What is the best hardware to run Kodi/OpenElec including 4K content??

StevieP

StevieP

StevieP

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I have an Intel NUC i3-3217U that is currently running OpenElec and I love it....except for the fact that it appears as though it is incapable of handling 4K HDR content.

Ideally I want the same setup - ie. boot straight into the UI by starting it up from my phone - in other words I'm not keen on an Android box where it's an app! (performance has always been an issue on the Android Kodi setup and I like my playback to have buttery smooth playback - none of this 24fps "judder" business!)

So what is the recommended spec/hardware these days for 4K media playback??
 
Isn't the Nvidia Shield an Android (or similar) platform?? (ie. doesn't/can't be set up to boot straight into Kodi/OpenElec?)
 
w1ze1 said:
I did not really get the OP so sorry if barking up wrong tree but it is the most powerful streamer on the market.
Click to expand...

Sorry if I wasn't clear - all I'm really after is the hardware to be able to play all of my home media stored on my unRAID server but to include 4K content in the future! (ideally with the Kodi/OpenElec UI as I love how you can play around with different skins etc)

My understanding is that my existing i3 NUC doesn't tick the boxes in terms of being able to handle 4K and so I'm wondering what to replace it with!
 
My Shield plays all my Movies/TV files from my PC via PLEX or Shares for non Plex Players I have installed, I use it Wired (through Router not direct) but its also works fine over WIFI.

Have also did it with Kodi (preinstalled on Shield) and also with Plex Plug-In for Kodi (can set to launch when Kodi opens).

I could connect a Ext HDD to it so would be same for your NAS I am sure.

I have Plex on Shield set as Player only but by default its also a Server.

It supports (if the player supports it) proper Frame/HZ playback so movies should be smooth esp 24HZ/FPS.

Supports Audio Pass-through on all inc Dolby Atmos again if the players supports it.

HDR via software is supposed to be "coming"...
 
Shield TV... just set it to boot straight into Kodi.

It goes into sleep mode normally anyway and if you were already in Kodi - it goes back to Kodi.

It really is the best 4k playback device out there at the moment - better than more expensive HTPCs even.


Your NUC is too old for proper 23.976 or whatever the right framerate is.
 
It handles the frame rate issue- just falls over with the 4K issue!

Thanks for the recommendations- I'll take a look at the Shield!
 
I'm using the Vero4K which runs OSMC, and provides playback for 4K content (inc. 10Bit HDR HEVC!). Worked well so far, played everything I've thrown at it!
 
StevieP said:
Sorry if I wasn't clear - all I'm really after is the hardware to be able to play all of my home media stored on my unRAID server but to include 4K content in the future! (ideally with the Kodi/OpenElec UI as I love how you can play around with different skins etc)

My understanding is that my existing i3 NUC doesn't tick the boxes in terms of being able to handle 4K and so I'm wondering what to replace it with!
Click to expand...

A high powered android box will do that perfectly well.

The original fire TV was great for 1080p for example and Kodi would play pretty much any 1080p content you threw at it buttery smooth.

I’m looking into the Shield TV to do the exact job you’re looking to do for this very reason.
 
Thanks again for the suggestions - however I think I've found a way to do what I need without any extra hardware - the TV itself!!!

It occurred to me that the TV is Android and so I thought I'd give it a try with some 4K content - last time I tried streaming anything via to Kodi app on the TV it buffered and juddered so badly that I gave it up as a bad job - however, it appears as though the WiFi was the weak point and since I connected it via ethernet, it seems to work a treat!!!
 
StevieP said:
Thanks again for the suggestions - however I think I've found a way to do what I need without any extra hardware - the TV itself!!!

It occurred to me that the TV is Android and so I thought I'd give it a try with some 4K content - last time I tried streaming anything via to Kodi app on the TV it buffered and juddered so badly that I gave it up as a bad job - however, it appears as though the WiFi was the weak point and since I connected it via ethernet, it seems to work a treat!!!
Click to expand...

I too had an NUC, but it wouldn't properly play 4K content even though it had the right hardware to do HEVC decoding. Before I bought my Shield I tested 4K playback via my TV (N5750) - worked fine but you can't pass high end audio to the amp via ARC. This is OK if you are not too bothered about the audio side of things.

The Shield is one of the best bits of kit I have purchased for numerous reasons. Just waiting for the Youtube app to be updated with HDR.
 
Ok thanks for the update. So the majority of TV's out there are not capable of sending high end audio over ARC. Its good see that it is starting to happen though.
 
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