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Mac mini for XBMC

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gerasimos33

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 24, 2013
24
0
Hello I am looking for a device to run XBMC as a media centre solution. Had a jailbroken ATV2 and a raspberry pi but I would like something more stable. However I am a bit tight on budget and can't afford a 2012 Mac Mini. Any recommendations?
I live in UK
 
gerasimos33 said:
Hello I am looking for a device to run XBMC as a media centre solution. Had a jailbroken ATV2 and a raspberry pi but I would like something more stable. However I am a bit tight on budget and can't afford a 2012 Mac Mini. Any recommendations?
I live in UK
Click to expand...

For XBMC -- get an Amazon Fire TV ... I use one and it's a beast. Haven't touched my ATV since.
 
Thanks guys! I actually used a raspberry pi a had somewhere in a corner:D
Its impressive how responsive and without any lag can become with a usb drive for storage instead of SD Card.
 
gerasimos33 said:
Thanks guys! I actually used a raspberry pi a had somewhere in a corner:D
Its impressive how responsive and without any lag can become with a usb drive for storage instead of SD Card.
Click to expand...

Raspberry Pi's work very well for XBMC and you can't beat the price.
 
I'll suggest you check out XBMC's forums and see all the "mini" pc options that people are discussing. There are various itx based systems out there that perform as well (and better) than the Mac Mini.

I use a Mac Mini for some XBMC playback. I opted for Linux install because Apple decided that OSX/EFI should not support HD audio streams such as DTS-Master. If only Dolby+ and DTS proper are okay by you, then a Mac Mini with OSX will work quite well. Windows and Linux on the Mac Mini will handle files with HD audio streams without reducing them down to core Dolby and DTS.

If I recall, Zoltac, Asus and about 3 other makes have mini style computers that work very well with XBMC and similar size to the Mac Mini.

If I had the time, I would build a nice mATX or itx system with a good quality small computer case rather than use a Mac Mini. In the meanwhile, I'm considering a nice large DAS for my Mini and move my media files to it and out of my NAS units.
 
StinDaWg said:
And it does about 1/10 of what a Windows box does, and is laggy.
Click to expand...


It runs XBMC just fine, including playing any format HD video. And none of the issues every version of Windows has, which is the worst OS ever made. And since OP already said they are using a Pi without any problems, what is your point? They should abandon that for a machine that costs more, has more headaches, and doesn't do a single thing better?
 
Last edited:
StinDaWg said:
And it does about 1/10 of what a Windows box does, and is laggy.
Click to expand...

I used a usb 2.0 stick with sd card (sd card for booting and usb for storage) instead of using only sd card and I can assure you is really faster and more reliable. Plus the CEC technology that allows you to control raspberry pi from your tv remote is really amazing. It is great for its price.
 
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