PowerbookG4 Server + ATV2?

[boxinthomas]

Hi, I have an ATV2, and an old Powerbook G4 1.67. Can I use it as a server (like the Mac Minis were used?), and can it capably stream high def content? Just want to see if it has any good uses...

I'm also curious as to why something like the ATV2 can handle HD, when its chip (most likely) maxes out at 1ghz, and the Powerbook can't play HD, really.

p.s. there wouldn't be any value to *just* having the Powerbook instead of the ATV2, would there?

Thanks!

 

[DJinTX]

Hi, I have an ATV2, and an old Powerbook G4 1.67. Can I use it as a server (like the Mac Minis were used?), and can it capably stream high def content? Just want to see if it has any good uses...

I'm also curious as to why something like the ATV2 can handle HD, when its chip (most likely) maxes out at 1ghz, and the Powerbook can't play HD, really.

p.s. there wouldn't be any value to *just* having the Powerbook instead of the ATV2, would there?

Thanks!

My wife has the same PBG4, and as slow as it has become, I don't know how well it would really stream. You could give it a try though. Keep in mind that the processor clock speed is only one variable. A big factor in processing HD content is the graphics chip. Obviously the one in the PB is very old, and not as powerful as current technology.

One thing in your favor though is I think the ATV would do most of the Audio/Video processing work after it receives the data from your PB. SO it may be workable. I have heard of alot of people who use an older Mac Mini (some G4s and some Core 2 Duo) as their HTPC. I assume it must work okay for them to stick with it.

 

[boxinthomas]

Hey, thanks! - yeah, I'll try it out, it seems reasonable that it should be good for streaming/sending the info to the Apple TV without processing it itself. I guess I'll google a bit more about media/itunes servers.