Compact, efficient Streaming Box.

[WantoN]

I have a large collection of digital media. I generally stream it to my phone via VLC, it encodes the film, and I can watch them when I’m connected to the network, or download them for watching on the go. It’s simple and I like it

So I’m after a cheap little box I can connect to the router and leave on all the time. Requirements are:

• As small as possible
• Cheap to run
• Cheap to buy
• Will run VLC helper and encode my media, or an alternative solution

As a side note, I plan on buying a two-bay NAS, with 2x8tb drives for backup. I suppose I could rethink this and get a box that does this all in one.

Second hand stuff is fine by me, any help really appreciated chaps!

 

[Rainmaker]

If you're getting a NAS just get one with a decent(ish) CPU and run Plex? For what you're after, as long as it's mostly x264 stuff any Intel CPU will do really. I run Plex (with Plex Pass lifetime for hardware acceleration) on a Synology DS218+ with a crappy Celeron dual core. It plays x264 MKV/MP4 files up to around 10GB to local and remote clients perfectly, and you can always grab the FOSS version of Emby (similar software) for free and do the same. Or use VLC. TBH any SFF box with Linux on will run basically anything you like very lightly and efficiently - VLC, Plex, Emby, Kodi, whatever.