New Mac Mini

[Vini]

So, today see's the launch of the new Mac Mini, not much changes really. But...

Do the changes enable it to play 1080p .mkv's without a hitch? Because at the minute my 1.6ghz original Mini just about plays them with Plex. But you can often spot framerate issues etc...

The big difference on the new Mini is obviously the 9400M and entry level 2.0ghz c2d.

Is this enough to play 1080p mkv. Someone buy one and let me know.

If not, I'll probably save a couple of hundred quid and get an EeeBox b204! (Available around the web for close to £300)

[Nick F]

The new Mini is really expensive if you ask me, even the new iMac's have been bumped up in price!

[Gordy]

Vini

The new mac mini is basically a macbook with no screen. So if the macbook can do it the new mac mini can.

It's nice to see the mini is finally updated, but the price is shocking.

[b0redom]

Why not just drop in a faster C2D in your existing one? I have a 2.33Ghz one in mine and it's fast enough for anything I've chucked at it.

[Golden Dragoon]

Originally Posted by Gordy

Vini

The new mac mini is basically a macbook with no screen. So if the macbook can do it the new mac mini can.

It's nice to see the mini is finally updated, but the price is shocking.

They really are too much for too little, this update to the graphics should have been done yonks ago, as for the whole 1080 question, if your 1.6 can run them with only very slight framerate issues, I would imagine that at 2ghz, even without the geforce helping it would work perfectly well.

[pritsey]

Originally Posted by b0redom

Why not just drop in a faster C2D in your existing one? I have a 2.33Ghz one in mine and it's fast enough for anything I've chucked at it.

How much work is involved in upgrading the CPU? I'd quite fancy a Mac Mini but with the price hike I'm not so sure any more. The thought of getting a prev gen mini from ebay is tempting, would the original Intel ones which came with either a core duo or a core solo take a new C2D or C2Q chip?

[b0redom]

Originally Posted by pritsey

How much work is involved in upgrading the CPU? I'd quite fancy a Mac Mini but with the price hike I'm not so sure any more. The thought of getting a prev gen mini from ebay is tempting, would the original Intel ones which came with either a core duo or a core solo take a new C2D or C2Q chip?

It's really not too difficult. The hardest part is getting the case off in the first place. You obviously can't drop in a desktop C2D or C2Q as the mini is based on mobile parts. You need to look for the mobile variants - I used a T7600 in mine.

Some guy here has done exactly the same as me:

http://www.ambor.com/public/meromswap/meromswap.html

I also upgraded the wifi to 802.11n and RAM to 2GB. Probably overkill, but it handles anything I chuck at it, and boots from cold to Plex within a few seconds. Sort of tempted to bung in an SSD to increase the boot time a bit more, but that's definitely overkill - I stream all my content from a NAS box.

Here's how you remove the case:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...26749402892352

Make sure you use a metal scraper, I tried it with a plastic one first, and it wasn't firm enough.

[pritsey]

Thanks for the info - should I get enough cash (or SWMBO lets me) then I reckon it's a goer!

[Vini]

I put more ram and a bigger HDD in on day one, I've been tempted with a CPU upgrade but am unsure if it will play 1080p mkv's - seems to be hit and miss.

I've considered going back to Windows, or Hackintosh, but as the main reason I bought the mini was for size, going away from that would be silly. Given it uses naff all power and still is bloomin good, I think I might just make do with what I got for now.

I cannot justify 5ton solely for 1080p, especially when the Asus EEEBox (B204) which should do 1080 stuff, is being priced up (probably wrongly) at £300...

http://www.morecomputers.com/extra.a...B204-BLK-X0001

[Golden Dragoon]

I'm not too sure that even with the ati chip doing much of the work that an atom is capable of seamless 1080 playback.

[Vini]

Originally Posted by Golden Dragoon

I'm not too sure that even with the ati chip doing much of the work that an atom is capable of seamless 1080 playback.

It's rumored to be able to do so, but thats just it, rumors. I'm holding out until it's released.

[mightymouse]

with those prices wouldnt it be better off to just build a decent pc? i think even if you built a shuttle media set it would still be cheaper and much higher performance than the new mac mini

[Vini]

Originally Posted by mightymouse

with those prices wouldnt it be better off to just build a decent pc? i think even if you built a shuttle media set it would still be cheaper and much higher performance than the new mac mini

Performance, yes no doubt it would be better.

Pricing up a similar specced Shuttle got me to about £700 though. Sadly last time I checked, £700 is more than £500.

My Mini basically runs Plex 24/7 and works flawlessly with my Harmony remote. Changing to something like a Shuttle/Windows setup would mean losing this ability. (Out of the box).

Not only that, the Mini is far less power hungry.

I played with a standard Macbook yesterday (2ghz/9400m) and it played the 1080 mkv's fine.

I'll therefore wait for this generation to drop in value, or just make do with my current (yet still awesome) mini.

[Golden Dragoon]

lol, I still have a 1.25 G4 with 512mb, I have soldered a few resistors and gotten it to 1.42, but still I will have to upgrade sometime in the future, but it sits in my living room and handles sd fine my hd set is in the other room with my consoles and comp.

[IanM]

Anyone got one of these new minis yet? how quiet are they?

[aceuk]

I've got one and they are VERY quiet. If it wasn't for the small white LED on the front it would be difficult to tell if it was switched on.