GPU advantages in HTPC

[Zebh3]

I plan on buying a new mini soon. It will be hooked into a 55" plasma HDTV and used for watching some HD content, but otherwise be a server, no gaming. Is there any advantage to having the dedicated GPU for displaying on an HDTV? Seems like the integrated graphics should suffice, but looking for opinions.

 

[mrklaw]

both are having teething problems at the moment in plex and XBMC. but in theory once those issues get sorted, the integrated will be more than enough.

Even now while we wait for that to be sorted, the CPU can handle the decoding easily enough

 

[budan834]

Hi mrklaw,

Can you please elaborate what exactly is teething problem? I have my new mac mini coming this Friday and I'm planning to hook it to my 46" Sony Bravia.

Thanks for your help.

 

[mrklaw]

just not getting quite the performance you'd expect. Eg using quite a lot of CPU for decoding, even more than the 2009/2010 models used, which suggests a lot less GPU support.

I'm sure it'll improve and it shouldn't affect your usage at all, just launch niggles.