Will an Eee PC Work as a Streaming Box?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Will an Eee PC Work as a Streaming Box?

MikeAqua

7773 posts

Uber Geek

#177798 14-Aug-2015 13:40

I have an Eee PC which I would like to use in my AV cabinet as a streaming box for light box on demand etc.

I will connect it to the modem/router via Cat-6 Ethernet cabling.

My plan is to strip the internals out of the laptop, and install in an old DVD enclosure I have.

Yes this is all a lot of trouble to go to, but I feel like a bit of a project so if it can work I'm up for it.

Machine is an Eee Seashell 1015-BX which has the following specs: -

Processor: AMD C-50 1.00GHz
RAM: 1GB
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 6250 (HDMI out)
Ethernet Controller: Atheros AR8152/8158 PCI-E (NDIS 6.20) [10/100 and supports wake on lan].
Windows 7 & XBMC
Storage: 270GB HDD SATA

If this is going to be a capable platform for streaming then the other challenge I have is whether I can set it up so it defaults the monitor feed to the HDMI out, as I ultimately won't be retaining the built in monitor.

Mike

Disrespective

1925 posts

Uber Geek

#1366375 14-Aug-2015 14:27

I'd say you might struggle to stream HD with the RAM specs you have there. The CPU is probably fine if it's only doing one thing at a time, but Win 7 asks for a minimum of 1GB ram to operate, let alone do much else.

gehenna

8495 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1366407 14-Aug-2015 14:39

Yeah it won't handle 1080p I reckon.

MikeAqua

7773 posts

Uber Geek

#1367915 17-Aug-2015 14:09

Thanks for the feedback.

It's Windows 7 starter with a few things disabled to make it run lighter but it has never been fast machine. It does play a 1080 file from the hard drive, but I'm guessing streaming is different?

It works for lightbox etc now, but when we get UFB connected I imagine the streaming resolution will increase and it may struggle.

The RAM is soldered on so not upgradeable either.

Mike

gehenna

8495 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1368001 17-Aug-2015 15:22

Oh well if 1080p works from the HDD then streaming should work fine. Just make sure you do ethernet streaming not WiFi. HD video over WiFi can be poor. You will struggle with anything over 24fps.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1368005 17-Aug-2015 15:30

6250 works fine for most video content incl H.264

I've used a Hudson E350 as my main PVR for the last 3 or so years which has the same GFX. Memory may limit performance though.

MikeAqua

7773 posts

Uber Geek

#1370886 20-Aug-2015 14:21

Thank you for the additional replies.

Plan is definitely to use ethernet not WiFi. I have a a gigabit switch and Cat-6 at the AV cabinet so no worries there.

I'll wait until after the UFB and try it intact with lightbox etc then.

If it works reliably for few weeks, I'll rehouse it in the enclosure I have

Can anyone tell me how to set up a laptop so it defaults to an external monitor at startup?

Mike