2011-11-28, 06:55
I think it should handle playback while working on something else just fine. I am currently encoding h264 from an HD-DVD mkv file, and tested playing a different mkv file from another disk, and it worked fine, totally smooth.
I should have noted that some of those comparative benchmarks don't include both minis.
I think the only graphical playback limit is the lack of 23.976 fps. This only matters if you have a display (TV probably) that supports that frame rate. From my research, it sounds like you can get closer to that frame rate with the Intel 3000 in Windows than in Mac, but still not right on.
I also think that with XBMC Mac, you can't have XBMC dynamically change the display refresh rate. Please correct me if I am wrong!
Do you need to worry about 23.976 with your TV? I don't think most computer displays support it, but I could be wrong. Would you be willing to pay extra for 23.976 output later? (Seems to be minimum US$299 for the Blackmagic Intensity Extreme.) For me, this was the only video performance concern.
What GPU-focused apps would you be running?
I would have been willing to pay US$200-300 more for a dedicated video card if my TV could hack it, and since there is an actual product at the price, I can keep it as an option.
If this were my only hobby to put money towards (sailboat racing is my primary), I would get a mini Server for file serving and use with a computer monitor, and a consumer mini with dedicated graphics running XBMC in the living room. But for living room only use, I can't help but feel like I would be overpaying compared to an AppleTV, even with the loss of resolution. I am waiting patiently for a 1080p AppleTV, or I might build a HTPC at some point, just for playback.
Good luck,
jason
I should have noted that some of those comparative benchmarks don't include both minis.
I think the only graphical playback limit is the lack of 23.976 fps. This only matters if you have a display (TV probably) that supports that frame rate. From my research, it sounds like you can get closer to that frame rate with the Intel 3000 in Windows than in Mac, but still not right on.
I also think that with XBMC Mac, you can't have XBMC dynamically change the display refresh rate. Please correct me if I am wrong!
Do you need to worry about 23.976 with your TV? I don't think most computer displays support it, but I could be wrong. Would you be willing to pay extra for 23.976 output later? (Seems to be minimum US$299 for the Blackmagic Intensity Extreme.) For me, this was the only video performance concern.
What GPU-focused apps would you be running?
I would have been willing to pay US$200-300 more for a dedicated video card if my TV could hack it, and since there is an actual product at the price, I can keep it as an option.
If this were my only hobby to put money towards (sailboat racing is my primary), I would get a mini Server for file serving and use with a computer monitor, and a consumer mini with dedicated graphics running XBMC in the living room. But for living room only use, I can't help but feel like I would be overpaying compared to an AppleTV, even with the loss of resolution. I am waiting patiently for a 1080p AppleTV, or I might build a HTPC at some point, just for playback.
Good luck,
jason
