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mrt2
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Posts: 178
Ok so I know this topic has been beaten half to death but I'd like to raise it back to life briefly since the playing field has changed a bit... So before now, the major limiting factor for using a Mac Mini as a truly viable option for an HTPC solution was the processor. Well now that Apple has upgraded the processors to 2.53GHZ and 2.66GHZ should this now make the Mac Mini truly HTPC worthy? My current Vista HPTC is a Core2Duo at 2.4GHZ and it's been able to play any 1080P content I throw at it, including a very high profile 1080 of Transformers 2 as well as a very high bitrate encoded Harry Potter: Half Blood prince... The only issue is this machine is KILLING my power bill etc... and it's HUGE and very very loud. I'd like your thoughts on replacing this with the current Mac Mini @2.53GHZ or 2.66GHZ... The only difference I can see is that my Vista box has 4MB L2 cache and the Mac Mini has 3MB L2 shared cache. I'm not sure if the L2 cache would be the limiting factor here or if the Mac Mini should perform as well as my current HTPC or even better... Not to mention Snow Leopard has much better video and resolution options... Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.
OS: Leopard 10.5.6
Processor: 2x Quad Core Intel 2.8Ghz Xeon
Internal Storage: 2.4TB [4x 600GB Western Digital]
External Storage: Drobo 4.5TB
Memory: 14GB PC-6400 800mhz FB-ECC Ram
Apple Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard
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2009-11-09, 09:44
(This post was last modified: 2009-11-09, 10:03 by phrehdd.)
I can't give you answers but some data and opinion ...
First, I have 2 Macs, Mac pro quad 2.66 with ATI 1900 vid, also have iMac core 2duo 2.0, with ATI 2400 (128mb).
Both work with XBMC and PLEX very well. Admittedly, XBMC gives a hint more problems which is beyond me since its the real McCoy. However, movie play has no problems.
I recently bought the Mac Mini 2.53 with 4 gigs RAM. I read Larry's newsletter from Other World Computing who claims the new Mini can handle 8 gigs of RAM (unlike the previous models).
The Mac Mini did well with XBMC and PLEX though I had for other reason use analogue 2 channel sound. I believe digital audio should be no problem other than getting the correct cable (requires a mini toslink for the Mini which btw, fits into the same jack - headphones as analogue out does).
To be honest, my gut feeling is to do a dual boot with Linux and exploit the nvidia 9400. After reading various end user results with other boards using the same 9400, it appears to be a good enough choice. I say this because Mini will always be limited in digital audio to DD5 and DTS due to available connections.
If I had to do it again with only design in mind is a media player, I might have spent less and purchased the Asrock Ion which will fair similar with Linux. The Mini does have more CPU power but then again the key is the video here.
If you are in hopes of later going to any of the audio "HD" output, the Mini will not do that nor will ever do it. The Asrock might do it but I would be concerned about the overall combination of CPU and GPU for HD audio and HD video but I may be in error.
Since you are hoping to have a less power hungry alternative to your system this is what I suggest -
Asrock Ion. It is prebuilt and there is plenty of "end user" support here for Linux. In fact, there is a nice script that is available to help with the install and get audio through its HDMI out (along with the video).
If you are wanting to shell out the for the Mini, start with XBMC or PLEX on OSX (Mac operating system). If you find it is insufficient (and I doubt you will for the most part), then try the XBMC Live CD and play with that to see if Linux is something you wish to experience. The script should take all the headaches out for the most part.
I think the Mini could handle it under OSX. I think the Linux engaging the GPU is a plus. The Mini will take less power than your present system because the processor (I may be wrong) is designed for laptops which require less power and thus you have the small form factor/footprint. Whether you go with the Mini, the Ion or a Zoltak solution, do get 4 gigs of RAM as it can be useful not for just playback but if you decide to do other things (for Linux it might be compiling or adding Nero Burner software etc. and for MAC its obvious that more is better).
Last - Before I go over to the Linux side, I have to make sure all those nice things in the Mini can be easily engaged -> Wireless N, IR, Bluetooth and SLEEP. If anyone has used Linux on the Mini and got all of these things to work then its my turn to ask for help here <G>.
- Phrehdd