Slimming down the PT system. Mac Mini & Thunderbolt peripherals

[cheney5]

Hey guys,

Im running a 4/5 year old Mac Pro with PT10, 003 desk and Avid Mojo(analogue) at the moment at home. I have a bigger rig set up at work (HD3, 192, SyncHD, 192d, MicPre & D-Command). So my home setup is just used for editing, prep work etc.
So...
I am looking to shift my old MacPro and am thinking of the following set up. Mac Mini with 8gb ram, thunderbolt pci expansion chassis with a pci firewire card for the 003 (& possible native card long term), using the firewire800 for the mojo.
How do i go about getting dual monitors on a mac mini?

Has anyone used a thunderbolt expansion for pci firewire use?

Also, Has anyone used a thunderbolt SATA harddrive caddy? Do we think i can have my media drives linked via the pci chassis to the mac Mini? Or will pro tools have a fit?

Any help would be great!!

Thanks

Matt

[reichman]

Seagate GoFlex Desk Thunderbolt drives have been great for me. I really like the system on my home system.

Blackmagic has some cool toys that might motivate you to drop the Mojo. Good luck figuring this out. I think a lot of studios are going to go down a similar path.

[BroomPole]

I've been using Mac Mini's to replace a lot of simple process / QC computers requiring access to Fiber SAN drives with great success. It's surprising how well they preform.

Dual monitor support it quite easy. They come with a HDMI port and a HDMI to DVI adapter. For 29 bucks you pick up a additional Thunderbolt (Mini Display) adapter to DVI and you have dual monitor hookups.

For drives I've been having some great success from USB3 drives (Way cheaper then thunderbolt) and if your not looking at raid drives there no reason for the extra cost. A single spinning drive will come no where near fast enough to max the bandwidth of thunderbolt (or USB3) for that matter.

cheers
Kevin

[cheney5]

Thanks guys.
The main issue I have is that I have two peripherals that require a FireWire buss. The 003 and the mojo. And I want to use the thunderbolt for the second display by the sounds of things.
It's looking more and more likely I should by a newer Mac Pro at the mo. The mini just doesn't have the outputs I need.

[quadraphonics]

You would have the outputs you would need it you would look at something like the Belkin or Sonnet TB break out boxes.

[cheney5]

Ah ha! That the kinda thing I need. Now all I need to know is whether the Belkin breakout box can handle the 003 and second monitor?
Don't suppose any out there has tried such as foolish errand?

[Jay_uk]

Originally Posted by cheney5

Thanks guys.
The main issue I have is that I have two peripherals that require a FireWire buss. The 003 and the mojo. And I want to use the thunderbolt for the second display by the sounds of things.
It's looking more and more likely I should by a newer Mac Pro at the mo. The mini just doesn't have the outputs I need.

Matrox do various boxes to suit
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/pr...o/displayport/

[quadraphonics]

The throughput on a TB connector far exceeds the demands of DVI and FW. There shouldn't be an issue. I believe that the Belkin boxes are sold in Apple stores. If it doesn't work for some reason I am sure they would take it back.

Randall

Originally Posted by cheney5

Ah ha! That the kinda thing I need. Now all I need to know is whether the Belkin breakout box can handle the 003 and second monitor?
Don't suppose any out there has tried such as foolish errand?

[cheney5]

Thanks Randall

[fork-media]

yeh but will they take the mac mini back?

cos u sort of commited once u bought that!

I am thinking of doin similiar - but my mac pro is 2007 (or 2008 )

can it really handle it?

I would love to cut my power bill too!