until late last year.
The Afterpay option is tempting!
What are people using these for?
Frisbees
potential visit to a dentist detected
or a shrink
fanboy fulfilment
If you are making apps for App Store, you need Mac computer to digitally sign your apps even if development is on Windows or Linux.
Plex server
This and reading eggs for my kids
Just buy a used Dell Optiplex SFF.
That'll look great next to the TV… /s
@muncan: I mean if you care about displaying it next to your TV you can pay the premium. $250 Optiplex offers way better performance for half the price.
Plex here too, with Sonarr+Sanzsbd.
+1 Plex server
Also a twin tv tuner to watch and record tv shows. Photos from our 'good' camera are loaded onto it and from there backed up online. We used to have a webcam sitting on top of the tv for skyping family on the bigscreen but easier to use phones now. Emulating old school console games.
Eugh…got one operating as a Mac "server" at work for iPad app distribution.
Plex/macOS Server
2014 lag and loading times nostalgia?
Mac only apps like Sketch?
Mostly as a server. It's also good for non-power users… internet, word processing, etc (Changing to SSD is the key to getting the most out of it).
for basic usage like emails, working on remote desktop, browsing will this be ok?
Yes
Yes. No speed demon, but it'd be fine as long as you don't go crazy with browser tabs.
a raspberry pi would do that for $50
disappointed with pi - no usb3.0
Same here, was hoping it'd pack a 2080TI
And no band 28
Friend, yes. But for a similar prce maybe look at intel nucs. Might be able to get newer and better specs for the same price.
a laptop that does that is cheaper than this
I usually have an issue opening the web browser within 30 seconds if I'm honest :/
What's your budget and do you need Apple?
The biggest problem is the soldered 4Gb RAM - you're stuck with this for the life of the machine.
The little 1.4Ghz processor is actually far more capable than what you'd initially think, more than willing to take on multiple Adobe applications, fast browsing, development work, background tasks, etc. It spends a lot of time in 2.7Ghz boost mode rather than sitting at 1.4 (the thermals are easily handled).
You can easily whack an SSD in these which improves performance by a significant margin.
But yeah… That RAM. :,(
You're not stuck with it; it can be upgraded to 16GB but you have to take it to Apple or someone who knows what they're doing
It's soldered on - you're not going to find anyone (including Apple) who will want to de-solder the ram to upgrade it.
The machine was configurable so you could purchase it with more RAM out of the factory, but you can't do it after it's been built. These are a pre-existing config that won't be upgradeable.
http://web.archive.org/web/20160423100019/https://macminicol…
Confirmed: RAM in the new Mac mini is not user accessible. Hard drive can be replaced/upgraded, though not keeping warranty.
ok I was looking at the wrong year model
Depends what you're using it for I guess. MacOS works fine on even 2GB RAM for basic applications.
You're better off going a Hackintosh route than paying this much for outdated hardware.
4th Gen Intel. We're up to 9th gen now.
A nuc to do hackintosh would probably set you back similar amount
4gb no way
Great price imo I have something similar as a plex server that also runs the tv in lounge room (with hdmi behind the wall), Mac mini below the house in garage controlled with Apple wireless keyboard and mouse. Great setup
It's not such a great setup when compared to some of the DELL SFF options out there, which can be upgraded if required.
This is so old.
Ageist
Bought this while ago. Absolute shite. Run anymore than one browser window the thing just runs so slow.
Not good at running marathons then?
You would think it should be able to run a 1994 game smoothly.
Was decent for it's time, but at that price in 2019, seems a bit rich.
Was decent for it's time
No, it was never decent.
Avoid this - its way too slow. Work one is a fresh install and it's so laggy.
Perhaps ssd would help.. but still..
Warning: these…are not good.
Your better off buying a second hand 2012 model which has user upgradable ram and a faster quad core processor. You can also put an SSD in quiet easily. Would be faster and cheaper.
That or buy the 2018 model if you want something much faster.
I have a 2012 and I'm pretty sure it's not easy. About 46 steps on iFixit, I'd probably break something
Very slow and would not recommend. Bought one last year as an app signer and submitter for the App Store (you need a Mac) and it’s just so darn slow now.
What version of OSX did it come with? Did it become slow after you upgraded the OS?
My biggest concern would be Apple dropping it from the supported devices list soon.
500 buys a second hand Optiplex with an i7, 16GB RAM, plus a 512GB SSD.
expensist…
Also i7ist, RAMist and SSDist.
its missing the logo and the OS that makes you cool instantly …
Link please.
those are some shitty specs
This is a potato of an Apple. Nevertheless might be useful for certain people who should be kept away from effing up windows computers and only need potato specs to do what they need to do
A Chromebook is probably more suited to those sort of people these days.
Yep, but this has a shiny Apple on the outside. That's gotta be worth $300 alone….
You obviously haven't seen my Acer laptop which apparently has an apple logo in the back. Not shiny though
I wouldn’t buy this. It has a HDD and soldered ram.