HTPC Mini Mac Memory needs?

[sxty8goats]

I've done a lot of research to make the pc to Mac jump. My main intended use will be:

2011 i5 Mac Mini w/ ATI Radion card Running Plex or XBMC
(should arive from Apple re-furb in a day or two)

Feeding via HDMI through my receiver to my 50" plasma

Stream movies to that system, possibly serve movies to other devices once I get a handle on it.

Run iTunes to manage my iPhone, iPad and iPods, host my iTunes library.

Maybe light comp work / surfing.

Maybe Photoshop if the TV proves to be a usable monitor.

All the searching I've done lead me to the 2011/ATI for HTPC use. Most say that 4g of memory isn't enough for an HTPC but I can't find info to show if 8g would be fine or if I need to go to 16g. Help / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

PJ
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Hey Ma! Watch this!

[Cypher]

I run mine on a mid 2007 iMac with 4GB ram. I watch most things on the iMac directly. The iMac is the Plex server as well and this is picked up by my Mac Mini 2010 model (older style refurb) with 4GB ram which is also running Plex Player and all works fine.

I tend to watch most stuff in lower resolution (less disk space) not in 1080P HD. I do have some stuff in HD and don't have any issues but if you have a lot of 1080P content then more memory won't do you any harm.

You'll also have the benefit of a much faster processor over my setup. iMac is 2.0Ghz core2Duo and MacMini is a 2.53Ghz Core2Duo.

I think if it was me, I'd probably go for 8GB to future proof it a bit. But if you've already bought the refurb with 4GB than just give it a try, you can add more memory later if it looks like its struggling.
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Phil

Mac Mini 2.53GHz - iMac 2.0Ghz - Macbook Pro 2.4GHz - iPad 1 32GB 3G
6TB Netgear Ready NAS NV+ - 6TB Drobo S

[sxty8goats]

Sound advice, thanks.
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Hey Ma! Watch this!

[pwfletcher]

It is only $58 for 16GB now on Amazon ... load up!
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- Hack-a-Mac Mini Intel 2.6 GHz i7, 16GB
- Indigo Home Automation Software
- iRed Remote Control Software + irTrans
- iPhone as a WiFi Home Automation Remote

[Smithcraft]

It isn't how much memory Plex needs, it's how much memory the OS needs. I run 10.6 and Plex comfortably in 2 GB. 10.7 and 10.8 would need that bumped up to 4 GB.

As mentioned, if it's affordable, go for it!

SC
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Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[sxty8goats]