I want to replace my MacMini for HTPC with El Capitan

[GoldFran]

Hi my friends!!

I have an original MacMini (Late 2014) with basic conf --> https://support.apple.com/kb/SP710?viewlocale=en_US&locale=es_ES
- Intel Core i5 4260U 1,4 @ 2,7 Haswell
- 4 GB LPDDR3 @ 1.600 MHz
- HD Graphics 5000 Intel
- 500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive

Well, I have two problem with it.

I have Samsung JU7500 55 Inch (HDMI 2.0) and I´ll buy new AV with 4k support with HDMI 2.0 too. The problem has that MacMini doesn´t support HDMI 2.0 (only HDMI 1.4a --> 2160p/30hz) and have full HDMI compatibility.

The other problem has this MacMini It´s poor... 500Gb HDD It´s more slow and I don´t need more storage... If MacMini used by HTPC, need more speed and less storage.

It´s possible that can buy this model for 400€ more or less...

What HTPC can I buy for this money with OSX full functions?

Thanks!

 

[palmer007]

hp elite 8300

 

[GoldFran]

hp elite 8300

I'm sorry , are you kidding?

MacMini
Height: 1.4 inches (3.6 cm)
Width: 7.7 inches (19.7 cm)
Depth: 7.7 inches (19.7 cm)

HP
44.8 x 17.8 x 44.5 cm (17.6 x 7.0 x 18.0 in)

HP has 4 year hardware ago... i3 QuadCore correct but 3rd ganeration Ivy Bridge... same RAM, 320HDD 7200rpm and Intel 2500 Graphics... This graphics for 4k contents, really? Where is HDMI 2.0?

 

[Going Bald]

Hi my friends!!
I have an original MacMini (Late 2014) with basic conf --> https://support.apple.com/kb/SP710?viewlocale=en_US&locale=es_ES
- Intel Core i5 4260U 1,4 @ 2,7 Haswell
- 4 GB LPDDR3 @ 1.600 MHz
- HD Graphics 5000 Intel
- 500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive

Well, I have two problem with it.

I have Samsung JU7500 55 Inch (HDMI 2.0) and I´ll buy new AV with 4k support with HDMI 2.0 too. The problem has that MacMini doesn´t support HDMI 2.0 (only HDMI 1.4a --> 2160p/30hz) and have full HDMI compatibility.

The other problem has this MacMini It´s poor... 500Gb HDD It´s more slow and I don´t need more storage... If MacMini used by HTPC, need more speed and less storage.

It´s possible that can buy this model for 400€ more or less...

What HTPC can I buy for this money with OSX full functions?

Thanks!

Going to be hard to build for EUR 400. Least expensive parts I see are:
GA-H170N WiFi for EUR 144,85
16GB Crucial RAM for EUR 67,92
i3 6100 for EUR 119.48
Noctua NH-L9i CPU cooler for EUR 49,35
SSD 250GB for EUR 89,00
Streacom F1c case for EUR 104,01

For a grand total of EUR 574,61

You could shave a bit off of that by going with just 8GB of RAM, but not enough to make that much difference.

 

[trs96]

Hi my friends!!

I have an original MacMini (Late 2014) with basic conf --> https://support.apple.com/kb/SP710?viewlocale=en_US&locale=es_ES
- Intel Core i5 4260U 1,4 @ 2,7 Haswell
- 4 GB LPDDR3 @ 1.600 MHz
- HD Graphics 5000 Intel
- 500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive

It´s possible that can buy this model for 400€ more or less...

What HTPC can I buy for this money with OSX full functions?

Thanks!

If you can't wait to save up the money to buy the parts in post #4 by GB you can reduce the cost buy going with a more basic
case like the CM Elite 130 itx case. It's not Mac Mini small but at least you can add a discrete graphics card later on if
you'd like to. Go with Intel stock cooler to save 50 Euros, reuse an older 7200 RPM mechanical HDD until you can afford a 250 GB ssd and you can come in at around a 400 Euros price. Don't forget the Wifi BT card replacement if you want handoff and continuity to work, just like on a real Mac. The Dell DW1560 looks like a good replacement.

 

[GoldFran]

If you can't wait to save up the money to buy the parts in post #4 by GB you can reduce the cost buy going with a more basic
case like the CM Elite 130 itx case. It's not Mac Mini small but at least you can add a discrete graphics card later on if
you'd like to. Go with Intel stock cooler to save 50 Euros, reuse an older 7200 RPM mechanical HDD until you can afford a 250 GB ssd and you can come in at around a 400 Euros price. Don't forget the Wifi BT card replacement if you want handoff and continuity to work, just like on a real Mac. The Dell DW1560 looks like a good replacement.

I think CM Elite 130 is good case but very much noise if put all back cooler. I need silent HTPC

Going to be hard to build for EUR 400. Least expensive parts I see are:
GA-H170N WiFi for EUR 144,85
16GB Crucial RAM for EUR 67,92
i3 6100 for EUR 119.48
Noctua NH-L9i CPU cooler for EUR 49,35
SSD 250GB for EUR 89,00
Streacom F1c case for EUR 104,01

For a grand total of EUR 574,61

You could shave a bit off of that by going with just 8GB of RAM, but not enough to make that much difference.

It´s possible to start with more basic HTPC with your config... Change to 8Gb, Intel inbox cooler and 320/500 Gb 7200rpm and them, update this basic custom to 16Gb, SSD and i5/i7 in a future but have questions:

- Steacom F1c I think that It´s a little expensive. Only has the "special" for me, aluminium construction. It can´t update to dedicate graphics. I say this for Intel Graphics included in this i3, hasn´t HDMI 2.0 support I suppose and I need HDMI 2.0 support to change MacMini. I read this morning that only support HDMI 2.0 in OSX is using this --> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0194F1MPI/?tag=tonymacx86com-20 Club3D DisplayPort adapter. Someone know about this?
- GA-H170N has a good WIFI ac and BT 4.2 but... Is it full compatible with OSX El capitan?
- Is it possible build this HTPC with a little noise or without?

