2013-02-14, 22:10
I know there are many RPi fans out there. I bought a RPi a month or so ago and tested literally every option (Xbian, Raspbmc, Openelec) with various peripherals and power supplies. None of the combinations really worked for me.
So, I wouldn't mind a list of lowest budget devices that are known to run a stable XBMC that you guys have experience with.
So far in my search I have put together the following:
Craigslist Desktop + video card - ~$80
- Pros: Cheap, can run more complex skins, replaceable parts
- Cons: Ugly, power hungry, loud, old.
MicroCenter OpenBox mAtx build - ~$120
- Pros: Same as above. Hardware warrantees.
- Cons: Same as above (except old), cheap components
Pivos Xios - $120
- Pros: Pivos XBMC support. Small, efficient.
- Cons: Sluggish? Stable?
Arctic MC001-N - $175 (including US Shipping, 2 GB ram, USB stick)
- Pros: Efficient, Good openelec machine, small.
- Cons: A little expensive compared to the rest
Apple TV 1-2 - $150 (on a good day)
- Pros: Very low wattage, multipurpose.
- Cons: Not too powerful. Overvalued due to lack of Apple TV 3 jailbreak. Not always stable.
FoxConn/Zotac Barebones - $200
- Pros: Form factor, prebuilt, energy efficient, powerful enough.
- Cons: Expensive. Could build good, new mAtx machine for same price. Paying for form factor.
Anything I'm forgetting about? Looking to keep it under $150. Not including android sticks for stability reasons.
So, I wouldn't mind a list of lowest budget devices that are known to run a stable XBMC that you guys have experience with.
So far in my search I have put together the following:
Craigslist Desktop + video card - ~$80
- Pros: Cheap, can run more complex skins, replaceable parts
- Cons: Ugly, power hungry, loud, old.
MicroCenter OpenBox mAtx build - ~$120
- Pros: Same as above. Hardware warrantees.
- Cons: Same as above (except old), cheap components
Pivos Xios - $120
- Pros: Pivos XBMC support. Small, efficient.
- Cons: Sluggish? Stable?
Arctic MC001-N - $175 (including US Shipping, 2 GB ram, USB stick)
- Pros: Efficient, Good openelec machine, small.
- Cons: A little expensive compared to the rest
Apple TV 1-2 - $150 (on a good day)
- Pros: Very low wattage, multipurpose.
- Cons: Not too powerful. Overvalued due to lack of Apple TV 3 jailbreak. Not always stable.
FoxConn/Zotac Barebones - $200
- Pros: Form factor, prebuilt, energy efficient, powerful enough.
- Cons: Expensive. Could build good, new mAtx machine for same price. Paying for form factor.
Anything I'm forgetting about? Looking to keep it under $150. Not including android sticks for stability reasons.