NUC Based Media Centre/Gaming System

Malc

Malc

Malc

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Joined
16 May 2004
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1,382
Location
Manchester
Hi,

I've been donated one of these http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4742#ov

My aim is to turn it into a mediacentre with a light gaming ability. It's going to use XBMC to scour my Raspberry Pi based NAS for files (I might actually turn the NUC into the NAS) and also as a platform to cast to via DLNA.
I also want to run Steam for a bit of light gaming and I have a Netflix account which I want to be able to run in two guises at the click of an icon. One for the USA library and one for the UK library.
Lastly, I have a PS3 controller which will connect via the built in Bluetooth, but ideally I'd like a good Bluetooth remote to control the system.

So my questions are:

1) What operating system should I use? I need an interface that is controlable via a remote. I can set it up with access to a keyboard and mouse or via SSH on my iPad or phone. I'm thinking XBMC on linux that opens at boot and is used as the interface to launch all apps.

2) How do I set up 2 different versions of Netflix. I know that it's a DNS server change as I've done it before, but never at the click of a button.

3) What's a good Bluetooth remote?

4) What mSATA SSD and RAM would you buy to put in the NUC?

Cheers
 
Right, I've bought the Ram and SSD so ignore point 4 above.

Android wouldn't be a bad shout. It wouldn't satisfy the Steam element but the NUC isn't really suited to that anyway. How mature is it?

As for Linux, installing Pipelight should get Netflix working. I'm not sure about its stability though without trying it myself. I also haven't found a quick way of changing my DNS settings in one click. There's got to be a way of running a Linux command from a shortcut within XBMC.

Netflixbmc looks like a good addon for XBMC though.
 
One thing I would highly recommend is the pulse eight Cec USB adaptor. Then you can use your TV remote to control it.

Tempted to try android on one of my nucs. Looks pretty new though!

I've used both Ubuntu and openelec. Both worked fine.
 
Pipelight works great on Linux.
Just make sure you use Chrome rather than Firefox as it often has issues with full screen. The newest stable Chrome also removes support for the right plugin so if you use a Linux build from more recently you will need to roll back to the stable version used in Ubuntu Trusty.

You will also need a Plugin to change your User Agent. Pent of recommendations out there and Firefox 15 spoof seems to work the best.

If you use Sky Go or Now TV you will also need to use Silverlight 5.0 rather than the newest version. The Pipelight website has a good walk through.
 
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