Mac mini Maximized With 3.5" Drives 439
Demolition writes "You just knew that someone would get around to this, didn't you?
In this how-to article from AppleTalk Australia, a step-by-step guide describes how to transplant a Mac mini into a micro-ATX case and a method to connect standard 3.5" hard drives to it (using do-it-yourself 2.5"-to-3.5" IDE adapters). Only some minor case modifications and some added cooling are needed to complete the project."
But what is the point? (Score:3, Insightful)
err... (Score:2, Funny)
or are you using reverse psychology and you actually think this article ISN'T dumb?
Re:But what is the point? (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm not following the logic. Agree completely on the Mac Mini looks, and even more, the unmatched form factor. Actually, it would be very cool indeed to put a PC in a Mac Mini "case". One is not going to have any luck doing this, though, because there is no PC with a small enough form factor. Not a Mini ITX, not even a Nano ITX.
The point is using the Mini as a server (Score:4, Insightful)
By putting the Mini into a PC case, you get the room to add a large fast hard drive, and the air flow needed to cool it.
Re:The point is using the Mini as a server (Score:2, Informative)
Re:The point is using the Mini as a server (Score:2)
2 words: price and latency.
Oh, and the benefits of keeping all your OS (as opposed to just your files) on a fast drive.
Re:The point is using the Mini as a server (Score:5, Informative)
What is this latency of which you speak?
Re:The point is using the Mini as a server (Score:5, Informative)
All benchmarks I've read show that firewire has much worse latency than IDE. A quick google revealed that average IO response time is 17.8ms for firewire and 0.12ms for IDE [geekspeak.org] for a particular Maxtor drie (note: the 0.12ms figure is almost certainly because they were hitting data in the hd cache; otherwise it should have been more like 5 ms for the ide case). I am guessing that if you are streaming data, firewire is not too bad, but random access on a firewire drive will not give you good performance.
I recommend you to run a benchmark after connecting your drive directly to your machine's IDE cable.
Re:The point is using the Mini as a server (Score:4, Informative)
He's not confused, it's his point. Internal drive, 4200 RPM == slow and sucky. External Firewire drive, 7200 RPM == spins fast enough to make up for the connection latency. Therefore, an external 7200 RPM firewire drive is faster than a 4200 IDE. I'll confirm the boot up speed difference. My iBook boots much faster from my LaCie FW drive than from its internal drive. Random access and normal usage though? I can't make any claims in that regard.
-truth
Mac mini is not marketed as a server (Score:3, Insightful)
That's why they made Xserves [apple.com].
The Mac mini is (and will always be) an entry-level Macintosh for the Macintosh curious who were previously turned off by pre-Mac mini computer prices.
Re:Mac mini is not marketed as a server (Score:5, Insightful)
Xserve = $3000, and you still need to buy another drive (shipping 80G hard drives in a $3000 server? pathetic).
Now, you might have a spare two grand lying around. I don't. If I want a ppc server, Mac Mini is what I am getting.
Re:Mac mini is not marketed as a server (Score:5, Insightful)
My server is a Debian running iMac - 400mhz processor, 384mb ram, 20gb drive. More than powerful enough for hosting 3 email addresses, and serving a LAMP based site that gets a few hundred hits a week, my only complaint about both it and the Mac Mini is the lack of a second hard drive for redundancy/backup, but for my small scale purposes just rsyncing / to my ~/server-backup on my workstation is a perfect solution.
Re:Mac mini is not marketed as a server (Score:3, Informative)
I'll prove you wrong (Score:4, Funny)
Just tell me which three e-mail addresses.
Perhaps not marketed as a server... (Score:3, Insightful)
There is already at least one company [macminicolo.net] offering (somewhat cheap) Mac mini hosting. You get a whole Mac mini (not shared), you can either buy your own and have them house it, or lease to own.
It's actually a really nice idea, since it's about as dirt cheap as a standalone unit can get, and the small size and low power make it a
Re:The point is using the Mini as a server (Score:2)
This is what Firewire exists for. The size of the Mac mini is meaningless -- just plug in one or more Firewire-based external hard drives, and you're all set. And if you have more than one, Mac OS X allows you to do software RAID with them right out of the box.
Yaz.
Re:But what is the point? (Score:2)
Well, maybe he wanted a more upgradeable Mac, and that was the best he could come up with.
Waste of a good case if you ask me.
