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+--- Thread: What is currently the most popular hardware for XBMC? (/showthread.php?tid=89880)
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What is currently the most popular hardware for XBMC? - MountainMan - 2011-01-07
Hi all, just registered here after trolling around the forums for awhile. I'm trying to start my first foray into building an XBMC center. I plan on running it on my Vizio 1080p 46inch screen. I guess I'm not able to get a clear consensus in my head about what hardware I should go with. Acer Revo? I've seen some posts on the Shuttle? All I really plan on doing with the computer is loading it with my movie collection. I do have a PS3, so would this just be overkill? Do I run Windows 7 or Linux? I really need a bit of guidance here. I'm sure I've not included enough info so just ask. Or maybe this post is out here and somebody will kindly link it for me.
Thanks ahead of time!
- alexpigment - 2011-01-07
Anything Atom/ION is going to be really popular here. You can of course get a system with a powerful processor instead, which should give you benefits outside of actually playing video (i.e. more responsive UI, ability to run applications/addons better, etc) but in terms of video playback, the ION can usually handle it all.
Acer Revos are definitely popular, but since the $200USD models have pretty much gone off the market, the playing field is much more level now in terms of one Ion box vs another. You're realistically looking at spending $300USD or more on most models these days. I'd recommend going for one with a dual-core atom, although it is not necessary. Hope this info helps.
FYI, if you want hardware acceleration (smooth 1080p playback) get a newer Nvidia card. There is no ATI hardware acceleration support under Linux/Live right now, and the newer Intel integrated options (i3, i5, etc) are not yet up to par on the XBMC support side as I understand.
- MountainMan - 2011-01-07
Thanks for the info. I was looking at the Acer R3610 a few moments ago and had seen that it's not even available on Amazon. The cheapest I have seen is around $400. I didn't really want to go that high...was hoping to keep it around $300. That may be unrealistic though.
I would def like to get smooth 1080p playback, so that is something I need to remember.
- darkscout - 2011-01-07
VDPAU.
Newegg has a barebones Ion today for $160. With RAM and a HD you could get smooth 1080p for under $250. http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/latest/index-landing.aspx
Foxconn NT-330I-A-B-NA-A NVIDIA ION Black + 4GB RAM - $199. Given that 4GB of RAM isn't cheap, this may be a better deal. I think it also has a place for you to put a MiniPCI-express card for wireless as it has an external antennae.
This WishList + a Hard Drive should be all you need for a fully functional 1080p system. It was whipped together to prove someone wrong. Definitely more specials / deals out there.
With all the Motherboard sales you could probably get something cheap.
- alexpigment - 2011-01-07
darkscout Wrote:VDPAU.
Newegg has a barebones Ion today for $160. With RAM and a HD you could get smooth 1080p for under $250. http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/latest/index-landing.aspx
This WishList + a Hard Drive should be all you need for a fully functional 1080p system.
With all the Motherboard sales you could probably get something cheap.
Good recommendations. That wishlist is definitely something I would recommend to friends, especially considering the CPU can be upgraded to something beefier.
- MountainMan - 2011-01-07
@darkscout - Wow! Thanks a lot that looks pretty sweet.
- MountainMan - 2011-01-07
DarkScout is this the barebones system you were mentioning?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856176002&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL010711&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL010711-_-EMC-010711-Latest-_-MiniBooksizeBareboneSystems-_-56176002-L04A
- FishOil - 2011-01-07
The Zotac MAG HD-ND01 Intel Atom 330 NVIDIA ION can be had for around $260 shipped if you look around. Newegg has it for $279 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173001
2G RAM and a 160G HD included.
- darkscout - 2011-01-07
MountainMan Wrote:DarkScout is this the barebones system you were mentioning?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856176002&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL010711&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL010711-_-EMC-010711-Latest-_-MiniBooksizeBareboneSystems-_-56176002-L04A
Yep. Use the promo code from the 72 hour sale. Although the FoxConn may be the better deal. It includes wireless too. It's only G. But talk to all the AppleTV guys tossing their N chips for the CrystalHD and you could probably get N for cheap.
And then it's as much as you want to spend on a hard drive. Get a 1TB which I saw on sale. Or find someone upgrading their old laptop and get a "small" 320GB. Or spend the cash and get an SSD.
- spencers - 2011-01-07
I occasionally see used (and sometimes new) Acer Revo 1600's on eBay for $200 or below. I absolutely love mine. Picked it up at Best Buy when they were still available.
Personally, I run XBMC Live on my revo. VDPAU handles the hardware for accelerated video. No need for windows.
- alexpigment - 2011-01-07
darkscout Wrote:And then it's as much as you want to spend on a hard drive. Get a 1TB which I saw on sale. Or find someone upgrading their old laptop and get a "small" 320GB. Or spend the cash and get an SSD.
Just throwing my two cents on this. Investing in a big internal hard drive for your actual media streamer is kind of a failed cause. You'll eventually run out of space (potentially very soon) with the sizes you have at your disposal now, but you could instead get an external drive, nas, or even host files on a desktop (which I do), which would allow you to get bigger sizes at cheaper prices since you can go with 3.5", and also potentially allow you to add additional storage drives (second two options) later, rather than replacing the one.
- alexpigment - 2011-01-07
spencers Wrote:I occasionally see used (and sometimes new) Acer Revo 1600's on eBay for $200 or below. I absolutely love mine. Picked it up at Best Buy when they were still available.
Unfortunately, I think many people are exploiting the fact that they're no longer available. Saw someone trying to sell a R1600 for $400 today on ebay!
- darkscout - 2011-01-07
alexpigment Wrote:Just throwing my two cents on this. Investing in a big internal hard drive for your actual media streamer is kind of a failed cause. You'll eventually run out of space (potentially very soon) with the sizes you have at your disposal now, but you could instead get an external drive, nas, or even host files on a desktop (which I do), which would allow you to get bigger sizes at cheaper prices since you can go with 3.5", and also potentially allow you to add additional storage drives (second two options) later, rather than replacing the one.
Or you could do both. With the size of these you could easily get an extra HDMI cable and power cord and go over to friends for "Movie Night."
I always used to lug my XBOX around with the 80GB hard drive around to friends houses. "What do you guys want to watch" "What do you have"... then I'd show them the ~100 or so movies I had.
Or there are $160GB SATA drives for $40 on new egg. With the FoxConn box you'd have everything you needed for under $250.
- alexpigment - 2011-01-07
darkscout Wrote:Or you could do both. With the size of these you could easily get an extra HDMI cable and power cord and go over to friends for "Movie Night."
Fair point. I guess for me it's been the iPhone-like mentality of "if I can't fit all of my media on it, why pay more for the bigger model".
- MountainMan - 2011-01-08
@darkscout
I'm kinda looking at the FoxCon box on Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119016
I have a couple of dumb questions...
1) Is the 4gb included or do I need to purchase it extra?
2) I need to purchase an OS?
3) I need to purchase the HD extra also?
I understand it says barebones..I assume I should upgrade it with the items on the Wishlist...