Requirements for client/server? (1 Viewer)

[Ramshackles]

Let's say I currently have a server and a NAS (the server has enough room to spare though).

In a perfect world I would want the smallest size client I could get to be in my livingroom, what exactly is needed hardwarewise to be able to do Full HD? My plan for the time being is only to rip the dvd's i watch a lot (series etc) and all my CD's to the server and play those on the client, but I'd like to be prepared for HD content aswell.

I've been looking at mac mini's and shuttle mini X 200M (configurable)

Would they be able to work? I know it might be hard to add a blu-ray drive to the mini, might be easier with the shuttle. But these are the kinds of thin clients I'm after, Aopen makes nice stuff aswell but quite a bit more expensive.

Any thoughts?

 

[milhouse]

I've got a Mac Mini dualcore (1GB memory, can't remember clock speed) in the bedroom, and the media is all in the basement. Standard def DVDs (ripped and stored on server in basement) run great (wireless or wired network - I recommend wired, though). I had the same question you do, so downloaded some 1080p sample content (several formats) for a test. The mac mini seems to handle 1080p just fine running over the network.

When I had trouble was trying to use ffdshow to upscale standard DVDs to 1080p - that the Mac Mini can barely do. But honestly - standard DVD on a 1080p TV looks fine in MP as is, and native 1080p content plays fine. (Have never tried HD-DVD or Blu Ray.)

If I had it all to do over, I'd put a mac mini in the living room, too, instead of the whole HTPC case.

The only thing I don't like about the mac mini is the external TV tuner - I will eventually move to TV Server for a nice clean look.

There are several others on here that would swear by a Mac Mini, too.

 

[Ramshackles]

Curious about which OS you run?

Also, could I get you to look at these 2 shuttles?

Intel Core2Duo, this uses the G33 chipset
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-092-SH&groupid=43&catid=110&subcat=343

AMD AM2, Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 7050PV and nForce 630a
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-098-SH&groupid=43&catid=110&subcat=508

They seem more tailored for HDCP etc.

 

[milhouse]

XP Pro

One other curiousity - seems that an XBox HD DVD player fits in the Mac Mini. And works under XP.

http://www.123macmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=91083&sid=6a24c6efdd412e8b05816fa8849f7ebe

 

[Ramshackles]

Not only that, but also blu-ray (most movies i like are in this format):
http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/631.html

I'm still not sure if a shuttle is a better buy though, it's same price and much newer hardware.. design is not near as good as the mac tho

 

[Marcusb]

Curious about which OS you run?
AMD AM2, Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce 7050PV and nForce 630a
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-098-SH&groupid=43&catid=110&subcat=508

I like these chipsets. I have a 6150 and am kind of looking for an excuse to upgrade ;-)

 

[milhouse]

Yeah, I saw the Blu Ray post. Catch is - it's still almost $1000. (Probably because it's a BR recorder. I couldn't find just a player in my searches.) But the important thing is that it IS available, and you did say "be prepared for HD". Maybe it'll come down a bit in a year or two...

(Oh, and the X box HDDVD is an external drive, not a slot load internal.)

As for the two shuttles you point out...

I don't keep up with the latest graphics stuff - I tend to buy, then see if it works (like the Mac Mini). So I would defer to someone else here as to what chipsets can support 1080p.

The Intel one is the only one that explicitly says HDCP - you sure they're both supported? I think that could make things easier, but I think we all know there are ways around that, when push comes to shove. (Mac Mini, last I checked, does NOT support HDCP.)


I think you're right that the Shuttle is a bit cheaper (even after you add a processor, memory, optical and hard drive). But not by much, probably. And the Mac is really just stylish.