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macfantn · Sep 26, 2009, 07:54 PM

I want to load up all my dvds onto a mac and connect it to my TV. Much easier than physical disks.

Would something like this work if I add in a 2nd HD maybe 500gb or 1tb? Also will this display 16:9 resolution on my tv or will I need a new video card?

Apple Power Mac G5/1.8GHz Dual Processor - Mac Of All Trades

AKcrab · Sep 26, 2009, 08:21 PM

That seems like complete overkill to me. What's wrong with a mini? It would be intel, can run Snow Leopard, would fit into your entertainment center.

turtle777 · Sep 26, 2009, 08:25 PM

Yes, a mini is all you need.

-t

besson3c · Sep 26, 2009, 09:00 PM

Even a new Mini would be an overkill for something this simple. An old G4 would work. All you need is something with a fast disk and network access.

Doc HM · Sep 27, 2009, 01:58 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Even a new Mini would be an overkill for something this simple. An old G4 would work. All you need is something with a fast disk and network access.

Not sure and ageing G4 tower is what I would want sat next to my smart new flat screen tv. Get a mini, does what you want, looks good in the lounge, plus you can also use the remote etc. If you cna't stretch to a new one get one of the early core solo's from ebay, them's right cheap and still faster than a G4

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Sep 27, 2009, 02:12 AM

The G5 is not overkill (other than the size of it) but the graphic card for this purpose is pathetic. It depends greatly on the size/resolution of your TV- a larger set at 1080p? Forget it.

A mini would be fine- but assuming you want a lot of storage space for media, you'll either need external drives or a networked media source.

Personally, I'd go the Hackintosh route if you're the slightest bit handy with computers. An HTPC is the perfect use for one. You could build a system using a MicroATX Gigabyte (ES2L) board that's fully Snow Leo compatible and put it in a decent mATX HTPC case if it's going to be visible in an entertainment center. Add plenty of RAM and storage, fast/cheap CPU, and a truly capable video card. The end result would be a computer that easily outpaces the Mini, is expandable, and costs a few hundred less.

Throw Plex on it, and you've got the full experience.

It all depends if you really give a squat about the Mini's small size, if the size is really of any benefit to your use. I'm guessing since you're considering a full tower G5, that you have room in whatever your entertainment setup for an HTPC-sized system.

besson3c · Sep 27, 2009, 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by Doc HM

Not sure and ageing G4 tower is what I would want sat next to my smart new flat screen tv. Get a mini, does what you want, looks good in the lounge, plus you can also use the remote etc. If you cna't stretch to a new one get one of the early core solo's from ebay, them's right cheap and still faster than a G4

True, I was just speaking to the needs purely in terms of horsepower. I wasn't thinking about form factor, noise, and stuff like that.

besson3c · Sep 27, 2009, 02:43 AM

I personally use a barebones Shuttle PC for my media center (among other things). If you aren't keen on building your own PC from scratch and like the Hackintosh idea (or don't mind running something like Ubuntu for this), a barebones Shuttle rig is a great way to get something Mini-like in form factor (and more expandable than a Mini), and also really quiet. If you were to buy the barebones Shuttle you'd just have to pick out a hard drive, processor, RAM, and video card that would be compatible with the motherboard. All of these things are very easy to install.

AKcrab · Sep 27, 2009, 03:38 AM

Is this still a Mac forum?

cjrivera · Sep 27, 2009, 03:49 AM

What about loading them onto a Mac Pro and using an Apple TV to watch the movies?

Phileas · Sep 27, 2009, 07:10 AM

I use a Mini to play music, movies either from drive, or streamed in. We killed our cable connection some time ago and have never looked back. Those $125 a month I can spend on movie rentals, and I won't get interrupted by ads every two minutes.

I am in the process of getting a new Mini in though. With the old single core encoding DVDs takes forever, and storage is severely limited.

As for control, we use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Small, unobtrusive and just works. I think going for a Ubunto or Hackintosh solution is a mug's game, given that you can pick up a Mini for $300.

Doofy · Sep 27, 2009, 07:26 AM

Just go buy a Popcorn Hour or WDTV or something like that.

hayesk · Sep 27, 2009, 07:33 AM

A G4 won't play 1080p video. I realize the OP said DVDs, but probably will want to show something higher resolution in the future. You need at least a Core Duo to display 1080p video.

Uncle Skeleton · Sep 27, 2009, 10:18 AM

Who said anything about 1080p? The OP said DVDs. Scaling them up is easy. 1080p source video, that would be a problem (and I don't think a new mini would keep up, I can't even play 1080p source video on my 4 core 2Ghz mac pro).

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Sep 27, 2009, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton

Who said anything about 1080p? The OP said DVDs. Scaling them up is easy. 1080p source video, that would be a problem (and I don't think a new mini would keep up, I can't even play 1080p source video on my 4 core 2Ghz mac pro).

It's not really about the source video. A computer connected to an HDTV should be able to output at the native resolution of the TV (1920x 1080). Of course, that is, if the TV has that resolution. At 720p, then the graphic card needs to match roughly 1280×720, though often it works out to 1280x768 or even 1366 x 768.

