2011-07-22, 19:25
Just my two cents, if you want to mainly use it for HTPC purposes, better to go for the non-server single drive edition with the non-integrated video.
First, for HTPC media collection, especially if you`re using xbmc i`m guessing you`ll be playing alot of HD movies, and will have a collection. In that case, even 1 tb won`t cut it and you`ll sooner rather than later be upgrading to external storage (windows media server, single usb drives, or multi drive enclosures), so you`re better off just getting the basic 500 gb. For htpc use thats more than enough storage space, even if you`re using it as a home computer.
Second, as ifixit showed today, there is still space in the single drive version to install a second drive. you would just need the appropriate cable (they`ll find it sooner or later) and maybe a mounting mechanism. Prob. cheaper than getting it from apple. Also, the only case i could see in an htpc to need two internal drives is if you need one ssd, and second hdd. again in that case you`re better off getting the isngle drive version.
Lastly, i`m sure the new integrated cards are better than the intel integrated cards that came with the 2008 mac mini`s, which was my first mini. While it played 1080p, once in a while it would stutter, or not play a file properly, and it was bothersome enough that i would avoid 1080p movies as i didnt want to get into issues mid-movie in some scenes. I upgraded to the 2010 mac mini with nvidia 320m graphics, which are way better. Now even if the new integrated cards can play 1080p, you`re still better off with a 2.5 ghz and amd graphics as you are assured smooth playback, even on somewhat badly encoded material and don`t have to worry about running out of horsepower few years down the line with any potential new encoding methods.
So in conclusion, go for the single drive, 2.5 ghz, amd, which is cheaper as well, rather than the dual drive unless you really really have a case for needing two internal drives at the expense of a slower processor and integrated graphics.
First, for HTPC media collection, especially if you`re using xbmc i`m guessing you`ll be playing alot of HD movies, and will have a collection. In that case, even 1 tb won`t cut it and you`ll sooner rather than later be upgrading to external storage (windows media server, single usb drives, or multi drive enclosures), so you`re better off just getting the basic 500 gb. For htpc use thats more than enough storage space, even if you`re using it as a home computer.
Second, as ifixit showed today, there is still space in the single drive version to install a second drive. you would just need the appropriate cable (they`ll find it sooner or later) and maybe a mounting mechanism. Prob. cheaper than getting it from apple. Also, the only case i could see in an htpc to need two internal drives is if you need one ssd, and second hdd. again in that case you`re better off getting the isngle drive version.
Lastly, i`m sure the new integrated cards are better than the intel integrated cards that came with the 2008 mac mini`s, which was my first mini. While it played 1080p, once in a while it would stutter, or not play a file properly, and it was bothersome enough that i would avoid 1080p movies as i didnt want to get into issues mid-movie in some scenes. I upgraded to the 2010 mac mini with nvidia 320m graphics, which are way better. Now even if the new integrated cards can play 1080p, you`re still better off with a 2.5 ghz and amd graphics as you are assured smooth playback, even on somewhat badly encoded material and don`t have to worry about running out of horsepower few years down the line with any potential new encoding methods.
So in conclusion, go for the single drive, 2.5 ghz, amd, which is cheaper as well, rather than the dual drive unless you really really have a case for needing two internal drives at the expense of a slower processor and integrated graphics.
dlmh Wrote:The hardware supports HD Audio bitstreaming, but will the AE branch support this on OSX?
How about true 24p on the new Mini's? (23.976Hz, instead of 24.00Hz)
