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Pick the Right Kodi Box (UPDATED FEB 2015)
(2015-06-12, 03:42)Astro2004 Wrote: If a mini PC it will be this model http://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Fanless-Wi...V4S6DAXSZP

OR

http://www.amazon.com/VENSMILE%C2%AE-iPC...SANX3WN867


Is there any reason to go with either one of these instead of Zbox or HP Mini?
They would be far weaker then either The ZBox or the HP Mini. So I would personally stay away from them.
@ hyde01, the GPU/VPU is weak in those Bay Trail Atom's (Z3735F) you picked. 4 Execution units compared to 10 you get in the (2955U/2957U) Chromebox / HP Stream Mini / Zotac BI320.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_In...2822_nm.29
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_In...Celerons_2

This is the reason Chromeboxes and their cousins are so popular with Kodi. Plus the SSD's make them super quick.
Intel Braswell's are the successor to the Haswell's in the Chromeboxes:

http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=229096

If you were even looking at Android, MINIX are the guys that have the superior video output modes, properly synced and working properly in the Android OS. Other Vendors are playing catchup up at the moment. See here...
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=229161

(2015-06-13, 04:19)wrxtasy Wrote: @ hyde01, the GPU/VPU is weak in those Bay Trail Atom's (Z3735F) you picked. 4 Execution units compared to 10 you get in the (2955U/2957U) Chromebox / HP Stream Mini / Zotac BI320.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_In...2822_nm.29
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_In...Celerons_2

This is the reason Chromeboxes and their cousins are so popular with Kodi. Plus the SSD's make them super quick.
Intel Braswell's are the successor to the Haswell's in the Chromeboxes:

http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=229096

If you were even looking at Android, MINIX are the guys that have the superior video output modes, properly synced and working properly in the Android OS. Other Vendors are playing catchup up at the moment. See here...
http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=229161

I have to stop you right there the successor to haswell is broadwell not braswell. Braswell is atom based. AKA Braswell is the successor to bay trail

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braswell_%28SOC%29
(2015-06-13, 03:06)Topken Wrote: They would be far weaker then either The ZBox or the HP Mini. So I would personally stay away from them.

(2015-06-13, 04:19)wrxtasy Wrote: @ hyde01, the GPU/VPU is weak in those Bay Trail Atom's (Z3735F) you picked. 4


Thanks for the info, I was wondering why the member above Astro2004 who posted them as his alternatives decided on them, that's why I was curious what made him choose those two instead of more popular ones, especially since those popular ones are mentioned on 1st post of this topic.

Personally, I am staying with Windows, and I was about to buy the ZBOX ready to go $200 unit, but now there is a possibility I may be able to use my Thinkpad and my Thinkpad docking station as my HTPC. (It's sad that it doesn't have HDMI output, but at least I will have add'l processing power of i5 and other goodies). If my plan doesn't work, then ZBOX will be my choice as Kodi powered HTPC box.
Thanks for this. Im new and just want something thats easy to use for he wife. Think Im going for the Fire TV. Why do you say it isnt good for Live TV?
Fire TV = Poor live TV deinterlacing compared to say a RPi2 or Chromebox.
Once the NVIDIA Shield Firmware matures it will then be a better buy than the Amazon Fire TV, plus NVIDIA does not hate the Kodi app and make user jump through hoops just to install it.

http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-appstore-...oves-kodi/

Yep, just repeat that url everywhere you go.
If I have helped you or increased your knowledge, click the 'thumbs up' button to give thanks :) (People with less than 20 posts won't see the "thumbs up" button.)
(2015-06-18, 05:50)wrxtasy Wrote: Fire TV = Poor live TV deinterlacing compared to say a RPi2 or Chromebox.
Once the NVIDIA Shield Firmware matures it will then be a better buy than the Amazon Fire TV, plus NVIDIA does not hate the Kodi app and make user jump through hoops just to install it.

http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-appstore-...oves-kodi/
The Fire TV also has a hard time handling HD MPEG2 streams.
Isn't the shield 4 x the price of a fire TV. Hardly comparable
(2015-06-18, 22:22)tredman Wrote: Isn't the shield 4 x the price of a fire TV. Hardly comparable

I'm not sure how $199 is 4X the price of the $99 Fire TV? Even the Pro model which has a 500GB is only $299......lets see, that's $99 + $99 + $99, divide by 2, carry the 1, add 16, then multiple by 8.........

