The Raspberry Pi was fun.. now time to move on.

Priapus

Priapus

Honorary Master
Joined
Jun 8, 2008
Messages
21,577
Reaction score
16,472
Location
England
Hi guys,

So I had fun messing with a Raspberry PI and loading OpenELEC and XBMC to play all my stuff on the smaller box.

So the idea was to have the Raspberry PI act as an XBMC client and read all it's media from the Main PC, using a MySQL setup.

This worked and along came some nice speed performances. I then decided to load Live TV streams to the RPI and eventually move the Media PC to another room.

So I was faced this the current issues:

1. Live TV streams freeze randomly.

I can play a Live stream for 2hrs and no issues. Then it will freeze. Or it can play for 30 seconds and then freeze. According to the guys over at XBMC forums - this is an issue on the latest OpenELEC systems I believe.

2. I've done the SQL + USB upgrade and I still see lags.

I tried to bump the speed up to 1Ghz and this was unstable - it's only stable at like 800 or so.

So, with all this I am over it. I miss the days of just doing what I want in XBMC and not worrying about how much it will slow the system down or how much storage I have for add ons etc.

So.. I want to replace it with a dedicated HTPC:

The Requirements

1. Must have a decent CPU
2. Must accept a PCI-E GPU (I have a GPU with HDMI output that I would use)
3. Small as possible - also quite as possible.
4. Not be locked to an OS (So, if I want Windows or Linux on it - I can do that )
5. Allow me to add a HDD for more space or upgrade it's current HDD.

So - what I am looking for is suggestions please on HTPCs. :D


TL;DNR

I need a better HTPC than the slow Raspberry PI for XBMC - suggestions?
 
HP Microserver is probably the best buy for the above requirements.

That said, there are specials on them from time to time I have been told by some people, which is when you want to buy it to save the maximum on it. The only problem is, you want to use onboard gfx with it. You must use audio via HDMI, if you want analog or spdif you will need to add that with a low-profile soundcard.

http://www8.hp.com/us/en/products/proliant-servers/product-detail.html?oid=5336619#!tab=features

Hard drive space wise, I think it can take up to 4 or 5 hard drives.

I personally bought a very specific look for an HTPC case, and built the system around that, eg. something like this:
http://htpc.moneualusa.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97&Itemid=89
312_overview.jpg



But you could go for something like this:
http://www.xcase.co.uk/Home-theatre-pc-case-p/casse-q100.htm
Casse-Q100-2T.jpg
 
Last edited:
Hmmm, interesting.

I want my audio and video to go out over one cable. Is that possible with the HP setup (It looks quick nice, actually...)
 
Tander said:
Hmmm, interesting.

I want my audio and video to go out over one cable. Is that possible with the HP setup (It looks quick nice, actually...)
Click to expand...

Should be with HDMI depending on your GPU.
 
Tinuva said:
The only problem is, you want to use onboard gfx with it. You must use audio via HDMI, if you want analog or spdif you will need to add that with a low-profile soundcard.
Click to expand...

Tander said:
My current GPU does this - will it fit?
Click to expand...


Use the onboard GPU or get a low profile GPU if you need speeds beyond watching movies and basic games.
 
I see it has onboard HDMI - if this does sound over this port too - then that's all I need. :)
 
Then you have what you need :)

Thank Tinuva though, not me ;)
 
Tander said:
My current GPU does this - will it fit?
Click to expand...

Its unlikely, the microserver has a low wattage psu and the gpu would need to be a low profile one.
Its cheap to buy a gpu for the microserver though and it will be tons better than a pi.
 
If you have a place to hide a PC, build a PC and hide it in there - Ultimate flexibility, hard drive storage, power (emulators/games) and upgradability.

It's also much cheaper than those "HTPC Chassis".
Then all you do is put your haupage/remote receiver on the outside.

If you can't hide a PC somewhere near the TV, well then you are going to have to spend a lot more if you want a "pretty & small box" (And you will still need a server somewhere)

I prefer the PC - overall best in every category except for being "small & pretty"...... If you can hide it though, there goes that problem.
 
@Keeper - Yeah, PC would be first prize - but I use it for downloading and other stuff - so this interfers with XBMC.

I was told told about this though...
http://www.xtreamer.net/ultra2/


Looks like its up to the job?
 
No I meant build a new PC.
Why spend R2000 - R3000 on a "Xtreamer" which is going to fall into the same trap as your Raspberry Pi? (No Hard Drive Capacity, No GFX Card, No Power to play Games)

You can't upgrade these Pre-built Media Players, rather build your own HTPC man...
 
Keeper said:
No I meant build a new PC.
Why spend R2000 - R3000 on a "Xtreamer" which is going to fall into the same trap as your Raspberry Pi? (No Hard Drive Capacity, No GFX Card, No Power to play Games)

You can't upgrade these Pre-built Media Players, rather build your own HTPC man...
Click to expand...

It has a Nvidia GPU. 32GB SSD. Internet HDD storae. I have an Xbox to play games.

I want something small and out the way. But I don't want to have to build a something to hide it either.

Building what I want will cost roughly the same as well...
 
Tander said:
It has a Nvidia GPU. 32GB SSD.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and the 299 euro pricetag translates to roughly R4K.
I'm sure you can build a better HTPC (including a 32GB SSD) for that price.... but meh, each to their own.

what happens if you want to upgrade something? ....Shell out another R4000 for an "Xtreamer Ultra 3"?
a Geforce 520M is pretty low-range if you ask me.
 
Like, I'd do this:

ErWDiEl.jpg


Zalman HD501 Chassis: +-R1500
32GB SSD: +- R600

That leaves around R2000 for the PC Hardware, which is quite easy since you already have a GFX card...


Same price as that Xtreamer, only much better looking, more capacity, better flexibility, and upgradable.
 
You could look at the zotac zbox, you need to add ram though. It also has space for a 2.5" HDD or SSD.
 
Keeper said:
If you have a place to hide a PC, build a PC and hide it in there - Ultimate flexibility, hard drive storage, power (emulators/games) and upgradability.

It's also much cheaper than those "HTPC Chassis".
Then all you do is put your haupage/remote receiver on the outside.

If you can't hide a PC somewhere near the TV, well then you are going to have to spend a lot more if you want a "pretty & small box" (And you will still need a server somewhere)

I prefer the PC - overall best in every category except for being "small & pretty"...... If you can hide it though, there goes that problem.
Click to expand...

I disagree. I have a pc (black too, so it fits in) under my TV in a proper cabinet. Looks pretty good, but I'd still rather turf it out (too loud, and it's still a PC) and get a really small HTPC instead. Then just stream all my media off the server in the back room using XBMC, natch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X