HTPC / Kodi PC motherboard dead - options?

[K3NS31]

Hey Guys

So nobody in the hardware forum could help, thought I'd ask here.

Well, Eskom fuucked my HTPC motherboard it seems (even with the UPS - ah well, what do you expect when you go line-interactive?)

So, I need a replacement. I have a Micro-ATX case, but would prefer a Mini-ITX board for future shrinkage.
Last I checked, Mini-ITX boards were thin on the ground in SA.
Any recommendations?

Requirements:
Will run Kodi (Ubuntu version)
Must support Optical SPDIF! My AV receiver only takes optical input and TV does not have a passthru!
Preferably Mini-ITX form factor.
Watch mainly SD and 1080p HD. No 4K and 3D required.
Will consider a stand alone Media Player appliance, but it must be able to run Kodi.
Would prefer to buy within SA, but will happily import from a reliable source if available.

Alternatively, should I get an Android or appliance based player instead, like the Mygica or something?

Ideas, recommendations, comments?

 

[ozziej]

Raspberry Pi 2 ? Less than R1000 in total. Runs Kodi very well.

 

[K3NS31]

Raspberry Pi 2 ? Less than R1000 in total. Runs Kodi very well.

What about optical audio tho?

 

[P00HB33R]

I would suggest the new MINIX Neo X8-H Plus.

Runs up to 4K with no issues, 3D aswell.
Full Support for KODI / Netflix / Hulu etc.
Can act as a SAMBA server
And has a lot of extra features.

NEO-X8-H-Plus-Android-TV

I got myself one from Uniterm Direct and I've cancelled DSTV.

 

[P00HB33R]

The X5 mini and X6 are also good units. I've got the X8 running in the living room and a X5 mini in the bedroom.
All of them far out perform my old Matricom GBox 2.

UNITERM Minix Range

 

[P00HB33R]

PS. They all have optical out.

 

[K3NS31]

The X5 mini and X6 are also good units. I've got the X8 running in the living room and a X5 mini in the bedroom.
All of them far out perform my old Matricom GBox 2.

UNITERM Minix Range

Thanks, will have a look. Do those run Ubuntu at all? Or is it Android only?

 

[P00HB33R]

There is a a lot of custom roms that you can load onto these devices. Ubuntu ARM is compatible with these devices as far as I know. OpenELEC also.

If you dont mind me asking, why ubuntu?

 

[K3NS31]

There is a a lot of custom roms that you can load onto these devices. Ubuntu ARM is compatible with these devices as far as I know. OpenELEC also.

If you dont mind me asking, why ubuntu?

Well Ubuntu / OpenElec - just more options to install extra software besides Kodi if I need to. Not just limited to Android apps. Also, my old media PC ran Ubuntu, so I guess that's what I'm comfortable with.

 

[P00HB33R]

I see.

Well then ubuntu arm should do the trick.

 

[P00HB33R]

Also, if you've got the cash look at the NEO Z64. Its got out of the box support for Windows 8.1 / Ubuntu and its 64 bit. So its pretty much a small PC

 

[P00HB33R]

NEO Z64 Orange Store

 

[K3NS31]

NEO Z64 Orange Store

Nice. A bit over budget tho - think I'd rather go for a full-on motherboard/cpu/ram replacement at that price.