Mac Mini specs for a computer behind the TV

S

samalex

Registered
Hi,

We're dropping our Dishnetwork subscription this month in hopes of getting our content from both our AppleTV and also a MacMini, which we hope to purchase soon. I've been looking at a number of MacMini's on EBay and via CraigsList, but I wanted to know what you guys suggest as far as processor and memory for a Mini just to serve video to the TV.

My goal is to watch videos from iTunes and Boxee primarily, but also from the web as need be. I'm looking at a number of 1.2Ghz systems with 512 Megs/Ram, and given this computer will only be used for video would this be suffice? I dont' know if we need the 'latest and greatest' or even a dual core system, even though I do want something with OSX 10.5 for sure.

Also with us already having an AppleTV, if we added MacMini can we pretty much do everything the AppletV does on the Mini? When we purchased the AppleTV it was mainly for renting movies, which iTunes couldn't do... but haven't they changed this?

Thanks for any suggestions or information.

Take care,

Sam
 
I wouldn't suggest a PowerPC G4 Mac mini nowadays. If you want to go Leopard (or Snow Leopard later this year), any intel Mac mini will do just fine - as long as it has at _least_ 1 GB of RAM. (Wouldn't go below that.)

Basically, the Mac mini would replace the AppleTV. Then again: Why replace the AppleTV? Can't it do all you want it to? I heard Boxee is "feasible" on the AppleTV... (Although we won't talk about "how" on macosx.com.)
 
I've thought about installing Boxee on my AppleTV, but I'm not a huge fan of modding devices like this. My luck I'll brick it or void the warranty, though without AppleCare the warranty is up in a few months anyway. Also there's bound to be other video sources that even Boxee doesn't support, and having the power of a full computer would be ideal.

As for hardware specs for a Mac Mini, I'd definitely like to go with an Intel based system... I forgot to put that in my original post :) I wasn't sure however on the ideal processor/memory for such a system or even which video card is suggested.

Thanks for the feedback...

Take care --

Sam
 
There's no video "card" in the intel Mac minis, only on-board graphics, but they're powerful enough to output HD video. They're not ideally equipped for games and such, but playback should be alright.

Btw.: I don't know about the rentals (read up on iTunes), since that service (and basically any video buying service) isn't available here in Switzerland yet.
 
As an owner of one of the first gen Mac Minis (PPC), I can tell you that they don't have nearly enough horsepower – you'll want the newest Intel one you can find, and get as much RAM in it as it'll hold (1Gb-2Gb). This machine will be able to display HD content, and is much more useful than an AppleTV, though you won't be able to rent HD content via the iTunes store. You'll also need a DVI to HDMI adapter, and hook up the audio via optical audio out if that model has it, otherwise you're stuck with analogue Stereo.
 
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