What mac for a music server?

[mark88]

I need to replace my Windows HTPC with a Mac. The problem is I need a PCI slot as I have a rather nice high end audio card I need to use.

Do I have any options other than a Powermac G4 / G5 / Intel?

Or are there any mods that can be made to other macs that will get me where I want. My current HTPC is in a nice desktop Silverstone HTPC case and it would be nice if the mac could look as nice.

 

[0007776]

powermacs or a mac pro are your only choices if you want PCI slots

 

[zioxide]

Intel mini is a great HTPC and it has built-in digital optical audio outputs so you probably wouldn't even need a fancy sound card.

 

[Angrist]

PCI slots are probably a moot point unless the sound card works with a Mac, which is unlikely.

 

[Gandhi]

I would recommend buying a refurb Mac mini - and upping the HDD to whatever max you can afford.

 

[disconap]

Powermac G3s are also an option.

 

[leighonigar]

Most high end cards do work on the Mac - they tend to be geared towards audio recording, an area in which the Mac is big. Depending on what you want to use it for - and you haven't said specifically - I'd pick up a cheap used G4 powermac. they're still pretty swift, look quite nice and have those all important PCI slots. Plus they should be able to handle leopard.

 

[Killyp]

You're better off using an external sound interface.

Internal interfaces pick up interference off the other computer components (the hard drive being one of the main sources).

I think your best bet though would simply be to connect a decent DAC to the Mini's digital output, which I believe is optical.