Intel NUC died, recommendations for HTPC hardware?

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srkiNZ

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#214157 30-Apr-2017 15:31

Hi,

My Intel NUC box recently died (cpu fan comes on, but no output on any display, not responding to keyboard, can't get into BIOS) so I am putting together a new HTPC and wanted to see whether anyone had any recommendations hardware wise.

My "requirements":

* Needs to be small (mini-itx?) and able to be mounted onto the back of the TV (have Vesa mount)

* Needs to be able to stream Netflix HD to TV

* Needs to be able to run Linux with Kodi on it

What do people generally use for their hardware?

Additionally, it would be nice to have:

* Freeview and PVR functionality

* TVNZ on Demand (can get this through browser?)

* Built in WiFi

Storage is on a single 2.5" SATA SSD drive and network is over WiFi.

Thank you

solutionz

589 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1772883 30-Apr-2017 15:41

See this thread: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=84&topicid=214140#1772745

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#1772888 30-Apr-2017 15:53

If you can, wire the network. Use ethernet over powerline if you can't run cables. This is much better than WiFi, IMO, for media serving and video streaming.

srkiNZ

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1772895 30-Apr-2017 16:05

I've used PoE before, but I found it had weird errors. Was "slow to start" to copy files across the network and would sporadically cut out. Might be the wiring, the house is from 1927 and I'm pretty sure it's gone through at least one set of electrical work that wouldn't measure up to today's standards.

JaseNZ

2576 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1772909 30-Apr-2017 16:31

Buy another NUC they are good for HTPC's

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

cadman

1014 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1772953 30-Apr-2017 18:13

Have you tried a BIOS recovery? Mine had a total existence failure (no POST - nothing, nada) after a reboot a couple of weeks ago and this got it back to normal.

srkiNZ

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1773191 1-May-2017 08:48

Will give that a go tonight. I wasn't upgrading the BIOS or anything, rather the power went out and then I couldn't get it running after (no POST, nothing). Despite the CPU fan going and the lights on the motherboard being on etc...

littleheaven

2130 posts

Uber Geek

#1773513 1-May-2017 14:27

Completely uneducated stab in the dark - could it be your RAM? I seem to remember an old PC behaving similarly when the RAM chip died.

Geek girl. Freelance copywriter and editor at Unmistakable.co.nz.

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cadman

1014 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1773707 1-May-2017 18:29

srkiNZ:

Will give that a go tonight. I wasn't upgrading the BIOS or anything, rather the power went out and then I couldn't get it running after (no POST, nothing). Despite the CPU fan going and the lights on the motherboard being on etc...

Yeah, I wasn't doing a BIOS flash or anything either - it was just giving me grief in terms of the networking - I couldn't access shares even after refreshing them (they're shared by a batch file) so I rebooted it to eliminate a Windows 7 Ultimate problem and it just went bad.

driller2000

935 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1773709 1-May-2017 18:37

Do you really need a NUC?

I was looking at one as HTPC - but the decided on the Shield instead - and am so glad I did.

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Kodi/SPMC, YT etc in 4k, HDR.

Kodi - yes - but SPMC is better IMO as it will do HD Audio incl Atmos / DTS:X + integrated voice search.

Great piece of kit as a dedicated streaming device - worth a look I reckon.

lNomNoml

1807 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1773736 1-May-2017 19:36

I take it you tried resetting the BIOS, taking the RAM out and putting it back in, tried disconnecting the storage drive, tried disconnecting anything extra connected like keyboard or mouse?

srkiNZ

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1777080 7-May-2017 10:45

Things I have tried:
* disconnecting storage drive (turned it on, no POST screen)

* taking out RAM and putting it back in (turned it on, no POST screen)

* Disconnecting keyboard and mouse (turned it on, no POST screen)

I'm going to try resetting the BIOS now, though... I don't even know if that's going to work without any POST screen at all. I might just send it back to the shop if that doesn't work.

cadman

1014 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1777090 7-May-2017 11:00

srkiNZ:

Things I have tried:
* disconnecting storage drive (turned it on, no POST screen)

* taking out RAM and putting it back in (turned it on, no POST screen)

* Disconnecting keyboard and mouse (turned it on, no POST screen)

I'm going to try resetting the BIOS now, though... I don't even know if that's going to work without any POST screen at all. I might just send it back to the shop if that doesn't work.

You don't need a POST to do the BIOS recovery.

cadman

1014 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1791990 30-May-2017 20:39

Aaaaaaaaannnd?

srkiNZ

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1791996 30-May-2017 20:51

BIOS recovery didn't work. Sent it back to the shop... actually this is a good reminder, I never heard whether they got it or not.