Adam ConoverJan 8, 2023
Home Plex server update / Q: I have decided affirmatively to go the Mac Mini route. My preference is to make use of old hardware, so I'm eyeing the 2014 i5 with an SSD, which OWC i selling for < $200. Will this be enough horsepower to run Plex and occasionally transcode? I plan to only store 1080p media, and I'd like to give access to a few friends so they can enjoy my collection. Will the i5 do the job or should I just get an M1 Mini now so I don't outgrow it too soon? https://eshop.macsales.com/configure-my-mac/UAEG2FS3XX2XXXA
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Show threadBen Sandofsky

@adamconover I’d rather have a lower power consumption device running 24/7.

I ran a 2012 mini as a Plex server, and it got surprisingly annoying as it got older. It almost felt like Apple should have cut off MacOS updates a year or two before they did.

Jan 8, 2023 at 8:51pmMastodon for iOS
Show threadAdam ConoverJan 8, 2023
@sandofsky According to Apple, this model of i5 Mac Mini has power consumption almost as low as an M1: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201897 (compare first entry and third entry)
Mac mini power consumption and thermal output (BTU) information

Learn about the power consumption and thermal output of Mac mini computers.

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Show threadBen SandofskyJan 8, 2023

@adamconover Wow. First time seeing this breakdown! Idle levels look really good, which is where it should hang once it's just serving content.

As far as transcoding, a gotcha is going to be ventilation. I kept my mini inside a console below the TV with ok air flow, and I could very much hear the fans kick in during heavy lifting.

It's just surprising whenever I hear one of my M1 Macs' fans.