First Intel Mac mini Media Portal?

[prophetx2]

Originally Posted by GitsLM

Please be all advised that there is still the issue that the Windows XP does not have drivers for the CPU fan and therfore a overheating of the CPU might be possible. Try to find a constant power source for the fan and the issue is solved but the mini will then be significant louder. Anyway just wanted to let you know befor some people have fried CPUs :shock:

This is false. The person who started the question caused a huge scare for everyone. It has been verified that the computer gets no hotter on XP than on OS X. also CPU FAN works if you are still scared. You can read about it on onmac.net

[prophetx2]

Originally Posted by Raven

This is great news to me! I hadn't heard about this before.
Please tell us about your experience with mp on the mac mini.
Is there full support for the graphics adapter? How's the speed of loading, menus, video playback etc? Do you have a tv tuner connected? I use the FireDTV and would love to be able to connect this to the mac mini. Do you know if daemon tools work?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

The speed on the mini is great. The only problem is when I tried enabling the directx support and that stressed the built in video card too much. The rest of the speed was just as good on the mini as it is on my dual core opteron PC. I do not use the timeshifting ability (I don't even currently have cable!) but, may do so in the future after I move in. I honestly watch mostly DVDs and fan subbed anime. I have some 720 h.264 files and those played without a hitch.

After installing windows and all the appropriate drivers, the mac mini behaves like a regular PC (it is a PC). You can install any software you wish and any hardware you wish (provided you have drivers). I'll be testing the MCE remote as soon as I get it (i doubt i'll have issues). Overall its an awesome platform and is definately worth considering!

[johnbobjamesson]

no way to install my pvr500 and my pvr150, though ;-) Where do I get 1-3 decent TV cards for usb now?

J

[Paranoid Delusion]

Always fancied an AppleMac cos they looked good Oh well

johnbobjamesson What the hell is,

Nescit cedere et semper fidelis est.

I thought that stopped at Hadrians Wall :lol:

[prophetx2]

Originally Posted by johnbobjamesson

no way to install my pvr500 and my pvr150, though ;-) Where do I get 1-3 decent TV cards for usb now?

J

Mmm i see your point. I haven't really dabbled with timeshifting since I rarely watch tv and I currently don't have cable. My new apt I'll be getting cable for free so maybe if I find a few good shows I'll start playing with it.

I've heard alot of people going with the firefly setup. Multiple TV cards will be tricky, the mac mini does have 4 USB ports and 1 firewire port.

[johnbobjamesson]

Originally Posted by Paranoid Delusion

I thought that stopped at Hadrians Wall :lol:

Naah, they're still everywhere ;-)

"He does not know how to give up and is always loyal"

[Raven]

Originally Posted by prophetx2

The speed on the mini is great. The only problem is when I tried enabling the directx support and that stressed the built in video card too much. The rest of the speed was just as good on the mini as it is on my dual core opteron PC. I do not use the timeshifting ability (I don't even currently have cable!) but, may do so in the future after I move in. I honestly watch mostly DVDs and fan subbed anime. I have some 720 h.264 files and those played without a hitch.

After installing windows and all the appropriate drivers, the mac mini behaves like a regular PC (it is a PC). You can install any software you wish and any hardware you wish (provided you have drivers). I'll be testing the MCE remote as soon as I get it (i doubt i'll have issues). Overall its an awesome platform and is definately worth considering!

Thanks for the info! I have a few more questions I was hoping you could help me with. I'm really considering trying this solution out.

Are you using the Solo or Duo mini?
Are there drivers for the sound circuits for windows xp? Does both analog and optical (5.1) audio out work?
What about bluetooth and WiFi? Do they work?
Does the ethernet work?
Does the graphics adapter work for standard resolutions? I'd want to run it at 1280x720.

Thanks!
Regards
Raven

[prophetx2]

Originally Posted by Raven

Thanks for the info! I have a few more questions I was hoping you could help me with. I'm really considering trying this solution out.

Are you using the Solo or Duo mini?
Are there drivers for the sound circuits for windows xp? Does both analog and optical (5.1) audio out work?
What about bluetooth and WiFi? Do they work?
Does the ethernet work?
Does the graphics adapter work for standard resolutions? I'd want to run it at 1280x720.

Thanks!
Regards
Raven

Np glad to help!

1.) I'm using the solo, 720p plays perfectly on it. I've read accounts of 1080i working on it as well but, I can't verify that claim. For 1080p you NEED the core duo.
2.) The mac mini is the ONLY intel mac right now where everything is almost functioning. Here's the issue: optical works on the optical port. The analog doesn't work in the out port, it only works in the mic in port. So basically if you want the analog port to work, you'll lose your mic in. Maybe with newer drivers it will be fixed, but as of right now that is the only thing 'wrong'.
3.) Bluetooth and wifi work flawlessly.
4.) Ethernet work flawlessly as well. 10/100/gigabit works.
5.) The built-in graphics card is directx9 compat. It should/will display whatever resolution you need. I have it running at 1900x1200 right now at home and it's fine. For everything else there's powerstrip (I haven't tried this yet as my TV is still boxed up until the move).

Remember this IS a PC. The only difference is that the mac mini does not have a BIOS and the drivers are not officially available for it (all the drivers were either hunted from dell/intel/sigmatel and some of them you have to rely on a specific set of drivers). I tested my MCE remote last night and it works perfectly.

FWIW I'm running 720p perfectly fine (no dropped frames) with the standard Mac Mini Solo w/no upgrades. Unlike the old g4 mac minis, the cpu is NOT soldered. You can open the case up and upgrade the CPU, RAM, and HD to whatever you like. I figured by the time i get a 1080p set I'll just upgrade the chip and maybe add a bit more ram.

[johnbobjamesson]

does it only take s-ata drives or does it have a standard ide connector?

J

[prophetx2]

Originally Posted by johnbobjamesson

does it only take s-ata drives or does it have a standard ide connector?

J

it's sata only and i believe the HDs are the laptop sized ones. Since all my files come from my 1tb file server, i could care less about the size of the hd =)