Minimum specs to run a media server?

[Astroboy907]

Well, just to update on this thread I purchased a 2009 mac mini from a user here for a decent price. I'm in the process of migrating data over and ripping my DVD library to it, but it works like a champ over HDMI! A little stutter here and there when something else is writing to the drive but nothing I can't live with.

 

[talmy]

Well, congratulations on your purchase!

A little stutter here and there when something else is writing to the drive but nothing I can't live with.

When you expand with external drives, put the media on them and you won't get this conflict.

 

[geoffpalmeruk]

I'm currently setting up a MacMini (2005) G4 for use as a media server. It will be attached to 2x2TB hdds in RAID1. I will be using home sharing to my apple TV3 and for backups from my MBP.

 

[blanka]

What I have found is none of the 2009 Mini's will carry audio out of the mini display port.

It really does not matter. HDMI audio is highly overrated.
You can either hookup a AV receiver over optical (I don't believe you when you hear the difference between say DTS core 1500kbps and DTSMA over HDMI), or if you hook up to a TV directly you want to connect via stereo line cables anyway, as no TV can decode a serious set of digital audio formats, so you need your Mac to handle that.