2. pc-audio
  3. 1319338411

Mac Mini vs. Macbook Pro as a server

Hi, I have a Mac Mini and have been trying different linear power supplies. Haven't come across a great one yet. At RMAF, people were talking about better performance from a Mac Book Pro (especially running under battery) even without an SSD. Assuming both the Mac Mini and the Mac Book pro have similar i7 chip and internal hard drive and RAM, does any one know of any advantages of one over the other? Thanks.
ldworet
herman
2,259 posts
 
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Point taken, but I believe if you would take the time to do a little research you would find there are just as many people if not more who advocate the opposite. They believe the definitive solution IS a PC or Mac based system.

A lot of them hang out over here

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/pcaudio/bbs.html

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nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,892 posts
 
Yeah, I know. It's what prompted me to do a simple experiment and try what I thought was the best thought out DAC for the money just to see how much an improvement I'd get running it from my iMac to my main stereo and my jaw dropped, again, and its held up with some particularly thick skin. Right then and there, I knew something like computer audio was the way to go. I haven't even used my CDP for almost two months now and when I did use it, just this week, I could only listen for a few minutes.

The improvement is so dramatic that I can see why its the talk of the town but I want a better way to get there, once and for all, without the trial and error and that learning curve that's going to occur. I'm seeing ways around 'this' and how to bypass 'that' and it seems to be pointing to a dedicated server, at least as far as I can tell.

I'm just going to try to be as content as I can (and its not easy, as you know) and just wait it out a bit to see what can of standardization will be reached, the development curve that will follow, and then decide with my wallet.

All the best,
Nonoise
richardfinegold
196 posts
 
I've used them both, in the same system, with stock battery. No difference.
ldworet OP
48 posts
 
Nolitan, is your Mac Mini modded - stripped of internal power supply? What power supply are you using? Have you stripped down the OS? Thanks.
herman
2,259 posts
 
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I have a question about "stripped of internal power supply"

Correct me if I'm wrong but the supply is a single DC voltage. Doesn't that mean there are some DC-DC converters to supply the 5V for USB and Firewire, I imagine the processor runs off a lower voltage, and I don't know what else. Doesn't seem likely they would just use some inefficient linear regulators. How can it help to replace the supply if it has converters after it anyway?

AND do you have a link to how it is done, what voltage to feed it, and what type of connector is needed in case one wanted to try it?

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