MD recommendations

[B34N]

I'm looking for a recommendation for a MD. It will be mainly used for playing back through HDMI HD recorded content. I want something small, quiet and not prone to overheating. It'll be used for nothing other than an network bootable MD. The cheaper the better. Thoughts?

B34N

[tschak909]

The Intel NUC works well under 1204, now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856102002 <-- i3 variant.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856102002 <-- i5 variant, with thunderbolt ports and USB 3.0 ports

Enjoy,
-Thom

[B34N]

The Intel NUC works well under 1204, now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856102002 <-- i3 variant.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856102002 <-- i5 variant, with thunderbolt ports and USB 3.0 ports

Thanks Thom,

I was hoping to get into something for closer to $200 with RAM....but if these will work OOTB then it may (no, will) be worth spending a bit more. Since it will only be used as a wired a LMCE MD, is there any reason to go to the i5. Additionally, any suggestions of amount and type of RAM.

My biggest concern with this unit is overheating. The reviews mention it a few times and I had overheating problems before using Dell Zino in the summer so I'm extra cautious.

B34N

[tschak909]

The i5 mostly would come in handy for more advanced game emulation play. The i3 that I have here in my Den is more than adequate for video playback (especially with the new Xine that we built that does va-api acceleration.)

My NUC is mostly in an open area behind the TV, so overheating really isn't an issue, but, the device itself uses a mobile i3/i5 CPU, so a little less oomph, for a lot less thermal output.

-Thom

[B34N]

Thanks Thom.

Any suggestion as to how much RAM and what type? I might order one in the morning.

[tschak909]

something like: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231472

2G at least.

-Thom

[mkbrown69]

Dual channel RAM kits would work best, so look for 2 x 1G, 2 x 2G, etc kits, depending on your budget.  Those little NUC's will handle up to 16G of RAM! 

Some folks are actually running home VMware ESX clusters on them..  Just Google "NUC ESX Server" for a few interesting home lab builds...

/Mike

[B34N]

Thank you for the recommendations. Will likely order by tomorrow evening so NewEgg can get it to me by Friday. That's an advantage of living in NJ...they get it to you within 24-hours.

If just using this as a Media Director, any advantage to 8GB over 4GB over 2GB? My instinct is to go for 4 but can be easily persuaded to go for 8.

B34N

[purps]

This looks really nice (assuming you don't need a disk drive, although you could always conceal an external one somewhere), but would I be right in saying that he might have issues with the graphics if using 0810?

EDIT: D'oh I meant 1004! Who's using 0810?!

Cheers,
Matt.

[B34N]

If I was looking to save a few $$$, would there be any potential disadvantage to http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856102001

This looks really nice (assuming you don't need a disk drive, although you could always conceal an external one somewhere), but would I be right in saying that he might have issues with the graphics if using 0810?

I'm using 12.04 and I don't plan on getting a disk drive or connecting keyboard/mouse. The plan is for it to strictly be a media director hidden behind my TV. I also don't see myself using anything other than  the built in TV speakers for audio.

[tschak909]

My only recommendatiion is to please get one with Ethernet.

-Thom

[B34N]

My only recommendatiion is to please get one with Ethernet.

Whoa! I didn't realize the missing Ethernet. Thank you.

[B34N]

I will be ordering the i3 NUC when I get home from work tonight.

Still trying to decide on 4GB vs 8GB. Thoughts? Seems that the G.Skill brand is the most popular and that the DDR3 1600 is the same price as the DDR3 1333.

Would be nice to turn on and off my TV. Which device should I get to do that?

[Marie.O]

4GB is plenty. TV on/off most likely will need a USB_UIRT or similar (I've heard rumours that the USB_UIRT does not yet work under 1204). If your TV can be controlled via RS232, you can use that. If your TV understands HDMI-CEC you can try a Kwikkwik or whatever the USB2HDMI-CEC interface is called.

[tschak909]

and yes, if you have a TV that has either Ethernet or RS232, it can be controlled that way.

I am working with the USB UIRT engineer to find the problem that cropped up in 12.04 regarding the UIRT.

-Thom