Late-2009 as media center?

[jafingi]

Hello,

I can get a cheap mini with the following specs:
- 2.53GHz
- 4GB RAM
- GeForce 9400M
- 60GB SSD

I would like to use it as media center to play 720p and 1080p mkv's in XBMC. For image, I will use a Mini-DP-->HDMI, and sound will be via optical out to my surround-receiver.

Do you think it'll handle 1080p fine without stuttering?

 

[blanka]

It's an astonishing machine for HTPC use. All the newer ones are overspecced. The 9400M does the HD decoding when using XBMC for example (VLC is not as fluent). The 2.26 is already playing HD without dropping a frame, so the 2.53 is excellent.

There is no Mini-DP on a Mini 2009. You will receive it with a mini-dvi->dvi adapter, and all you need is either a DVI-DVI cable or DVI-HDMI.

I would swap the SSD I think. You better pop in a scorpio black or so, with ample storage. 60GB is small for HTPC, and the SSD speed is not needed (and capped too).

Also, get a 20 bucks USB powered Blu Ray player if you like those. I really love the integration on my Mini 2009 2.26: it does all, Blu Ray, DVB-T tuning with time-shift, DVD, MAME, iTunes, Netflix

 

[MultiFinder17]

There is no Mini-DP on a Mini 2009. You will receive it with a mini-dvi->dvi adapter.

There is. The 2009 minis have both mini-DP and mini-DVI, although you are correct that they came with a mini-DVI adapter.

 

[blanka]

I forgot, it can indeed drive a 2560x1600 screen with Mini-DP to DP.
But for TV, you better use the DVI-HDMI cable as those are pin-compatible and less prone to errors.