03-01-2025, 01:31 PM
Spiff,
This isn't a worthwhile expenditure in either time or money unless it is just to connect an external SSD to one of the USB ports. Anything more than that should be put towards a replacement machine. You don't need a lot of horse power or a big screen to run one as a music server. You can get an iMac that is new enough to run far more modern software and do the job well for less than $100.00.
Start with connecting an external SSD to a USB port on the existing machine. Use the external drive as a boot drive and for music storage. See how it works. If it doesn't cut it, purchase a 21" iMac from OWC.
Even the model in that link would be more than sufficient to handle the tasks of a music server. Move the external drive from the existing iMac to the new iMac.
Or, go for a Mini and couple it to a basic display:
Move the existing drive to the Mini.
Either way, try an external SSD as a boot drive and music storage drive for the existing iMac first. If it doesn't get one of the replacement options and move the drive to it. Do the reconfiguration and you're back in business.
Another alternative is to forget using a Mac as a music server. These days, there are lots of ways to have music playing in the background or into headphones. A bluetooth speaker with storage. An old iPhone sending music to headphones or a bluetooth speaker or headphones. Streaming via a homepod, echo or similar device, etc.
Robert
This isn't a worthwhile expenditure in either time or money unless it is just to connect an external SSD to one of the USB ports. Anything more than that should be put towards a replacement machine. You don't need a lot of horse power or a big screen to run one as a music server. You can get an iMac that is new enough to run far more modern software and do the job well for less than $100.00.
Start with connecting an external SSD to a USB port on the existing machine. Use the external drive as a boot drive and for music storage. See how it works. If it doesn't cut it, purchase a 21" iMac from OWC.
Even the model in that link would be more than sufficient to handle the tasks of a music server. Move the external drive from the existing iMac to the new iMac.
Or, go for a Mini and couple it to a basic display:
Move the existing drive to the Mini.
Either way, try an external SSD as a boot drive and music storage drive for the existing iMac first. If it doesn't get one of the replacement options and move the drive to it. Do the reconfiguration and you're back in business.
Another alternative is to forget using a Mac as a music server. These days, there are lots of ways to have music playing in the background or into headphones. A bluetooth speaker with storage. An old iPhone sending music to headphones or a bluetooth speaker or headphones. Streaming via a homepod, echo or similar device, etc.
Robert