[mythtv-users] Mac Mini Frontend - HDTV Capable?

[Donavan Stanley]

On 4/26/05, Jeff Simpson <llcooljeff at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Actually, the MacMini should have enough power, assuming someone was
> > able to optimize for it.  So far, I don't think there are any
> > optimizations in place for it, so it is doing everything the hard way.

<snip>

> Not to start a flame war, but what is that judgement based on? From
> what I've heard on here, only the highest end PC processors (2.8ghz+)
> are able to decode & display HDTV without problems. 

Then you've apparently not been paying too much attention.  There have
been a LOT of people repeating requirements second and third hand that
are inflated.  My 1.8ghz AMD *almost* plays 1080i without issue.  My
2.5ghz celeron has zero issues with HD playback.

> The mac mini operates at 1.2 or 1.4 ghz. Not to say that processor frequency is the
> only factor in the speed of a computer, but when it's THAT large a
> difference, I can't imagine it can just make up for it with
> optimizations. 

You can't even BEGIN to compare performance based on clock speed when
comparing completly different instruction sets.  Regardless all it
would take is for their video hardware to support HD size MPEG2
acceleration and for Myth to be able to leverage that.


That being said, it's HIGHLY doubtful that out of the box a max mini
is going to work as an HDTV frontend for Myth.  Buying one for that
purpose alone is a mistake IMO.