Cheapest XBMC Mini PC

Skeeter · 15 Jul 2012 at 13:17

What options are there for a cheap machine to run XBMC. It doesn't need lots of storage or an optical drive, it will just be for streaming movies and videos to my HDTV, so the smaller and lower power consumption the better. It must, however, be very simple to setup. I don't have the skills or patient to start messing around in Linux to get WiFi and Audio drivers to work, so something that is the most plug and play possible would be best. It needs to do 1080p properly (I've heard murmurs of some 24p issues?) and 5.1 audio at least, preferably through the HDMI port.

In predicted ascending order of expense, I think my options are:

An Android Mini PC and wait for XBMC to be released for it
A Linux Mini PC and install either OpenELEC or XMBCbuntu
A pre built Media device that comes with an XBMC Linux build in it
A Windows (7) Mini PC with XBMC installed instead of WMC

The Windows device would be the easiest to setup, but its massively overkill and going to cost way more than the Linux options.

Ideally I would like either a cheap prebuilt box, or a combination of hardware I can build myself that is supported out of the box by OpenELEC or XBMCbuntu. An Android PC sounds OK, but I think controlling it with a remote will be a bit of a pain. Any suggestions?

gropingmantis · 15 Jul 2012 at 14:55

Raspberry Pi? Going to be the cheapest by far.

Skeeter · 15 Jul 2012 at 15:37

Fails the 'not needing to know linux to set it up' criteria though, doesn't it? Unless there is a Linux/XBMC build out there with all the drivers for R-Pi in it already that works out of the box?

There are also other devices with significantly more power for not much more cost.

That said, if there is a really simple R-Pi option then it would mean I could get 2...

hawker1986 · 15 Jul 2012 at 15:50

Skeeter said:
Fails the 'not needing to know linux to set it up' criteria though, doesn't it? Unless there is a Linux/XBMC build out there with all the drivers for R-Pi in it already that works out of the box?

Raspmbc is the name of the build of XMBC on the raspberry Pi, should work straight out of the box, just put the image on an SD Card and away you go. Not tried it yet myself, getting my hands on my Pi Monday

Hawker

Skeeter · 15 Jul 2012 at 16:05

Yeah, just found that. Still in beta though isn't it?

gropingmantis · 15 Jul 2012 at 16:17

I put OpenELEC onto my SD card (rather than RaspBMC) and it worked with no need to learn Linux at all.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xmuc9rr89u1brnn/ZNowvdYu7r/openelec.img.xz Just download that and then use 7zip to extract the .img it then use some disk image software to put it on an SD card. Job done.

Skeeter · 15 Jul 2012 at 16:28

Does Raspberry Pi do 5.1 audio over HDMI?

Actually, looks like its almost impossible to get hold of one anyway.

gropingmantis · 15 Jul 2012 at 16:52

Skeeter said:
Does Raspberry Pi do 5.1 audio over HDMI?

Actually, looks like its almost impossible to get hold of one anyway.

Yes it does. Its not that hard but you may have to wait a few months.

Skeeter · 15 Jul 2012 at 17:26

In a few months the Android version of XBMC should be out, and Android Mini PCs are significantly more powerful than Raspberry Pi for not much more. They also have a case, built in Wifi, and an OS I am more comfortable with.

What other mini Linux PCs are there that do HD video for £50ish with a Raspbmc style 'out of the box' OS option?

gropingmantis · 15 Jul 2012 at 21:21

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18423332

Skeeter · 15 Jul 2012 at 22:21

Turns out I need Wifi, my Powerline adapters just can't handle even SD content

Darryn · 15 Jul 2012 at 22:53

How about a WD TV Live, they can be had for a little over £50 and do streaming, iplayer, netflix and 1080p with 5.1 over hdmi

Personally I've got a Raspberry Pi and Apple MacMini both running XMBC, but I used to have a WDTV and it is a very simple media streamer.

Skeeter · 15 Jul 2012 at 22:57

Raspberry Pi would be ideal if I didn't need WiFi. USB WiFi adapters are a can of Linux worms I'd rather not get into

.

Does the WD TV Live play movies stored in Video_TS formats?

Darryn · 16 Jul 2012 at 00:16

Skeeter said:
Raspberry Pi would be ideal if I didn't need WiFi. USB WiFi adapters are a can of Linux worms I'd rather not get into .

Does the WD TV Live play movies stored in Video_TS formats?

No experience of that myself, as I used .mkv for all my rips, but This suggests that yes, it will.

Skeeter · 16 Jul 2012 at 00:46

Having done some investigation into USB WiFi adapters it looks like any linux box that isn't a prebuilt unit with an XBMC build already on it is going to be a nightmare of console commands and sheer luck

.

Skeeter · 16 Jul 2012 at 20:22

Are there any Linux XBMC builds that come with plug and play support for certain WiFi adapters? Or any pre built media systems that come with WiFi inbuilt?

I've given XBMC on Android a go with an early build and it couldn't play SD content without stutter on my HTC Sensation, so I'm not feeling that optimistic for an Android solution at the moment

Or, failing all of that, any suggestions for a cheap Wireless N Ethernet Bridge?

hawker1986 · 17 Jul 2012 at 22:38

TBH my experience of streaming over wireless (even N) is not good, I wouldnt recommend it to anyone, my powerlines are about 10x faster. I wouldnt invest in it, find another option.

Hawker

Nutty_Death · 18 Jul 2012 at 23:36

I have a Raspberry Pi and I have installed Raspbmc before they made a Windows installer. It's fairly straightforward really, especially now that there is a Windows installer to do it all for you.

I use a ethernet cable and stream from my nasbox. Raspbmc is constantly being improved and made to run faster and smoother and include things like wireless drivers etc.

The idea of the Pi is that kids can use it, so I wouldn't be that worried about not having Linux experience...

lukext · 19 Jul 2012 at 13:01

Raspberry Pi with RaspBMC.

I was/am a complete linux "noob". Easy to set up and very cheap. If you dont mind a bit of tinkering then its great. I have 1080p rips in mkv format with DTS pass thru working great.

For easiness factor, WDTV.

Skeeter · 26 Jul 2012 at 22:04

I got a Raspberry Pi. No good. It won't play DVDs stored in .VOB format, and I have 400+ DVDs in .VOB.

So it will all be on eBay shortly and I'm back looking for other options. Any suggestions?