[boff]

Hi,
More and more I'm finding my home build first gen. Zotac ION is refusing to play certain files with vdpau acceleration (ref: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=66160 ) due to width weirdness.

So I am looking for a drop in replacement. I would like something that meets the following reqs.

Mandatory
Mini-ITX
Low power when playing video (pref. fanless)
Very low power when not playing as left running 24x7
HDMI port must support 3D and HD audio bitstreams (ideally this would be HDMI 1.4b)
Linux compat.

Nice to have
Support for future 4k resolutions, with output either through an HDMI 2.x port or a Displayport.
Nvidia GPU
Cheap!

Any suggestions? I have been having a close look at this -> ASUS H87I-PLUS Motherboard
But, by the time I've added a CPU and memory I am up to $360 (in Australia). And the power consumption looks to be higher than what I would like.

Thanks!!

[teeedubb]

I've seen some mobos with atom CPUs + nvidia 610. Sorry I don't have any info or prices, but Google should give you them.

[boff]

Thank you. Zotac looks to have something like that. Anyone know if this will drive 4k? -> Link to Zotac D2550-ITX WiFi Supreme

[illiac4]

I am using this motherboard. It works great. I doubt that it is 4k compatible. As far as i know also Fernmenta is using the same one from Zotac (only D2700).
I have zero problems with it and is able to do everything (HD audio, 3d,..).
It is build around minimal ubuntu and i have it highly customized. I am also using XIR to power it on and off with IR.
In there i have one 32 pcie ssd drive and one ordinary 750gb sata 2,5 inch disk. Also using dvd drive internally with usb2 mode.
It uses around 30W when running. I have replaced the original vent with noctua one and hdd is the only part i can hear from near.
The case is E-Q5 alu case and i am also using Flirc for remote. All the parts inc Flirc are inside case so it is as clean as possible.

[illiac4]

I am using this motherboard. It works great. I doubt that it is 4k compatible. As far as i know also Fernmenta is using the same one from Zotac (only D2700).
I have zero problems with it and is able to do everything (HD audio, 3d,..).
It is build around minimal ubuntu and i have it highly customized. I am also using XIR to power it on and off with IR.
In there i have one 32 pcie ssd drive and one ordinary 750gb sata 2,5 inch disk. Also using dvd drive internally with usb2 mode.
It uses around 30W when running. I have replaced the original vent with noctua one and hdd is the only part i can hear from near.
The case is E-Q5 alu case and i am also using Flirc for remote. All the parts inc Flirc are inside case so it is as clean as possible.

[Dougie Fresh]

Well, I've still got a few of these hanging about and they love going to Australia to live: D2500/GT610 mini-ITX barebones. They have a D2500 CPU, GT610m GPU, HDMI, S/PDIF, USB and are very low power. They run OpenELEC great.

[voochi]

Can you post the mediainfo of files that don't play? I have a couple of Atom/Ion systems for several years and can't recall any files that wouldn't play for me.

For 4K decoding and output you should just get something with a pcie slot and drop a future GPU in there when the time comes.

[trent33]

The trouble with trying to future proof against 4K is that those files will likely be encoded with h265, not h264. I highly doubt current GPUs will be able to hardware-decode h265, since these things are generally not forward-compatible. Unless you have a library of 4K h264 videos, I'd hold off until the GPU vendors get h265 support added.

This should be decent running Linux:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813135364

I just ordered a Raspberry Pi to replace my HTPC; cheap, low power, and recent improvements in the platform should make the performance acceptable. We'll see!

[p750mmx]

Nvidia GT610 doesn't do 4K video? http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-...ifications

[joelbaby]

I just ordered a Raspberry Pi to replace my HTPC; cheap, low power, and recent improvements in the platform should make the performance acceptable. We'll see!

Should have ordered a Cubox-i2Ultra http://cubox-i.com/
Much more powerful than Raspberry Pi, and very small, and it has infra red. My friend's IR sensor is almost as big as his Pi.
The person who wrote RaspMC and made the recent improvements is also writing xbmc for Cubox.

[trent33]

I just ordered a Raspberry Pi to replace my HTPC; cheap, low power, and recent improvements in the platform should make the performance acceptable. We'll see!

Should have ordered a Cubox-i2Ultra http://cubox-i.com/
Much more powerful than Raspberry Pi, and very small, and it has infra red. My friend's IR sensor is almost as big as his Pi.
The person who wrote RaspMC and made the recent improvements is also writing xbmc for Cubox.

Yeah you could be right; there are a lot of cool little devices in beta/pre-order right now, but the Pi platform seems more mature. If the Pi can't handle the basics I'll definitely be looking elsewhere.

[lifeisfun]

I just ordered a Raspberry Pi to replace my HTPC; cheap, low power, and recent improvements in the platform should make the performance acceptable. We'll see!

Should have ordered a Cubox-i2Ultra http://cubox-i.com/
Much more powerful than Raspberry Pi, and very small, and it has infra red. My friend's IR sensor is almost as big as his Pi.
The person who wrote RaspMC and made the recent improvements is also writing xbmc for Cubox.

Just wondering, is cubox i better choice then Minix x5 or x7 for XBMC ?

[Ned Scott]

I just ordered a Raspberry Pi to replace my HTPC; cheap, low power, and recent improvements in the platform should make the performance acceptable. We'll see!

Should have ordered a Cubox-i2Ultra http://cubox-i.com/
Much more powerful than Raspberry Pi, and very small, and it has infra red. My friend's IR sensor is almost as big as his Pi.
The person who wrote RaspMC and made the recent improvements is also writing xbmc for Cubox.

Just wondering, is cubox i better choice then Minix x5 or x7 for XBMC ?

Potentially.

[lifeisfun]

If I decided to get the cubox-4i I would have to install Linux and then xbmc?
Is there any guides to do that?
Thanks