Playing HD video

I have a Mac Mini G4 1.42GHz with 512MB RAM.

I have been using it as a media center / tv replacement. It has been going great but just recently I started to want to view HD movies in 720p. Most of the movies are in .mkv format with H.264 encoding.

I am using VLC to play the movies. My problem is that it seem that the computer is too slow to play the content. The video is extremely jittery, it will play about a second then freeze on that frame.

The video files are fine, I transfered some to my MBP and they all play fine. I was thinking about buying an tv but I don't really want to spend the money if I don't have to. Also it doesn't play .mkv files without modding.

Should my Mac Mini be able to play the HD videos? Is there another format that would work better? Will a simple RAM upgrade fix the problem?

Thanks for any help!

While specific to QT, I would say that the recommended specs here are probably a good start for understanding what is needed to play HD video.

As listed on that site, the specs recommended for 720p are as follows:
* 1.8 GHz PowerMac G5 or faster Macintosh computer; 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo or faster
* At least 256MB of RAM
* 64 MB or greater video card

Don't use VLC. That's your problem. It bogs down for some reason with .mkv or H.264 codecs.

Ok, so the computer is slightly underpowered and VLC isn't a good program to use for mkv or H.264.

I'm looking for an Intel Mac Mini on eBay. They're going for about $350. Do you think it would be better to get an tv or a new Mac Mini? If I got the tv I would still have to use my Mac Mini; I use it as a file server.

The tv is about $175 cheaper and money is a big deal right now. If I did switch to an tv I would have to convert movies to .mp4 before I watched them.

Is there a different codec I can convert the movies to that may work better on my current hardware? I don't care if there is surround sound. I just want to keep the HD.

Also, 05GT, what program would you suggest for playing the videos?

I would say get the new mac mini. The apple tv is limited in what you can do. The options are almost limitless with the mini.

All of my HD videos are in .mkv, and watch them using QT. I ran into the same problems you are with VLC. It would slowly as the video played get worse and worse. The audio would become out of sync, and the video would be terrible.

I'm probably going to get the Mac Mini. I can sell my current one to recover some of the costs. I do want one that has a SATA hdd. I recently upgraded the hdd in my MBP to 500gb so I have an extra 250gb drive I want to put in the new mini.

This is the one I'm lookin at:
Intel Mac Mini, Core Duo, 1GB RAM, 60GB Hard Drive - eBay (item 110419175564 end time Aug-03-09 11:59:31 PDT)

From the looks of this chart on wikipedia, Mac Mini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, any Intel Mac Mini will have a SATA hdd. Is this correct?

If I were you, I'd either get a Mac Mini (for most flexibility, and throw Plex Media Center for OS X on it)

or

get:

Welcome To Popcorn Hour - popcorn hour is very powerful with wide playback support (looks like it supports having a bluray drive now even) although its interface I've heard in the past hasn't been the most awe inspiring (don't know if it's been improved - I had looked at one about a year or so ago, but didn't have spare cash to get one)

or

WD TV HD Media Player ( WDAVN00 ) a western digital product - not as capable in terms of network play, but makes it easy if you have content on a thumb drive to hook it in and play. Also fairly cheap and even available at local shops like Best Buy.

Disclaimer: Currently I have a '09 Mac Mini acting as my HTPC using Plex as my front end. I use an apple remote (well, I did until my cat hid the thing) and my ipod touch w/ snatch client (server app on the mini) to control the computer and Plex.

callforhelp62 said:

I'm probably going to get the Mac Mini. I can sell my current one to recover some of the costs. I do want one that has a SATA hdd. I recently upgraded the hdd in my MBP to 500gb so I have an extra 250gb drive I want to put in the new mini.

This is the one I'm lookin at:
Intel Mac Mini, Core Duo, 1GB RAM, 60GB Hard Drive - eBay (item 110419175564 end time Aug-03-09 11:59:31 PDT)

From the looks of this chart on wikipedia, Mac Mini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, any Intel Mac Mini will have a SATA hdd. Is this correct?

Click to expand...

Where did u buy the 500GB for your MBP?

There are quite a few 500GB drives in the 2.5" formfactor for laptops:

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Hard Drives,Laptop Hard Drives,500GB

Newegg.com - HITACHI Travelstar 5K500.B HTS545050B9A300 (0A57915) 500GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive - Laptop Hard Drives
That's the one I got. It is the same drive the new MBP has in it just without the little apple on the sitcker.

I bought it last week and it was $69 now it's $20 more. Good thing I bought when I did!