I am basically going to be using as an HTPC replacing my AppleTV. So streaming files to it from my Mac Pro. I just wanted to know if it's really worth going for the 2.66GHz. Is it overkill? The geekbench results show very similar results. I can't make up my mind. Will the real difference be the Nvidia 320, so the processor speed won't make a difference? Any advice or opinions would be greatly helpful. Thank you in advance.
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Mac mini (Mid 2010) 2.4GHz or 2.66GHz?
- Thread starter nicolasonline
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If you're replacing a AppleTV. Just go with the 2.4. It can easily play 1080p rips and isn't that bad for playing some WoW or Team Fortress 2 on the big screen. If I were you, just be sure to upgrade the ram above 2gb at one point. Snow Leopard loves ram.
I just purchased the 2.4Ghz. I set it up on my HDTV and got all my file-sharing streamed from my Mac Pro. I followed your advice and it works beautifully. Even streaming a 1080p MKV with Movist is flawless. I can't believe I spent all this time with an AppleTV and sans a Mac Mini. But then again, having the new 320 and the HDMI really made sense to get it now.
Thank you for your trustworthy advice.
Thank you for your trustworthy advice.
Yeah, since they now have HDMI, they are much more of a viable alternative to the Apple TV. Hope you enjoy your new Mini as much as I enjoy mine.
Glad to help.
-Ryan
Unless you have a very stable and fast Wireless N router I would not stream over wireless. Nobody likes waiting 2-10 seconds for a video to load some more.
My setup:
AirPort Extreme (dual router) with a 5 GHz N and a 2.4 GHz G broadcast at the same time.
The N network connects to my Mac Pro and my Mac mini, the G connects to my iPhone. I need the G network to control my Mac mini via hipporemote.
I just setup streaming by turning on File sharing on my Mac Pro and connect as a user from my Mac mini so that I have access to all my Mac Pro.
In iTunes on my Mac mini I'll just "Add to Library" and point to the stuff on my Mac Pro (rather than sharing iTunes library), like this I can have cover flow and grid view, etc. (whereas iTunes Library sharing will only give you the boring list view).
As I said I am fairly new to this whole Networking between Macs, as the AppleTV did it seamlessly.
And the Mac mini connecting to my Mac Pro is as well seamless. I had no problems streaming wirelessly 1080p content as MKV files, which was brilliant.
But speaking of the evil eye, after I was so happy and posted that, everything started to be choppy, even my iPhone app mouse controlling the Mac mini.
It's weird because for a whole day of watching high-def videos without as much as a single glitch, now it's all choppy.
I think I missed something, and am trying to figure out what the settings should be to maximize the throughput through AirPort Settings or DNS, DHCP and all that crap which I'm forcing myself to learn now.
My internet is 50Mbps, which is quite fast here in Canada but I don't think that should affect the home network should it? In other words I could create an ad-hoc network without having an internet connection and just have my computers share files through the N network?
In any case I thought I might just ask for advice here and will also see if I find the problem and keep you posted. It worked very well for a whole day, so something must have happened.
AirPort Extreme (dual router) with a 5 GHz N and a 2.4 GHz G broadcast at the same time.
The N network connects to my Mac Pro and my Mac mini, the G connects to my iPhone. I need the G network to control my Mac mini via hipporemote.
I just setup streaming by turning on File sharing on my Mac Pro and connect as a user from my Mac mini so that I have access to all my Mac Pro.
In iTunes on my Mac mini I'll just "Add to Library" and point to the stuff on my Mac Pro (rather than sharing iTunes library), like this I can have cover flow and grid view, etc. (whereas iTunes Library sharing will only give you the boring list view).
As I said I am fairly new to this whole Networking between Macs, as the AppleTV did it seamlessly.
And the Mac mini connecting to my Mac Pro is as well seamless. I had no problems streaming wirelessly 1080p content as MKV files, which was brilliant.
But speaking of the evil eye, after I was so happy and posted that, everything started to be choppy, even my iPhone app mouse controlling the Mac mini.
It's weird because for a whole day of watching high-def videos without as much as a single glitch, now it's all choppy.
I think I missed something, and am trying to figure out what the settings should be to maximize the throughput through AirPort Settings or DNS, DHCP and all that crap which I'm forcing myself to learn now.
My internet is 50Mbps, which is quite fast here in Canada but I don't think that should affect the home network should it? In other words I could create an ad-hoc network without having an internet connection and just have my computers share files through the N network?
In any case I thought I might just ask for advice here and will also see if I find the problem and keep you posted. It worked very well for a whole day, so something must have happened.