cheapest linux hardware for boxee

[SpaceBass]

Hey folks,
I'm considering another mac mini to replace the G4 minis to run Boxee in our guest room and kitchen (we canceled cable) and are using 100% IP-based media (counting the OTA feed from my HDhomerun in that) ... we have minis attached to every TV in the house (a la cable boxes) but two of them are G4s

Boxee is the first solution that actually works well enough that I feel comfortable enough rolling it out to our guest room - IE, anyone could use it without instruction ... and its time to retire the G4s and replace them with something that can run Boxee.

One option is to get two new intel Minis (or rotate one of our spare intel macbooks into the picture) but I was curious if anyone had a suggestion for inexpensive linux hardware?

Is there a sub $500 option that will play back 720p MKV files? What bout a sub $300 option? The ATV would work well ... but how well to they handle live HDTV streams from a myth backend (assuming myth is working in future releases of Boxee)?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts - thanks!

[dclark10]

I'm thinking about dell outlet store and using one of their studio hybrids...just not sure about a remote option. I saw them for less than $400 in the outlet store.

[dave]

For my "cheapest PC build" I use an AMD 3000+ in a Shuttle small form factor PC. The hardware was recycled, but the fan is much louder and case larger than a Mac Mini. An AOpen 91.ma601.b3w0, with MCE remote could do the trick for you. I just hate the MCE remotes, as compared to the mac mini remote. Note most of these are bare-bones with no HDD, CPU or RAM, so add $$ accordingly.

At least with these you won't lose the MCE remotes as easily. :(

Or, why not use AppleTV? You get 802.11n if you don't have Ethernet in the guest room, and it's ~$220 or less in the refurb store or Craigslist.

[prosonik]

Hi there,

I just picked up a BIOstar ATI 780g/AMD 64 X2 5000+ combo locally for $150. For an inexpensive case+ram+small hd shouldn't run you more then 200 total. (CDN prices). I'm a big fan of the 780g chipset. If you can get the audio over DVI/HDMI to work, it's just plain great. The on board graphic controller has more then enough horsepower to get BOXEE playing 720p.

If your in the mac-market, try the refurb section of the apple site.





Hey folks,
I'm considering another mac mini to replace the G4 minis to run Boxee in our guest room and kitchen (we canceled cable) and are using 100% IP-based media (counting the OTA feed from my HDhomerun in that) ... we have minis attached to every TV in the house (a la cable boxes) but two of them are G4s

Boxee is the first solution that actually works well enough that I feel comfortable enough rolling it out to our guest room - IE, anyone could use it without instruction ... and its time to retire the G4s and replace them with something that can run Boxee.

One option is to get two new intel Minis (or rotate one of our spare intel macbooks into the picture) but I was curious if anyone had a suggestion for inexpensive linux hardware?

Is there a sub $500 option that will play back 720p MKV files? What bout a sub $300 option? The ATV would work well ... but how well to they handle live HDTV streams from a myth backend (assuming myth is working in future releases of Boxee)?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts - thanks!

[jdarnold]

But considering an Apple TV is only US$229 at the local Best Buy, I'm not sure that it makes any sense to build your own. Maybe if you have the parts lying around, but I think in most case Apple TV makes more sense. I'm very tempted to try it myself and I'm *not* an Apple guy.

[wyopistachio]

I just purchased a cheap emachine ($220) from tiger direct that works fantastic with Boxee as a media box. I installed Mythbuntu, then added the xubuntu desktop, so I can play with other programs as well. 720p plays great. I use Miro as a "backend" for Video downloads at this point, until Boxee works a bit better for RSS. I can rip DVDs right in the same machine, and plug in external drives, or add more internal storage, plus I have a card reader and Keyboard/mouse. :) Not as sexy as an ATV, but much more capable, IMHO.

[prosonik]

TD? You must cdn as well.
Do you leave Miro running in the background? I'd love to get Fully automated RSS Support working well. How are you ripping DVD's? I really want to use BOXEE as the interface, and then launch programs to do the ripping etc. Actually, if i could 'borrow' some of the functionality from Mythtv (the dvd ripper, the PVR) and be able to launch it from boxee that would be great..





