Mini as my HTPC??

[stagescrew]

Just obtained a 1.66 core duo Mini, and my goal is to use it as a media server, to playback divx/Xvid files from a NAS. I don't have the NAS yet, but just experimenting with playback in VLC from a networked share, I get studdering video and dropped frame errors.

The Mini connects to my home network via a 802.11g AP. The networked share (a slower computer) is connected to a wired port on my router/switch. I also tried playback from a network share on a faster computer, but it was connected via 802.11g so I can't really consider that a benchmark for speed.

The VLC error suggested a too slow computer. Which one? The client or the server?

Any suggestions are appreciated.

[SERBIAN]

MacMini is not slow for sure and I doubt that share is too slow too...I think VLC is a littlebit confused and dont know what is goin on..However I can tell you that there is no problem at all playing the DivX in QuickTime through ethernet network and playing the H.264 or .mp4 via iTunes shared library...

[kldaberkow]

If you are accessing the share using Samba, you should take a look at the following article on Mac OSX Hints.

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20051107090652912

I had stuttering video playback which was solved by using this hint.

Hope it helps.

Kevin

[stagescrew]

Um...I don't think I'm connecting via Samba, unless Samba is a background process. I googled "share files samba", looked at a few links, and it didn't seem like I was doing this. I click on network in finder, click on the workgroup folder, and click on that computer. I usually have to authenticate to folder I want, then click the file I want to view; that launches VLC.

I will try with the faster computer wired to the router, and try it through Quicktime, and report back. Thanks.

[stagescrew]

Well, I finally got the plug-ins for Divx and AC3 for Quicktime. Still get studdering/freeezing video with audio skipping with QT. Used my Macbook Core Duo 2.0Ghz 1.25ram wired into my router serving the stream and my Mini Core Duo 1.66Ghz-512ram connected 802.11g receiving the stream. I think I like the Front Row interface since it seems easy enough to drop an alias to the networked file in the Mini's movie folder.

Two questions:
1) Ram is cheap. Will 2 gigs of ram help in the Mini?
2) Cat5 is not a preferred option. Will 802.11n be fast enough?

Thanks for any help.

[nic2k4]

802.11n run at 108 Mbps,802.11g runs at 54 Mbps, most wired PC run at 100 Mbps, the best available is 1000 Mbps. The problem with wireless is your mileage will vary a lot depending on the EM environement. Try to transfer a 1 GB file over your network and time it. You'll get a clear picture of what your dealing with. The formula is (1 GB X 8)/Sec. to complete.

[tomlee59]

Be aware that 802.11xx is inefficient, so your best throughputs will be about half of the advertised speeds (there's a lot of overhead in those packets). So, an 802.11g network will stream at maybe 25-30Mb/s at *best.* If you have other WiFi (or bluetooth) traffic in the air, or if your signal isn't extremely strong, this will drop pretty rapidly.

[terryj]

If you have other WiFi (or bluetooth) traffic in the air, or if your signal isn't extremely strong, this will drop pretty rapidly.

I saw I had a lot of this same type of probelm, what with the neighbors behind me
and to the left of me having wireless networks, and the fact that we have four cell phones
in the house. How I strengthened my speeds on my wireless was to move the Airport BS
to the center of the house (kitchen) and then I bought three AE's and plugged those in
a triangluar formation in the house (Back Bedroom, Office, Front bedroom).
each AE is setup as an extender to the main network.
The result is I get stronger throughput, though not necessarily faster, wireless in the house,
and less interference from other devices.

[stagescrew]

I do have 2.4Ghz cordless phones in my house, and I have noticed one of them has developed static popping and crackling ever since I have started using a bluetooth mouse with my Macbook. I think I can clean up some of the WiFi interfernce with switching to 5.xxGhz phones. My thought was to get an 802.11n access point and an 802.11n USB adapter for the Mini and disable all b/g access on the "n" AP. Keep the 802.11b/g AP for my other "g" devices. I just don't want to crawl under my house, and penetrate walls ever again. to install cat5.

[ninja86]

I would go for Cat-5.

Also, just a tidbit of info... the new AirPort Extreme basestations will only
run at n speed if everyone on your network is running at n speed. If you
have any machine with a g card, everyone is running at g speed.

Oh, and with regards to RAM... 512 will work (I've personally got that much)
1 GB is even better. 2 GB is a little overkill for streaming video if you
ask me. Although if you are running other stuff at the same time, why not
I guess.

[edDV]

I would go for Cat-5.

Also, just a tidbit of info... the new AirPort Extreme basestations will only
run at n speed if everyone on your network is running at n speed. If you
have any machine with a g card, everyone is running at g speed.

Also is anyone has a b card it will drop to 11Kb/s (max), 5Kb/s typ. G requies several channels to be free. This often is a problem in apts/condos.

[stagescrew]

... the new AirPort Extreme basestations will only
run at n speed if everyone on your network is running at n speed. If you
have any machine with a g card, everyone is running at g speed.

I haven't looked at the manual for the Airport extreme, and I'm only assuming I can disble the b/g access on that or any AP. Hence my idea of separate APs for the n-mode and b/g-mode clients. Is my idea totally whacked?