HTPC advice - Want to swap from my Windows based HTPC

Supercow

Supercow

Supercow

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Hi All

Having swapped to Mac about a year a go I couldn't be happier with my personal computing. Completely hassle free.

This is not the case for my PC based HTPC. I have recently moved and for some bizarre reason everything is fubar for no apparent reason - I'm not going to go into detail.

I have used pretty much every notable HTPC software out there and hope some of you would be able to help me out - as I really want to switch to a mac based HTPC.

My HTPC is used for the following

* Watching and recording digital television as I do not want Sky
* Watch movies and TV series that is on my hard drives (2 terrabyte's worth)
* RSS (and manual) torrent downloads
* Internet Browsing
* Video conversion for my iphone

I know XBMC (my favourite front end of all time) is available for OSX, however digital TV is not supported - yet.

Does anyone use their mac as an HTPC and use it for the same reasons as above?

Care to share your set-up please?
 
thirded. especially now the mini is based on the 9400m.

Get the turbo.264 for converting to h.264 and import your recordings into itunes for download to iphone/ipod/appletv formats.

For media storage then look at a drobo v2 and connect via the FW800 on the new mini.
 
Wicked gents, thanks for the input.
Will keep updating the thread with any questions :)

First question actually: How would I easily swap between watching TV - or downloaded content
I.E - Swap from EyeTV to XMBC ?

It has to be controlled via one remote / no keyboard interaction on other words
 
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How would you go about connecting audio from the Mini to TV?

This is one thing that is holding me back and I don't want to have to buy a box to sit between Mac Mini and TV, as they're usually quite expensive?

[not meaning to thread hijack :p]
 
Well audio goes into my Logitech Z5500 - although... would that not just be stereo?
Also, the elgato is USB - how reliable is it?

In my experience USB tv tuners (on pc at least) are pants
 
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Cheers, Tunney. That is far easier than what I was imagining. I assume the Display Port isn't carrying Audio on this [believe I read that it isn't yet enabled on OS X yet, or something to that accord.]

Would a Mini [base spec] push 1080p without much problem? If so I may have just booked my trip to the Apple Store tomorrow.

sup3rc0w said:
Well audio goes into my Logitech Z5500 - although... would that not just be stereo?
Click to expand...

Is it through optical out? If not then I think it's limited to stereo. Although I'm no audio expert as shown above. :p
 
mdjmcnally said:
For media storage then look at a drobo v2 and connect via the FW800 on the new mini.
Click to expand...


Sweet lord that thing is expensive, way too much for me I'm afraid.
Anything similar, but a LOT cheaper?

Slogan said:
Would a Mini [base spec] push 1080p without much problem? If so I may have just booked my trip to the Apple Store tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Yes from what i've read
 
The Mac Mini has the same 3.5mm outputs as the notebooks.

I.e. one for Analog, one for digital (no optical though)
 
Should have no problem pushing 1080p. It has the 9400m chipset in there and unless Apple have deliberately hampered the system it should do no problem.

Certainly the Windows 9400 chipset based systems can do 1080p no problem.
 
EVH said:
The Mac Mini has the same 3.5mm outputs as the notebooks.

I.e. one for Analog, one for digital (no optical though)
Click to expand...

They are digital optical but using the same 3.5mm jack connector. I've got a Philips Toslink lead that comes with the appropriate adaptors.

15mtoslinkcable.jpg
 
MagicBoy said:
They are digital optical but using the same 3.5mm jack connector. I've got a Philips Toslink lead that comes with the appropriate adaptors.

15mtoslinkcable.jpg
Click to expand...

Cool, I didn't realise that.

Tbh I never bother with that output, but I knew one was a digital output :)
 
EVH said:
Cool, I didn't realise that.

Tbh I never bother with that output, but I knew one was a digital output :)
Click to expand...

Both the line out and line in double up as a digital connection, has been this way at least since the Intel transition on most products (apart from the Mac Pro which has proper Toslinks IIRC).
 
How do you connect for video then? I assumed mini-DVI to VGA and then VGA to VGA on the TV but my television gets horrible tearing on VGA, even on desktop mode with dragging something across the desktop.

Thinking about it, Mini-DVI to DVI, DVI to HDMI?
 
I go Mini DVI - DVI - DVI - HDMI - TV. Works perfect.

Also if you are going for 1080p make sure you buy an extra 1GB to install if you don't buy it in the package. This will help 1080p playback and also allow you to dedicate 256MB to video ram even with the new basic spec mini.

Take a look here http://www.macminicolo.net/macmini2009.html if you fancy upgrading the mini yourself. :D
 
MagicBoy said:
Both the line out and line in double up as a digital connection, has been this way at least since the Intel transition on most products (apart from the Mac Pro which has proper Toslinks IIRC).
Click to expand...

I've only ever used a Mac Pro in a recording studio capacity, hence my lack of knowledge about the notebooks :o
 
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