Recent Mini PC purchase

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • peterS
    Super Senior Member
    • Dec 2005
    • 1038

    Recent Mini PC purchase

    Wanted to buy the mac mini but couldn't justify its price compared to this guy:

    Last edited by peterS; 03 August 2013, 23:12 Saturday. Reason: *mac mini
  • PewterTA
    Moderator
    • Nov 2004
    • 2901

    #2
    Nice, I like it...though I wonder with having a 1.5Ghz Celeron processor, how it actually does with Windows 8?!?

    My friend James has that lenovo mouse/keyboard and it's nice! Only thing missing on it is the Function keys (like if you wanted to get into the bios).

    Let us know what you think of it. What are you going to use it for, just audio or movies?!
    Digital Audio makes me Happy.
    -Dan

    Comment

    • peterS
      Super Senior Member
      • Dec 2005
      • 1038

      #3
      I only plan on using it for itunes. If the GPU can handle netflix ill use it for that but I have a PS3 for that too.

      It is the only mini pc that i could find with a DVD drive, included windows OS and populated RAM and Harddrive. The remote keyboard is integrated (I already have the same one) but I will probably use my RF full keyboard. Most of the bare bones approach the price of a mac mini when you take this into consideration.

      Agreed that the cpu may be a bit slower for Windows 8 but id rather it run quite and Its not clear which version of windows 8 this is so we will see.
      I'll comment on that once its up and running

      Comment

      • PewterTA
        Moderator
        • Nov 2004
        • 2901

        #4
        Cool, can't wait to hear the comments! I'd like to build something small that is pretty powerful to be permanently hooked up to my TV for HTPC use. Some day I'll see if I can put together one out of the scrap parts I have..
        Digital Audio makes me Happy.
        -Dan

        Comment

        • JonMarsh
          Mad Max Moderator
          • Aug 2000
          • 15259

          #5
          Originally posted by peterS
          Wanted to buy the mac book mini but couldn't justify its price compared to this guy:

          http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883265291
          How's that working out for you? How well do you think the 3000 series graphics work for what you need? (that was a weak point in the older Intel CPU's- two generations ago). Will you use the built in S/PDIF or USB for audio interface?

          The price is reasonable, but you know some of us would have gone for a Mac Mini - a much more comparable form factor and cost comparison (compared with a Macbook of any type). With standard features like Firewire and options like a Fusion drive (SSD+HD), there's a lot you can do with it for music playback in all kinds of levels of system, at a reasonable price. Memory is expandable, too, important if you want to use a player that supports playback from memory.

          Let us know how you use it and how it works out- those on a tight budget may find it quite useful.
          the AudioWorx
          Natalie P
          M8ta
          Modula Neo DCC
          Modula MT XE
          Modula Xtreme
          Isiris
          Wavecor Ardent

          SMJ
          Minerva Monitor
          Calliope
          Ardent D

          In Development...
          Isiris Mk II updates- in final test stage!
          Obi-Wan
          Saint-Saƫns Symphonique/AKA SMJ-40
          Modula PWB
          Calliope CC Supreme
          Natalie P Ultra
          Natalie P Supreme
          Janus BP1 Sub


          Resistance is not futile, it is Volts divided by Amperes...
          Just ask Mr. Ohm....

          Comment

          • mjb
            Super Senior Member
            • Mar 2005
            • 1483

            #6
            Originally posted by JonMarsh
            The price is reasonable, but you know some of us would have gone for a Mac Mini - a much more comparable form factor and cost comparison (compared with a Macbook of any type). With standard features like Firewire and options like a Fusion drive (SSD+HD), there's a lot you can do with it for music playback in all kinds of levels of system, at a reasonable price. Memory is expandable, too, important if you want to use a player that supports playback from memory.
            Yep. I'm Mac all the way, love Mini's as a music server, but there are cheaper options.
            - Mike

            Main System:
            B&W 802D, HTM2D, SCMS
            ClassƩ SSP-800, CA-2200, CA-5100

            Comment

            • peterS
              Super Senior Member
              • Dec 2005
              • 1038

              #7
              Well I cant say you guys didnt warn me The Lenevo started acting funny once I installed itunes- some kind of buffering issue- it basically sounds like it cant keep up with 192khz sampling lol. There is also a subtle noise issue that I havent pin pointed yet. I was able to convince new egg to give me atleast a partial refund. I'll be keeping my eye on the new mac minis in october instead
              Last edited by peterS; 09 August 2013, 16:44 Friday. Reason: started acting funny

              Comment

              • peterS
                Super Senior Member
                • Dec 2005
                • 1038

                #8
                *update

                Comment

                • wkhanna
                  Grumpy Old Super Moderator Emeritus
                  • Jan 2006
                  • 5673

                  #9
                  Originally posted by peterS
                  ......The Lenevo started acting funny ....
                  Bummer!
                  _


                  Bill

                  Practicing Curmudgeon & Audio Snob
                  ....just an "ON" switch, Please!