Re:But what is the point? (Score:2)
All together now: (Score:3, Interesting)
The whole point of the mac mini is it's small form factor, transplanting it into another case to upgrade the HD is simply absurd.
Re:All together now: (Score:3, Insightful)
The other "whole point" of the Mac mini is that it's low cost. This adds a much faster hard drive which is probably the slowest component in the Mini, and Hard Drives are cheap.
I'm seriously thinking about updating the HD of my mini...
Re:All together now: (Score:2)
Re:All together now: (Score:3, Informative)
Re:All together now: (Score:2)
Re:All together now: (Score:2)
Or are macs really all about looks over functionality?
Re:All together now: (Score:2)
Re:All together now: (Score:2)
So it doesn't completely ruin a mac mini to put it in a different case with a different hard drive. You give up one feature for another while keeping the remaind of the features.
Re:All together now: (Score:2)
The Mini beats them all in terms of size however, which might make it interesting for people having not much of it to spare.
Re:All together now: (Score:2)
Re:All together now: (Score:2)
Not really (Score:5, Informative)
1) It's cheap
2) Draws about 65 watts, so your electric bill will be lower than using an old G3 tower or something
So, in that case, if you want to use it as a server, a nice 400 GB 3.5" IDE drive would be great. Who cares about the case if it's in your basement.
Now, if they can only figure out how to get Gigabit Ethernet in there...
Re:Not really (Score:2)
The site is slashdotted, so I couldn't RTFA, but does he power the HD from the Mac or did he need more power?
A noisy power supply would turn that around quickly.
(*) 65 watts?? A Mac Mini takes only 65 watts?? Wow. Now it's the green alternative as well.
Re:Not really (Score:5, Insightful)
Take the money that you would have spent on a case and spend it on a FW enclosure and a disk and come out ahead.
Re:Not really (Score:3, Informative)
Many people want these things for DVR/HTPC use. Encode MPEG2 and stream to disk? Yep. It'll do that. The G4 can encode MPEG2 in real-time with a properly written encoder (since the 866MHz days). And the output isn't going to
Re:Not really (Score:2)
Re:All together now: (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:All together now: (Score:3, Funny)
They're 'leaders' and 'innovators' and don't you dare presume you know better than them regarding your needs.
what (Score:2)
Re:All together now: (Score:4, Insightful)
Wrong. The whole point, if there ever is such a thing as a whole point, is that it's a computer, and can be adapted to the users needs. Sometimes these adaptations are clunky (like the techTV guy that was unable to stuff a PC into a mini case), sometimes they might appear clunky, but are functional (as in the mod under discussion), and sometimes they are elegant. Sometimes they're just fun.
Re:All together now: (Score:3, Insightful)
no replies... (Score:3, Funny)
Anybody have the article?
(And seriously, if nobody ever R's T Fing A, why do servers go down faster than a hooker for a benjamin?)
Re: (Score:2)
Definition of "Nobody"... sad fact (Score:3, Interesting)
Nobody would buy from spam either, right?
78% Percent of users who report receiving spam daily
11% Percent of users who report receiving at least 40 spam per day
14% Percent of users who report they open spam messages to see what they say [Yikes!]
4% Percent of users who report they have purchased a product or service advertised in a spam email
So maybe 4% RTFA too? That's logic for you, bad logic, but logic none-the-less.
Re:no replies... (Score:2)
Re:no replies... (Score:2, Funny)
Oh, and my friend was wearing my pants... not me. Honest.
Obligatory (Score:2, Funny)
Up in flames already.
Or... (Score:5, Insightful)
(Preemptive response: Yes, FireWire 400 is more than fast enough for this application. Yes, even for a media server. Yes, even for a PVR. Yes, I know USB 2.0 doesn't support booting. If you want booting, use FireWire. Yes, I know Apple says you shouldn't stack anything on top of Mac mini. That's why I said Mac mini would stack on top of it. Further, it's very likely NOT because of heat, but because the AirPort and Bluetooth antennas are directly in the top of the case, and instead of making a bunch of convoluted requirements about when and if it's ok to stack something on it, they just said no stacking. But, again, moot, because you could stack the mini itself on top of such a hypothetical enclosure or device. Or, set them side by side.)
