2012 Mac Mini - What MacOS Version To Use?

[A4orce84]

Hey Everyone,

I recently resurrected my 2012 Mac Mini, as it stands it has the following specs:

2012 Mac Mini Running MacOS Big Sur (DosDude Patched)
2.5Ghz Intel i5
16GB Memory (Max I believe)
500GB SSD (Main Drive)
1TB SSD (Data Drive)

I stopped using it since I got a work MacBook Pro, and I basically unplugged it and put it in a closet for a few years. I am switching jobs and decided to dust it off and start using it again and wanted to know what is the 'best' version of MacOS to run on it? I haven't done any research, but I imagine there is a DosDude patch to run up to MacOS Monterey (latest version). My goal is to have a decent performant mac as a secondary machine (and maybe a few home server tasks), since most likely I will be getting another MacBook for my new job.

Question:
What is the best version of MacOS to run on my 10-year old (wow!) Mac Mini so I can still use it as a functional secondary computer?


Thank you in advance to everyone for your time and help, it is greatly appreciated!

 

[OCLP76]

I use Monterey on my 2012 mini with the help of OCLP(opencore patcher) and it runs perfect. OS version really depends on your needs; Big Sur can handle whatever you throw at it with your setup.

 

[glenthompson]

I have one used as a file and media server. Running Mojave on it. Don’t want to run a patched OS in that situation.

 

[Boyd01]

Running Catalina on my 2012 quad Mini and everything is fine, but it's a headless file/time machine server.

 

[TP2]

I am running the same 2012 MacMini for all my daily work. For me the issue is my software. My software works fine in X.12.6 (Sierra), but reportedly has problems starting with High Sierra. I see no reason to pay for new versions of MS Office and Adobe's pricing is just nutty. Firefox has an ESR version so I am up to date with that. Safari works fine too. Actually everything works just great. If it ain't broke, don't break it.

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[ZipZilla]

I have a 2012 Mini and I run Catalina on it because I still want the latest security updates from Apple and latest Safari.

You could stop at Mojave if you need 32-bit apps and want iTunes instead of the horrendous Music app in Catalina.

I am buying the next Mini....M1 Pro or M2 or whatever they come out with.

 

[Fishrrman]

Mojave (using dosdude patch).

One of Apple's best OS's, still runs 32 bit software, and it just "looks better" than their latest releases...

 

[chrfr]

Mojave (using dosdude patch).

One of Apple's best OS's, still runs 32 bit software, and it just "looks better" than their latest releases...

A 2012 mini natively supports Catalina (And Mojave.) why is the patch needed?

 

[Fishrrman]

chrfr:
"A 2012 mini natively supports Catalina (And Mojave.) why is the patch needed?"

Ah, ok, I didn't realize that.
Your correction is noted.

My 2012 Mini still runs 10.12 Low Sierra.
I'm gonna "leave it there" forever...

 

[808?]

 

[millicurie999]

Mojave (using dosdude patch).

One of Apple's best OS's, still runs 32 bit software, and it just "looks better" than their latest releases...

That's exactly why I am keeping my at Mojave.

 

[Freeangel1]

Since you only have 16GB max memory I would not go past Catalina.

I dont know how people can run Monterey on a Mac mini that maxes out at 16GB??

I am almost sure Monterey uses 12GB just siting and idling . That means you only have a measly 4GB left to run programs

Maybe if everyone who told you what OS they run would also look at their activity monitor and tell you how much of their RAM out of the 16GB is being eaten up just idling???

I'm Positive BIG SUR and Monterey are memory hogs with Memory leak issues and you should stay away just for the memory leaks alone. they are 12GB in size. vs Catalina 6.5GB. 18.5GB installed for Catalina.


Catalina seems to be the best well rounded. Mojave will mean you can not run fairly current versions of software like Final Cut X and Logic X.

 

[macsound1]

Especially if you're not yet invested in loading the machine up with a bunch of software and documents, I'd recommend installing an SSD.
I currently have the same machine running Mojave and it runs great, but when it still had a 5400rpm spinning disk, it felt like the world was going to end, especially during a restart.
It'll also perform better if you do run out of ram and the OS swaps out to the drive.

 

[Boyd01]

Maybe if everyone who told you what OS they run would also look at their activity monitor and tell you how much of their RAM out of the 16GB is being eaten up just idling???

This Mini is just a headless file and time machine server....

 

[Heindijs]

Since you only have 16GB max memory I would not go past Catalina.

I dont know how people can run Monterey on a Mac mini that maxes out at 16GB??

