Performance of Core 2 Duo Mac Mini with a 1080P HDTV

I just got the MacMini 2.0ghz and it is connected to a Sony 46" XBR2 1080P HDTV via VGA set to 1280x1080 and works great. Plays video files without problems and would have no issues with PowerPoint or Keynote. Only the modern graphics intensive 3D games will have difficulty with framerates with the integrated graphics. You can also connect via DVI to HDMI but the picture on my HDTV is not as good as VGA. If you have problems, there is third party software (SwitchRezX, I think is one of the best) which helps with display connections...but with VGA in port on my HDTV, no need to mess with it.

Hi, I just bought a new core 2 duo mac mini 2Ghz with 2GB RAM. I have read reports about things being ok so went ahead an bought the mini to plug into my Samsung F71 40" LCD TV. After some intial problems getting it to display on the TV everything looked fine.

The problem I have is that the mini will crash quite often and I can allways get it to crash if I bring up the add more widgets window which has the ripple effect when it loads.

I don't know what the problem is or if I will be able to fix it, just wanted to give you a heads up.

It seems to be definetley related to the graphic card as the the image will suddenly break and the computer will hang.

For the record connected to TV via VGA running at 1920 x 1080 at 59Hz

tonyoevans, that issue you are describing does not sound good to me. I very much think you are headed for a warranty claim with your new C2D mini. The display attached should have no bearing on crashing as you describe it. Good luck.

I have been running the new mini on my 42" 1080p LCD and it looks fantastic. So far the most graphically intense thing I've displayed are 1080p Trailers from iTunes, and they run without a problem. (I have the base mini with 1 GB of RAM)

I am thinking of buying a C2D Mac Mini to act as a music, video and photo server to my home cinema system: Sony STR-DA1200ES Receiver via HDMI cable to 1080P HDTV Sony Bravia KDL40W2000. Has anyone tried hooking up a Mac Mini to a home cinema receiver with a DVI to HDMI cable for this purpose? What are pictures and sound like? I also want to use the Mac Mini as a "family computer" with internet access, using the HDTV as screen, hence reason for not just buying a AppleTV.
Many thanks, any experience welcome

Rigger Spanner,

Have you tried hooking up your MacBook Pro to your Sony Receiver and TV? Whatever result you get from the MBP, expect the mini to be essentially identical, except perhaps for gaming.

Hi BSteely, yeah I think it's definetly a hardware issue, contacted the store where I bought it from and they have said the same and are willing to swap it for me. fingers crossed the next one will be ok.

 TV in the box.... "wait"!! do i need to let it be there ?
Iv just got an  TV 160 GB, but when i got it yestarday i thourd that maybe i should change it for a mac Mini C2D ? Now that you got this discussion running. Can anyone tell me about graphic performance for the  TV - VS - Mini C2D ?
Today I wait for my new TV, a Samsung LE-40M86 that deliver FullHD 1080p.

As a realized. The  TV does not support DVD. So I need to rip DVD, put it into iTunes and finally over to my TV. I think that it could be done pretty easy. But with a Mini i just need to play it.
I live in Denmark and the MusicStore does not have Movies, not yet.

With the Mini i would have a multimedia center for my home. Internet, iLife (08'soon), workspace and frontrow that must be allmost the same as what and TV got?

Anyone that could make me decide the final choice ? Or some that allready has done this choice. For the about double price (with keyboard+mouse)?

Any expirience for Samsung LE-40M86

Thanx a lot!!! 😀

Jiri Trnka

BSteely,
Many thanks, good idea!

Hi Jiri from Denmark
I've been weighing up exactly the same questions and am coming to the conclusion that the Mac Mini is the better bet despite being twice the price. I'm not v knowledgable on the technical issues (maybe someone else can help us?) but isnt the TV just a large networkable iPod (or networkable hard drive)? The Mac Mini seems to offer much more in terms of functionality and versatility. Furthermore if you're filling up your hard disc with Apple lossless format music (which you'd need if outputing to a HiFi system) and videos you can expand the Mini by adding an external hard drive (about £70 for 500GB currently in the UK). I could be wrong, but I don't think you can expand the TV once the 160GB is full? Mac Mini doesnt have HDMI connectivity though, does that matter?

I actually just purchased a new Intel Core 2 Duo Mac Mini to hook up to my receiver which outputs to my projector via component. My receiver has a hdmi input so I picked up a DVI->HDMI cable but I can't seem to get any output when I have this hooked up. When I go directly to the projector and take my audio to the receiver everything is fine.

I'm not sure if there is some detection taking place but I am still tinkering. All the posts I have seen online people are taking the mini directly to the output source (TV/projector) and then running the audio to the surround sound via another path. All I wanted was the video down the HDMI.

Still Tinkering but if anyone else gets this working let me know. IT would not be that bad having to tell the projector to switch sources and the receiver to switch as well for just the audio but I like it to just work with the receiver remote because its cleaner.

coldiso,

About a year ago I bought a JVC receiver that had HDMI switching. It completely bombed at 1080p and I had to return it. Check with the manufacturer of the receiver and see what they have to say about 1080p support, especially 1080p from a computer.

I've been using the first gen intel mac mini (1.66Ghz) connect with a Sharp 46" LCD television by DVI-HDMI cabel for a while. My resolution set up is 1920x1080 (interlaced), it works just fine.
BTW, I'm going to buy the new C2D 2.0Ghz mac mini, I hope it does worth.
So, Andrew choose a DVI-HDMI cable. Actually I use a mac mini G4 with a 37" Sharp televison too but that one connect with DVI-DVI cabel and can't choose 1920x1080 resolution.

There is a newer HDMI called 1.3 which is designed for the higher bandwith of 1080p. Your receiver's switching circuit probably could not handle that high bandwith. You might look for a model that states it is 1.3

Ed