Torn, NUC, droidbox or SFF Build

[DHR]

I've been running an old HP microserver for what seems like years. It's still a great bit of kit but it's starting to flag a little and won't play x256 files properly, long term I want something that will given that it's used as a HTPC.

My only requirement for upgrading is to gain the ability of x256 playback, ideally long term however I'd still like to have a windows desktop available to me.

I've been very tempted with the cheap MXQ boxes that are doing the rounds but i've heard they're more hassle than they're worth. So I started looking at a new SFF build, that quickly adds up, then the NUC's aren't the cheapest either particularly when I'm wanting to fork out on a new NAS soon too.

......... talk me around! What should I do?

 

[Little_Crow]

I got the HP Pavilion Mini 300-030na recently to use as an HTPC and it's perfect.
It's played everything I've tried on it - Streamed 1080p 3D films and it hasn't broken a sweat. It's primary purpose was for Sky Go, and that's been no issue either.

I got my i3 model a month or so ago @£350, they're now available for £300 - I'm sorely tempted to get another.

A word of warning though - It came absolutely stuffed with HP's shovelware. For instance, a booking.com desktop link,but it actually ran through a piece of HP software (presumably a revenue generator for HP of some kind), that didn't appear in add/remove programs.

I gave up and reinstalled Windows 8.1 from scratch - I'd advise anyone else to do the same.

 

[DHR]

Give the big buck bunny test video a go, x265 at 1080p, see if it copes

 

[Little_Crow]

Give the big buck bunny test video a go, x265 at 1080p, see if it copes

1080p @ 60fps in 2D, it barely broke a sweat.
The same at 3D was a little strange - stuttered a lot in both VLC and MPC-HC. Playing in Chrome itself it was just fine.

I've had a similar issue with Plex, installed client certain things play extremely poorly, but in the web client everything is just fine.