[mythtv-users] Intel NUC DN2820FYKH frontend build

[Nick Rout]

On Mon, Sep 29, 2014 at 3:33 PM, Mike Rice <mikerice1969 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I am building a new living room frontend and thought I'd share my
> experience.  This is my first mythbox the uses Intel graphics.
>
> Base Hardware with current Amazon Prime delivered price:
> $142.61 Intel NUC DN2820FYKH with Intel Celeron N2820
> $ 38.99 Kingston Technology 4GB 1600MHz DDR3L PC3-12800 1.35V Non-ECC CL11
>          SODIMM Intel Laptop Memory KVR16LS11/4
> -------
> $181.60
>
> I built and compared three different storage options:
>
> -------------- Option 1 -------------------
> $ 20.75 Generic 80gb 80 gb 2.5 SATA Internal Hard Drive
> -------
> $202.35 Total
>
> -------------- Option 2 -------------------
> $ 16.79 SanDisk Cruzer 32GB USB 2.0 Low-Profile Flash Drive SDCZ33-032G-B35
> ------
> $198.39 Total
>
> -------------- Option 3 -------------------
> $37.35 Kingston Digital 2-Inch 30GB SSDNow mS200 mSATA (6Gbps) SSD
> $11.63 Syba mSATA SSD to 2.5-Inch SATA Adapter (SY-ADA40050)
> ------
> $230.58 Total
>
> Build Install Notes:
>
> Install: 4 screws out, slide in memory, drive, replace screws.
> BIOS Update: 0039 BIOS on flash drive, install with F7 during boot.
> BIOS settings: Set Legacy Boot, 512MB IGD Minimum Memory
> Install  Mythbuntu 14.04.1, selected Windows Media Center Remote
> Updated everything to latest:
> sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mythbuntu/0.27
> sudo apt-get update
> sudo apt-get remove pulseaudio
> sudo apt-get install bc i965-va-driver vainfo
> sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
> reboot
> alsamixer: volume up
> Audio: Find the one that works.  For me: ALSA:plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=3
> Video: VAAPI Normal
>
> Testing:
> All three drive options performed fine for me.  The CPUs where about 20% and
> 40% load during playback of the football game I used to test.  Almost all of
> my recordings are 720p from HDPVRs with occasional 1080i from OTA HDHR.  My
> old frontend used a Windows Media Center remote so that just works without
> any hassle.  I used wired network.  This NUC has a wireless card installed
> but I don't plan to use that.
>
>
>                              Frontend menu  Playback      Boot Time
> Option 1 (2.5 HDD)           8w             14w           70 sec
> Option 2 (Flash Drive)       6w             11w           50 sec
> Option 3 (SSD/adapter)       8w             12w           34 sec
>
> Power measured with a Kill A Watt.  Still playing with this frontend so I am
> willing to test something else if anyone is interested.
>
> Anyone else build one of these?  Any problems?  So far it looks good and it
> will be nice to get the desktop size frontend out of the living room.
>

Very popular in the XBMC universe. There is a whole thread here
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=187433 (114 pages and
counting). There might be some useful background there. There has been
a lot of various bios problems, but they seem largely ironed out.

Performs better on linux than windows - for one thing windows won't do
HD audio with it due to not having a protected data path. Linux just
doesn't care.