2012 Mac mini + Linux Mint + Steam/Proton — surprisingly capable

I've been experimenting with a late-2012 Mac mini as a Linux gaming machine, and I'm surprised by how useful it has turned out to be.

Hardware:

• 2012 Mac mini
• Intel Ivy Bridge CPU
• Intel HD 4000 graphics
• 16 GB RAM
• 1 TB SSD
• Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon

I'm not trying to run modern AAA games. I'm mainly interested in older PC games that would otherwise be sitting unused.

So far I've successfully played:

• BioShock (original)
• Borderlands
• Borderlands 2
• Deus Ex
• DOOM
• DOOM II
• DOOM 3

Most are running through Steam/Proton. For some games, I've had better results with:

PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 %command%

Obviously the HD 4000 has limitations, especially with modern Vulkan support, but I'm impressed by what this little 2012 machine can still do.

It has basically become my older-PC/retro Steam box alongside my newer Windows gaming laptop.

Has anyone else been using a 2012-era Mac mini or similar Ivy Bridge/HD 4000 hardware with Linux and Proton? What games have you gotten working?