What's best? Using a Mac or a Windows PC as Plex Server?

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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My question will sound a bit strange, but I’ll try to put you in context :slight_smile:

I currently have my Plex Server running onto a MAC which is a Late-2012 MacMini with the i7 CPU (it’s a very old Intel CPU generation however), 16 GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD (aftermarket) and everything is working mint and strong. I don’t read 4K because I don’t have any 4K content, nor any 4K device at home (all 1080P). My data (movies & series) are stored onto a QNAP NAS that accessed over the network by the server.

The thing is a friend of mine is looking for a decent MAC computer for homework as he’s a student and I think this pretty good performance MAC is a bit underused here as the Plex Server…

I actually have another computer at home that is not used for a while, it’s a 2015 HP ProDesk 600 G1 Mini desktop, which is basically similar to the form factor of the Mac Mini (same size), however it’s a i5 CPU, but it’s a higher generation that the MacMini, it have 4 GB RAM (I may be able to find another 4 GB stick for 8 GB total) and it also have the same aftermarket 256 GB SSD inside and it’s obviously running on Windows 10 Professional.

If you compare my actual MacMini and the HP ProDesk Windows PC, do you see any pros or cons by selling the MacMini to my friend and putting the Windows PC as the Plex server instead? You know… I don’t want to go ahead, sell the MacMini and then a few weeks later say “But what the hell did I do?!”

Thank you :slight_smile:

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It will depend on the hardware life, both will do the job your asking. Historically a Mac will last longer than Windows PC. Looking at your specs the Mac is already 3 years older. The SSD’s is a comfort but a logic board /Motherboard maybe a future failure. A PC board is far cheaper to replace and your Mac is already vintage so no Apple new parts available, just reconditioned. Which is no issue if living in USA, other parts of the world reconditioned boards are rare. Then you have other part failures like power supply, display etc.

My thoughts are sell the old gear and buy something newer with the cash while you can.

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