Mac Mini slowdown when running Roon as an endpoint (ref#NUAB74)

Roon Software Discussion
1

What’s happening?

· I'm noticing slowness when using the Roon App or Roon ARC

Describe the issue

My mac mini is pretty much unusable for anything else when ROON is running as an endpoint. Its a mac mini 5.1 mid 2011 running Catalina 10.15 by DosDude's magic. It was Ok up to earlier this year when it slowed right down. ROON runs Ok, Activity Monitor shows that the processor (2.3GHz Dual-Core i5 with 8GB RAM) isn't that stressed, but all other apps such as Safari run really slowly. I have another endpoint that is an even older mac mini but thats all it does so its Ok. Basically I need to know how much longer macOS 10.15 is going to be supported so I can budget for 2 replacement mac minis!

Describe your network setup

1GB hard wired Ethernet CAT 5 throughout the house. BT HomeHub6Dx router with 1GB fibre optic broadband feed. Distribution through Netgear GS324 unmanaged switch

2

Probably time for a replacement. A basic M4 Mac Mini is only $599 or less.

3

Yes, I accept that I’m going to have to replace the mac mini, I just want to get an idea when so I can budget. I’m going to need 2 replacements so that is well over $1000 - which actually is a significant amount of money!

4

You don’t need two at a time.

5

Yes I do! I have Roon Endpoints in 4 separate rooms. So I’ve got a headless mac mini running Catalina in the lounge and another in the kitchen, which also has to run Safari for News and recipes. My Roon Core is running on another newer mac mini in my office, also running Catalina. The wife’s office uses her iMac as the endpoint. Then there is my workshop with an iPhone 5 and big bluetooth speaker.
So it actually looks like I may have to replace 3 mac minis simultaneously :frowning:

6

There is no need to replace both at the same time. They just need to be running the same version of Roon.

7

The point is that at some point, probably quite soon, Roon is going to stop supporting macOS 10.15 Catalina. So all 3 of my mac minis will not be able to run the newest version of roon.
I tried installing roon on macOS 10.13 High Sierra and it refuses to run at all. So once roon decides that you need the next macOS then thats it, all 3 mac minis running 10.15 Catalina are junk.

8

That doesn’t mean you need to replace both now.

9

Exactly. Thats why I put in my original post “Basically I need to know how much longer macOS 10.15 is going to be supported so I can budget for 2 replacement mac minis!”

Which I’ve now realised is actually 3 mac minis.

10

Here’s what I recommend: Stop spending money on needless things. When you accumulate $599, go buy one. Repeat two more times. It’s not the budgeting that matters, it’s the spending.

Buy the first one as your Christmas present to yourself from your family.

11

I’m not sure I understand what you are saying here? If I want my system to keep working after Roon stops supporting macOS 10.15 Catalina then I have to replace the existing mac minis. So by the time that happens I need to have a plan in place.
Yes, I could just never upgrade Roon again. But then I wouldn’t see any future enhancements.

12

I’m talking about needless other things not related to your music system. If you have a hard time finding $599, you have to save it by not spending elsewhere.

By the way, I’m still using a Mac Mini (late 2014) that I bought used for $200, as one of three Roon servers. It still works fine, but I did upgrade the hard drive to a SSD.

I’m done. Good luck with it.

EDIT: But to answer your original question, Roon does not answer those type questions.

13

Ahh, I see. You were offering financial advice whilst I was concerned about the technical issue. Hence we were talking at cross purposes.

14

I think we’re both talking about buying two or three new Mac Mini’s. We’re just differing on when.

15

Buy a new Mac mini for roon and other software and get a iPad to carry around the house as roon remote and for the news etc. akso get raspberry pi’s as roon endpoints

You don’t need 3 Mac’s for that

1 Like
16

Now that is a good idea :smiley:

17

I’ve discovered the perfect solution - OpenCore Legacy Patcher. This fixes things so later versions of macOS will run on hardware that Apple says is too old. I’ve just successfully updated an early 2009 Mac mini 3.1 to run macOS 15.1.1 Sequoia.
This has saved me a lot of cash so I will be making a good donation to the authors.
You can get it from OpenCore Legacy Patcher

1 Like
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