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Using Mac Mini as Media Server & Backup

chelseasian

chelseasian

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 20, 2004
187
0
New York, NY (Chelsea)
Hi!

I am thinking of getting a Mac Mini to act as a media server as well as a back up machine. I figured that the Time Capsule costs way too much for what I will be getting, and hence I am thinking of getting the Mini and pump up the internal HDD and add an external HDD if I have to at some point.

Has anyone done such a set up yet?

What are the challenges?
 
chelseasian said:
Hi!

I am thinking of getting a Mac Mini to act as a media server as well as a back up machine. I figured that the Time Capsule costs way too much for what I will be getting, and hence I am thinking of getting the Mini and pump up the internal HDD and add an external HDD if I have to at some point.

Has anyone done such a set up yet?

What are the challenges?
Click to expand...

I would like to know this as well. I want to use as a download box and have it connected to my 1080p TV so I can watch any downloads via frontrow.

also is it possible for the Mac Mini to be set up so that it uses time machine to back-up 2 x MacBooks into a USB external HDD ?
 
I'm not so sure about the mini playing 1080p video with its integrated intel graphics. I just bought a mini 2 weeks ago and I absolutely love it. It can play 720p without a problem. A harddrive upgrade is a definite must, especially if you go the 80 gb model route. The one thing I don't like about the mini is that it doesn't have a standard mic input jack, I had to buy a usb mic but no biggie. In my opinion I'd say get it, it would make a great htpc
 
Will time machine backup via Wi-fi without any intervention from myself or do I have to schedule the MacBooks to do it periodically ?

Is anybody outputting a 1080p signal to a True HD TV ?

lots of questions Sorry :eek:

GreyMatta
 
Bullseye727 said:
I'm not so sure about the mini playing 1080p video with its integrated intel graphics.
Click to expand...

It's more than being an "integrated" gpu. It's really about how the video is encoded. The GMA gpus don't have H.264 decoding built-in, but they do have MPEG-2 decoding built in. A mini can play back 1080 video at 24 fps, provided it's in an appropriate codec and relatively lower bit rate.

The one thing I don't like about the mini is that it doesn't have a standard mic input jack, I had to buy a usb mic but no biggie. In my opinion I'd say get it, it would make a great htpc
Click to expand...

The mini has a dual-function analog audio (1/8") and digital (mini optical) input.
 
I have a mac mini setup as my HTPC. i also have two MBP's in the house. I have a G-Max 500gb raid connected via a 15' firewire cable (so the noisy drive is in another room). All three machines backup via time machine to the drive attached to the mini (laptops wirelessly through the AEBS, mini is connected via cat 5). I have an additional drive connected via usb that i store my itunes library on. The display is a 37 inch lcd connected via a DVI-HDMI cable. i also use a griffin firewave audio box to send D5.1 output to my Klipsch 5.1 speakers. I am quite satisfied with the setup.
 
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