Cheapest XBMC Mini PC

Skeeter

Skeeter

Skeeter

Caporegime
Joined
8 Mar 2007
Posts
37,146
Location
Surrey
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?
 
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...
 
Does Raspberry Pi do 5.1 audio over HDMI?

Actually, looks like its almost impossible to get hold of one anyway.
 
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?
 
Last edited:
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?
 
Last edited:
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 :(.
 
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?
 
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?
 
Thread revival. For my media PC I've decided to just keep with XBMC on W7. It works, why fix it.

However, having just spent a week away and taking a pile of DVDs with me I'm quite liking the idea of a tiny little device I can load up with my ripped DVDs and just plug into a TV. Something like those mini stick PCs running Android you just plug into the HDMI port.

So what is the best for that? I'm assuming xbmc still isn't perfect for Android so I might have to use other apps for playing my. VOB movies, but so long as it plays 1080p smoothly over HDMI I'll take anything.

WILD9 said:
When you say it wont play them do you mean its stuttering or it does nothing when you try and play them? XBMC is perfectly capable of playing VOB files so it might just be a minor problem.
Click to expand...

VOBs are mpeg2 and the Pi won't play mpeg2 (it requires a license that the makers haven't paid for).
 
Oh nice.

Although the Pi makes less sense when you need to add so much extra stuff to it. The cost soon adds up.

It does do 1080p sweet as a nut though....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom