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Lowest spec Mac for 3840 x 1080 over 2 HD projectors via Qlab?


mark_m

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Hello!

 

I'm running a video installation which consists of a .mov 3840 x 1080 spanned over two HD projectors using QLab.

This runs fine on a current model Mac Pro however I need to use this machine for other things and can't keep it tied up with the installation.

I don't know much about macs... Can anyone suggest what the lowest spec (ie cheapest) Mac is that would run this? The projector inputs are HDMI or RGB. Can I do this with a Mac Mini? If so what adaptors am I going to need?

 

Thanks in anticipation

 

Mark

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kind of need more detail... macmini only has 2 video outs which obviously may be an issue, but if its a single file and the datarate isnt stupid you should be ok as long as you have a ssd drive fitted, however it really depends how much time you have to waste as effectively you need to buy the cheapest unit that you dare and test it properly then if that fails spend a bit more and repeat untill it works. It can be a tedious buiiness and id be tempted to leave well alone...
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I don't know much about macs... Can anyone suggest what the lowest spec (ie cheapest) Mac is that would run this? The projector inputs are HDMI or RGB. Can I do this with a Mac Mini? If so what adaptors am I going to need?

 

The Mac Mini won't do it at full resolution if you are only using one of the ports it can only do 2560 × 1600 from the DisplayPort which is fewer pixels than 3840x1080. You could use both the DP and HDMI to drive the projectors but that leaves you with no console on the machine. In terms of a new machine the cheapest way to do it would probably be a Retina Mac Book Pro and either one or two DisplayPort to HDMI adaptors depending on which ports you want to keep free.

 

A second hand previous series Mac Pro might be an option but beware that you need the appropriate video cards and that they might be hard to source if you don't buy them with the machine. Also note you want a Early 2008 or later Mac Pro as previous ones can't run 10.9.

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A second hand previous series Mac Pro might be an option but beware that you need the appropriate video cards and that they might be hard to source if you don't buy them with the machine. Also note you want a Early 2008 or later Mac Pro as previous ones can't run 10.9.

 

Yes when I said last-series I meant last series, not from 6 or 7 years ago. That's now quite old in computer terms, I still use an Early 08 Macbook Pro for day to day use but it wouldn't manage anything serious anymore.

 

The v5.1 Mac Pro in both of it's incarnations has 2 MDPs and a DVI, but can be expanded. Normally if you scour ebay properly you can find one from somebody else who did graphics stuff which will have already been 'expanded' for you.

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Note the Missing Book there top-cat in chelgrian's post.

 

No, we are both on the same page recommending Mac Pros.

 

The macbook pro reference was only to the fact that I have an old macbook pro and age just takes it's toll on things, regardless of the specs on the box.

 

The trouble with Apple desktop solution is that, bar all-in-ones (the imac), there is no desktop in between the kind of, compact home / office desk computer in the Mac Mini, and the all out powerhouse in the Mac Pro. It would be nice if you could buy something in between, about the same specs as their laptops, but in desktop form - for jobs just like this. Instead you have to try and source older-generation models of the Mac Pro to buy something at a more suitable price.

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to take this off topic then back on, you will get two 1920/1080 at 50hz out of a mini display port connector, the limiting factor is overal bandwith which is pixels times refresh, apple quote 2560 / 1600 as this is the highest standard apple monitor resolution and why should they care about anything else. you can get 3 hds out of a mdp if you need, but goodluck with smooth playback on a macmini... Ive got an instal with a brand new macbook pro driving 4 HD projectors via a pair of thtg dp edition plus 5.1 audio plus DMX, plus midi and not only does it work, but it works properly. I cant take any credit as the artist sorted it, but I was sceptical as to whether it would work, but it does.

 

anyway the original question was how cheap a mac mini can replace a macpro running TWO outs and my answer is still the same, no amount of spec googling idiots off the internet can tell you, you need to test it and see, hd video could vary in datarate and codec so vastly so there can never be a definitive answer , newer expensive hardware is more capable than older cheaper hardware, but at what point it doesnt work is so intrinsically linked to the files you are playing that there can be no definitive answer, my guess is any current apple product with an ssd drive and enough video ports will work fine, but test it please....

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to take this off topic then back on, you will get two 1920/1080 at 50hz out of a mini display port connector, the limiting factor is overal bandwith which is pixels times refresh, apple quote 2560 / 1600 as this is the highest standard apple monitor resolution and why should they care about anything else.

 

It's also down the graphics chip. The latest Mini (late 2012) has Intel HD4000 graphics in it. It can drive either:

 

1 x Thunderbolt display and 1 x HDMI

 

or

 

2 x Thunderbolt display and HDMI is disabled.

 

It should be able to drive two of 1920x1080 on any combination but it would leave you without a console. If you wanted a console then you'd need to put it on the HDMI output and then put a Matrox DualHead2Go on the MiniDisplayPort output but that would then be limited to 2560x1600 which isn't enough pixels.

 

The Mini doesn't support Displayport 1.2 / Multi-Stream Transport so the boxes that split a single MiniDP output in to 3 independent display port connections would not work with it.

 

The other alternative is a USB DisplayLink device for the console but that's really asking for trouble.

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Thank you, everyone, for your replies, comments and contributions.

 

FYI the file being played back is an 80GB ProresLT file at 3440 x 1080px, 25p, running 65 minutes. Probably should have said that in the first place.

 

I went to the Apple Store today, and posed this question to them, and their suggestion was the £999 13" MBP with Retina Display as being the simplest and most versatile solution with its two thunderbolt ports.

Since they do a 14 day no-questions-asked return policy I think I'll pick one of these up with a couple of appropriate adaptors and check that it works as I want it to.

 

Thanks again to you all.

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