[PhillipC]

Just wondering if people are leaving their Mac Mini's on all the time or do they have the Mini go into sleep mode after a certain time period?

I currently have mine set to go into sleep mode after a certain period of inactivity.  I also checked off to put the hard drives to sleep and turn display off.

I am currently demoing Amarra and their suggestion is to have sleep mode disabled.  I'm just wondering if this is a good idea to have the Mini up and running all the time.  Thinking of the wear and tear on the hard drive and the Mini itself.

[K Shep]

I have my Mini in default mode.  I turn the computer off in between sessions. I've been advised to cycle the unit off to save the life of the computer, I am interested to hear from other members too.  My Mac takes about 30 seconds to warm up and come to life, less time than my preamp. 

[Nels Ferre]

While I can see the advantages to powering down between listening sessions, there is one thing you miss if you do this.

Apple designed the OS to perform scripts in the middle of the night (when the computer theoretically is not being used.) These scripts are for maintenance purposes to keep the computer operating optimally.

While I am not certain exactly what operations are performed, I occasionally leave my MacBook on overnight to ensure that the scripts run. For whatever reason, my wife's MacBook has never been left on when not in use. While the systems differ in RAM and processor, the difference in performance is far more than can be attributed to hardware alone. My computer runs rings around Leslie's.

I'll have to make a point of leaving hers on overnight for a few nights and report back.

[K Shep]

Thank you Nels,

Some of the Computer Audio Enthusiasts I have chatted with use what they call a headless setup (with out a monitor) and just use an Apple product, iTouch or iPhone with "remote application" as their user interface.  I can see how one would just turn the iTouch off and walk away not powering the computer down. 

[PhillipC]

I'm using a headless setup right now with an iTouch for the remote application.  When I'm done playing, the Mac Mini goes to sleep mode after a while.  It not only conserves energy, but I believe the Mini can still then do it's "optimization" thing as well.

I'm just wondering what the advantage is for leaving it on all the time is?  The other thing is if I have Amarra running, the Mini does not go into sleep mode then

[andrewbee]

Apple designed the OS to perform scripts in the middle of the night (when the computer theoretically is not being used.) These scripts are for maintenance purposes to keep the computer operating optimally.

This was true with OS X 10.0 through 10.3
If your computer was asleep however they would not run.

OS X 10.4 was supposed to do the run the maintenance scripts automatically at ~ 4:00 A.M. as well but  never did so you had to do it manually as well.

OS X 10.5 and 10.6 run them automatically at the same early morning timeframe and at the next available opportunity if they are not run in the early morning period.

In (hardware) theory and in older days a computer would last longer if left on, I believe it was simply less thermal cycles (and lower RPM HD's) so the components reached a more or less steady and constant temperature. If you were running (typically) a Microsoft O.S. then a reboot every couple months was good and a reformat and install every year would keep you basically sound. Unix O.S's and Novell will run for years undisturbed.

Nowadays, computers run so hot that they no longer last as long, that and the supposition that they are disposable consumer items (and many are built that way) makes them more prone to failure.

Having typed all that I believe in letting your computer go to sleep just from the point of view of energy saving, the mac mini iirc consumes only 13W in sleep mode.

One other thing, I have noticed in particular with the mini's that they seem to be like the energizer bunny... they just keep going and going. I have never had one in for service.

[Crimson]

FWIW, I have five computers in the household (Macs and Dells) and they all are powered up 24/7, and I have them all go to sleep after 30-60 minutes of inactivity.

[PhillipC]

Crimson:

Can you confirm if you have Amarra installed and if the Macs will go to sleep mode automatically?  I don't have an issue with iTunes and sleep mode but if I have Amarra and iTunes running, my Mac will not go into sleep mode automatically.

[planet10]

Apple designed the OS to perform scripts in the middle of the night (when the computer theoretically is not being used.) These scripts are for maintenance purposes to keep the computer operating optimally.

If you don't leave your Macs on, you can downlaod Onyz and run them manually

http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs2/english/download.html

dave

[Crimson]

Crimson:

Can you confirm if you have Amarra installed and if the Macs will go to sleep mode automatically?  I don't have an issue with iTunes and sleep mode but if I have Amarra and iTunes running, my Mac will not go into sleep mode automatically.

Aha! Yes, I use Amarra and have the same issue with the machine not going to sleep when connected to a USB dac. With only iTunes running (without Amarra), I get the same result most of the time. When connected to a firewire dac, it goes to sleep just fine. Either way, I typically quit Amarra/iTunes after listening.

[Audioclyde]

OK this is likely a dumb question  :  if I set my Mac mini to go to sleep (its connected to a MW Transporter via ethernet cable, so running the squeezebox software), what is the best way to wake it up remotely?  I have a Pronto remote (with Prontosqueeze) which is what I use, although I also have the Ipeng app on my Iphone that I can use to control....

Thanks,

Randy

[PhillipC]

Crimson:

Can you confirm if you have Amarra installed and if the Macs will go to sleep mode automatically?  I don't have an issue with iTunes and sleep mode but if I have Amarra and iTunes running, my Mac will not go into sleep mode automatically.

Aha! Yes, I use Amarra and have the same issue with the machine not going to sleep when connected to a USB dac. With only iTunes running (without Amarra), I get the same result most of the time. When connected to a firewire dac, it goes to sleep just fine. Either way, I typically quit Amarra/iTunes after listening.

Thanks for the confirmation Crimson.  Unfortunately since I run headless, it's difficult for me to turn off and on Amarra/iTunes.  Are you saying if I hook up a firewire Dac, I won't have the issue with sleep mode?

[Crimson]

Crimson:

Can you confirm if you have Amarra installed and if the Macs will go to sleep mode automatically?  I don't have an issue with iTunes and sleep mode but if I have Amarra and iTunes running, my Mac will not go into sleep mode automatically.

Aha! Yes, I use Amarra and have the same issue with the machine not going to sleep when connected to a USB dac. With only iTunes running (without Amarra), I get the same result most of the time. When connected to a firewire dac, it goes to sleep just fine. Either way, I typically quit Amarra/iTunes after listening.

Thanks for the confirmation Crimson.  Unfortunately since I run headless, it's difficult for me to turn off and on Amarra/iTunes.  Are you saying if I hook up a firewire Dac, I won't have the issue with sleep mode?

Well, you'd think if it works for me it should work for you, too. I'm hesitant to say with any certainty that it will, as I've found the sleep functionality to vary from a Macbook to an iMac. I don't have any experience with a Mini. I'd say try it with a borrowed/stolen firewire dac and see if it works.