Thanks!

 

[Going Bald]

I think CM Elite 130 is good case but very much noise if put all back cooler. I need silent HTPC



It´s possible to start with more basic HTPC with your config... Change to 8Gb, Intel inbox cooler and 320/500 Gb 7200rpm and them, update this basic custom to 16Gb, SSD and i5/i7 in a future but have questions:

- Steacom F1c I think that It´s a little expensive. Only has the "special" for me, aluminium construction. It can´t update to dedicate graphics. I say this for Intel Graphics included in this i3, hasn´t HDMI 2.0 support I suppose and I need HDMI 2.0 support to change MacMini. I read this morning that only support HDMI 2.0 in OSX is using this --> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0194F1MPI/?tag=tonymacx86com-20 Club3D DisplayPort adapter. Someone know about this?
- GA-H170N has a good WIFI ac and BT 4.2 but... Is it full compatible with OSX El capitan?
- Is it possible build this HTPC with a little noise or without?

Thanks!

Noctua cooler fan is much quieter than Intel CPU box fan - intel fan is too noisy for HTPC.
If you want comparable to Mac Mini, then spend a bit more for a Broadwell CPU with Iris Pro 6200 graphics like the i5 5775C @ EUR 294,93 and a GA-H97N-Wifi board @ EUR 115,00
You save EUR 30 on the board and spend extra EUR 170 and change for increased cost of CPU for a net increase in cost of EUR 140.
Total cost is now EUR 714 and change

EDIT: OTOH, you only get HDMI 1.4 - not 2.0, but it still beats HD530, which really sucks compared to the Iris Pro graphics. Can't understand why Intel took this step backward

EDIT2: I just checked specs on 5 major PC board OEM's - Gigabyte, MSI, Asus, Asrock and EVGA. None of them make a mITX board with HDMI 2.0 - best you can get is 1.4a

 

[GoldFran]

Noctua cooler fan is much quieter than Intel CPU box fan - intel fan is too noisy for HTPC.

That´s good. Noctua is quiet but in my local store is discontinued. I don´t know if this product is out of date

Estándar: 2500 RPM
L.N.A: 1800 RPM
PWM: 300 RPM

If you want comparable to Mac Mini, then spend a bit more for a Broadwell CPU with Iris Pro 6200 graphics like the i5 5775C @ EUR 294,93 and a GA-H97N-Wifi board @ EUR 115,00
You save EUR 30 on the board and spend extra EUR 170 and change for increased cost of CPU for a net increase in cost of EUR 140.
Total cost is now EUR 714 and change

At moment, with i3 6100 and GA-H170N-WiFi so good. In a future, update this component but with GA-H97N-Wifi only update 4th or 5th generation... in my local store H170N-WIFI cost 129€ tax inc.

EDIT: OTOH, you only get HDMI 1.4 - not 2.0, but it still beats HD530, which really sucks compared to the Iris Pro graphics. Can't understand why Intel took this step backward

Yes, Itel HDxxx really sucks in general and Itel Iris too but this one, It´s so good to desing or graphics apps.

Only possibility to use HDMI 2.0 as I said before is with Club3D adapter but no idea if is compatible with OSX and them, mainboard must has Displayport 1.2 for expample --> H87I-PLUS

EDIT2: I just checked specs on 5 major PC board OEM's - Gigabyte, MSI, Asus, Asrock and EVGA. None of them make a mITX board with HDMI 2.0 - best you can get is 1.4a

Only must has Displayport 1.2 and them use 3DClub adapter

 

[Going Bald]

That´s good. Noctua is quiet but in my local store is discontinued. I don´t know if this product is out of date

Estándar: 2500 RPM
L.N.A: 1800 RPM
PWM: 300 RPM



At moment, with i3 6100 and GA-H170N-WiFi so good. In a future, update this component but with GA-H97N-Wifi only update 4th or 5th generation... in my local store H170N-WIFI cost 129€ tax inc.




Yes, Itel HDxxx really sucks in general and Itel Iris too but this one, It´s so good to desing or graphics apps.

Only possibility to use HDMI 2.0 as I said before is with Club3D adapter but no idea if is compatible with OSX and them, mainboard must has Displayport 1.2 for expample --> H87I-PLUS



Only must has Displayport 1.2 and them use 3DClub adapter

What about the Asus H170I - Plus D3? It has

Integrated Graphics Processor- Intel® HD Graphics support
Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DVI-D/RGB/DisplayPort ports
- Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
- Supports DVI-D with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
- Supports RGB with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
- Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2304 @ 60 Hz
Maximum shared memory of 1024 MB
Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider™
Supports up to 3 displays simultaneously

so should support your Club3D adapter.

 

[GoldFran]

What about the Asus H170I - Plus D3? It has

Integrated Graphics Processor- Intel® HD Graphics support
Multi-VGA output support : HDMI/DVI-D/RGB/DisplayPort ports
- Supports HDMI with max. resolution 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz / 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz
- Supports DVI-D with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
- Supports RGB with max. resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz
- Supports DisplayPort with max. resolution 4096 x 2304 @ 60 Hz
Maximum shared memory of 1024 MB
Supports Intel® InTru™ 3D, Quick Sync Video, Clear Video HD Technology, Insider™
Supports up to 3 displays simultaneously

so should support your Club3D adapter.

Ok, that´s good!

Only "problem" that I see is DDR4 unsupported. I think that all Intel mainboard chipset (6th) suppport DDR4.

And other question: Does support HDMI 2.0 by OSX?