I have finally installed a satellite antenna and an EyeTV 310, so I now have a BBC HD available (was previously using Freeview, our UK 'free to air' DTT system). The quality is a revelation, even on our small coffee table screen.
But on our Mac Mini core duo 1.66 GHz the pictures produced are often acceptable but not always (some stuttering) and the cpu utilisation is 175-200%. The mini has already been upgraded with a new Western Digital 'Green' 250 GB drive (a huge improvement in speed and running temperature) and 2GB of RAM.
My dilemma is, to improve the rendering of live MPEG-4 HD TV, should I go the final step and upgrade to a 2.16 or 2.33 core 2 duo cpu for around $150 or should I get a new Mac Mini and try to recoup some of the cost by reselling the old one (maybe spending $400).
The key unknown in my deliberations is how much difference will the better graphics chip on the new Mini make to to video rendering in EyeTV once Snow Leopard is out?
I'm not looking for all-out video performance such as for video gaming, just good enough to render BBC HD while not doing much else.
If anyone has experience with:
- BBC HD rendering on an old Mac Mini with a 2.16 GHz cpu
- The benefits of the extra graphics performance in the new Mac mini
I'd be very grateful for your comments.
Georgio
But on our Mac Mini core duo 1.66 GHz the pictures produced are often acceptable but not always (some stuttering) and the cpu utilisation is 175-200%. The mini has already been upgraded with a new Western Digital 'Green' 250 GB drive (a huge improvement in speed and running temperature) and 2GB of RAM.
My dilemma is, to improve the rendering of live MPEG-4 HD TV, should I go the final step and upgrade to a 2.16 or 2.33 core 2 duo cpu for around $150 or should I get a new Mac Mini and try to recoup some of the cost by reselling the old one (maybe spending $400).
The key unknown in my deliberations is how much difference will the better graphics chip on the new Mini make to to video rendering in EyeTV once Snow Leopard is out?
I'm not looking for all-out video performance such as for video gaming, just good enough to render BBC HD while not doing much else.
If anyone has experience with:
- BBC HD rendering on an old Mac Mini with a 2.16 GHz cpu
- The benefits of the extra graphics performance in the new Mac mini
I'd be very grateful for your comments.
Georgio