                  FinleyAudio

                  Comment

                  • jim1961
                    Senior Member
                    • Nov 2012
                    • 357

                    #10


                    Mac Mini $403 ?
                    Seek out and destroy early high gain room reflections

                    Comment

                    • Audio_ElF
                      Senior Member
                      • Oct 2007
                      • 271

                      #11
                      Originally posted by peterS
                      Well I cant say you guys didnt warn me The Lenevo started acting funny once I installed itunes- some kind of buffering issue- it basically sounds like it cant keep up with 192khz sampling lol. There is also a subtle noise issue that I havent pin pointed yet. I was able to convince new egg to give me atleast a partial refund. I'll be keeping my eye on the new mac minis in october instead
                      Oh. Sounds like you returned it... I was going to suggest you tried Foobar or J.River in preference to iTunes under Windows.

                      Comment

                      • bigburner
                        Super Senior Member
                        • May 2005
                        • 2649

                        #12
                        Originally posted by peterS
                        Well I cant say you guys didnt warn me The Lenevo started acting funny once I installed itunes- some kind of buffering issue- it basically sounds like it cant keep up with 192khz sampling lol. There is also a subtle noise issue that I havent pin pointed yet. I was able to convince new egg to give me atleast a partial refund. I'll be keeping my eye on the new mac minis in october instead
                        I'm surprised. I use a basic Celeron-based laptop with 2GB of RAM to run iTunes under W7. It runs perfectly. I think the secret is to strip the machine down for audio use only. It was a while ago when I did it but I think this is the guide that I followed: http://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/...tion_Guide.pdf

                        Nigel.

                        Comment

                        • peterS
                          Super Senior Member
                          • Dec 2005
                          • 1038

                          #13
                          the issue (besides the noise) may be windows 8

                          Comment

                          • ellisr63
                            Member
                            • Jan 2013
                            • 35

                            #14
                            I use a i3 NUC for a media server and I am about to try a celeron NUC for another media server. I have zero problems with the i3 as a server.
                            Marantz AV8805a, 7 channel Icepower DIY amp, 3 Klipsch K402 MEH speakers, 4 Klipsch rp150 speakers, LG 86" 4k FP, Zappiti Reference, Denafrips Pontus ii, Lumin U1 Mini, and Panasonic ub820, 2 Yamaha p2500s amps.

                            Comment

                            • JonMarsh
                              Mad Max Moderator
                              • Aug 2000
                              • 15259

                              #15
                              Originally posted by peterS
                              the issue (besides the noise) may be windows 8
                              Windows 8 has problems with the real time clock, and that will likely affect the playback in sampled time based digital systems- i.e., digital audio; the higher the sample rate, I'd guess the worse might be the issues.
                              the AudioWorx
                              Natalie P
                              M8ta
                              Modula Neo DCC
                              Modula MT XE
                              Modula Xtreme
                              Isiris
                              Wavecor Ardent

                              SMJ
                              Minerva Monitor
                              Calliope
                              Ardent D

                              In Development...
                              Isiris Mk II updates- in final test stage!
                              Obi-Wan
                              Saint-Saƫns Symphonique/AKA SMJ-40
                              Modula PWB
                              Calliope CC Supreme
                              Natalie P Ultra
                              Natalie P Supreme
                              Janus BP1 Sub


                              Resistance is not futile, it is Volts divided by Amperes...
                              Just ask Mr. Ohm....

                              Comment

                              • PewterTA
                                Moderator
                                • Nov 2004
                                • 2901

                                #16
                                I've seen windows 8 play flawless and as good as anything on a MAC or W7 machine. I doubt Windows 8 inherently was the problem...however the processor running windows 8 was most likely the culprit as windows 8 does like a nice beefy CPU. I have a stripped down Win8 (minimalist) copy that is purly designed for Audio. So far it's been very impressive. Nothing beyond anything that isn't already out there at the top of their game. But this Minimalist Win 8 & JRiver run flawlessly. I've also got Foobar2000 running correctly now on it with my customized configuration of it and I have to say I think it's slightly better than the same machine with Win7 on it. So same hardware, just different boot drives.

                                I see on another site they already are working on a minimalist Win 8.1, so I wouldn't think it shouldn't be too long before that one is configured to be the same.
                                Digital Audio makes me Happy.
                                -Dan

                                Comment

                                Working...
                                😀
                                😂
                                🥰
                                😘
                                🤢
                                😎
                                😞
                                😡
                                👍
                                👎
                                Searching...Please wait.
                                An unexpected error was returned: 'Your submission could not be processed because you have logged in since the previous page was loaded.

                                Please push the back button and reload the previous window.'
                                An unexpected error was returned: 'Your submission could not be processed because the token has expired.

                                Please push the back button and reload the previous window.'
                                An internal error has occurred and the module cannot be displayed.
                                There are no results that meet this criteria.
                                Search Result for "|||"