Intel QuickSync and Mac mini 2011

[nurbz]

Hi all,

I want to know more about the support of Intel's QuickSync by the new Mac mini (more precisely their Sandy Bridge processors).

1) Is is correct that it clearly does not work on the Mac side of things, as OS X does not handle it yet?

2) It should work on Windows, though only on the models with Intel's GPU. For those models (base mini, and high-end quad), has anyone tried? How well does it perform?
And how about the mid-range model, with the AMD discrete GPU? I guess it should not work, since its not the Z68 chipset? Or maybe is it possible to switch GPUs, like on laptops?

Any more info on that topic more than welcomed!

Thanks

n

 

[old-wiz]

From AnandTech:

"Currently Intel’s Quick Sync transcode is only supported by two applications: Cyberlink’s Media Espresso 6 and Arcsoft’s Media Converter 7. Both of these applications are video to go applications targeted at users who want to take high resolution/high bitrate content and transcode it to more compact formats for use on smartphones, tablets, media streamers and gaming consoles. The intended market is not users who are attempting to make high quality archives of Blu-ray conten,,,"

First hit after google search for "intel quick sync".

 

[HunterMaximus]

A more recent and OSX-specific piece of info, also from Anandtech:

Not only is Quick Sync not featured by Apple, it's not supported by any Apple application other than FaceTime.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4205/the-macbook-pro-review-13-and-15-inch-2011-brings-sandy-bridge/4

So, it's accessible from OSX, but no software for the end-user to make use of it yet. But if it's being used in FaceTime, it should be accessible to any other developers that want to make use of it (with the caveat it may be a private API, subject to bugs and other oddities - that's just speculation though, I have no info).