Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Mac Mini i7 Dual Core vs Mac mini Server i7 Quad Core

Hi @otacorb,

so, also sleep issue's... good to know.
'm thinking about installing Lion without the server software. Mayby that helps.
Read some articles on the net about earlier mini's with SL server with the same issue that were cured by installing SL only and not SL server.

i'll let you know.
regards
 
I have the same issue with the non server version of Lion. The automatic sleep seemed to be working fine under 10.7.0 but under 10.7.1 it doesn't work like it should. The dsplay will go to sleep but the Mini won't. Also you cannot set the sleep timer independently for the Mini and the display unless the display is set for a shorter time. For example I cannot set the Mini to go to sleep after 15 minutes and the display never to go to sleep. Also the Mini turns on randomly without any reason and then goes back into sleep mode. This is can happen at any time. It's really annoying as I prefer to put my Mini to sleep especially when I'm at home and not using it. :confused: :mad:
 
Darby67 said:
The server software does not allow it to sleep, it's not a bug or issue that needs fixing as servers in general should not sleep...if used as servers.
Click to expand...

Lion Server actually has the exact same Power Savings settings available as the non-server version. The Sever just defaults to never sleep after initial install, but this can be changed.

I have a Mini Server with a non-server Lion install, but it's had issues auto sleeping with both server and non-server OS. I have mine set to sleep after 30 minutes and I can be away for hours with the computer idle and come back with it still on.
 
I'm getting the server but have no use for the server software. Is there a good reason to remove /not install the server software and is it easy?
I assume the Lion recovery sees that you have the server model and downloads the server software? or is it a separate optional install like the iLife apps.?
 
gigaguy said:
I'm getting the server but have no use for the server software. Is there a good reason to remove /not install the server software and is it easy?
I assume the Lion recovery sees that you have the server model and downloads the server software? or is it a separate optional install like the iLife apps.?
Click to expand...

Yes, if you do the Lion Recovery with a Server, it will only download the Server OS. The server app is not a separate install like the iLife apps, unless you bought the server app separately, of course.

I'm not sure if/how the Server apps can be removed from the Lion Server install. But there are other threads on how to download the non-Server install image, which requires a new Macbook Air or new non-Server Mini.

There's threads with people saying that you could just not use the server apps, but I kept getting server alerts whenever my router changed my local IP address, which got annoying. I looked everywhere to try to turn that particular alert off and couldn't find anything. And I had access to a non-Server Mini so I decided to do the non-server OS route.
 
OTACORB said:
I purchased the Mini server from Amazon where I got it for less and no tax. I have added the OWC Mercury Electra 6gb/s 120GB SSD as my boot drive and for installing my software. I then installed a Seagate 750gb 7200 RPM drive as my data drive. This machine screams and the bump in speed is very noticeable especially when ripping content. An example is that with the regular Mac Mini as listed above I ripped a DVD it took 1.12 minutes and then I ripped the same DVD using the same external DVD drive and it took me 26 minutes. Now that is time savings I can certainly use and so I know for me I made the right choice.
Click to expand...

Hi,

I am looking into purchasing mini server as well. I was wondering if mini actually has SATA III (6gb/s) interface or not. I did not find that info on the Apple web site, but I suspect checking system info will reveal that.

Also, does anyone try to install 16GB of RAM? Just curious.

Cheers,
R>
 
yes and
yes, poster Phil has done and I think others have 16gb RAM, it did not increase the ram to the GPU over 512.
 
DesertSilver said:
Lion Server actually has the exact same Power Savings settings available as the non-server version. The Sever just defaults to never sleep after initial install, but this can be changed.
Click to expand...

exactly. And changing the sliders under 10.7.1 doesn't make any difference...

 
no, i didn't turn off 'wake for network access'. I'm controlling the new mac mini (under my TV) with remote desktop from my iMac on my desktop 10 steps further away. He needs to wake up when i want to access him over the network isn't it...
 
bonimac said:
no, i didn't turn off 'wake for network access'. I'm controlling the new mac mini (under my TV) with remote desktop from my iMac on my desktop 10 steps further away. He needs to wake up when i want to access him over the network isn't it...
Click to expand...

You should at least try it and see if that's what's keeping your Mac from sleeping.
 
i tried it since my last post. pulled the sliders to the left for minimum time.
no result.
 
Personally, I think the fact that the GPU memory doesn't go >512 is a good thing. The built-in Intel HD3000 has no need for 1GB video memory, it simply doesn't have the processing power to render textures at such a high resolution that it needs 1GB of RAM, nor does running even dual 30" displays (not actually possible on the mini unless you daisy-chain with the TB port) does not require that much RAM.

It would just be a useless waste of RAM devoting extra memory to it vs. having it available for use by the OS, which actually can effectively utilize 16+GB of RAM in some usage cases. It's good to know that upgrading from 8>16GB is actually an 8GB upgrade, and not a 7.5GB one.

