Mac Mini HTPC obsolete after Mountain Lion?

[jdmagoo1]

I don't know where you get the idea that Macs can't play 1080p high bit rate (Blu Ray) but you are right about HD audio although it has been confirmed that you can't play HD audio with Macs even in bootcamp.

You are wrong!

I have a 2011 Mac mini and I can 100% confirm that under bootcamp I can bitstream hd audio to my amplifier. You must be running powerdvd or similar software to pass the audio but it works. Also another point, you can pass full frame (1080p per eye) 3d video under the same configuration.

Cheers

James

 

[HandySam]

So your receiver says "DTS-HD MA" or "Dolby TrueHD"?

And do you have the mini with the AMD graphics? Because I don't think it is possible when you have one with Intel HD300 graphics. The AMD model has the hardware to do it but I don't think the HD3000 has.

 

[jdmagoo1]

So your receiver says "DTS-HD MA" or "Dolby TrueHD"?

And do you have the mini with the AMD graphics? Because I don't think it is possible when you have one with Intel HD300 graphics. The AMD model has the hardware to do it but I don't think the HD3000 has.

Yeap, receiver says DTS-MA or DolbyTrueHD when I'm playing either of that content, my mini is the i7 AMD graphics but I'm certain that doesn't make a difference. Browse the avsforums or xbmc forums if you want to find out more.

The fact that it does was a prerequisite for me before buying as I have a substantial audio system which I can tell the difference between bitstreamed audio and not. (a lot of people argue you can't)

 

[JAT]

Don't have to go that far.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1313330/

 

[HandySam]

That isn't bitstreaming HD audio. That's just converting it to raw pcm. If you convert your files like this than you can say you can play any audio on the mini. But we want the audio to be decoded by the receiver.

It's nice to hear this is possible on Macs now but it's still only possible under Windows.

I'm building my own home theater soon so I guess I will have to replace the Mac Mini (2010) with a 2011 or 2012 model. (I love my current 2010 )

 

[JAT]

Audio quality is untouched, and it is still streaming the original digital info. Similar to simply removing DRM when ripping/copying. The receiver's DAC is still used. It just doesn't say "DTS", that way.

 

[Wicked1]

I upgraded to the 2011 Base Mini, then upgraded ram to 8GB Crucial, then Intel 320 120GB SSD as boot, and Seagate M XT 750 as Data, and could not be happier. I came from a 2009 Mini C2D 2.0 with 4GB/500GB Hybrid and I have both ATV and ATV2.

I am sticking with the 2011 and reluctantly Lion, as I think to me personally ML is going to be a waste of an upgrade, they are moving it more to iOS then and OS for a desktop or laptop.

Took me 6 months to make the switch to Lion, and although not 100% satisfied, I think I have it all worked out now, just wish this had an Integrated GPU so I can play some other games, but Base was cheap though.

 

[B.A.T]

So now we have the 1080p ATV. I'm still thinking about the average user. Is this going to be enough for them to not consider a HTPC?

 

[kappaknight]

I personally prefer Plex over Apple TV for my media files and prefer the mini over Apple TV just in case I want to do more with my huge living room PC monitor.

Also, now that Plex has myPlex and can allow you to share content remotely to your friends/family, I'm thinking an SSD may be a potentially necessary upgrade. Say if you want to stream a new baby video to grandma, cousins, aunts and uncle at the same time, in addition to needing a good upload connection, the hard drive may be the next bottleneck next to the CPU.

 

[gabicava83]

I personally prefer Plex over Apple TV for my media files and prefer the mini over Apple TV just in case I want to do more with my huge living room PC monitor.

Also, now that Plex has myPlex and can allow you to share content remotely to your friends/family, I'm thinking an SSD may be a potentially necessary upgrade. Say if you want to stream a new baby video to grandma, cousins, aunts and uncle at the same time, in addition to needing a good upload connection, the hard drive may be the next bottleneck next to the CPU.

If you're streaming over the internet, your connection will be the bottleneck before your hard drive, unless you have a stupidly quick internet connection.

However, get an SSD anyway, they make a huge difference.