I just purchased a cheap emachine ($220) from tiger direct that works fantastic with Boxee as a media box. I installed Mythbuntu, then added the xubuntu desktop, so I can play with other programs as well. 720p plays great. I use Miro as a "backnd" for Video downloads at this point, until Boxee works a bit better for RSS. I can rip DVDs right in the same machine, and plug in external drives, or add more internal storage, plus I have a card reader and Keyboard/mouse. :) Not as sexy as an ATV, but much more capable, IMHO.

[wyopistachio]

It was US, on deal. Up to $260US now (emachine T5254, Athlon X2 Dual Core Be-2350 2.1GHz, two GB, and onboard gforce 6100). I leave Miro running in the background most of the time. The only hickup I get is a pause when Miro writes a finished download, but that stops every system I have tried it on. I never got DVD ripping working well with Myth, so I use DVD::rip over night. I didn't bother with chapter rips, assuming that Boxee will get bookmarking figured out. I had a weird bug with Boxee's own RSS download (it won't move the finished file), and my bandwidth isn't the best for streaming, so Miro with Boxee is perfect for Rev3 high def content from the couch. When boxee passes Miro in RSS, and Myth for Ripping, my cheap box still has the advantage over ATV of having Pidgin/skype, Firefox and OpenAreana. :) I bought this box to try Myth, but now it all boxee/miro. I Don't think you could do much better for the money if you don't mind (or hide) the "ugly".



TD? You must cdn as well.
Do you leave Miro running in the background? I'd love to get Fully automated RSS Support working well. How are you ripping DVD's? I really want to use BOXEE as the interface, and then launch programs to do the ripping etc. Actually, if i could 'borrow' some of the functionality from Mythtv (the dvd ripper, the PVR) and be able to launch it from boxee that would be great..

[SpaceBass]

Thanks for the ideas guys!
I've been looking at some bare bones systems on NewEgg and it seems that its fairly easy to get a good "front end" box running for about $250, particularly if I use some parts I already have...

The ATV idea is resonating with me - but there's one problem, I hear that the ATV cannot handle an HD stream from MythTV...so even if Boxee fixes Myth support, that would leave me with no way to watch live TV.

I know it sounds crazy to even be thinking about a media center box for our guest room - but since we've canceled cable it would be nice to have something. One option is simply an antenna for the TV in there.... but when my parents or inlaws come they do like to channel surf.

So the idea of a (one time) $250 expense that would be like a hotel experience - Video on demand, music, TV - is a pretty cool one.... and the best part is that Boxee is the first thing that I have seen that is usable enough that anyone used to a cable box or TiVo would have no problem understanding the UI.

BTW - on the backend I'm running a 2.66ghz intel chip on an asues mobo in a 2u rackmount box with a 2.5tb raid 5 array .... I use Azureus for unattended downloading of torrents from RSS feeds, hellanzb, DVDrip, MythBackend, and Netatalk to serve it all via Apple File Sharing....

[Ebbo83]

What do you think about ASUS B204 or B206?

Except the ATI driver problem it should be really a capable machine for linux and xbmc???

http://www.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=13626

[iBog]

I just posted something in the off-topic section. I think this will be a great option.

How well are ATI Radeon cards supported in Linux?

[Ebbo83]

The big issue is the non open fglrx driver offered by radeon... you will be able to use the card with this driver, but you will always have a hazzle with bigger system upgrades...

the fully open sourced (and well integrated) radeonhd currently has no 2d/3d accleration support as far as i know.

A intel based gfx chipset would be the much better alterative imho

[jdarnold]

I personally have found that nVidia is better supported and runs more smoothly than the ATI cards I've tried under Linux, binary driver or not. And the Atom processor is still problematic too under Linux, as it shows up as a different architecture (at least on my Dell Mini), even though it is purportedly x86 compatible. Check my Building a Boxee Box thread here for more discussion:

http://forum.boxee.tv/showthread.php?t=2237