Ruahrc
 
OTACORB said:
I actually had both till about 2 hours ago, but I shipped the regular Mac Mini back to Apple.

...
Click to expand...

Hi I have a straight forward question:

what is audible difference (noise) between server and i7 (or i5) with dual core and AMD GPU version?

Is server (significantly) louder???

I'll have it in living room next to TV (or in bedroom) and I really need it silent as much as possible.


Also - do you have any info on difference for iPhoto and Aperture usage?

I'm deciding between i7 dual core with AMD GPU and server version. It will be hooked to TV (as HTPC) but used also as home server @ main home computer for Skype (a lot), iPhoto and Aperture editing...

Thanks!
 
Vasja said:
Hi I have a straight forward question:

what is audible difference (noise) between server and i7 (or i5) with dual core and AMD GPU version?

Is server (significantly) louder???

I'll have it in living room next to TV (or in bedroom) and I really need it silent as much as possible.


Also - do you have any info on difference for iPhoto and Aperture usage?

I'm deciding between i7 dual core with AMD GPU and server version. It will be hooked to TV (as HTPC) but used also as home server @ main home computer for Skype (a lot), iPhoto and Aperture editing...

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I had both the Server and non-Server Mini's back to back and I can tell you the sound difference is insignificant unless you're in a silent room with the Mini closer than 5 feet away from you. Even with it close by, if you have any noise around you such as an open window, they're both inaudible. Especially if you're using it in a living room, the audible difference shouldn't even be a factor in your buying decision.

For your stated purpose (HTPC, home server, Skype, photo stuff) it should be a no brainer to go with the Server model. I'm suggesting this because you didn't state anything that would really take advantage of the GPU and the Server model has more storage and better CPU out of the gate.
 
DesertSilver said:
For your stated purpose (HTPC, home server, Skype, photo stuff) it should be a no brainer to go with the Server model. I'm suggesting this because you didn't state anything that would really take advantage of the GPU and the Server model has more storage and better CPU out of the gate.
Click to expand...

Hi,

I'm also planing to use primarily also iPhoto / Aperture + ocasional video editing (nothing beyond iMovie).

HD playback/encoding/ripping/transcoding

I guess I'll not really need server software much...

Does that call for GPU?

Best,
Vasja
 
Last edited:
Vasja said:
Hi,

I'm also planing to use primarily also iPhoto / Aperture + ocasional video editing (nothing beyond iMovie).

HD playback/encoding/ripping/transcoding

I guess I'll not really need server software much...

Does that call for GPU?

Best,
Vasja
Click to expand...

HD playback most likely uses the GPU but there should be no advantage to going with the AMD vs Intel GPU's for HD playback alone.

If you're not planning to use the server apps, you should just base the decision on what CPU/GPU/HDD you want in your Mini and don't think of the "server" part of it.
 
Vasja said:
Hi,

I'm also planing to use primarily also iPhoto / Aperture + ocasional video editing (nothing beyond iMovie).

HD playback/encoding/ripping/transcoding

I guess I'll not really need server software much...

Does that call for GPU?

Best,
Vasja
Click to expand...

I went with the Server and its only use is an HTPC. I chose that option because later down the road I'm sure there will be some Thunderbolt/Discrete video card options to upgrade to. I figured it would be easier to do that rather than replacing the CPU. Honestly the only time I would see the AMD Mini being useful is light gaming and serious photoshop/iMovie work.
 
lickitysplit said:
I went with the Server and its only use is an HTPC. I chose that option because later down the road I'm sure there will be some Thunderbolt/Discrete video card options to upgrade to. I figured it would be easier to do that rather than replacing the CPU. Honestly the only time I would see the AMD Mini being useful is light gaming and serious photoshop/iMovie work.
Click to expand...

Yeah totally agree with this. They label it "server" to put off less techy people but it's clearly a much better option. Especially for Pro apps with its dual HDDs
 
I am also using the server model as a HTPC. The Intel HD 3000 is more than enough for 1080p playback. The CPU is powerful enough to handle graphics processing regardless. For iMovie I would think the server would win building the video as that's processor (quad-core) and drive (7200RPM) intensive.
 
DesertSilver said:
Lion Server actually has the exact same Power Savings settings available as the non-server version. The Sever just defaults to never sleep after initial install, but this can be changed.

I have a Mini Server with a non-server Lion install, but it's had issues auto sleeping with both server and non-server OS. I have mine set to sleep after 30 minutes and I can be away for hours with the computer idle and come back with it still on.
Click to expand...

bonimac said:
exactly. And changing the sliders under 10.7.1 doesn't make any difference...
Click to expand...

What I noticed in SL server was that it seems to be an issue of what server services are active. THe Power Savings set-up is identical in both OS's but when services are enabled it seems to override.Once I set up Lion server I never looked into it sleeping as I prefer it not to.

Bonimac, did you enable any services?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back