20" 2.66 iMac as a Media Server

[Hberg]

I want to get opinions on the possibility of using a 20" 2.66 iMac with 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM and 1TB Serial ATA Drive as an iTunes type server in my Media Room. I would stream the music to my AppleTV in the Theater area and my Airport Express in my upstairs office. It would sit on my bar in the Media Room and be the central point for all music that is streamed throughout the house.

Some say that this might be over kill, but the large hard drive is attractive as a place to store all my music files.

Thoughts?

 

[spice weasel]

Do you already have this computer? If so, then sure, go ahead and use it to store your media. If not, and you are looking to buy something, then just go with something inexpensive unless you are going to use the machine for day-to-day computing use as well.

In other words, if it's just going to store your iTunes library and stream to your ATV, then any computer capable of running iTunes will work. Just make sure you get an external drive to back up your media library. You don't want to find out the hard way how bad a drive failure can be after you've spent countless hours encoding your DVD collection and ripping CDs.

 

[Hberg]

I already store all my music files on the 1 TB Time Capsule and I have backed them up to Firewire Hard Drive. I was thinking about using the iMac as the Music Server and having everything backed up to the 1 TB Time Capsule via Time Machine. Since the iMac would be in the main entertainment area associated with the Theater, I was thinking this would be a great way to have more of a true Media Server for the entire home.

 

[Wardotron]

I already store all my music files on the 1 TB Time Capsule and I have backed them up to Firewire Hard Drive. I was thinking about using the iMac as the Music Server and having everything backed up to the 1 TB Time Capsule via Time Machine. Since the iMac would be in the main entertainment area associated with the Theater, I was thinking this would be a great way to have more of a true Media Server for the entire home.

Seems reasonable. Realistically you could do all of this with a bog standard iMac loaded with RAM for ripping and an external HD. However big you spec the internal drive, it will never be enough. I would also recommend an iPhone or IPod Touch with the Apple Remote app for full control.

 

[Hberg]

Seems reasonable. Realistically you could do all of this with a bog standard iMac loaded with RAM for ripping and an external HD. However big you spec the internal drive, it will never be enough. I would also recommend an iPhone or IPod Touch with the Apple Remote app for full control.

Since I already have an iTouch, I didn't think that far ahead, but that is a good idea. The iMac Media Server would sit on the bar at the back of the room, and the Theater area is half way across the room (25'). This would allow me to spontaneously change the music without having to go to the back of the room to change tunes. Plus, I could change tunes while sitting at the poker table with the guys without having to get up from the table.

 

[nick9191]

Overkill on so many levels. Shove a 1tb FW800 external on the back of a Mac Mini.

 

[robotartfashion]

you don't even need firewire

i bought a USB 2.0 two drive rosewill enclosure from newegg and plunked in 2 WD Green 1 TB drives in it and i was fine

USB 2.0 is fast enough for HD streaming