When you get your next Mac, be sure to avoid mistakes that destroy your laptop so you don't send it to an early grave. But when your computer has so many small quirks that it's barely usable, you should cut your losses and look into a replacement machine that will perform much better. Try as we might, there are no reliable ways to get 4K on older models of either.
Little problems, like your charger not working unless it's in just the right spot, dead pixels on the display, stuck keys, and crackling speakers aren't necessarily signs that you need to replace your Mac. Apple has official support for 4K displays in the 27-inch late 2013 model, and the late 2014 Mac mini. You can live with a few odd issues if they don't impact your ability to use it properly, but eventually, something big will go wrong and you'll have to decide whether to fix it or upgrade. An old computer is often a lot like an old car. And as discussed above, it doesn't make a lot of sense to pour hundreds of dollars into an old or even obsolete machine when you can get a new one that will last longer.īarring a major hardware catastrophe, a long list of small issues can quickly become a big problem too. I can confirm 100 that you CAN in fact get 3840x2160 30Hz 4K from a Late 2012 mini running 10.10.5 using only one MDP to DP cable. Enlarge / The 2014 Mac Mini looks the same on the outside, but on the inside it regresses in some unfortunate ways. In these cases, your computer is unusable until you get it fixed or replace it.