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On Nov 8, 2013 6:02 PM, "Stephen P. Villano" <<a href="mailto:stephen.p.villano@gmail.com">stephen.p.villano@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
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> On 11/7/13 11:37 PM, Nick Rout wrote:<br>
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>> On Fri, Nov 8, 2013 at 2:57 PM, Gary Buhrmaster <<a href="mailto:gary.buhrmaster@gmail.com">gary.buhrmaster@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
>>><br>
>>> On Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 12:35 AM, Mike's JdJ <<a href="mailto:stepsisters@comcast.net">stepsisters@comcast.net</a>> wrote:<br>
>>> .....<br>
>>> > I am using an Intel DC3217IYR NUC as a Front End<br>
>>><br>
>>> For anyone looking to purchase "today", I would look<br>
>>> at the new Haswell based NUCs with HD4400 (the i3 NUC)<br>
>>> or HD5000 (the i5 NUC) graphics support. They should<br>
>>> use even less power than the 3rd generation processor<br>
>>> NUCs at only a slight increase in price, and the new GPU<br>
>>> has some additional capabilities (although I do not think<br>
>>> the current Linux driver can use those capabilities yet).<br>
>>> The current weakness for a potential front-end is known<br>
>>> to be the GPU de-interlacing support in Linux. For some<br>
>>> (those that do not see artifacts, those that can tolerate<br>
>>> artifacts, or those whose TV can support de-interlacing<br>
>>> on its own), that may not be an issue today. The codes<br>
>>> committed to the master tree by Intel suggests that some<br>
>>> improvements will be seen in the future, but that is the<br>
>>> future.<br>
>>><br>
>>> As many know, Intel has decided to end development<br>
>>> of their reference design desktop motherboards. The<br>
>>> NUC is where Intel is putting its resources (and moved<br>
>>> at least some of the desktop motherboard team). It<br>
>>> expects the that (about) 4" x 4" NUC motherboard<br>
>>> (another half inch or so with case) will meet the needs<br>
>>> of most of the consumers who desire desktop systems<br>
>>> (other than the enthusiast market, where all bets are<br>
>>> off, and 200 watts just for the first graphics card is not<br>
>>> unusual). With Intel announcing some interesting<br>
>>> processors are currently only available in soldered<br>
>>> (not socketed) versions, the entire desktop market<br>
>>> is transitioning in interesting ways.<br>
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>> I referred to the XBMC market in an earlier post in this thread, and a couple of points need to be made from my extensive reading about the NUC on their forum:<br>
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>> 1. XBMC users tend to be watching progressive video (rips, downloads whatever) and therefore deinterlacing is less important to those people. Mythtv users OTOH tend to be watching recorded, interlaced material - eg 1080i. I still have a gut feeling that nvidia deinterlacing via vdpau will come out top in this contest.<br>
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>> 2. Many XBMC users use windows, so their positive results may be skewed from a linux user's perspective.<br>
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>> 3. For general purpose use the celeron version of the NUC is seen as sufficient, without getting into the expense of an i3 or i5.<br>
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>> 4. There is an Intel bug when playing 24.976 (or whatever that ugly frame rate is) video. This has apparently been fixed in Haswell. I am also unsure whether this is is windows issue only. Worth remembering if a flicker every few minutes in a movie bugs you.<br>
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>> 5. There are other small form factor options. This is quite a decent machine <a href="http://www.aliexpress.com/item/X-26-2G-RAM-8G-SSD-ULP-Dual-core-INTEL-C1037U-smallest-windows-pc-linux-arm/1236469668.html">http://www.aliexpress.com/item/X-26-2G-RAM-8G-SSD-ULP-Dual-core-INTEL-C1037U-smallest-windows-pc-linux-arm/1236469668.html</a><br>
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>> The shipping was quite expensive, but compared to a NUC in my market (New Zealand) it is great value. There are options for a bigger SSD and more ram. There is also apparently a version with an alloy case and no fan. I have mine loaded with Openelec at present, I will try mythbuntu on it.<br>
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> That looks like a relatively nice, inexpensive unit. However, it would fall down for my usage, as I use optical output for my audio.</p>
<p>An external usb sound card can sort that, as can one of those hdmi splitters that splits the digital audio out to a optical connector. Adds to base cost and introduces another box to the cable clutter. <br></p>
<p>> I use a Cubox in my bedroom, with the audio out going to my surround sound system.<br>
> I am looking for an inexpensive unit with video out (ancient CRT television that he enjoys) for my elderly father's viewing in the livingroom. </p>
<p>Hard to find anything with non digital video out these days. <br></p>
<p>> So far, I'm thinking of an Aios unit, as it has the capabilities I need, loaded with Linux and using XBMC to "talk" with MythTV.<br>
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> Later, I may build my full HTPC for my bedroom. Less bugs, superior hardware to handle deinterlacing, etc. <br>
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