[MAC] New Thunderbolt Mac Mini!

[MAC] New Thunderbolt Mac Mini! - Printable Version

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- Ned Scott - 2011-08-21

Igorth Wrote:My 2011 Mac Mini (base model) can't handle 1080p encodes without Hardware Acceleration (i5 2.3Ghz) and I suffer strange stuttering on all my movies with it enabled, suddenly video freezes for a second and then resumes fast to syncro again with audio, it doesn't count this as dropped frames as they aren't dropped, just played fast to recover the fps of the movie.

I have proved to off sync, turn it audio clock, resample, all settings give occasional stutter without reason (20% cpu usage with HW on).

EDIT: Checked, my Mini starts droping frames without HW acceleration at 30MB/s, it struggles so much too when subtitles comes up after some time without them, even on 720p scene encodes (really low bitrates there).

Then something is very wrong. My core2duo 2009 MBP can CPU decode 1080. Post an XBMC.log file with debugging on to pastebin after you try playing one of these files.

- Igorth - 2011-08-21

Ned Scott Wrote:Then something is very wrong. My core2duo 2009 MBP can CPU decode 1080. Post an XBMC.log file with debugging on to pastebin after you try playing one of these files.

http://pastebin.com/x2CiC7N6

First minutes of Avatar, bitrate peaks of 40 MB/s.

Summary ? - shaulch - 2011-08-26

I understand the following:

1. Intel & AMD support Hardware acceleration
2. OSX has API to support it - http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#technotes/tn2267/_index.html
3. XBMC/PLEX is using these API : http://xbmc.org/davilla/2010/05/03/osx-gets-h-264-accelleration/
4. but ... somehow there are an issues with Lion .(AMD & Intel ??) .No problem with Windows 7.

5. Audio - Lion can bitstream lpcm 7 but no Dolby true HD / DTS HD
Windows 7 can bitstream also Dolby true HD / DTS HD

my questions :
1. Does the hardware acceleration problem relevant for Intel & AMD (Lion) -is it graphic card driver issue or API(OSX) issue ?
2. Does Lion & XBMC/PLEX work well ? (in general)
3. As it doesn't bitstream trud hd , Does Lion(+XBMC) decode it and bitstream lpcm 7 ?
4. Does my summary correct ?

Thanks,
Shaul.

- Ned Scott - 2011-08-26

shaulch Wrote:1. Does the hardware acceleration problem relevant for Intel & AMD (Lion) -is it graphic card driver issue or API(OSX) issue ?
2. Does Lion & XBMC/PLEX work well ? (in general)
3. As it doesn't bitstream trud hd , Does Lion(+XBMC) decode it and bitstream lpcm 7 ?
4. Does my summary correct ?

1. A little of both. It's all stuff handled on Apple's side, though I imagine they do work with AMD for drivers, but the driver updates are going to be via Mac OS X system updates.

2. I don't think it's a Lion specific issue as much as it is Lion + new hardware. My 2009 Macbook Pro is running Lion and has no issues using hardware acceleration in XBMC.

3. Lost me here, I haven't been paying much attention to this part of the discussion.

4. more or less.

I'm fairly confidant that Apple will fix these bugs. Both XBMC and Plex are using standard APIs that several applications now reply on for better performance and better battery life on Apple laptops. Developers have already started to beta test 10.7.2, though I do not know if it contains a fix for the video hardware acceleration bugs.

- prophetizer - 2011-08-27

the latest 10.7.2 does not contain a fix, at least not in my test.

I bought my Mac Mini 2011 Base model - cakeove - 2011-08-28

Yesterday i install the mac mini next to my old apple tv first generation running crystalbuntu with Crystal HD decoder.

Running Lion with XBMC via wifi the mac mini can handle my 1080p mkv movies from my Synology NAS.

With hardware acceleration i can not find any issue. Transformes 2 with 1080p h.264 and DTS-HD plays very well. Peaks frame rates pass 33Mbps.

I don't see any problem. However if i turn off hardware acceleration cpu goes 118% and little pauses on the video. Guest is only drivers.

But i don't feel any needs to use my mac mini without video hardware acceleration. That is the reason for the video card.

Mac mini runs very well.

- resai - 2011-08-29

cakeove hi , did you get dts-hd sound via your receiver?