And any MacPro should play back 1080p- was there ever one with a quad 2Ghz processor?

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Sep 27, 2009, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

I personally use a barebones Shuttle PC for my media center (among other things). If you aren't keen on building your own PC from scratch and like the Hackintosh idea (or don't mind running something like Ubuntu for this), a barebones Shuttle rig is a great way to get something Mini-like in form factor (and more expandable than a Mini), and also really quiet.

Quite a few shuttle models are perfectly capable of running OSX as well.

(Best on one that's fully compatible with an open 16x slot.)

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Sep 27, 2009, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Just go buy a Popcorn Hour or WDTV or something like that.

Hmm... good call. If all the OP truly wants is DVD playback, then this is the most practical idea. Something like an Iomega ScreenPlay is $100-ish, at least 500GB, HDMI/component output (720p/1080i) and (if it matters) as small a Mini.

Uncle Skeleton · Sep 27, 2009, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by CRASH HARDDRIVE

It's not really about the source video. A computer connected to an HDTV should be able to output at the native resolution of the TV (1920x 1080).

Should it really though? If you're only ever going to use that resolution for the purpose of scaling up 480p source video, why does it matter if the video card is scaling to 1080p or 720p at the same physical size display?

And any MacPro should play back 1080p- was there ever one with a quad 2Ghz processor?

Maybe the problem was it was mpeg-4 not mpeg-2.
It's two dual-core xeons, as mentioned here

CRASH HARDDRIVE · Sep 27, 2009, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton

Should it really though? If you're only ever going to use that resolution for the purpose of scaling up 480p source video, why does it matter if the video card is scaling to 1080p or 720p at the same physical size display?

I can only go by my own experiences setting up quite a few HTPCs for others and myself. I've found 720p/1080i HDTV is fairly forgiving with a computer source. A 1:1 pixel mapping (on an LCD) looks fantastic.

A good 1080p HDTV doesn't tend to be as forgiving with computer sources. Lower computer resolutions and odd refresh rates look like blurry crap at less than the native resolution- certainly the OS interface and/or 'front end' that one plans to use will. Also problems with the image not actually fitting the screen size/aspect ratio and awful 'stretching' if one forces it is virtually guaranteed. I'd say it's a total waste to spend $400 on the G5 with a video card that most certainly can't handle a large TV output IF the OP has a larger 1080p TV.

It might work with a lesser TV, but there's so many other options that will work better for the same price range.

Maybe the problem was it was mpeg-4 not mpeg-2.
It's two dual-core xeons, as mentioned here

Ahh. Possibly a video card issue since that's what should handle the lion's share of video processing, but definitely that machine could handle 1080p. We had an old dual core Athlon with older DDR RAM that could handle 1080p content- granted using 70% of the processor- but it could physically do it.

ghporter · Sep 27, 2009, 03:05 PM

On a related issue, would a Mini be able to keep up with running as a DVR for HTDV broadcasts? What capture device would be best for that job?

Uncle Skeleton · Sep 27, 2009, 06:06 PM

I have a mini as my only TV, with EyeTV, and it handles HDTV broadcasts without breaking a sweat. It's a c2d 1.66, with 2GB of ram. Before I upgraded the ram (from 512 I think, maybe 1G I forget), it was downright painful though.

11011001 · Sep 27, 2009, 06:25 PM

I have that exact computer, 1.8 DP G5 as a media server. I'm running ZFS on it, which adds quite some overhead. It can't play 1080p source material, but that may be the video card, which I can't remember off hand.

Laminar · Sep 27, 2009, 07:46 PM

I have a C2D 2.0/2GB Mini (GMA950) and when playing standard downloaded video at 1080p it stutters the slightest bit. I switched it to 1080i and it works great. With a 500GB HD attached and web access I have no need for cable.

hayesk · Sep 27, 2009, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton

Who said anything about 1080p? The OP said DVDs. Scaling them up is easy. 1080p source video, that would be a problem (and I don't think a new mini would keep up, I can't even play 1080p source video on my 4 core 2Ghz mac pro).

I guess you didn't my second sentence. I said I realize the OP said DVDs, but will probably want to show something higher res in the future.

And if your 4 core Mac Pro can't play 1080p then there's something wrong with your Mac Pro or you are using a really bad codec. MacWorld did several tests when the Intel Mac minis were released. The Core Solo mini could not play 1080p source (H.264), but the Core Duo mini could play 1080p H.264 without so much as dropping a frame.

Uncle Skeleton · Sep 28, 2009, 12:45 PM

You should buy computers for your needs today. Buying more computer than you need on the chance that you might need more in the future is totally stupid. If you just wait for your actual needs to catch up, the computer you need for it will be 1/3 the cost by then.

I will re-investigate the 1080p. I only tried it once, and it hasn't come up since then. I think I was using VLC, which I don't keep up to date.

olePigeon · Sep 28, 2009, 02:09 PM

Mac mini + miniStack would work really well.