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Full Version: Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015)
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Hello guys,

I hope some can help me with choosing my new Kod Box, what I was using till now is:
RaspberryPi2 (formerly 1) with Xbian onboard (debian based distro).
What I would love to have:
- linux based device, best with debian/ubuntu based distro, I like to have some DIY packaging on my box like newest rtorrent/openvpn/nginx + some python apps like sickrage/couchpotato + of course KODI Wink
- HDMI-CEC compatible as I like to use one remote
- quiet
- x264 and if possible x265 hardware acceleration
- would be nice if it would have at least 2x USB (3.0 if possible)
I want to switch from my RPi2 because of bottlneck on ethernet port (via USB bridge) and my openvpn have really hard times with cryptography (so some box with hardware accelerated cryptography would be nice) and I have a lot of stability problems caused by rtorrent, sickrage and couchpotato running in background.
- it would be nice if it was below 100$.

Regards,
koper89
Celeron or Pentium Intel Braswell (Hardware HEVC capable) box from this thread are good value without resorting to a full blown expensive NUC:
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=229096

Other options are Intel Cherry Trail stuff like the Tronsmart Ara X5. (HEVC Capable)

No HDMI CEC on Intel Gear.

Budget option with GigaE Ethernet and all sorts of Linux based distros available is the 1080p HEVC capable ODROID C1+
http://forum.odroid.com/viewforum.php?f=...5d80220fdb

Basic HDMI CEC navigation control on AMLogic gear like the C1+ (no near as comprehensive as the RPi's No TV On/Off).
Also problems with AnyNet HDMI CEC with AMLogic.
Has a reprogrammable IR receiver port that works well with Lirc tho and is much preferred. I use my IR TV remote's spare buttons for this purpose.

Hardkernel have faster options like the new XU4 and you also get some Knowledgable Linux guys that hang around on their forums too.
http://www.hardkernel.com/main/main.php
Most NUCs work wonderfully with the internal CEC upgrade from Pulse Eight. No external dongle nessesary.
(2015-12-14, 05:37)wrxtasy Wrote: [ -> ]Celeron or Pentium Intel Braswell (Hardware HEVC capable) box from this thread are good value without resorting to a full blown expensive NUC:
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=229096

Other options are Intel Cherry Trail stuff like the Tronsmart Ara X5. (HEVC Capable)

No HDMI CEC on Intel Gear.

Budget option with GigaE Ethernet and all sorts of Linux based distros available is the 1080p HEVC capable ODROID C1+
http://forum.odroid.com/viewforum.php?f=...5d80220fdb

Basic HDMI CEC navigation control on AMLogic gear like the C1+ (no near as comprehensive as the RPi's No TV On/Off).
Also problems with AnyNet HDMI CEC with AMLogic.
Has a reprogrammable IR receiver port that works well with Lirc tho and is much preferred. I use my IR TV remote's spare buttons for this purpose.

Hardkernel have faster options like the new XU4 and you also get some Knowledgable Linux guys that hang around on their forums too.
http://www.hardkernel.com/main/main.php

Thank you for reply, I think in this case I'll wait for intel processor with native HEVC 10bit encoding, and try to use my raspberry Pi till then it seams they'll be available at Q2 2016 so it's not so long and it'll be more future proof. Main reason for this is also price of this Braswell boxes a little bit too much for change in 6 months from now.

Best regards,
koper89
There will be 10-bit capable HEVC AMLogic S9XX devices coming down the pipe shortly that will use a more open Linux platform than just Android. I know of 2, possibly three under development at the moment. I have even seen demonstrated Hardware bugs in early S905 SoC's that I trust AMLogic fixed in retail release units. It never pays to be an early adopter.
(2015-12-14, 22:28)koper89 Wrote: [ -> ]Main reason for this is also price of this Braswell boxes a little bit too much for change in 6 months from now.

"Entry level" nucs usually stay roughly within this price segment, all the way until they run out of final stock. Futureproofing is an endless waiting game - but if reliable 10bit / 4k@60hz and the like are important to you - the entry level nucs aren't quiiite there yet.
If I want a box right now that plays 4k@30 Hz content with either H264 or HEVC what would you recommend? I just bought my father a Beebox a couple of weeks ago and so far it seems that it can play all 4k content recorded by his camcorder (that should be 4k@60 but H264 I think) - however since he has no 4K TV yet it will be outputted at 1080p. Apparently no box today (aside from SHIELD) can output 4k@60 or am I missing something?

I just ordered a 4k TV but since my Receiver supports only HMDI 1.4 I'll also be limited to 4K@30 which should be good enough for me. I don't need Netflix or anything else on the Box as the TV comes with Android, so I just need the Box to run Kodi / Openelec.

So which should I go for? SHIELD, Braswell aka Beebox or WeTek Core (that will probably the least popluar choice for me since I'm used to controlling everything using my Harmony IR Remote)?
HDMI 2.0 + 4K H264/HEVC + up to 4K @60Hz = nVIDIA Shield or an AMLogic S905 device, MINIX U1 recommended if you want decent firmware and support.
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=250284
No OpenELEC on either of them, any no idea about Harmony remote compatibility.

HDMI 1.4 = up to 4K @ 30Hz (ie iPhone 6S+ HEVC resolutions)
The Nvidia can be controlled with a Harmony IR Remote but right now it's limited, you won't get a context menu key for example. It's fixable with future Nvidia/Logitech upgrades but who knows how long that will take. People with newer Harmonys augment Infrared with Bluetooth connections to get a complete button mapping for Kodi, which is what I do. Maybe CEC can also be used for this, I don't know.
Minix seems to be available only in the US Sad

Guess I'll have to stay with the Beebox / Braswell right now until proper hardware is available. Thanks for the reply though.
(2015-12-17, 12:24)joazito Wrote: [ -> ]The Nvidia can be controlled with a Harmony IR Remote but right now it's limited, you won't get a context menu key for example. It's fixable with future Nvidia/Logitech upgrades but who knows how long that will take. People with newer Harmonys augment Infrared with Bluetooth connections to get a complete button mapping for Kodi, which is what I do. Maybe CEC can also be used for this, I don't know.

Context menu works fine for Harmonys. Use the keymap editor addon to map to whatever buttons you need. I think with IR I had to setup different keys to back (back), delete (context), and backspace (info) to get extra keys working.
(2015-12-17, 13:03)falc410 Wrote: [ -> ]Minix seems to be available only in the US Sad
Im not sure where you are but this is 100% incorrect.
(2015-12-17, 20:09)drhill Wrote: [ -> ]Context menu works fine for Harmonys. Use the keymap editor addon to map to whatever buttons you need. I think with IR I had to setup different keys to back (back), delete (context), and backspace (info) to get extra keys working.

It used to work, but an update to the Shield/Harmony took away that functionality.
(2015-12-17, 13:03)falc410 Wrote: [ -> ]Minix seems to be available only in the US Sad

Guess I'll have to stay with the Beebox / Braswell right now until proper hardware is available. Thanks for the reply though.

http://www.geekbuying.com/item/MINIX-NEO...59777.html