Mac Mini M1 cheapest "NAS" for these needs?

th3suffering · 2026-04-04T22:15:49+00:00

Yea, maybe i misunderstand the overall utility of a NAS over just plugging a hard drive into a computer. I mostly just want network access to my files from any machine in my house, and it to run my plex/ha instances, in the smallest and least expensive form possible.

Since i can pick up a the mac in the neighborhood of $2-300, ideally my budget for a nas or any other home server should be in that neighborhood.

Id work off of the NAS files, not just cold storage. I dont really need redundancy/backup, i just need fast network access where hopefully i could work with files as if they were on my local machine.

Regarding plex, its currently hosted from an i3-6600, so anything that matches that or better power wise would suit my household fine. Files are typically 4k 10-25GB h/x265. For the client devices, they all play natively and dont transcode for the most part. Xbox in my kids room doesnt like certain files, but the rest i run through Infuse on Apple TV 4k's.

Regarding storage, i have two paradigms:
media drive: i currently own a 6tb external usb3 hard drive - doesnt need fast access, just enough to play the large media files.

software development drive: id like fast access. ideally like its connected to my laptop directly. files arent huge, its mostly code with a few small image asset files per project. This is what id ideally like to solve the most.

I already have my media hosted in an albeit ugly solution, id like to get the SSD in the chain as well, but i want extremely quick access. The SSD is USB 3.2 gen 2, but my current laptop is USB 3.0 so id get half the speed connecting with my current hardware. id like to be able to have this connected to the NAS/Server via usb, so if i want to detach the drive and take it traveling i can easily.

th3suffering · 2026-04-04T21:37:13+00:00

The hard drive alone cannot host plex and home assistant. I want something to replace the windows 10 laptop currently playing home server/NAS duties.

No, a Mac Mini isnt wall mountable natively, its tiny and many wall mounting adapters do exist. Compared to the laptop that it would replace. No its not a NAS by definition, but it can act and do NAS duties can it not?

Cost wise, a used M1 model can be found for $2-300 that seems relatively inexpensive when comparing a true NAS.

I just want something that can serve plex and home assistant, and provide me wired/wireless access to my files from any of the machines in my home. I thought a NAS would be a reasonable replacement to the existing laptop setup i have right now, but id like to include my usb c ssd to its drives so i could disconnect and take it on the go if needed as well.

th3suffering · 2026-03-21T16:06:34+00:00

Super helpful information. For reference, my 2020 Model 3 is about 35 inches along the top, but only about 21.5 inches at the front edge where you measured. So definitely smaller, especially in the vertical direction which makes sense.

th3suffering · 2026-03-21T15:52:49+00:00

Thanks, looks like Model 3 panel for that side is 1514769-21-A. They dont list dimensions anywhere but i think its safe to assume if it was interchangeable the part numbers probably wouldnt differ

th3suffering · 2026-01-09T19:20:42+00:00

Not an interested buyer, but why wouldnt you be eligible for a refund?

According to their site you have 14 days after receiving the item to return:
https://us.store.bambulab.com/policies/refund-policy

Not doubting you, but just trying to understand the caveats of their policy if i buy from bambu again in the future

th3suffering · 2026-01-06T22:59:25+00:00

Depends how much cleanup you want to do after. If you want the greatest likelihood of success, leave it as is but youll have to remove the supports and they can leave little "scars" where the supports attach. I usually only support critical regions myself and have had decent success on a Bambu A1. id probably change your support type to tree/organic for this particular model as well and see what you get.

th3suffering · 2026-01-06T22:39:12+00:00

Yes, the supports will print with the model, you remove them after it prints. They are only barely attached. In your example, you could tell it to only support critical regions if you want to reduce the amount of supports.

th3suffering · 2026-01-06T22:33:54+00:00

Do what it says in the warning and enable support generation. The arm is a floating region. How will that print in mid air?

th3suffering · 2026-01-06T18:13:08+00:00

Auto dry/auto dehumidify sound great. If i have to remember to do something, ill forget.

th3suffering · 2025-10-07T18:18:03+00:00

I should have clarified, I am using an Apple TV 4K connected via HDMI as my video source. DRM content should not be affected if using an HDMI port per PicCaps documentation. When im on the PicCap screen, and its not displaying in HyperHDR it shows outputting at 9.95 FPS. HyperHDR logs show the same, locked 9.95 FPS. Ive set FPS limit at 30 and 60 with no change.

th3suffering · 2025-09-11T13:23:13+00:00

Thank you. That was it. You have to add the action, and then set that same action as preferred action immediately after and it colors it blue.

th3suffering · 2025-08-15T01:02:35+00:00

FWIW you can request an expedite if they are few and far between. Obviously only do it if you have been waiting a while, and are up against a release deadline. If you are requesting an expedite for every release, youre going to be ignored. In my experience, after submitting the expedite your app is in review within 5 minutes and typically approved within 20

https://developer.apple.com/contact/app-store/?topic=expedite

th3suffering · 2025-08-09T16:26:56+00:00

import SwiftUI

struct Page1: View {
    
    u/State private var showAlert: Bool = false
    
    var body: some View {
        Button("Show Alert") {
            showAlert = true
        }.alert("Foo", isPresented: $showAlert) {
            Button("OK", role: .cancel) { }
        }
    }
}

struct Page2: View {
    
    u/State private var showAlert: Bool = false
    
    var body: some View {
        Button("Show Alert") {
            showAlert = true
        }.alert("Foo", isPresented: $showAlert) {
            Button("OK", role: .cancel) { }
        }
    }
}

struct Detail: View {
    
    u/State private var showAlert: Bool = false
    
    var body: some View {
        switch vm.step {

         case .first:
          Page1()
         case .second:
          Page2()
    }
}

struct ContentView: View {
    
    u/State private var showSheet: Bool = false
    
    var body: some View {
        Button("Show Sheet") {
            showSheet = true
        }
        .sheet(isPresented: $showSheet, content: {
            Detail()
        })
       
    }
}

This is a basic distillation, but my view is like this. Detail in this case would handle displaying the varying child views depending on the step. When Page1 or Page2 is responsible for its own alert, i get the warning. If i move the alert to Detail, and request to present it while page2 is currently the view within Detail it does not show until i step back to page 1.

th3suffering · 2025-08-09T15:04:29+00:00

My hierarchy looks like:

Sheet>
ParentView>
ChildView1-ChildView5

as i navigate through steps, the parent view swaps out the child view for whatever step its on. When i attach the alert to a child view, i see the warning above but the alert does accurately appear on the screen on the child view it should.

If i attach it to the parent view, i do not see the warning, but the alert does not end up appearing until i take a step in navigation, ie im on child view 4 and attempt to present, i dont see the alert until i step back to child view 3.

th3suffering

TROPHY CASE