The Mac mini really is almost a perfect media center box:
Acceptable processor and video card
DVI, VGA, S-video, and Composite video out
1/8" stereo audio out, or digital audio via FireWire with one of several adapters
FireWire and USB 2.0
10/100 ethernet and modem
Optional 802.11g and Bluetooth
CD-RW/DVD or optional CD-RW/DVD+/-RW
Remote control via Apple Remote Desktop or VNC (included in the free ARD Client 2.1)
Very small, very elegant, and very quiet operation
All that's missing is a tuner and a PVR application, and that's a nightmare to wade into, what with what's necessary to tune satellite services, and the infancy of CableCard.
Re:Or... (Score:4, Insightful)
having a small formfactor box is pointless if it's surrounded by external devices. If you pop it into a single enclosure with all the extra drives and whatnot encased in a single unit, it's a lot easier to manage and you don't have to worry about toppling. It probably also will increase the lives of the devices since they'll be moved less (moved all at the same time rather than in small increments).
I took apart a G4 and popped it into an ATX case so I could have 2 optical drives and room for more internal HDs. Also, I liked the idea of having a window and UV cathode tubes illuminating the internals...
A small form-factor mini-itx case is still a small form-factor case. The project (althought I didn't RTFA, it's fried) doesn't say to put the mac mini's logic board into a full ATX tower, does it?
Well (Score:2)
Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver) and Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Door) systems both had room for 2 5.25" optical drives, PLUS 4 internal 3.5" drive bays. In the case of the MDD, there were two ATA/100 busses and one ATA/66 bus (for optical drives).
Additionally, how many accessories are you talking about adding to Mac mini? A drive and a tuner? And if someone makes a Mac mini-like enclosure for this - which is very likely, given the history of Mac
Re:Well (Score:2)
PCI card will fix that (Score:2)
MacAddict had a thing a few years ago where they took a G4 400MHz AGP sawtooth (100MHz motherboard) and added an 800MHz processor and an ATA133 card
Re:Or... (Score:3, Funny)
Yeah, because a light and windows makes the computer internals sooo much better.
Re:Or... (Score:3, Informative)
Actually, there are already some very good articles up on how to make your Mac mini into an HDTV PVR [avsforum.com]. Basically, you need an HDTV tuner with a firewire output. This can be had for about $5 a month from your cable company, or you can buy one for OTA (over the air) HDTV broadcasts here [futureusa.net].
The only thing that prevents the Mac mini from direct HDTV playback is t
Re:Or... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Or... USB 2.0 drive bootable (Score:2)
Google it up.
Puto
Re:Or... (Score:2, Informative)
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/
Re:Or... (Score:2)
Coral Cache (Score:2, Informative)
Except... (Score:2)
Re:Except... (Score:2)
I don't buy computers for the aesthetics. If I wanted aesthetics, I would buy a painting and hang it on my wall. The Mac Mini is the first apple that I actually find affordable, except the case sucks (sucks functionally - I don't care if it's beautifuL): there is too little airflow (so no overclocking), and not enough space for a decent hard drive. Fortunately, a $50 PC case can remedy the situation.
an idea (Score:5, Funny)
Why? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Why? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why? (Score:2)
Re:Why? (Score:2)
The first one was just how to open the case and install RAM on your own. Something a large number of skilled cost-conscious Mac mini buyers probably want to know.
It's what you do. (Score:2)
Re:Why? (Score:3, Insightful)
The simple fact of the matter is that the Mac mini is the first incarnation of hardware that will run OS X at a decent speed with qua
Truth in advertising. (Score:5, Funny)
-dameron
or... (Score:2, Redundant)
Mirror (Score:2)
Re:Mirror (Score:2)
Ummm, because Coral Cache doesn't work perhaps?
putting a mini inside an Apple // (Score:5, Interesting)
Since the mini came out, I've been hoping I can stuff it inside an old Apple IIGS (or, even better - a
Anyone up to the challenge?
Re:putting a mini inside an Apple // (Score:2)
I'm game, but can we make it an LC II?
Ever since reading the rumor sites started reporting a cheap Mac, I've been thinking "pizza box" so I'd like to get an old Macintosh LC (or LC II or LC III) and spread out the guts of a Mini inside it.
Challenge?! What challenge?! (Score:2, Funny)
Fit a Mac Mini into a Timex-Sinclair, and then I'll be impressed. =)
PS. I wonder how you'd type command-T on the membrane keyboard. [oldcomputers.net]
oh no (Score:2)
And to think (Score:2)
Aim higher (Score:3, Funny)
Mac ITX [mini-itx.com]
Do that with a Mini.
