Mac Mini performance - Whats the oldest model that will handle 1080p playback?

I have my eye on a 1.83Ghz C2D model, but can i go much older than that and still have performance to run HD mkv videos?

MDJCM said:

I have my eye on a 1.83Ghz C2D model, but can i go much older than that and still have performance to run HD mkv videos?

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Personally I wouldn't go any older. Not because older Mini's can't handle 1080P playback...but because the 1.83ghz C2D Mac Mini model is the oldest C2D model...and because you're really best off with an Intel based Mac-Mini rather than a G4 Mac-Mini.

HTH,

- Nick

Good point

I ungraded the CPU in my 1.66 Core Duo Mini to a 2.16Ghz C2d out of an 24" Intel iMac someone ruined. Does 1080p great, but I got a great deal on the C2D CPU. I would go with a Mini that has at least a C2d stock. The newer Minis have better video chipsets also.

My old 1.66 Core2 Duo (That's not I typo, I swapped cpus from a Dell Laptop) could easily render 1080p using VLC. It stuttered a bit with Quicktime, but overall it performed well.

Cooool

Trying to scout out a 1.83Ghz

How much memory and what OS are you running BTW? I noticed big speed diffs when I upped to 10.6 and 2gb of ram on mine.

I might start with a 512mb Mac Mini (got to find a used one first, might be lucky and get 2GB from the get go), if it stutters i'll put the 2GB i have from the MBP when i upgrade that to 4GB. But RAM prices at the moment are terrible.

I will be upgrading it to 10.6 immediately after i get it. The new Apple Remote is wicked too, deffo getting that.

512mb will be a big issue, I doubt it'll render video properly and I'm pretty sure snow leo won't run on that little memory. Get as much memory as you can afford for it.

I just remembered the MBP uses really fast RAM so i will pick up a separate 2GB of the right speed (667 i think) for the Mac Mini when i do get one.

if you dont need wireless you can add a Crystal HD decoder card for around 20bux that will allow you to decode 1080p

(I have one in my AppleTV that allows me to do 1080p using XBMC)

EDIT: I guess the prices went up on the Crystal HD card to around 50 but you might still be able to find one for cheaper (I bought mine from ebay about 2 months ago for 17 shipped)

Hmm, I've heard of this, but i'll keep it simple and buy a powerful enough Mac Mini to begin with. I need the the wireless too. Thanks anyway

If it's H264, even the older 1.42GHz G4 minis will handle it. If it's flash, your C2D should handle it, but it is a terribly written codec which uses both of my cpu cores to near 90% capacity during video playback. I'm at a 2GHz clock speed on my 45nm penryn core 2 chip.

No plans to run flash at all, so thats good news