I currently have about 1TB of iTunes media stored on a 2TB Western Digital NAS, connected via ethernet to my Core 2 Duo iMac. The "problem" I have is (impatience) that it takes forever to push high-def movies around the network to the Apple TVs, because they are 2 - 5GB files and the network traffic is doubled by the need to draw the media from the NAS to the iMac, from where it is put back on the network to get to the Apple TVs. Also, the NAS isn't that quick to attach after a shutdown, so I have to be careful to make sure it's there before opening iTunes, otherwise iTunes defaults to the empty "on board" folder.
I have been waiting for this refresh before upgrading my iMac, as I need the extra processing power for encoding all these high-def movies. One other plus it will have over my old iMac is the "wake on network" feature, so I will be able to sleep the CPU (currently my CPU is always on, otherwise streamed content is not available on the Apple TVs). If the new iMac sleeps, I am worried that it will wake on network, not attach the NAS and default back to the on board iTunes folder.
Lastly, my media is currently not backed up.
So, here's the theory: get an i7 iMac, with a 2TB HDD plus the 256GB SSD. Use the SSD for applications and files, but put the iTunes folder on the HDD where the bulk of files won't interfere with regular work, but will be always available when the CPU's awake. Movies will only hit the network once, speeding up sync and streaming performance of the Apple TVs. I can then use the NAS to backup everything via Time Machine.
An iMac in the configuration I've described is comfortably over $3,000. Am I wasting money, or is there a better solution? TIA.
I have been waiting for this refresh before upgrading my iMac, as I need the extra processing power for encoding all these high-def movies. One other plus it will have over my old iMac is the "wake on network" feature, so I will be able to sleep the CPU (currently my CPU is always on, otherwise streamed content is not available on the Apple TVs). If the new iMac sleeps, I am worried that it will wake on network, not attach the NAS and default back to the on board iTunes folder.
Lastly, my media is currently not backed up.
So, here's the theory: get an i7 iMac, with a 2TB HDD plus the 256GB SSD. Use the SSD for applications and files, but put the iTunes folder on the HDD where the bulk of files won't interfere with regular work, but will be always available when the CPU's awake. Movies will only hit the network once, speeding up sync and streaming performance of the Apple TVs. I can then use the NAS to backup everything via Time Machine.
An iMac in the configuration I've described is comfortably over $3,000. Am I wasting money, or is there a better solution? TIA.