Amy
Finally! (Score:5, Funny)
Protesters, have you thought of this USEFUL reason (Score:5, Funny)
It would let you sneak a Mac into workplaces whose IT Manager(s) have a "no Macs ever, over my dead body" policy.
Just think: you could have a larger case containing a regular PC, but with the guts of a Mac Mini placed in the space around empty drive/PSU bays.
Hide a KVM switch somewhere and bingo... Windows/Linux when the PHB/IT Manager is around, Mac OS X when you want to get some work done!
Re:Protesters, have you thought of this USEFUL rea (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Protesters, have you thought of this USEFUL rea (Score:2)
Re:Protesters, have you thought of this USEFUL rea (Score:2)
Re:Protesters, have you thought of this USEFUL rea (Score:5, Funny)
Article Text (Score:2, Informative)
By: aeberbach
Feb 8 2005
The Mac mini Maxi - how I attached extra storage to make a mini server.
This article involves doing things to your Mac mini which may well destroy it. You should not try this unless you are prepared to lose your entire Mac mini investment, and you should definitely not try it if you do not have an appreciation for the dangers of power tools, electricity and the jagged edges found inside PC cases!
When I woke up in Australia the morning after the MWSF keynote speech had c
Just wait for the accessory. (Score:5, Insightful)
Good accessories come to those who wait.
appalling level of cluelessness today (Score:5, Insightful)
re: It completely ruins the point of having a Mac mini.
No, that's what YOU think the "point" of a Mac Mini is. To many (if not most) of us, the point is that it's an extremely affordable Mac.
re: Part of the mac's allure is it's [sic] stylish looks. This is just as dumb as putting a PC in a mac mini case.
Dumb to you. Cool to someone who didn't buy it for its sylish looks.
Holy crap, people. This is Slashdot. Some of like to take apart things. Some of us like to take cheap computers and make them perform like expensive computers. We're hobbyists and tinkerers. Why take apart the Mac Mini? We don't need any reason better than "because we can."
Hell, if I were to build a 5-desk office that needed a simple mail server and file server, the Mac Mini is just a RAID away from perfection, at less than a quarter the price of an XServe.
The Mac Mini is a beautiful piece of hardware. I'd love to have two -- one that never gets turned on or used, just left on the mantel in a glass box with the fine china, and another that's gutted, rebuilt, and folding 24/7.
Or... (Score:4, Interesting)
The project is cool for its own sake of course, but there doesn't seem to be a real use for it.
Oh, and people freaking out over the "sarcriledge" - it's a computer, that's all. A piece of metal and plastic. If you really get upset about something like this, I suggest it's time to take a hard look at your priorities and your life.
Wheeee! (Score:2)
i waited nearly 30 minutes to get to the reply page!
finally RTFA and i understand what he was getting at, but seriously, if you can't be bothered to find an aesthetic and
clever way to implement an external storage system(http://mini-itx.com/news/83991250// [mini-itx.com]) then it's just a half-as$ed job.
I can top that... (Score:4, Funny)
The neat thing is, I've got more power in the luggable now than when it was new, and it wieghs about 15 pounds less, as well.
I'm not even a Mac guy... (Score:3, Insightful)
BONG! (Score:3, Funny)
'Finally came the big test - with everything attached I hit the switch. BONG...it's alive! '
No buddy, a BONG is the thing you were smoking when you came up with this inane idea. Whats next, putting the ipod into an old-school walkman shell?
8)
What's next? Man connects printer to Mac Mini? (Score:3, Insightful)
Or am I too jaded? Is the great feat here that somebody managed to open a computer case?
Or does the Mac Mini contain salvaged Area 51 technology which shoots lasers when exposed, and did he develop a force field generator to be able to safely locate the ATA connector?
Or did his wife expressly forbid him from buying the Mac Mini, and has he frozen his wife inside a time bubble while devising a way to hide the Mac Mini?
But then how does he unfreeze her?
Can't wait to hear what happens next!
The Internal Conversations of The Converted (Score:5, Funny)
Mac Mini:
That's odd, it feels so drafty... my case I can't feel my case! What is going on? Wait, computer two across the room has an iSight!
Mac mini opens iChat and connects to Computer Two
Mac Mini:
That's odd, I can't see myself anywhere... zoom in... refine picture... there's nothing just that giant brick and....
THE HORROR!!!
