Possibly switching DVR servers

#1

I've been using a Mac Mini M1 as my DVR server since April and I've had no complaints about its performance. I wouldn't be using it as my media server if I wouldn't have gotten in for less than $500. But, lately, I've been thinking that it might be overkill to use as a media server and I could be using it for other things.
I have a 2018 Dell OptiPlex 3060 micro tower with an Intel Core i5-8500T 6 core processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD (I would be using an external drive for DVR). It does have Quick Sync.

I'm curious if anyone knows what the implication of switching might be? Would I see any slowing and any issues with commercial skip? Would I need to be more concerned about malware and security?

This isn't a necessary move, so if keeping things as they are would be the best route I'm good with that. I'm just curious what I'd be dealing with and if things would be just as smooth or more of a headache.

1 Like
#2

The Mac Mini M1 is a great computer, but yes it probably is overkill for Channels. :slight_smile: You probably won't notice a difference by switching to the Dell. Commercial skip might be a little slower, but probably not much. And you can throw 3-4 cores at it to help.

#3

Really depends on your usage.

Both computers would do very well for multiple users, multiple remote transcode streams, and for fast commercial detection processing.

If you are the only user....then you won't really notice any difference.

I moved my Channels server from a Intel i7 NUC wih a quad core cpu and 32gb ram running Linux Mint, to a Pi4 4GB using the dedicated Channels DVR server image.
I am the only user of it. And setup a 2nd Pi as a separate sever for my family members to use.

Things actually seems to be zippier and more responsive with the Pi.
There was a big hit in Commercial Detect processing time moving to the Pi, but I don't care since i rarely watch recorded programs right after they finish, but instead hours or even days later.
I also do not remote stream or use transcoding.

#4

Thanks for the responses. I'm going to have to think this over. I do record often and sometimes I will watch some of the recordings right after they air. I also have family that watch/record tv. So, I am concerned that the Dell computer might not be able to handle it or keep up.

I've also read others on here say that there is added security a person needs to take with a windows machine. I just want simple. I don't want to have to think about it and I don't want to have to maintain my server constantly. Right now most days I completely forget about my Mac. It runs cool all the time and doesn't ever seem to get stressed. If I switched I'd want the same.