Suitable Mac Mini model for Plex streaming?

[alexjholland]

You should be "OK" with a mid-2010, but it REALLY depends. If you're transcoding any material to iPads etc - especially modern stuff - it might be a tad slower.

But it depends on what you're playing. What's your usage style?

We mainly stream films via Plex through ethernet cables and 500MB homeplugs to an AppleTV or PS3, no wireless involved.

I MAY try accessing films remotely from my iPad when travelling, also.

Otherwise, just being able to have Time Machine backups of my iPad and also my Macbook, when travelling.

I may also move my iTunes library off my iMac onto a hard drive connected to the Mac Mini, so that I can play music through my Apple TV, without having to turn on my iMac first.

How does all of that sound?

----------

Actually, my iMac is mid-2010! How time flies.

I got it in early 2011.. Although it's quad-core i7 with 12GB of RAM - which seems more current than a five-year old computer usually is?

Hard disc is painfully slow though.. SSD conversion is overdue!

 

[WilliamG]

We mainly stream films via Plex through ethernet cables and 500MB homeplugs to an AppleTV or PS3, no wireless involved.

I MAY try accessing films remotely from my iPad when travelling, also.

Otherwise, just being able to have Time Machine backups of my iPad and also my Macbook, when travelling.

I may also move my iTunes library off my iMac onto a hard drive connected to the Mac Mini, so that I can play music through my Apple TV, without having to turn on my iMac first.

How does all of that sound?

----------

Actually, my iMac is mid-2010! How time flies.

I got it in early 2011.. Although it's quad-core i7 with 12GB of RAM - which seems more current than a five-year old computer usually is?

Hard disc is painfully slow though.. SSD conversion is overdue!

That sounds fine to me. I don't think you'd have an issue.

 

[Dameatball]

Suitable Mac Mini model for Plex streaming?

I have two mac mini's. My first in 2011, and got it specifically for Plex. I still have a mini dedicated to only running Plex 24/7 (2012).
It's perfect for the scenario you mentioned. As a matter of fact, Plex was developed w/the Mac mini in mind. The variables you want to look at interms of the scenario you mentioned:
You want a mini with solid benchmarks because you're Plex server will be doing a lot of transcoding, specifically while remote. With the exception of watching via browser or Plex home theater, any other client will require transcoding for file types it can't play natively. More so when the client isn't local.
The other variable is you upload speed (where pms is connected). You mentioned you have good speeds so it sounds like you're set.

FYI, unless you'd be using it as a gaming machine, a dedicated vs integrated gpu isn't going to make any difference for watching Blu ray/High quality 1080p movies/tv.

 

[WilliamG]

I have two mac mini's. My first in 2011, and got it specifically for Plex. I still have a mini dedicated to only running Plex 24/7 (2012).
It's perfect for the scenario you mentioned. As a matter of fact, Plex was developed w/the Mac mini in mind. The variables you want to look at interms of the scenario you mentioned:
You want a mini with solid benchmarks because you're Plex server will be doing a lot of transcoding, specifically while remote. With the exception of watching via browser or Plex home theater, any other client will require transcoding for file types it can't play natively. More so when the client isn't local.
The other variable is you upload speed (where pms is connected). You mentioned you have good speeds so it sounds like you're set.

FYI, unless you'd be using it as a gaming machine, a dedicated vs integrated gpu isn't going to make any difference for watching Blu ray/High quality 1080p movies/tv.

Depending on how hardcore you are about such things, the Mac mini is actually not at all good for Plex.

My Mac mini does server duty now for Plex, but I use a Windows-based system (Intel NUC( for actually playing media for several reasons.

1.) No 24p (23.976hz) support in OS X (OS X will only do 24.000hz).
2.) No Dolby TrueHD/DTS HD MA support in OS X

So if those two things are important to you (they are to me), then a mini doesn't make a good Plex system these days.

That said, if all you're doing is hooking up a mini to a whatever 60hz TV, or you simply don't care about the HD audio formats or smooth, film-like images like at the cinema, a Mac mini-based Plex system will work perfectly.

 

[Dameatball]

Suitable Mac Mini model for Plex streaming?

Depending on how hardcore you are about such things, the Mac mini is actually not at all good for Plex.



My Mac mini does server duty now for Plex, but I use a Windows-based system (Intel NUC( for actually playing media for several reasons.



1.) No 24p (23.976hz) support in OS X (OS X will only do 24.000hz).

2.) No Dolby TrueHD/DTS HD MA support in OS X



So if those two things are important to you (they are to me), then a mini doesn't make a good Plex system these days.



That said, if all you're doing is hooking up a mini to a whatever 60hz TV, or you simply don't care about the HD audio formats or smooth, film-like images like at the cinema, a Mac mini-based Plex system will work perfectly.

No.
you're confused as well as comparing apples to oranges.
You're referring to the using the Plex server on a Mac vs Plex client on a nuc? .
You can play Plex on just about everything these days and it doesn't require much , but the server is where the work is done, streaming ability is determined, transcoding happens and the most important variable in the Plex setup. And a mini is great for pms (you supposedly use one so you're aware).
You can get a ras pi for 30 bucks to play Plex client on. It's already on most smart tv's, Xbox, phone etc. Etc.

 

[WilliamG]

No.
you're confused as well as comparing apples to oranges.
You're referring to the using the Plex server on a Mac vs Plex client on a nuc? .
You can play Plex on just about everything these days and it doesn't require much , but the server is where the work is done, streaming ability is determined, transcoding happens and the most important variable in the Plex setup. And a mini is great for pms (you supposedly use one so you're aware).
You can get a ras pi for 30 bucks to play Plex client on. It's already on most smart tv's, Xbox, phone etc. Etc.

No I'm not confused.

I have been using XBMC/Plex since the very day both programs existed, many - many years ago.

If all you're doing is SERVING, the Mac mini makes a great Plex Media Server. If you want the best Plex Media PLAYER, the Mac mini is NOT The best for that job.

So again, it depends on what your needs are. As I said before, local playback is important to me as well as serving. In the case of this thread that isn't/may not be a concern.

 

[ea9]

Didn't read the entire thread, so sorry if some of this has been answered.

But there are many options to have your system reboot and log in by itself and automatically open up all the apps what were open. Google is your friend for all these things.

My Mac mini, also used mainly for plex always reboots and logs back in during power failures. Then I have full access to plex and teamviewer with no issues.

Once I couldn't log into teamviewer anymore and I needed someone to manually (via power button) shut down the mac and then turn it back on and everything was fine after. So obviously there maybe hiccups so 100% unattended access will probably fail over time. But 99% is definitely possible.

Also, how many simultaneous stream are you planning on doing ? If your files are MKV and they need to be transcoded for iPhone then with a slow mac you might not be able to do more then 1 stream at a time.
Don't forget that this is based on my experience with mixed type of videos, some at 720 some at 1080 and with many different format.


I have a Mid range 2014 Mac mini, I can do about 3 streams that require trans coding.
Passmark score is important. Check the CPU in the machine that interests you and make sure the score is approx 1500 per stream. So if you want 2 streams, get a passmark score of 3000.

If I were you I wouldn't get something too old. A 2014 refurb is what I would recommend. This has been a great investment for me. It never gets old when my girlfriend says 'I don't understand how I can see all these movies from anywhere'.


Good luck