Ok, it looks like it's time for me to put together my dream home theater set-up. Right now I have a 55" Vizio with a Samsung Blu-ray and a Tivo HD. I want to purchase a NAS storage unit and rip my Blu-ray and DVD collection to it, probably as MKV's, but am open to suggestions. My question is which Mac would be the total solution to play recorded and ripped movies/programs. I'm thinking either a mac Mini or a Mac Pro. Cost or space is not a problem. I'm more worried about dropped frames as I have read in previous posts. Are dropped frames a processor, graphics chip or software problem? I would rather go with the Mac Mini for looks, but if a Pro would give me better playback then that's the way I should go. Thanks for any input provided.

If your are talking about EyeTV, dropped frames are a software issue.

I have a (2009, single quad core) MacPro, and what I can say about it is: super quiet, definitely quieter than my old 1st gen Intel Mini where you would hear the fans kick in. I have 8TB of internal disk space, and popping new drives in is a pleasure.

IMHO a MacPro is way overkill for a HTPC, especially if you're already setting up a NAS fileserver and are planning on transfering your recordings off your TivoHD. I'd go with a new mini. If you have that kind of money to burn buy mini for your HTPC, a huge NAS, and some sort of notebook with a blu-ray to do your rips.

I record using a HDHomerun (which has minimal hardware requirements) onto my 2007 MacBook Pro. When my cable signal cooperates (TWC in LA is lame) it works fantastically.

I record using a HDHomerun...it works fantastically.

Your 2007 Macbook Pro in OS X can handle playing back 1080i QAM without dropping frames on EyeTV's best "progressive" deinterlacing? If so, consider yourself extremely lucky...or are you playing back with something else?

Cost or space is not a problem.

I'm more worried about dropped frames...

Then the answer is obvious: get the Mac Pro. For many of us, cost or space (or both) is an issue, which over the years is why we've turned to Macbooks, Minis and aTVs. A good strategy for you, since you're just getting your feet wet, would be to start off with the current mini, put it through its paces with your planned workflow and see how it performs. You'll find out very quickly how it does with your HD recordings and blu-ray rips--and if you're dissatisfied, you can always sell it (or move it to the bedroom) and upgrade to the Mac Pro in the HT. If you don't ever plan to use EyeTV, and do plan to rip your BR with MakeMKV, I suspect a "maxxed" current mini will handle your needs just fine. For the moment...

Your 2007 Macbook Pro in OS X can handle playing back 1080i QAM without dropping frames on EyeTV's best "progressive" deinterlacing? If so, consider yourself extremely lucky...or are you playing back with something else?

That's right, the MBP is the backend. Current frontend is a WDTV (surprisingly high WAF).