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

[Jeff Simpson]

> 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.

Almost doesn't cut it, does it? :-P I once had a 486 that could almost
play mp3s. It was the saddest excuse for music I'd ever heard as it
was frantically trying to keep up without having to downsample.

2.5ghz is pretty close to what I was suggesting, I don't think I was
that inflated.

> > 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.

You can when it works. :-P Yes, they are different instruction sets,
and yes they are completely different, but you can still compare them.
It's like comparing engine sizes between cars. Sure you can get 200hp
out of a 1.8L 4cyl, but it's pretty safe to say that you'll get a lot
more out of a 6.0, regardless of engine and transmission design, and
even the type of gasoline. More fuel = more power, it gets to a point
where efficiency can only do so much. Without hardware acceleration, a
3ghz PC can do it, and the 1.4ghz mac can't. End of discussion.

 "All it would take is for their video hardware to support HD size
MPEG2 acceleration". That's like saying "All it would take is to have
the processor speed become irrelevant, and it would work". If you read
the rest of my post, I go on to say that if there were optimizations
for the mac hardware, it'd be fine, but those optimizations will not
likely be forthcoming for some time.

> 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.

So you agree, then? :-P

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