However, that said, the Shield does also come with a $59 controller which the Fire TV doesn't have and if you buy it while it's still available you get $30 of Google Play credit. Which I guess with that math would only make it 3X the price. Plus, the Shield is a much more of a powerful device.
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(2015-06-18, 23:25)Tinwarble Wrote:
(2015-06-18, 22:22)tredman Wrote: Isn't the shield 4 x the price of a fire TV. Hardly comparable

I'm not sure how $199 is 4X the price of the $99 Fire TV?

However, that said, the Shield does also come with a $59 controller which the Fire TV doesn't have. Which I guess with that math would only make it 3X the price. Plus, the Shield is a much more of a powerful device.

I'm in UK and assumed it would be $200 = £200 and fire TV has been around 50 quid recently, which is where my maths came from.

Still don't think it's comparable for a kodi only box, it would be a waste for the shield.
(2015-06-18, 23:28)tredman Wrote:
(2015-06-18, 23:25)Tinwarble Wrote:
(2015-06-18, 22:22)tredman Wrote: Isn't the shield 4 x the price of a fire TV. Hardly comparable

I'm not sure how $199 is 4X the price of the $99 Fire TV?

However, that said, the Shield does also come with a $59 controller which the Fire TV doesn't have. Which I guess with that math would only make it 3X the price. Plus, the Shield is a much more of a powerful device.

I'm in UK and assumed it would be $200 = £200 and fire TV has been around 50 quid recently, which is where my maths came from.

Still don't think it's comparable for a kodi only box, it would be a waste for the shield.
The firetv seemed like a good buy to many I am sure. But just a short time later people are commenting on its pitfalls and saying the shield is much better value at twice the price, because it does more stuff than the ftv.

This is the way of the tech world. Moore's Law and all that.
If I have helped you or increased your knowledge, click the 'thumbs up' button to give thanks :) (People with less than 20 posts won't see the "thumbs up" button.)
(2015-06-18, 23:28)tredman Wrote:
(2015-06-18, 23:25)Tinwarble Wrote:
(2015-06-18, 22:22)tredman Wrote: Isn't the shield 4 x the price of a fire TV. Hardly comparable

I'm not sure how $199 is 4X the price of the $99 Fire TV?

However, that said, the Shield does also come with a $59 controller which the Fire TV doesn't have. Which I guess with that math would only make it 3X the price. Plus, the Shield is a much more of a powerful device.

I'm in UK and assumed it would be $200 = £200 and fire TV has been around 50 quid recently, which is where my maths came from.

Still don't think it's comparable for a kodi only box, it would be a waste for the shield.


Yes, the Fire TV may be 50 quid when on sale, but were talking normal USD rate. And doesn't $200 = ₤126 at the current exchange rate? Someone else has said that it only cost them ₤175, even after all the costs: http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=...pid2030626

And as nickr stated, you're still getting better value for your money not only in the fact that you'd be getting a much more powerful device, but also because of the features. Plus, the Shield is going to stay relevant longer since it has the latest Android version and will be getting "M" (most likely) when it becomes available.
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(2015-06-19, 14:05)Tinwarble Wrote:
(2015-06-18, 23:28)tredman Wrote:
(2015-06-18, 23:25)Tinwarble Wrote: I'm not sure how $199 is 4X the price of the $99 Fire TV?

However, that said, the Shield does also come with a $59 controller which the Fire TV doesn't have. Which I guess with that math would only make it 3X the price. Plus, the Shield is a much more of a powerful device.

I'm in UK and assumed it would be $200 = £200 and fire TV has been around 50 quid recently, which is where my maths came from.

Still don't think it's comparable for a kodi only box, it would be a waste for the shield.


Yes, the Fire TV may be 50 quid when on sale, but were talking normal USD rate. And doesn't $200 = ₤126 at the current exchange rate? Someone else has said that it only cost them ₤175, even after all the costs: http://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=...pid2030626

Only certainties in life are death, taxes and getting screwed on gbp/usd exchange rate for electricals...
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