[Phrehdd]

I'll try to be brief here

I would opt for the 2.26 model and up the RAM to 4 gigs. The 5400 spin drive is not snappy but usable for media playback so potentially a 500 gig internal 5400rpm is a good option. I believe in using DAS or NAS to hold a library so for me, internal drive is not that important. (The 2.26 version of the Mini does impact playback of 1080p with less dropped frames.)

OSX will only let the Mini use 256mb with the 9400 vid card (2 gigs RAM required). This is a pity. Technically, the 9400 should be able to use up to 512mbs shared RAM.

Solution potential - Hope you will add this to your test/reviews: XMBC on LInux running on a Mini. XMBC Linux set correctly, can give the 9400 vid chip 512mb RAM AND use the video chip to offset work from the CPU.

Please if you can include this in your review though it is not OSX - - it still is a Mac Mini.

Thanks

Phrehdd

[hooman]

You definitely don't need the 2.26 or Linux. I am running the base 2.0 2009 minim, with 2GB RAM and streaming both regular avi files, 720 and 1080 mkv files and Video TS standard DVD rips (via macthe ripper) over the network, using the Time Capsule/N Router and the wireless of the mini. There are no dropped frames, everything plays back smooth and with 5.1 surround and subtitles if needed, all using Plex as the interface. I've blogged about it all at http://macminihometh...r.blogspot.com/ .

[Phrehdd]

We will have to disagree on this one. I don't know the source of your MKV files but glad they work well for you.

Try using a direct file archive of a blu ray in M2TS format with no further compression. Plex will have some troubles playing some of the files and I have at least 5 movies that have challenges.

I don't want to digress but if one is more in tune with hi def the Mac Mini 2.0 is just slightly under par. The 2.26 simply has less dropped frames on high bitrate scenes.

The goal is to get maximum performance from the 2009 Mac Mini.
For me that would be a combination of hardware and software front end. The hardware here is suspect for 1080p. What I can say is that 720p plays very well on the Mac Mini 2.0ghrz.

Btw, I have also experienced with those movies using Plex issues on an Imac 20" with 2.0 ghrz and x2400 vid with 4 gigs RAM. - a fair comparable system.

No matter, glad you can enjoy your system and I'll be exploring other options as Apple chose to limit the vid to 256mb, can't really take advantage of the vid "as is" with the named softwares for hi def.

cheers
Phrehdd

[hooman]

I can't comment on the BluRay as I haven't tried it, and will defer to your results. For me, the mac mini as a home theater was to take what is generally common place now and make it viable and easy. Primarily, my goal was to get rid of my $1,000+ / year Cable and Tivo bill, which I have done.

Granted, technically speaking, I'm sure no doubt a HD picture from the local cable company on a 1080p set will look better than my downloaded 720 MKV on my 720p set, but, for me at least, not $1,000 / year better.

My setup was intended to test if I could get rid of cable and still have internet and movies for $12/mo (the netflix subscription) - which, is working perfectly for what I intended. I download all the shows I watch or care to watch via torrent feed subscriptions, and the movies are ripped and sitting on the network for viewing at any time.

If I want to go bonkers with a super high def picture and audio, which at times I do, I have the sony bluray player hooked up.

We're just looking at 2 different needs - hope you get it worked out for your needs too :)

[mattwolfmatt]

Yes, thanks Boden for the updated link for the Seagate external HD with 800 firewire. I've spent the last hour trying to find the right one. I was a click away from buying the USB 2.0 one, but thought twice about it.

Boden posted it on April 20 at 7:39pm.

Chris, please change the link in the story. Thanks for a great article, though! I'm going to ebay my ATV and dive in!

[Chris Breen]

mattwolfmatt said:

Chris, please change the link in the story.

Sorry for the tardiness. I've updated the link. The drive is currently going for $140.

[XMattingly]

Quote

{size:10px} Chris Breen wrote: Sorry for the tardiness. I've updated the link. The drive is currently going for $140.{size}

The life of an editor shouldn't have to include a 24 hour watch. You can almost spell NORAD with Macworld, but not quite! :D

[mattwolfmatt]

Thank you again Chris for the great article. Of course I don't expect him to keep tabs on every article ever written - and I certainly didn't expect him to fix it at 9:50am on a Sunday morning! (Note: this could've been 6:50am his time). Good Lord!

I've always loved your videos and podcasts - you again have gone above and beyond. Looking forward to what you have to say about any news on Monday. :)

[Chris Breen]

mattwolfmatt said:

Of course I don't expect him to keep tabs on every article ever written - and I certainly didn't expect him to fix it at 9:50am on a Sunday morning! (Note: this could've been 6:50am his time). Good Lord!

Oh no, I was being sincere. Someone pointed out the bad link to me weeks ago and I just forgot to fix it. So, I really was tardy and I appreciate the reminder.

[AppleOne]

I've just gotten my Mac mini up and running. Boxee's great, but I'm still finding it buggy. It isn't out of alpha yet! Plex is the one I settled on. It has a plug-in structure that apparently works. I can watch Twit Live on it! And MSNBC! And the NBC Nightly News! In fact, there's enough content that I'm really, seriously, entertaining the prospect of dropping the miserable product that is digital cable, with its Windows-98-lookin' menus, and it's 4x3 SD on almost all channels unless you pay an extra $10 a month. The Eye TV antenna reception is far, far better quality. Oh, and last tip? If you have an iPhone, the Air Mouse app is incredible. One controller for the whole thing.

[AppleOne]

It was a bit more difficult to install a new HDD than the RAM, but only at the end. Finding just the angle to slide the drive in was tricky. But you just be patient, don't force anything, and after a few sweaty moments, it snapped in. Putting things back was the same as the RAM. The trickiest thing was that WiFi antenna.

[kimptoc]

I wonder if Snow Leopard does the audio through the mini display port now? Or is that a hardware limitation...

[villagehiker]

wdunn, on 20 April 2009 - 11:06 AM, said:

Isn't the stock HD 5400RPM? Still wish they had a 7200 option...

Maybe this will have to wait until the heat can be reduced in a 7200 spinner. Just a thought from a non-enginner. I don't really know, but you'd think a 7,200 disk would produce more heat.