Mac Mini Processor

[JamiLynee]

I think I'm going to buy a Mac mini SOLELY to hold my library for Apple TV. If I use it for that and nothing else, is it worth upgrading to the 2.6 or would a 1.4 work just fine?

 

[Dark Void]

I think the baseline would work just fine if that's all you're using it for.

 

[chabig]

I have that exact machine (the 2014 1.4GHz). It was dog slow until I attached an external USB SSD, which is boots and runs from. Now it's a super server for AppleTV and Time Machine for my Macs. I bought Samsung's 500GB T5 SSD from Amazon. It's $160, but you can get a 250GB one for $125.

 

[Boyd01]

The base 1.4 ghz model with 4gb RAM and 500gb hard drive is more than adequate for an itunes server. I've been using one for over two years and it's very fast. If you're clear that you don't want it for anything else, then you would just be wasting money to upgrade. A SSD would add nothing for this use - it's just going to sit there in iTunes, that will not require much access of the system drive.

Just get some fast USB 3.0 hard drives for your media - these are cheap today also. I have all my media on a 4tb external drive, but that's a couple years old and you can get an 8tb drive for the same cost today. You will then want one or more additional drives for backup.

Now there is nothing wrong with an external SSD for other things though, I have a 2012 quad mini that boots from a 1TB Samsung T3 (the predecessor of the T5) and gave a 2012 base mini with a 500gb T3 to my daughter's family. I just don't think this makes sense for an iTunes server. Gigabit ethernet maxxes out at 120MB/sec, so you really gain nothing from a drive that delivers 500MB/sec (unless the server is also being used for other stuff).

The external hard drive with my iTunes library clocks at 180MB/sec and this is what I get when I access it as a shared drive on my LAN, so it's basically saturating the gigabit ethernet.

 

[opeter]

I would still consider, to buy a configuration with 8 GB RAM, just because it is more future-proof.

 

[Boyd01]

Of course you are right about "future proofing". But I took the OP at his word when he said it was SOLELY (in all capitals) for iTunes. A 1.4ghz Mini with 8gb costs $600 and is special-order so you won't get any discount. OTOH, if you can wait for a sale, you might find a base 4gb machine for $400 or even less at a place like Best Buy or Frys. If you are just runnig iTunes, you would be wasting your money to upgrade IMO.

 

[opeter]

If you are just runnig iTunes, you would be wasting your money to upgrade IMO.

Yes, I agree. You are absolutely right.

But what if OP will change his/her mind and one days he/she want's to use it more "heavy"?
You know: browsing the web, watching "bigger resolution" videos etc.?
The web of the future will be more and more demanding every year and will need even more raw performance.

Of course he/she can sell this computer and buy something else.
Because this Mac mini is not really upgradeable. Well, except for the HDD.

 

[Boyd01]

But what if OP will change his/her mind and one days he/she want's to use it more "heavy"?

Well in that case he shouldn't have made a special point of saying it was SOLELY for iTunes.

I agree, the base 4gb mini is a very limited machine and does not offer much promise for the future. But it's more than adequate for running iTunes, and it can be left on an old software version if iTunes or MacOS have greater future requirements (mine is still running El Capitan - just don't see any reason to bother with updating).

 

[JamiLynee]

I have that exact machine (the 2014 1.4GHz). It was dog slow until I attached an external USB SSD, which is boots and runs from. Now it's a super server for AppleTV and Time Machine for my Macs. I bought Samsung's 500GB T5 SSD from Amazon. It's $160, but you can get a 250GB one for $125.

I already have a 5TB external SSD HD. I'm wondering if 1.4 is big enough to do the job or should I step up?
[doublepost=1525208786][/doublepost]

Yes, I agree. You are absolutely right.

But what if OP will change his/her mind and one days he/she want's to use it more "heavy"?
You know: browsing the web, watching "bigger resolution" videos etc.?
The web of the future will be more and more demanding every year and will need even more raw performance.

Of course he/she can sell this computer and buy something else.
Because this Mac mini is not really upgradeable. Well, except for the HDD.

I have a new MBP I use for the heavy computer work but when I take the computer with me for school and work but that leaves the rest of my household unable to access my library and the 5TB worth of stuff.
[doublepost=1525208917][/doublepost]

Well in that case he shouldn't have made a special point of saying it was SOLELY for iTunes.

I agree, the base 4gb mini is a very limited machine and does not offer much promise for the future. But it's more than adequate for running iTunes, and it can be left on an old software version if iTunes or MacOS have greater future requirements (mine is still running El Capitan - just don't see any reason to bother with updating).

And I made a point that I WILL only be using it as an iTunes Library computer. There was no typo on my part. Thanks to all!
p.s. I'm most definitely a she

 

[opeter]

OK, than yes, the 1.4 GB Mac mini will do the job for you. Just look to get it as cheap as you can find.

 

[George Dawes]

just get an appletv

so much easier to use than the mini , more reliable and when it packs up cheap too