Mac Mini

[derrickgoh]

Am currently using a 2009 iMac & am thinking of switching to a Mac Mini. Reason being im moving house & my new bedroom is rather small. To save space im thinking of getting a Mac Mini & connecting it to my TV.

Have a few questions. Firstly, does the Mac Mini tend to get very hot? I know my iMac can get damn hot. If too hot then cant hide in my TV console liao.

Secondly, when i connect Mac Mini to my TV via HDMI cable, that is jus for video right? The sound still comes out of the Mac Mini i pressume? So if i have a sound bar or mini hifi linked to my TV, presumably i can connect the Mac Mini to the soundbar or mini hifi for audio?

Thanks in advance.

 

[IamBeeP]

Is yr console fully enclosed?!
If yes, not advisable.

You can use the 3.5mm output to your sound bar.
Or use VLC player. Vlc gives you the option of using Mac mini sound or output sound thru hdmi.

 

[PetPet]

If I am not wrong you can also try PLEX… with a remote control

 

[derrickgoh]

Is yr console fully enclosed?!
If yes, not advisable.

You can use the 3.5mm output to your sound bar.
Or use VLC player. Vlc gives you the option of using Mac mini sound or output sound thru hdmi.

Don't know. Haven't got it made yet. LOL! Well if that's the case then I guess I better either make it a doorless console or leave the Mac Mini outside.

 

[derrickgoh]

If I am not wrong you can also try PLEX… with a remote control

But that's for streaming content right? What if I'm just watching something off Youtube or playing a game on my Mac Mini? I guess its still safer connecting an audio cable from my 3.5mm to the soundbar.

 

[vincent007]

If you r using HDMI cable already, sound should be from the Tv lah. no?

 

[R4YM0ND]

Am currently using a 2009 iMac & am thinking of switching to a Mac Mini. Reason being im moving house & my new bedroom is rather small. To save space im thinking of getting a Mac Mini & connecting it to my TV.

Have a few questions. Firstly, does the Mac Mini tend to get very hot? I know my iMac can get damn hot. If too hot then cant hide in my TV console liao.

Secondly, when i connect Mac Mini to my TV via HDMI cable, that is jus for video right? The sound still comes out of the Mac Mini i pressume? So if i have a sound bar or mini hifi linked to my TV, presumably i can connect the Mac Mini to the soundbar or mini hifi for audio?

Thanks in advance.

Mac Mini not hot unless you are playing 3D games, I bought a USB laptop cooler fan to blow it at the Mac Mini when I was previously playing diablo 3.

Sounds get passed on to HDMI when plugged into a regular TV, no need the 3.5mm or optical sound output additionally.

 

[derrickgoh]

Mac Mini not hot unless you are playing 3D games, I bought a USB laptop cooler fan to blow it at the Mac Mini when I was previously playing diablo 3.

Sounds get passed on to HDMI when plugged into a regular TV, no need the 3.5mm or optical sound output additionally.

Ok but then the sound comes out of the TV not the soundbar right? Meaning u dont enjoy the benefits that the soundbar offers?

As for the heat, does most of it come from the top or bottom of the mac mini? If bottom then i guess can put a laptop cooler below it though it might look a little ugly.

 

[carfan]

mac mini 2010 and above has HDMI output that passes out audio and video signals. If TV has HDMI input, it will be able to receive both audio and video.
This is my current setup as well which works.
I am quite sure if the connected soundbar will be able to receive from the TV and play out the audio.
Mac mini 2011 can be hot if it is playing demanding videos but it is nothing to be alarmed off.

 

[trento]

Connect soundbar to yr tv audio out. Mac mini connect thru thunderbolt to hdmi adaptor.

 

[derrickgoh]

Connect soundbar to yr tv audio out. Mac mini connect thru thunderbolt to hdmi adaptor.

Huh? I thought Mac Mini has an HDMI port?

 

[geckoSG]

Stoopid question on the Mac Mini, anyone tried playing games like counter strike source, global offensive or TF2?

Thinking of buying for my son on his desk and wall mount a monitor up

 

[carfan]

Huh? I thought Mac Mini has an HDMI port?

Yes it has. Of course, the thunderbolt port can always be used for the 2nd display

 

[derrickgoh]

Stoopid question on the Mac Mini, anyone tried playing games like counter strike source, global offensive or TF2?

Thinking of buying for my son on his desk and wall mount a monitor up

I'm sure it would run but I am guessing an iMac (especially one upgraded to the 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX) will probably look much nicer and have less lag.

 

[derrickgoh]

Yes it has. Of course, the thunderbolt port can always be used for the 2nd display

Aaah...... Well on a somewhat related noted, I have the (bad) habit of surfing the net and watching TV at the same time. If I get a Mac Mini and use my TV as the display, I wouldn't be able to watch TV while surfing anymore would I? Short of getting another display, is there any way around this? There's no split screen option I guess. LOL!!

 

[wuso]

Actually that's what I doing now
I am using my 7-year-old 24" Dell monitor which has DVI, VGA, S-Video and what-not inputs
I have a TV tuner box (or it could be a starhub box) which output via the yellow video cable to my Dell. My Mac mini via DVI to my Dell, and my thinkpad via VGA to my Dell
Then I use PIP (Picture-in-Picture) to watch occasional TV while using either my mac mini or my thinkpad.

Not everyone's cup of tea watching TV on the small PIP "box" on the monitor corner though.

Aaah...... Well on a somewhat related noted, I have the (bad) habit of surfing the net and watching TV at the same time. If I get a Mac Mini and use my TV as the display, I wouldn't be able to watch TV while surfing anymore would I? Short of getting another display, is there any way around this? There's no split screen option I guess. LOL!!

 

[derrickgoh]

Actually that's what I doing now
I am using my 7-year-old 24" Dell monitor which has DVI, VGA, S-Video and what-not inputs
I have a TV tuner box (or it could be a starhub box) which output via the yellow video cable to my Dell. My Mac mini via DVI to my Dell, and my thinkpad via VGA to my Dell
Then I use PIP (Picture-in-Picture) to watch occasional TV while using either my mac mini or my thinkpad.

Not everyone's cup of tea watching TV on the small PIP "box" on the monitor corner though.

PIP? Nah, think I'll pass. If its one of them split screen things still ok but tiny little PIP box. PFFF!!

 

[ericwilis]

A bit side track guys
Is ur mac mini running slowly after ithas been turned on for few hours

I noticed mine will be very slow (sound like windows now) after running for few hours with very minimum application opened even just safari with just like 2 or 3 ta

Its 2011 version and running on snow leopard

 

[JavaTube]

I love my Mac Mini... have the latest Mac mini.. connected to my TV using HDMI(initially connected through mac mini's hdmi port, felt something was not correct then bought display port to hdmi converter... the image n sound are crisp n clear now) Connected my Apple TV and starhub box to other hdmi ports of TV....My TV is connected to good sound system.... I love my setup.... you wont regret buying Mac mini, if you use it properly.

 

[blimey]

A bit side track guys
Is ur mac mini running slowly after ithas been turned on for few hours

I noticed mine will be very slow (sound like windows now) after running for few hours with very minimum application opened even just safari with just like 2 or 3 ta

Its 2011 version and running on snow leopard

nope, never had this problem. try upgrading to mavericks? might solve your problem.