Best way to run XBMC?

ZXSpectrum · 12 Jul 2011 at 15:04

I used to have a chipped XBOX (Yes i know naughty) But the main reason was because of XBMC. The interface was great, it was easy to setup network shares, used to play media from inside zip and rar files, it was really easy to set a playlist etc etc but obviously there was no support for HD media. Now even tho the PS3 i have does an adequet job of playing media using PS3 media server i still want the ease of use of XBMC soooo... I was thinking of buying a cheapo Zbox or Acer Revo to use exclusively as a media player. So the question is whats the best way to use it? Live Disk? Linux Install (Dont know how to do this) Or Windows 7 with XBMC Installed? I have downloaded the live disk so does this include an installer(To hdd)? Or does it just run from the disk?

Thanks

Deep · 12 Jul 2011 at 15:54

I have been using an Acer Revo r3700 (check in For Sale) and have been running XBMC Live.

Its been running perfectly and wasn't really that much of a challenge to set up either!

Alexrose1uk · 13 Jul 2011 at 20:03

XBMC Live is an excellent, lightweight way to run files. The only downside is it doesn't seem to be quite as robust, and can be a little more complicated to get everything working for than a Windows variant. The support for ATI cards also isn't quite as robust.

Win7 obviously absorbs a little more resources; however works tends to work better with ATI cards, due to ATI's rather basic Linux drivers and some files seem platforms and files seem to operate better under Win7/DXVA than the Linux alternative.

R088ieS86 · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:33

Skyline said:
I have downloaded the live disk so does this include an installer(To hdd)? Or does it just run from the disk?

Live disk should be an .iso which you can copy to disk or usb stick.

WILD9 · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:39

If you want it to feel like an embedded device rather than a PC with some software on it then the linux variants are a little more suited. For the most trouble free combo I would look at an Ion device like a revo / zbox and the openelec XBMC distribution. Openelec is extraordinarily light weight and there are specific versions for Ion but its so light that getting any software to run on the OS other than XBMC is almost impossible. The live distribution would also work just fine and gives you more opportunity to fiddle with the workings of it and learn a bit about linux if you want.
I would avoid building your own linux machine from scratch as your first foray into XBMC unless you are already a linux vet, you will have enough to learn about XBMC without learning linux from scratch too. LIVE is basically Ubuntu without a GUI and learning linux from the command line (which is accessible from XBMC Live) is probably a better place to start anyway.

edit:

Yes the live disk contains an installer so you can either run it live from the CD or install it to a disk/usb drive.

LPC-6 · 20 Jul 2011 at 10:25

The live install runs a lot slower than the actual install. I would recommend putting together a build with a small SSD (30-40gb) and a nice microATX mobo with HDMI to get a nice form factor PC than runs XBMC. Maybe even miniITX if you have the money to spend on a good miniITX mobo...

WILD9 · 20 Jul 2011 at 10:45

LPC-6 said:
The live install runs a lot slower than the actual install. I would recommend putting together a build with a small SSD (30-40gb) and a nice microATX mobo with HDMI to get a nice form factor PC than runs XBMC. Maybe even miniITX if you have the money to spend on a good miniITX mobo...

The SSD whilst good (I plan to use one eventually) is probably overkill for a first build. You usually use standby to start or shut down XBMC so boot/load time isnt an issue and xbmc doesnt really spend much time thrashing the disk whilst its loaded. Definately install it to something though, the Live CD is really just to get a taster you wouldnt want to use it Live for any period of time.

LPC-6 · 20 Jul 2011 at 13:59

WILD9 said:
The SSD whilst good (I plan to use one eventually) is probably overkill for a first build. You usually use standby to start or shut down XBMC so boot/load time isnt an issue and xbmc doesnt really spend much time thrashing the disk whilst its loaded. Definately install it to something though, the Live CD is really just to get a taster you wouldnt want to use it Live for any period of time.

True, would agree that while running XBMC performance isn't an issue. I tend to hibernate my machine (vs. sleep), so like the fast resume of the SSD.