Mac Mini connects power supply to ground directly across processor core - bet you didn't know it could do that! HCF opcode lives on.
just crying out for using standard PC hardware (Score:3, Interesting)
They would probably make more money by just selling a version of OS X for standard PC hardware. They could sell it for $149 with a $99 annual maintenance fee. Start adding up extra sales of iLife, etc and you could be talking about real money.
The problem with the mini is that it is still a fairly high price just to try. I also think that the performance is not going to stand up to a standard PC at that price point which would have a much faster and larger hard drive and more RAM.
How about putting OS X for the PC out there with a free 60 day trial? Imagine being able to install OS X on an existing Windows PC that was rotten with spy ware. People would gladly pay the $149 to keep it. I know people who are shelling out $100 out of desperation just for a virus scanner and cheesy anti-spy ware software that they hope will fix the problem only to fall victim again. If Apple developed an easy way to install OS X over Windows while saving documents, pictures, etc. they would have a real winner on their hands.
Apple would make more money this way and they wouldn't have to tie up the capital required to manufacture and distribute the hardware. They could still sell the higher end hardware which they probably make a good margin on. There will always be that small group that want a real Mac.
Re:easier solution (Score:2)
Why not... add a 7200RPM 2.5" drive? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Why not... add a 7200RPM 2.5" drive? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Why not... add a 7200RPM 2.5" drive? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:As Napoleon Dynamite would say... (Score:4, Insightful)
"Because the hard drive is slow (4200 RPM), and this is cheap."
The guy stated that he wanted to build a server that was a) cheap, and b) quiet
In short, he is an idiot.
It is FAR cheaper to obtain an old Pentium based PC, which can easily be found for free as compared to the Mac Mini, which is $799 in Australia.
This project is not a "cheap" way to build a server, it is an expensive way to build a server.
Then there is the noise factor. Yes, the Mac Mini is quiet, much quieter than an old PC.
But this is not where the story ends. Firstly he is making his Mac Mini almost as noisy as a PC, just by putting in a 3.5 inch HDD and running a PC powersupply complete with a PSU + FAN in it! The only other source of noise in a PC is the CPU fan and I explain below how that can usually be removed completly anyway. In such a scenario, a PC would make exactly the same noise that this Mac Mini does.
When looking at typical, stock built PCs, there are four sources of operating noise to consider.
1) PSU Fan. Both the modified Mac Mini and the recycled Pentium PC use a mini tower case, ergo we can expect the same level of PSU fan noise to emanate from both solutions. In both cases an aftermarket "near silent" fan can be fitted to minimise any noise. In any event, we can rule out any PSU fan noise that is present because both solutions will theoretically produce identical levels of noise. PSU fan noise is not a differentiating factor.
2) CPU Fan. This is one area where the Mac Mini will beat the stock Pentium PC. But there is no reason you need to stick with the stock configuration. It is an easy matter on most old PCs to underclock the CPU. This in turn allows you in many cases to run your Pentium using a large, passive heatsink alone ie, it becomes just as noiseless as the Mac Mini.
3) HDD noise. The modified Mac would use the exact same 3.5inch HDD as the Pentium PC, so we can rule this noise out too.
4) GPU cooler. The mac mini doesn't use a seperate GPU cooler, and niether would the PC. It would most likely have some crappy old Trident or S3 based 2D card that has no fan but is perfectly acceptable in a server.
The short story is that we can make a recycled PC just as quiet as this modified Mac mini so the noise issue is moot.
Consider that the Mac Mini option would cost you something like;
1.25 Ghz Mac Mini - $799
Minitower PC case - $50
3,5 Inch HDD ~ $150 (depending on what capacity you want)
= $999 (Australian)
compared to a recycled PC;
2nd hand Pentium 233 - $50 (probably free but lets use a nominal figure anyway)
Large passive heatsink - $25
New PSU fan - $15 (the old one might be a bit worn)
Linux/FreeBSD OS - $0
= $90
Basically, this goose has wrecked an eight hundred dollar Mac to build a ninety dollar server.
What a moron.
gentoo (Score:3, Funny)
psshhhhh...
Re:CPU speed (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, from TFA:
"I intend using it to store MP3s, images and video, and will stream music to various places around the house."
Does one really need a 1.X GHz CPU to accomplish that?
The answer is, of course, "no".
We are talking 100Mbit ethernet (wired) or 11/55Mbit (wireless) here. Any pentium class PC is more than capable of serving media files to ethernet at the rate of 100Mbit per second.
The truth is, this moron spent a thousand bucks on