I am almost sure Monterey uses 12GB just siting and idling . That means you only have a measly 4GB left to run programs

Maybe if everyone who told you what OS they run would also look at their activity monitor and tell you how much of their RAM out of the 16GB is being eaten up just idling???

I'm Positive BIG SUR and Monterey are memory hogs with Memory leak issues and you should stay away just for the memory leaks alone. they are 12GB in size. vs Catalina 6.5GB. 18.5GB installed for Catalina.


Catalina seems to be the best well rounded. Mojave will mean you can not run fairly current versions of software like Final Cut X and Logic X.

on my 2012 mini with multiple Chrome tabs opened. It's just not true. Install size also has nothing to do with RAM?? You don't install your OS to your RAM, you install it to your internal drive, which is in my case 2TB..

 

[loby]

It really depends on what apps you run.

The Mac mini 2012 is still a good computer even in 2022. To bad they stopped official support and is stuck at Catalina.

With 4-Core and 16GB RAM and the i7 model, any of the OS' work well with it. It has a good range from OS X Mountain Lion to macOS Catalina.

So at the end of the day, the apps determine the OS with Mac mini 2012.

For me: OS X Mountain Lion, Mojave or Catalina are my "go to" OS for Mac mini 2012.

 

[Heindijs]

Too bad they stopped official support and is stuck at Catalina.

Yeah about that...

 

[EugW]

Since you only have 16GB max memory I would not go past Catalina.

I dont know how people can run Monterey on a Mac mini that maxes out at 16GB??

I am almost sure Monterey uses 12GB just siting and idling . That means you only have a measly 4GB left to run programs

Maybe if everyone who told you what OS they run would also look at their activity monitor and tell you how much of their RAM out of the 16GB is being eaten up just idling???

I'm Positive BIG SUR and Monterey are memory hogs with Memory leak issues and you should stay away just for the memory leaks alone. they are 12GB in size. vs Catalina 6.5GB. 18.5GB installed for Catalina.

I'm not completely sure, but it sounds like you're actually serious.

This is a 2014 Mac mini with 8 GB RAM, running Monterey with a bunch of applications and browser tabs loaded:

 

[Che Castro]

I went with high sierra is the first macOS that syncs iMessages with the cloud
I don’t care about the other features after that

 

[Heindijs]

I went with high sierra is the first macOS that syncs iMessages with the cloud
I don’t care about the other features after that

This is of course only useful if you live in an iMessage country like the US and not a WhatsApp country like most of the world

I don’t think I’ve ever opened the messages app lol

 

[macsound1]

I went with high sierra is the first macOS that syncs iMessages with the cloud
I don’t care about the other features after that

You may also have issues with Safari not supporting certificates for certain websites or services that require login or authentication.

 

[EugW]

You may also have issues with Safari not supporting certificates for certain websites or services that require login or authentication.

Other browsers like Chrome and Firefox are fine though.

 

[ncoling]

I use Monterey on my 2012 mini with the help of OCLP(opencore patcher) and it runs perfect. OS version really depends on your needs; Big Sur can handle whatever you throw at it with your setup.

Hi I have an early 2009 and I am trying to upgrade to Monterey my issue is when I try to run OpenCore 3.3 I get this error.
what version did you use ? the mini is currently on 10.6.8

Thank You
Neal Colingham

Last login: Wed May 25 19:31:59 on ttys000
/Applications/OpenCore-Patcher.app/Contents/MacOS/OpenCore-Patcher ; exit;
unbung:~ Ncoling$ /Applications/OpenCore-Patcher.app/Contents/MacOS/OpenCore-Patcher ; exit;
Illegal instruction
logout

[Process completed]

 

[OCLP76]

Thanks for asking. I use OC 4.1

 

[Riot Nrrrd]

Hate to dredge up an old/dead thread, but if you were to use OpenCore to upgrade a 2012 Mac mini to either Big Sur or Monterey, what things would break? (Other than 32-bit software not running post-Mojave, which is a bit of a problem for me as my RAID Manager software is old and 32-bit.)

For example I know that OpenCore on a Mid 2010 Mac Pro would cause a FireWire iSight camera to stop working, and RAID Utility (in combination with an Apple RAID Card) would no longer work, and I'd have to boot into an alternate OS disk with Mojave to get them to function. (Which is why I've left my MacPro5,1 on Mojave.)

Are there similar "This hardware will break" issues with a Mac mini? I'm assuming FireWire devices would stop working but I just got rid of my Apogee Duet FireWire interface so that's not a problem anymore.