Upgrading 2011 Mini Server - questions

[patent10021]

Hi

So I installed 16GB of RAM a couple of weeks ago and wow is my Mini Server fast. Anyway next are the HDs and I just want to confirm some info. I want to install a 2TB 2.5 inch SATA HD as a scratch disk but can't seem to find them. I guess they don't exist? 1TB is the max?

Then I want to install SSD for my OS and main audio applications i.e. Logic/ProTools. I might wait though because not only are they still expensive but people are reporting compatibility issues. Still seems a bit sketchy to upgrade to SSD for the moment.

What do you think?

 

[swordfish5736]

Western digital makes a 2.5" 2tb drive. Not sure if it can be bought as a bare drive or in there enclosure only but you could pull it out of that. Just make sure whatever drive you get is 9.5mm tall

 

[patent10021]

...Just make sure whatever drive you get is 9.5mm tall

Oh, thanks didn't know that.

 

[blevins321]

Had you thought about THIS? Much faster compared to a single 5400 internal drive. Especially if you leave it in RAID0.

 

[Ifti]

I have a 2TB 2.5" WD drive in the 'My Passport Studio' case.
I don't think it would fit in the Mini even if taken out of the case due to the increased height of the drive.

I have both 1Tb and 2TB My Passport Studio drive - both exactly the same, although the 2TB drive case is even a few mm thicker then the 1TB.

 

[patent10021]

I have a 2TB 2.5" WD drive in the 'My Passport Studio' case.
I don't think it would fit in the Mini even if taken out of the case due to the increased height of the drive.

I have both 1Tb and 2TB My Passport Studio drive - both exactly the same, although the 2TB drive case is even a few mm thicker then the 1TB.

Ah so not 9.5mm hey?

Had you thought about THIS? Much faster compared to a single 5400 internal drive. Especially if you leave it in RAID0.

Interesting.

Reach read speeds of up to 480MB/s with the SSD model, and up to 190MB/s with the hard disk model.

190MB/s hey? How fast are regular 7200rpm SATA HDs that everyone uses? Do I have to use it in raid? Unfortunately if used separately they are only 1TB each. You can find 1TB HDs for $70.00.

 

[kobyh15]

WD makes a Scorpio Blue 1 TB drive that should fit. Don't know of any 2 TB drives that will fit.

 

[philipma1957]

Hi

So I installed 16GB of RAM a couple of weeks ago and wow is my Mini Server fast. Anyway next are the HDs and I just want to confirm some info. I want to install a 2TB 2.5 inch SATA HD as a scratch disk but can't seem to find them. I guess they don't exist? 1TB is the max?

Then I want to install SSD for my OS and main audio applications i.e. Logic/ProTools. I might wait though because not only are they still expensive but people are reporting compatibility issues. Still seems a bit sketchy to upgrade to SSD for the moment.

What do you think?

i think you should leave the 2 drives inside your mini alone. i think you should look into a thunderbolt external ssd. read my threads on this site about the lacie little big disk and about seagate t-bolt adapter.

 

[patent10021]

i think you should leave the 2 drives inside your mini alone. i think you should look into a thunderbolt external ssd. read my threads on this site about the lacie little big disk and about seagate t-bolt adapter.

Thats fine about the external but what about the System HD? Im doing audio so I would like it to perform as fast as possible.

 

[Ifti]

I would go ahead with the SSD for the system disk - I will be installing a SSD as the system disk and a 1TB WD Scorpio Blue as the second drive. That sounds like it would be suitable for you as well?
Just waiting for this bloody update to come along!!!!

 

[philipma1957]

Thats fine about the external but what about the System HD? Im doing audio so I would like it to perform as fast as possible.

the internal hdds are for your backups the external thunderbolt is your system hdds. did you read the threads? here are the links

this is good

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1317577/


this is better

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1280118/


I run 2 lacie little big disks using 4 ssds 3 in a raid0 1 as jbod .


I built this in dec and it is very stable I have run this with 3 256gb samsung ssd's in a raid0 for months as my osx disk. I use 2 lacie little big disks in daisy chain.

I built this cutting edge in dec so i used 256gb ssds you could build this for under 1127 with 2 512gb ssds or for under 815.00 with 2 256gb ssds.

 

[patent10021]

the internal hdds are for your backups the external thunderbolt is your system hdds. did you read the threads? here are the links

I'm a little surprised here. I Read the threads. Are people using these external Thunderbolt HDD now for the OS only? If the HDD can be connected to various Thunderbolt devices such as "27 display via Thunderbolt then what function does the Mac Mini serve? Is it possible to have a working system contained within a single Thunderbolt HDD and not have the Mac Mini in the equation at all?

 

[blevins321]

I'm a little surprised here. I Read the threads. Are people using these external Thunderbolt HDD now for the OS only? If the HDD can be connected to various Thunderbolt devices such as "27 display via Thunderbolt then what function does the Mac Mini serve? Is it possible to have a working system contained within a single Thunderbolt HDD and not have the Mac Mini in the equation at all?

You still need the Mini to be the Processor, graphics, memory, etc. the only part taken out of the equation is internal storage.

 

[patent10021]

You still need the Mini to be the Processor, graphics, memory, etc. the only part taken out of the equation is internal storage.

Hmm so someone like myself who is doing audio could just go out and find the fastest CPU config in the market connect to these Thunderbolt SSDs. Same idea as OSx86 I guess?

 

[philipma1957]

Hmm so someone like myself who is doing audio could just go out and find the fastest CPU config in the market connect to these Thunderbolt SSDs. Same idea as OSx86 I guess?

yes you could. state of the art thunderbolt is this ;


http://www.techpowerup.com/167558/P...stest-Ultra-Portable-Thunderbolt-Storage.html


it comes out in sept. in theory you could bring this and plug into different machines in different studios. this works on 2011 mac minis imacs macbook air macbook pro but this would work for windows this year.


http://www.anandtech.com/show/5904/gigabyte-dual-thunderbolt-on-z77


http://www.tonymacx86.com/viewtopic.php?f=277&t=62846&start=0


I have been with mac for more then 15 years but last year I have been doing more windows. I am looking to build a home network of 3 or 4 minis and a killer diy pc. Just gathering parts for now.

 

[patent10021]

yes you could. state of the art thunderbolt is this ;


http://www.techpowerup.com/167558/P...stest-Ultra-Portable-Thunderbolt-Storage.html


it comes out in sept. in theory you could bring this and plug into different machines in different studios. this works on 2011 mac minis imacs macbook air macbook pro but this would work for windows this year.


http://www.anandtech.com/show/5904/gigabyte-dual-thunderbolt-on-z77


http://www.tonymacx86.com/viewtopic.php?f=277&t=62846&start=0


I have been with mac for more then 15 years but last year I have been doing more windows. I am looking to build a home network of 3 or 4 minis and a killer diy pc. Just gathering parts for now.

Yeah as long as I can run Lion on it for Logic pro I don't care if its Mac or Pc hardware. I just want the fastest.