- dlmh - 2011-08-29

resai Wrote:cakeove hi , did you get dts-hd sound via your receiver?

Not (currently) possible on Mac.

- resai - 2011-08-29

ok , what about 3d sbs mkv files? I've a sample sbs file 3840x1080 (left 1920x1080 right 1920x1080) and xbmc plays fine on my mac mini 2010.. but I don't own a 3d tv so I don't know if it is ok with 3d tvs..

- bombart - 2011-08-29

cakeove Wrote:Yesterday i install the mac mini next to my old apple tv first generation running crystalbuntu with Crystal HD decoder.

Running Lion with XBMC via wifi the mac mini can handle my 1080p mkv movies from my Synology NAS.

With hardware acceleration i can not find any issue. Transformes 2 with 1080p h.264 and DTS-HD plays very well. Peaks frame rates pass 33Mbps.

I don't see any problem. However if i turn off hardware acceleration cpu goes 118% and little pauses on the video. Guest is only drivers.

But i don't feel any needs to use my mac mini without video hardware acceleration. That is the reason for the video card.

Mac mini runs very well.

Glad to hear it. You've helped me make my decision. A few questions before I go out and but the new mac mini:
1) Which model of the mac mini do you have? (what CPU, RAM, VideoCard)
2) What version of XBMC are you running?

Thanks in advance cakeove.

- cakeove - 2011-08-30

bombart Wrote:Glad to hear it. You've helped me make my decision. A few questions before I go out and but the new mac mini:
1) Which model of the mac mini do you have? (what CPU, RAM, VideoCard)
2) What version of XBMC are you running?

Thanks in advance cakeove.

Glad to hear that i can help.

1) I have the 2011 base model. 568 USD
Apple Mac Mini MC815LL/A Desktop (NEWEST VERSION)
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MC815LL-Desktop-NEWEST-VERSION/dp/B004YLCLM6/ref=sr_du_1_map?ie=UTF8&qid=1314724308&sr=8-1

2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache
2GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory
500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive
Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 288MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Mac OS X v10.7 Lion

2) 10.1 stable version. It performs very well streaming from my NAS. I have an airport express.

3) audio output via optical port.

- cakeove - 2011-08-30

dlmh Wrote:Not (currently) possible on Mac.

I have a 27" iMac 2011, connected to my logitech z5500 receiver via optical port. When i play movies with DTS HD and DTS on the screen of xbmc show DTS 5.1 and the receiver screen also show DTS.

The logitech support DTS 96/24 5.1 channel also its THX approved.

As far as i know DTS HD audio uses 96 kHz / 24 bit bitstream up to 8 channel.

my MKV says DTS-HD but with 5.1 channel

I don't know if this is the same or you receiver has to be also DTS HD supported.

I suppose the same thing is with the mac mini 2011. I will tested and post again

- cakeove - 2011-08-30

resai Wrote:ok , what about 3d sbs mkv files? I've a sample sbs file 3840x1080 (left 1920x1080 right 1920x1080) and xbmc plays fine on my mac mini 2010.. but I don't own a 3d tv so I don't know if it is ok with 3d tvs..

i want to test this. where i can get this ads mkv files?

My dad has a 46" Samsung Led 3D. i could take the mac mini and tested.

- bombart - 2011-08-31

cakeove Wrote:Glad to hear that i can help.

1) I have the 2011 base model. 568 USD
Apple Mac Mini MC815LL/A Desktop (NEWEST VERSION)
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-MC815LL-Desktop-NEWEST-VERSION/dp/B004YLCLM6/ref=sr_du_1_map?ie=UTF8&qid=1314724308&sr=8-1

2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache
2GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory
500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive
Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 288MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Mac OS X v10.7 Lion

2) 10.1 stable version. It performs very well streaming from my NAS. I have an airport express.

3) audio output via optical port.

Fantastic. Glad to know I'm not going to have to spend $850 to get smooth 1080p videos. Thanks again.

- Ned Scott - 2011-08-31

bombart Wrote:Fantastic. Glad to know I'm not going to have to spend $850 to get smooth 1080p videos. Thanks again.

you could buy a used mac mini from 3 years ago and get smooth 1080 video. Why does everyone think that only recent hardware can do this?