Does other stuff (e.g., browser, email client, Pr0n) slow down a lot when you are using amarra?

with 2gb yes so far so good at 4gb

So with 4gb it's pr0n and music nothing else? Ok, I can live with that.

Oh, and what Coltrane did you buy?

Around March I tried a Mac Mini in the bedroom as music server instead of the iMac in the kitchen, and to replace my Apple TV. I hooked it to my 26" Panasonic HDTV, BT keyboard and mouse, and my 1Tb external iTunes drive. That let me move the 40Gb Apple TV to the home theater. It didn't work so well making the move, since I had been using the iMac for Music server for a few years (upgraded once but cloned the old one) and had things set up just right. If it aint broken, don't fix it.

One problem was that From 10 feet away I couldn't read the text on the 26" screen, and I didn't need the whole 600Gb music and video library to be available in Front Row. I liked how I could sync only what I wanted to the ATV. I also had issues because I used migration assistant to make it like my MacBook Pro and both computer names were the same and it screwed up MobileMe sync. Also some software either has licenses for 1, 3 or 5 copies of the software, but this was Mac #6 on the network. I had to remove office 2008, and change computer IP addresses in my router so that some online music servers would work again.

I also had to make changes in iTunes and on the Apple TV so I could use my Apple TV and a couple of Airport Express with the new Mini, which resulted in my ATV being wiped clean and re-sync'd - even though the Library and Ext drive were the same (because the computer was different). The external drive would spin up often and bug me when I wanted quiet in the bedroom, and in the end it was just a pain to replace the ATV with a mini. Plus, six Macs in the house was plain silly.

Since I actually liked the Apple TV interface in the bedroom more, I returned the Mini during the two week return period and got the 160Gb ATV. Because I exchanged it for the Apple TV, the store didn't even charge me the re-stocking fee. So, I left iTunes running on the iMac in the kitchen, and it feeds both ATV's and Airport Express's for music around the house, and I can access my music from any computer in the house or over the web via dottunes, and I like the way it works.

This old dog wasn't ready for new tricks. If I had to do it again, and it was really just going to be a music server and media center, I would NOT have cloned one of the computers I use. My OCD made me do that, so it could be a backup. I could have just used my backup hard drive to boot up the mini if something happened to my main computer.

I would have also set it up on a bigger TV, like in the theater, and left the ATV in my bedroom. To keep the kids from accessing the entire library and stuff they aren't allow to see or hear, I could have been logged in under my name and turned on parental controls, and then set up iTunes sharing to only share certain playlists that I make for them. Then the kids could log in at the same time and open iTunes, and then load the shared iTunes library and photos with Front Row or Finder on the 60" screen. Replacing the Samsung DVD/SACD with the Mini would free up the Samsung to be modded and moved to my headphone rig. But, I still don't want 6 Macs in the house.

Not sure why but I swear the new mac mini running amarra with 4gb ram sounds better than the 1.83ghz model with 2gb ram.

Well off to craigslist goes the 1.83ghz model

Next time, try disconnecting and reconnecting all connections. Sometimes that makes a difference.

The precious (sony ux) is starting to feel undernourished with it's 500Mb RAM and 16Gb drive...

Next time, try disconnecting and reconnecting all connections.

That advice goes double for pr0n.

Not sure if you guys are aware but the 2009 Mac Mini (early or late) is capable of using 8GB of ram with Snow Leopard. 123Macmini.com - News - The 2009 Mac Minis Support 8GB of RAM

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Nice pics, especially the above, and welcome to Head-Case. I'm another Mac Mini/Amarra user and agree that it can be the heart of an incredible digital system. Let us know how the 8GB upgrade works out because my 2009 Mini will be in for more than the current 4GB if it is as worthwhile as that article suggests.

Read your welcome PM and try to abide by its suggestions and you will enjoy it here.

Cheers.

I gotta dig up a cheap mac mini at sone stage as a music server. Seems like a good little toy for that. In the meantime it'll just be my new lappy.

Oh, nice set of mods going on there

Still confused about how extra RAM improves SQ unless the music is "skipping" due to lack of ram.

Anyone want to fill me in?

Anyone want to fill me in?

You wish. Fnarr fnarr.

if it's buffering to ram and starts to page, you get stuttering.

Still confused about how extra RAM improves SQ unless the music is "skipping" due to lack of ram.

Anyone want to fill me in?

Less disk noise due to swapping.

That's all I got.

Oh, and: the psychology of having a better machine than the average bear.

if it's buffering to ram and starts to page, you get stuttering.

Right, thats what I meant by "skipping" but I dont think thats happening to you guys. Is it?

yes it skips and will play a few seconds of a song with no sound when you are out of ram, with 4gb that issue has largely been taken care of. I still have the silent start issue if I ma processing audio in another program but not sure its really relevant to most users.

Ahh, I see. Man, Almarra is really RAM intensive

My friend in Berkeley just set up his mini as a dedicated music server for his $60k+ system:

The mini is isolated behind both the Furman line conditioner and the Richard Gray choke.

All this talk of Mac Mini is making me want one - methinks it's time to look through the craigslist for a used one.

The Mini with Amarra has been the 100% source in my system since I bought it.

I think I need to play some vinyl/SACD today just to get the exercise. Controlling thousands of songs using my Touch as a remote is just too easy.

Ahh, I see. Man, Almarra is really RAM intensive

Heh, I misread that as "RAM insensitive." Still made sense to me.

to those that are buying mini's to use with amarra eventually make sure you get one that either has 4 gigs of ram or can be upgraded to 4 gigs. There is a significant difference between 2 and 4 gigs particularly if you are going to have any other function running while listening.