Need Advice on Mac Home Server

[qwerty3000]

I am currently using a 2010 MacBook Pro 13" as a Media and File server. I am also running a few other custom Web APIs for my personal projects. It is also a CCTV Camera Server for the recording a bunch of cameras.

I would like some advice on weather to buy a M1 Mac mini or the M1 Max Mac Studio or the 14" MacBook Pro. I am looking for a Mac that could last a good 10 years like my current setup and yes it will up and running 24/7*(with like a monthly reboot-cycle). Storage isn't an issue, I am good with 512GB or 1TB. 8GB Ram should be sufficient but might go 16GB just to have the headroom for the future updates.

My reasons for leaning towards a MacBook Pro is we do have some occasional power outages so I don't have restart the machine, I dont currently have anything setup to auto boot on power supply. But I am willing to change that or get an UPS instead. I did check the UPS threads on here so I have an idea what to go for and most importantly monitors/displays are not required for Mac mini or the Studio.

Issues on my current setup :

1. Obviously obsolete product so no more OS updates (for quiet some time now)
2. I am using a custom build FFMpeg which I am facing audio issues with on my media and camera server. (the official build doesn't work on my Mac)
3. It is terminally slow when I have to deploy updated stuff on there with my APIs.

I am looking to buy by the end of this year.

So finally which Mac should I buy? and if its a Mac mini or Studio, do you have any UPS suggestion?

 

[theluggage]

I would like some advice on weather to buy a M1 Mac mini or the M1 Max Mac Studio or the 14" MacBook Pro.

I'd say that even the M1 Mini will be a massive upgrade from a 2010 MacBook Pro (...had one of those and it was not fast - long story about Apple sticking with an outdated Intel Core Duo CPU in order to keep using the NVIDIA GPU). Anything more is likely overkill.

...as for using a laptop because power cuts - kinda pointless if your network router, CCTV cameras etc. all go out when the power dies, whereas a suitable UPS could keep the key equipment going.

 

[qwerty3000]

I'd say that even the M1 Mini will be a massive upgrade from a 2010 MacBook Pro (...had one of those and it was not fast - long story about Apple sticking with an outdated Intel Core Duo CPU in order to keep using the NVIDIA GPU). Anything more is likely overkill.

...as for using a laptop because power cuts - kinda pointless if your network router, CCTV cameras etc. all go out when the power dies, whereas a suitable UPS could keep the key equipment going.

Firstly thank you so much for the response. And yes I do have separate UPS for all my networking. The CCTV cameras are fine too I have a diesel generator in my appartment complex that kicks in with a minimal delay and should reboot and be fine.

So would you reckon the M1 Mac mini with a. 512 GB upgrade and an UPS should suffice?

 

[theluggage]

So would you reckon the M1 Mac mini with a. 512 GB upgrade and an UPS should suffice?

As something that could thrash a 2010 Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro? Yes.

 

[Brian33]

So would you reckon the M1 Mac mini with a. 512 GB upgrade and an UPS should suffice?

That's what I would go with, if I understand your needs correctly.

To me, it just seems wasteful to pay for a laptop's screen/keyboard/expensive-to-replace-battery when you don't need them. And to me, the Mac Studio seems like extreme overkill for your described needs. I'll admit to enjoying more "power" than I really need, but if I had to replace my little "household server" (a headless 2012 Mac Mini on a UPS, doing quite well still), I'd definitely get another Mini.

 

[qwerty3000]

That's what I would go with, if I understand your needs correctly.

To me, it just seems wasteful to pay for a laptop's screen/keyboard/expensive-to-replace-battery when you don't need them. And to me, the Mac Studio seems like extreme overkill for your described needs. I'll admit to enjoying more "power" than I really need, but if I had to replace my little "household server" (a headless 2012 Mac Mini on a UPS, doing quite well still), I'd definitely get another Mini.

Sure Thank you! I will go with Mac mini. I am planning to upgrade by the end of this year. And if they do upgrade it to M2 with no or little price hike it would be my go-to nevertheless.