MacOS hardware updates to M1?

Channels DVR Server
#1

After the latest announcements of the 2025 Channels DVR updates, I moved off my ancient Mac mini 2012 to a more modern MacBook Pro 2017 machine I had hanging around. I should be good up until MacOS Ventura (13) but with Xmas approaching, I am seeing Mac mini M1 on sale on eBay and other refurb sellers and am considering moving back to a Mac mini.

I am seeing Mac mini M1 with 8GB memory selling for around $250 vs the 16GB versions selling for just over $300. What would be the difference in the 8/16GB versions and is there an appreciable reason to pay the extra for more memory? Also, how much of a gain will I see from moving off the 3.1 ghz Dual core i5 that my current MBP is running?

This would be for dedicated use with a RAID acting as the media drive. I am doing commercial detection to feed into my VideoRedo PC editing workflow and connecting to 2 cable card SiliconDust devices - a Prime w 3 tuners and a Quattro with 4 tuners.

#2

I used an M1 Mac Mini for 4 years until upgrading to an M4 Mac Mini when they came out. I only upgraded because of the trade-in incentive Apple offered. These things are a beast and can literally handle anything I have tried throwing at it. I have had 12+ simultaneous streaming connections (not normal, was trying to test it) and many, many other things. Both mini versions have been the base 8gb model and I personally would suggest sticking with that if the primary use is for channels. The 16gb version is overkill on a system that is almost considered overkill to begin with. I would spend the $250 and not look back! You will love it and will have zero regrets!

#3

That's Amazon Renewed price

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PF2RF76/

#4

I use that exact machine (M1mini/8GB with a 256GB SSD) for my DVR platform -- plenty of power for everything you might need. Channels DVR uses a very modest amount of memory so 8GB is plenty. Commercial skip processing is about 1min 10 sec for a hour of MPEG2 captures using 2 threads. I can also transcode at least 2 simultaneous hvec remote streams - haven't tested more. I have a 4TB HD in a USB 3.1 enclosure for the library storage and 64GB SSD in a USB 3.2 enclosure for the transcoding cache to save wear and tear on the Mini's internal SSD. I have two HDHomeRun primes and two HDHomeRun Duos as source hardware. The mini is really an ideal platform for all of this this and it is my understanding that at least one of the devs employ it for their own use.

#5

I have an M1 MacMini 16GB as a server and work station. It will depend on what you want to do with it. I am running ChannelsDVR, SecuritySpy with 6 cameras (four 4k and two 2k), Homebridge to provide camera feeds to Homekit , Music server and have an NPT relay to provide time for the cameras. I also use it as my main computer. Its uses about 11GB of the 16Gb of memory and does not break a sweat.