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Sell NAS for Mac Mini?

Ifti

Ifti

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 14, 2010
4,298
2,961
UK
Current Setup:
Synology 5 Bay NAS. 5x2TB drives in RAID5 gives me just over 7TB useable space.
Synology DX510 unit, connected to NAS to backup data.

- At the moment the NAS is switched off most of the time. I use it as a backup to all the data on my MacBook, and all of my videos, photos etc.
- Only used about 400GB on it in total! Lol
- The unit is switched on when the kids, or I, want to watch a movie or I need to backup.
- Movies have to be streamed to my main TV via a PowerLine adapter kit, or to my iDevices via an app.
- My MacBook is backed up to the NAS as well as images and TM backups to a USB3 HDD.


Potential Future Setup:

I'm thinking of getting rid of the underused NAS to make things easier by buying a Mac Mini server instead (hoping the new new one will be released soon!), upgraded to 8GB RAM, and a SSD for the startup disk with a 1TB HDD as storage.
- The server would be connected directly to my main TV via HDMI - hence no more need for the PowerLine adapter kit any more as movies would be stored locally on the 1 TB drive (easily expanded with external thunderbolt or USB3 drive as and when need be)
- Would be my Plex server and feed by iDevices as well as the main TV.
- would act as server for any shared data/backups etc.
- Would be backed up to my external USB3 drive, so my files would be on my MacBook, the server, as well as a portable drive for offsite storage.


Each way I look at it, the Mini would suit my needs and make things easier I guess. I'm not using the other extra features of the NAS.
On the other hand, it's a brilliant NAS and I don't want to part with it! Just can't justify having both together as one would remain unused in the endQ
What should I do?
 
Last edited:
I would keep the NAS, save some more money and then buy a Mac Mini base model to do Plex (or even a low end PC for half the price).

It's not easy (or inexpensive) to get a lot of storage in a Mac Mini. The NAS is much better suited for network storage (movies, music, photos) and perfect for backup. Any Mac Mini (2010+ if you do HD) will do fine as Plex server, even if it has to convert high res movies to iphone/iPod resolutions.

Until recently I had a 2010 Mac Mini i5 running as my Plex/iTunes server with the Synology NAS being the Time Machine/SMB storage device. The Synology was not fast enough to do Plex on its own but adding more than 2GB of storage to a Mac Mini requires an external Thunderbolt (expensive) or USB (slow) device. This may change now with Ivy Bridge Mac Minis but still, you have the NAS, why not use it.
 
Used to own a 4x1TB Synology DS411Slim connected to the router.
While it can serve well for music and video streaming, I find it extremely annoying when backing up and doing huge file transfer between my Mac mini and the NAS over wireless.

In the end, I sold the NAS and bought a 4TB WD Thunderbolt Duo. Attached it directly to my Mac mini which has only 500GB internal HDD. Now my Mac mini which runs 24x7 is a much more versatile and capable machine serving the music, printer (even airprint capability on normal printers via the use of this fantastic utility "handyPrint"), videos.
 
I've a buffalo NAS 2x1 TB, connected to router with CAT 6 cables going to 2 bedrooms and lounge.
I'd keep the NAS and try and get some CAT 6 (1GB speed) network cable in your home, WIFI is ok for view/ streaming, but for file transfer you'll need a good HARD line, so get one or two or even three.

I'll get a new mini before the end of the year, my 2 Samsung series 6 TV's both have LAN sockets and are hooked up to the router via CAT 6 cables, they can play most files directly from the NAS no PC/MAC required, very basic browser but works fine for me.
the Mini will replace 2 old laptop's (windows), we're all on ios now so laptops not really required.
 

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pdafan said:
Used to own a 4x1TB Synology DS411Slim connected to the router.
While it can serve well for music and video streaming, I find it extremely annoying when backing up and doing huge file transfer between my Mac mini and the NAS over wireless.

In the end, I sold the NAS and bought a 4TB WD Thunderbolt Duo. Attached it directly to my Mac mini which has only 500GB internal HDD. Now my Mac mini which runs 24x7 is a much more versatile and capable machine serving the music, printer (even airprint capability on normal printers via the use of this fantastic utility "handyPrint"), videos.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what Im considering. Im buying the Mac Mini regardless, so may sell my NAS setup and go for an external drive connected to a Mac Mini, which will be on 24/7....
 
Ifti said:
This is exactly what Im considering. Im buying the Mac Mini regardless, so may sell my NAS setup and go for an external drive connected to a Mac Mini, which will be on 24/7....
Click to expand...

You have several options.

Personally, I will be buying the new server if it comes out and installing plex, then backing up to my Synology (actually yours if you decide to sell it [shot gun :)]

It avoids you having to use powerlines as you have said and also, your mac will also be power efficient, which is excellent.

My colleague loves his mini however uses XBMC (I prefer plex) and says it's a great experience.

You really did go all hardcore on your NAS, the DX510 units are awesome aren't they :)

Sorted.
 
Mild digression, but I'm looking to get a 510 to replace my Drobo FS. Drobo is slow as all hell, especially for time machine backups over the air :(

Either that, or I might do what you're considering and buy a Mini with an SSD boot drive and a Thunderbolt Disk Attached to it, which could stream our media around the house.

At the moment I use my Drobo as the central video/storage hub, but I still use my office Mac Pro as my iTunes media server with a local copy of all my media on an internal drive with everything ripped to m4v format. Most of the time I end up manually grabbing the MKV files from the Drobo and watching them as they're slightly better quality. So I really need to ditch having the media sitting on my Mac Pro and move it to just one location (with backups of course).
 
I have a Synology DS410. Fantastic box, good company for the way they constantly push updates and it performs really well.

Currently, my Mini is connected to the NAS by wired and the 410 serves as a time machine HDD for my rMBP and my wife's 13" pro.

Like others, I'm thinking whether to sell the NAS and go for a direct access storage connected to (hopefully) the new Mini as sometimes, access via wireless is painfully slow as my room is a bit far away from the Airport Extreme.

Or I go another route and not buy another Mini at all (current one already on ebay and have a couple of bids). I'll have to carry the rMBP from work to home every day......... hmmm.....
 
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