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Released on July 21, 2011. Core i5 or Core i7 Processor. Thunderbolt. This unit is also used to run the Mac mini Server configuration.

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Logic board replacement with newer model

I own a Mac Mini mid 2011 (MC815LL/A), which logic board died. I am wondering if I can replace it with Mac mini late 2012 logic board? Ha anyone done that?

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Sorry can't tell you if it would fit or not. I doubt anyone has even tried.

Frankly, I don't think you want to do it. The older ‘11 & ‘12 systems are more expandable than the current '14 system. The RAM is soldered on unlike your older systems which you can upgrade.

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Long shot, but @danj, did you ever attempt this?

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I think my answer was clear above.

With the newest 2018 model available now I think that's a better direction, just getting it outright!

Yes, it has its limitations too with soldered storage! But here you can expand externally with TB3 drives which is a lot faster than SATA and if you have a RAID SSD setup its even faster than PCIe/NVMe x4 drives! And you can push this puppy to 64 GB of RAM!

Maybe Apple will add in a second PCIe/NVMe x4 drive bay internally if they upgrade it this year. I do like the T2 flash storage as a primary drive.

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On Mac mini late 2012 RAM is not soldered. On the newest Mac Mini 2014 RAM is soldered.

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Correct! My bad for not being clearer.

Apple tends to move things about between the series so its likely a late '12 board will not fit the older mid '11 system either. I haven’t tried so I just don’t know.

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I am actually wondering this very same thing today in the year 2020. Someone gave me an old Macmini, Mid 2011 model, however, it is unfortunately the last revision that still has USB 2.0. I really need USB 3.0 for a host of other reasons I care not to get into. The late 2012 logic board has USB 3.0 and is also the last one that still allows for NON soldered RAM and NON soldered storage. Will a late 2012 logic board fit into the a casing/inner workings of a mid 2011 Macmini? Does anyone know for certain?

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Not sure if you figured this out, but for the other people searching like I was, I can confirm a 2012 logic board will fit and work in a 2011 housing. I had a mac mini server (2011) and the logic board failed. I also owned a 2012 i5 mini, and to diagnose first swapped the power supply from the 12 into the 11. When that didn't work, I took the whole logic board over as well. Everything fit and booted right up.

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Hey @David Johnson I just purchased a 2011 mid July and was wondering the same thing. Mine has the i5 and works well, but I’m wondering if the 2012 board would improve speed? Wonder if the 2018 logic board would fit? I’m trying to be able to use the latest macOS

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I am on this thread, getting the parts to fit is one level and getting the OS to work is another. I want to know the answer to this as well. ebay motherboards are cheaper than a new mac mini.I am posting this on 01.2021 so whats the latest news?

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David will be eternally grateful.
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