Speed difference between 2009 2GHz and 2014 1.4GHz?

[AVR2]

My HTPC is currently an early 2009 Mac mini, 2GHz Core 2 Duo with 8GB RAM. It's starting to show its age running 10.10.5 (an increase in beachballing while it thinks about things) and it also has problems with smooth playback on some (not all) full-screen 1080p video. It flat-out doesn't have the power for h.265 video.

Looking at the Apple refurb store I can pick up a 2014 mini with 1.4GHz Core i5 for an attractive price. At the risk of asking a dumb question, is that a worthwhile upgrade? Will it seem like it screams compared to my current mini?

 

[old-wiz]

Processor speeds like 1.4 ghz vs 2ghz are not a true comparison - the newer processors have larger caches and more efficient instruction sets. I'd think that you'd really want an SSD.

 

[paulrbeers]

My HTPC is currently an early 2009 Mac mini, 2GHz Core 2 Duo with 8GB RAM. It's starting to show its age running 10.10.5 (an increase in beachballing while it thinks about things) and it also has problems with smooth playback on some (not all) full-screen 1080p video. It flat-out doesn't have the power for h.265 video.

Looking at the Apple refurb store I can pick up a 2014 mini with 1.4GHz Core i5 for an attractive price. At the risk of asking a dumb question, is that a worthwhile upgrade? Will it seem like it screams compared to my current mini?

https://browser.primatelabs.com/mac-benchmarks

1.4ghz 2014: 5300
2.0ghz 2009: 2000

Yep I'd call that an improvement...

 

[aajeevlin]

https://browser.primatelabs.com/mac-benchmarks

1.4ghz 2014: 5300
2.0ghz 2009: 2000

Yep I'd call that an improvement...

Thanks for the link, I can never find the benchmark link when I needed it. As for the Mini, look at it this way, if you want to upgrade the 2009 it will cost you about $100 for the new SSD. I think I saw a 2014 1.4GHz at Cowboom for $380 a few days ago, might be worth it to look into it.

 

[AVR2]

Thanks for the info. I take on board what's been said about the SSD but my biggest issue is the performance with some types of 1080p full-screen video (such as 1080p60 from YouTube), and I think it's the GPU that's holding it back there rather than the drive.

When I originally bought it, I was warned (I think on here) that it might be borderline for full-screen 1080p.