I have a Synology Ds1511+ NAS, which is used to store all my media, movies, etc.
I know the NAS has a Plex app, which I have tried, but the CPU in the NAS wasnt really designed for the transcoding that comes with such an app. Hence I am considering purchasing a mac mini to use for Plex, and to use as a general entertainment machine connected to main family room TV.
I have a MacBook Pro that I use for my work etc, which does everything I need perfectly well. Hence the Mini will mainly be used for entertainment only, general web browsing, running Plex and getting the content from my NAS, etc.
I'm currently looking at the higher end MacMini with the 2.5GHz i5, because I wanted the better AMD graphics chip, considering I tend to make a purchase and keep it for a long time rather then upgrading every year or two. HDD size does not bother me, the smaller the better, since all the content will come directly from my NAS. Again, RAM doesn't bother me as its much cheaper to purchase third party RAM and upgrade yourself. Although I think the standard 4GB would do Ok for my uses anyway?
Do you think I should go for the higher end i7 CPU though, considering I want a long lasting system, and the CPU is otherwise not upgradable, or would it be a complete waste of money for my uses?
How much difference does the i7 make over the i5?
Bear in mind that although the system and Plex will mainly be used on the TV it's connected to, I will also be sometimes streaming to my iPhone or iPad also - so more transcoding there. On occasion I could have the kids watching a movie on the Tv, while I watching something else on the iPad.
Hence the reason why I'm thinking the i7 may be better for me? Although I will go for the i5 if it means everything will still work as well and I can save some cash!
I know the NAS has a Plex app, which I have tried, but the CPU in the NAS wasnt really designed for the transcoding that comes with such an app. Hence I am considering purchasing a mac mini to use for Plex, and to use as a general entertainment machine connected to main family room TV.
I have a MacBook Pro that I use for my work etc, which does everything I need perfectly well. Hence the Mini will mainly be used for entertainment only, general web browsing, running Plex and getting the content from my NAS, etc.
I'm currently looking at the higher end MacMini with the 2.5GHz i5, because I wanted the better AMD graphics chip, considering I tend to make a purchase and keep it for a long time rather then upgrading every year or two. HDD size does not bother me, the smaller the better, since all the content will come directly from my NAS. Again, RAM doesn't bother me as its much cheaper to purchase third party RAM and upgrade yourself. Although I think the standard 4GB would do Ok for my uses anyway?
Do you think I should go for the higher end i7 CPU though, considering I want a long lasting system, and the CPU is otherwise not upgradable, or would it be a complete waste of money for my uses?
How much difference does the i7 make over the i5?
Bear in mind that although the system and Plex will mainly be used on the TV it's connected to, I will also be sometimes streaming to my iPhone or iPad also - so more transcoding there. On occasion I could have the kids watching a movie on the Tv, while I watching something else on the iPad.
Hence the reason why I'm thinking the i7 may be better for me? Although I will go for the i5 if it means everything will still work as well and I can save some cash!
Last edited: