Mid 2011 Mac Mini + Win 7 64bit + MediaPortal?

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Mutly

250 posts

Master Geek

#93094 14-Nov-2011 11:32

Gidday there,

Is anyone running a mid 2011 Mac Mini with Windows 7 64 bit and MediaPortal?

Recently I bought a Acer Revo RL100 to replace my large but ageing htpc, but the device simply isn't up to running MediaPortal with 1080i content. Media Center works fine as does WMP, but MediaPortal seems to add an extra load that the wee unit just can't handle (much discussed on the MP forums so no need to rehash). Anyhow, the family despise Media Centre and love MediaPortal and are insisting I buy a new shiny bit of kit to "make it bloody work". I do so hate buying new shiny things.

Anyhow, I have been looking at either an AsRock Vision 3D (which you can't seem to buy in NZ) or a mid 2011 Mac Mini. The Mac Mini looks like the perfect hardware (lack of optical drive aside) but I have never used a bit of Mac kit in my life. Has anyone got one of these running with Windows 7 64bit and MediaPortal? If so, how does it go running 1080i content (like TV3). Any issues getting windows onto the device without an optical drive (I see that booting to USB is difficult at best). Does it run quiet and cool?

Cheers,

Matthew

I can't brain today. I have the dumb.

blur

384 posts

Ultimate Geek

#545598 15-Nov-2011 13:10

Hi Matthew

I too have wondered if this might be a solution, so please do report back on your findings!

Also, did you have any thoughts on how you might tackle the lack of drive space? Do you have a NAS on the home network, or would you perhaps connect some large drives via USB or FireWire?

B.

My HTPC - Case Antec Fusion Remote, MOBO Intel DH67BLB3, CPU Intel Core i5-2400S 2.5 GHz, RAM 8GB DDR3 1333, HDD 120Gig Corsair Force Series 3 SSD system | WD Caviar Black 2TB data, Tuners Black Gold BGT3595 dual DVB-S/S2, dual DVB-T, Video nVIDIA GeForce GT 520, 1024MB, Sound Intel® High Definition Audio (onboard), OS Windows 7 x64

reven

3737 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#545617 15-Nov-2011 13:59

hi, im running a 2011 mac mini (without the optical drive) on windows 7 64 bit ultimate and mediaportal 1.2 just fine.

it doesnt miss a beat with any video file i throw at it (1080i tv from either DVB-S2 or DVB-T, 1080p MKVs etc). ive also run this using xbmc and WMC7 without issues.

mac minis are really good HTPCs. im also running the same setup on a 2008ish core 2 duo mac mini without any playback issues. the only thing against the mac minis are the IR receiver are a PITA to work with under windows.

i have a dedicated server/file server connected to a drobo (but i hate my drobo, i dont recommend them) and my mac minis just connect to those off the network.

reven

3737 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#545619 15-Nov-2011 14:01

i believe the asrocks have an power brick which is a PITA if you want to hide the cables away. the older mac minis do to (my 2008ish one has one) but after the remodel in 2010 the mac minis have no power brick and just a small power cable you can easily hide.

Mutly

250 posts

Master Geek

#545856 16-Nov-2011 09:00

@ Reven - thanks for the info. I gave an earlier model mini a test drive last night and it was significantly better than the Acer Revo so will order a new one today. I do still like the idea of the AsRock Vision 3D - if it were easy to get in NZ I would have bought one immediately as it ticks all the right boxes.

@ Blur - currently i just have large capacity WD external HDDs, but will be migrating to a NAS or thunderbolt RAID box in the near future.

I can't brain today. I have the dumb.

thekiwi

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#545857 16-Nov-2011 09:01

reven: hi, im running a 2011 mac mini (without the optical drive) on windows 7 64 bit ultimate and mediaportal 1.2 just fine.

it doesnt miss a beat with any video file i throw at it (1080i tv from either DVB-S2 or DVB-T, 1080p MKVs etc). ive also run this using xbmc and WMC7 without issues.

mac minis are really good HTPCs. im also running the same setup on a 2008ish core 2 duo mac mini without any playback issues. the only thing against the mac minis are the IR receiver are a PITA to work with under windows.

i have a dedicated server/file server connected to a drobo (but i hate my drobo, i dont recommend them) and my mac minis just connect to those off the network.

Cool, this is exactly what Im looking at as well.

My current MacMini, running Windows XP and Mediaportal has to do Audio via the Optical ... and despite everything I try just wont give me full 5.1 to my Onkyo Receiver. Was looking at the 2011 Mac Mini to get the Audio over HDMI. But for everything else the little macmini is just brilliant. Its quite, small ... perfect as a HTPC.

I see you can buy:
External SuperDrive
Compact and convenient, the external MacBook Air SuperDrive connects to your Mac mini with a single USB cable. It lets you install new software and play and burn both CDs and DVDs, including double-layer DVDs.

for about $110 NZD ... which might be worth a look,

blur

384 posts

Ultimate Geek

#545862 16-Nov-2011 09:14

Can I ask what sort of tuners you guys are using with these Mac Mini's???

thekiwi

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#545865 16-Nov-2011 09:17

blur: Can I ask what sort of tuners you guys are using with these Mac Mini's???

Sorry, mine is just a HTPC client.
My Mediaportal server is running under the stairs and doing all my Virtual Machines etc, thus the Mac just runs Windows, with Mediaportal client ... for everything from Pictures, Videos, Recordings, Music, online content ... the works.

Wise

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blur

384 posts

Ultimate Geek

#545868 16-Nov-2011 09:21

thekiwi:Sorry, mine is just a HTPC client.
My Mediaportal server is running under the stairs and doing all my Virtual Machines etc, thus the Mac just runs Windows, with Mediaportal client ... for everything from Pictures, Videos, Recordings, Music, online content ... the works.

Got you. I assume then you have it connected to the network via ethernet rather than wireless?

Does this stream HD content ok?

thekiwi

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#545870 16-Nov-2011 09:25

blur:
thekiwi:Sorry, mine is just a HTPC client.
My Mediaportal server is running under the stairs and doing all my Virtual Machines etc, thus the Mac just runs Windows, with Mediaportal client ... for everything from Pictures, Videos, Recordings, Music, online content ... the works.

Got you. I assume then you have it connected to the network via ethernet rather than wireless?

Does this stream HD content ok?

Correct, connected via Ethernet.

Mine is only a 2008 version and is under spec'd for HD content, but from what Ive read of the new 2011 models, especially the i5 with its allocated video memory, they are really good.

reven

3737 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#545875 16-Nov-2011 09:41

blur: Can I ask what sort of tuners you guys are using with these Mac Mini's???

i have a elegato Eye TV DTT deluxe which worked well under OSX but not so well on windows 7. i also have a WinTV nova-t usb stick from hauppauge which works well. i've run a HDHomeRun 2011 model without issue.

but currently my tv server is a Mini ATX windows machine with a DVB-S2 quad card and my wintv nova stick.

Mutly

250 posts

Master Geek

#545899 16-Nov-2011 10:08

blur: Can I ask what sort of tuners you guys are using with these Mac Mini's???

I'm currently just using a AverMedia USB tuner which works well, though I will be looking at either a dual tuner USB or network based tuner shortly.

I can't brain today. I have the dumb.