Mini PC for TV

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Mini PC for TV

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13769 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#312558 27-Apr-2024 12:00

Looking at getting a mini PC of some sort for the lounge TV once we move. Main reqs are must support 4k (LG TV), Gb NIC and run Windows.

Seen the BeeLink PC's with late model Celerons - worth it ?

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

1 | 2

6476 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3223343 27-Apr-2024 12:21

I bought one of these about a year ago but not for a HTPC but to be my Plex server

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B75PT2RY?ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Runs very well and it does 4K according to the specs though for me it's headless.

richms

28191 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3223352 27-Apr-2024 13:43

I got a relatively cheap N100 based thing off AliExpress because it has 3 HDMI outputs on it and in windows it works a treat playing 4k stuff. Not tried anything hdr etc yet tho just YouTube and "Linux iso" sourced movies.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_Ex8kLxz

Richard rich.ms

tchart

2380 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3223355 27-Apr-2024 13:59

Stupid question. What are you going to use it for?

I’ve given up on HTPCs as Google Tv or Apple TV is basically all you need - especially if you install VLC on them.

That said, I’ve got several mini PCs from Minisforum and they have been fantastic value. I use them for running VMs though.

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3223356 27-Apr-2024 14:03

An Amazon Fire TV 4k ($99 PB tech at the moment)?

Wifi built in. Has apps for nearly every streaming service.

You can install Kodi as a media player if you have network files you want to play.

Just works.

Anything you specifically need Windows for?

EDIT: Fully supports HDMI-CEC and the remote can manage your TV/Hometheatre/Volume as well.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13769 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3223408 27-Apr-2024 15:24

Primarily used for streaming services, and some sites that require browser plugins, hence Windows as I know they work, and wont have to spend time trying to figure them out on Linux ;) And Wife knows Windows...

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

richms

28191 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3223409 27-Apr-2024 15:26

I have mine on the TV because there are plenty of things that I want to watch like patreon that have no apps for anything TV box like.

Richard rich.ms

cddt

1561 posts

Uber Geek

#3223560 27-Apr-2024 20:34

I would look for something with a N100 as a minimum these days if you're buying new and want it to last a few years.

I wouldn't put Windows on it though, personally. My wife manages fine with Linux on the TV...

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

gzt

17149 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3223563 27-Apr-2024 21:00

Ok for now. Imo N100 will start to struggle with later revs of AV1 as it gets more complicated.

https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=375492

timmmay

20587 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3223564 27-Apr-2024 21:57

We've had a $120 Xiaomi TV box for a few years, it plays everything we've tried, including Kodi, TV3, Netflix, Disney, Neon (got rid of that when an app update made it suck), etc. Do you really need a Windows PC for a simple task?

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13769 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3223566 27-Apr-2024 22:06

Yup, as mentioned, need some plugins for the browser which dont exist on Android, and probably problematic on Linux - wife really needs Windows, she does not like change :)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

nztim

3819 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#3223579 28-Apr-2024 06:26

I use ex lease/returned HP Elitedesk PCs and upgrade every few years - The PC connected to the TV is more than just HTPC also used for family zoom calls etc as well.

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

lchiu7

6476 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#3223587 28-Apr-2024 08:58

nztim: I use ex lease/returned HP Elitedesk PCs and upgrade every few years - The PC connected to the TV is more than just HTPC also used for family zoom calls etc as well.

Straying a bit OT I have a NUC with an Intel® Core™ i3-3217U 4G RAM, 128SSD that I used to use a HTPC and is connected to my big TV. There being no need for it as a HTPC (I now play all content using Plex on a single board computer Odroid C2 processor) it is now only used for the occasional web surfing when it's easier to share with many people or for video calls. Last Christmas I had a VC with friends in the UK using this and sound routed to my sound bar and my friends were doing something similar on their big TV. So we both sat in front of our big TV's and chatted almost like IRL :-)

Wombat1

586 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#3223588 28-Apr-2024 09:28

lchiu7:

or for video calls. Last Christmas I had a VC with friends in the UK using this and sound routed to my sound bar and my friends were doing something similar on their big TV. So we both sat in front of our big TV's and chatted almost like IRL :-)

My Sony 2011 TV came with Skype and a camera, worked well for a few years and we always use to use it. Then the app was pulled and the TV no longer supported Skype. Its a pity TV manufacturers cannot agree on supporting video calling software.

cddt

1561 posts

Uber Geek

#3223591 28-Apr-2024 09:57

Could be worth testing out the software solution on your family with an old device first, then upgrading the hardware when ~~UAT is complete~~you're satisfied.

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#3223600 28-Apr-2024 11:28

I have also used ex-lease PCs, which can be picked up very cheaply if you are a bit patient, and which should do everything you seem to want to do for a song. My jellyfin server currently runs on an ex-lease Dell i5 quite happily. There are usually a bunch listed on Trademe, Remarkit (in Wellington) also periodically have some great deals. PB Tech also sell refurbished ex-lease models.

In fact, I just had a quick look at PB's site - they have a Lenovo SFF with an i5-6400T, 256GB SSD, 8GB of Ram, and Windows 10 for $287. That should do what you seem to want fairly cheaply?

1 | 2