Hi everyone, i am in the process of putting together a media server and need a little help and guidance choosing the right media server software and choosing the best way to run it. I need the server to stream music (FLAC/320kps) and movies (upto720p) to 3 modded Apple TV's, a modded iPad 2 and my Onkyo TX8050 receiver. The Apple TV's and iPad 2 all have got XBMC and Plex installed onto them for media playback.
(1) Which is the best Media Server to use to get all of my media to my devices?
I don't really need to use the transcode option on a server as XBMC and Plex pritty much should play anything i throw at them. I have done a trial run with PS3 Media Server on an old netbook and it seems pritty good but some FLAC files did stutter time to time but SD movies have seemed to be fine. One thing i was worried about was that you can't block devices from accessing your folders like other media servers so i was a little worried that other people may be able to see and play my files.
(2) Which would be the thing to run the server on?
I was thinking of using a Mac Mini or something similar but wasn't sure which spec i would need. I have noticed that most media software developers suggest having 2GB RAM and and a Dual Core 2.4ghz processor minimum to run their server. Would this still be the case if i don't need to transcode media on the fly? If all i need is a server to simply push my media to my devices then would i get away with using a lower spec PC or Laptop?
I have done a few trial runs with an old netbook which has only 1GB RAM and a N450 intel Atom 1.6ghz and that has done a pritty capable job of music and SD movies so far with the only hiccup being with FLAC files now and again, although this could maybe be due to my router or internet connection.
I currently have got a Virgin Media Super Hub with 30mb (soon to be 60mb) internet connection, would adding an Airport Express Extreme and using the super Hub in modem mode increase the performance and reliability of my internet connection?
Thanks for reading my post
(1) Which is the best Media Server to use to get all of my media to my devices?
I don't really need to use the transcode option on a server as XBMC and Plex pritty much should play anything i throw at them. I have done a trial run with PS3 Media Server on an old netbook and it seems pritty good but some FLAC files did stutter time to time but SD movies have seemed to be fine. One thing i was worried about was that you can't block devices from accessing your folders like other media servers so i was a little worried that other people may be able to see and play my files.
(2) Which would be the thing to run the server on?
I was thinking of using a Mac Mini or something similar but wasn't sure which spec i would need. I have noticed that most media software developers suggest having 2GB RAM and and a Dual Core 2.4ghz processor minimum to run their server. Would this still be the case if i don't need to transcode media on the fly? If all i need is a server to simply push my media to my devices then would i get away with using a lower spec PC or Laptop?
I have done a few trial runs with an old netbook which has only 1GB RAM and a N450 intel Atom 1.6ghz and that has done a pritty capable job of music and SD movies so far with the only hiccup being with FLAC files now and again, although this could maybe be due to my router or internet connection.
I currently have got a Virgin Media Super Hub with 30mb (soon to be 60mb) internet connection, would adding an Airport Express Extreme and using the super Hub in modem mode increase the performance and reliability of my internet connection?
Thanks for reading my post