2014-12-20, 23:53
Hahahaha...with all the hardware options available, I don't know what to do these days and it's making my head hurt!
Right now, I am using OpenELEC with a full-blown htpc with, albeit older, re-purposed (c2d e6600, passive gt630), hardware, in a SilverStone Lascala SST-LC13 case. While, it is working adequately, it is a pretty large footprint and I do get quite a few frame drops/skips during playback (although, this could be setup-related). I would like to update this and make it smaller, but I'm not sure in which direction to go. My main viewing habits right now are, dvdr (.iso), 720p, 1080p (.mkv). I stream these via gbit ethernet from a QNAP nas. I had read about HD audio and framerate issues with sandy bridge, ivy bridge...have these been fixed with haswell?
I am very torn between these 3 choices, atm:
MSI Nightblade z97 Mini-itx: with a Haswell i5, and a dedicated nvidia card...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856167081
Pros: 100% capable hardware, no sound or frame rate issues, can add internal BD drive for disk playback, which would be nice.
Cons: largest of the 3 options, desktop i5 has hd4600 graphics (but I'd use dedi gfx card)
Intel NUC: D54250WYKH...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856102054
Pros: smallest footprint, Haswell
Cons: integrated video (what are the limitations of kodi with hd5000 grahics?)
Gigabyte Brix Pro...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856164012
Pros: small footprint, Haswell, more capable than NUC due to Iris Pro graphics 5200 gfx?
Cons: most expensive of the 3 options
I really think I need a little guidance. Thanks!
Right now, I am using OpenELEC with a full-blown htpc with, albeit older, re-purposed (c2d e6600, passive gt630), hardware, in a SilverStone Lascala SST-LC13 case. While, it is working adequately, it is a pretty large footprint and I do get quite a few frame drops/skips during playback (although, this could be setup-related). I would like to update this and make it smaller, but I'm not sure in which direction to go. My main viewing habits right now are, dvdr (.iso), 720p, 1080p (.mkv). I stream these via gbit ethernet from a QNAP nas. I had read about HD audio and framerate issues with sandy bridge, ivy bridge...have these been fixed with haswell?
I am very torn between these 3 choices, atm:
MSI Nightblade z97 Mini-itx: with a Haswell i5, and a dedicated nvidia card...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856167081
Pros: 100% capable hardware, no sound or frame rate issues, can add internal BD drive for disk playback, which would be nice.
Cons: largest of the 3 options, desktop i5 has hd4600 graphics (but I'd use dedi gfx card)
Intel NUC: D54250WYKH...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856102054
Pros: smallest footprint, Haswell
Cons: integrated video (what are the limitations of kodi with hd5000 grahics?)
Gigabyte Brix Pro...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856164012
Pros: small footprint, Haswell, more capable than NUC due to Iris Pro graphics 5200 gfx?
Cons: most expensive of the 3 options
I really think I need a little guidance. Thanks!