Intel NUC 4" x 4" micro-PC - $299 shipped (1.8ghz i3, motherboard, case, PSU)

[Kaido]

I use the gyration media remote. The only problem is that they aren't made anymore, which means they go for inflated prices on eBay. There is a cheaper way to get one by buying one of the Dell variants and building your own USB adapter using an internal connector and combining it with a USB plug. I believe there's a write-up somewhere on the AVS Forums on how to do it.

Honestly, I haven't found a remote I've been truly happy with. I have half a dozen in my parts bin at home - Boxee, iPazzport, WMC, Harmony, MELE F10, etc. My favorite remote overall is the Tivo remote because the buttons are all shaped different, which makes it super easy to use in the dark:

http://atomictoasters.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/tivo-remote.jpg

My current favorite remote for general use is the Harmony Smart Control:

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/harmony-smart-control?crid=60

This is basically a Wifi IR blaster that you can control via a smartphone app or from the included "dumb" remote:

http://assets.ilounge.com/images/reviews_logitech/harmonysmartcontrol/3.jpg

That way, if you misplace the remote, you can still control the unit via your smartphone, which is nice. And you can get as crazy as you want with Indigo, Girdir, Macro Express, etc. on your HTPC computer. Ideally though, I'd like an RF-capable Tivo remote with a Wifi IR blaster base. That'd be the bomb!

 

[Kaido]

Have been playing with a 4K Seiki. I can tell you the results are phenomenal even downscaled to 1080p over VGA for testing (oversampling, hubba hubba!). Experimenting with the current 30hz crop of 50" & 65" models. Kind of funny having an itty bitty NUC driving a monster LCD with insane resolution...

I'm holding off on getting anymore until the second-gen units come out next quarter (two new sizes too, 58" & 85"). Those have support for HDMI 2.0, so I'd rather get something that's a bit more future-proof (probably 60FPS, true 120Hz, etc.). I don't have anything that is affected by the input lag on the current 30Hz models right now tho, so the first-gen models are pretty great if they fit your application :thumbsup:

 

[Kaido]

Review of the Tranquil fanless Intel NUC is up:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/pcs/2014/02/24/tranquil-pc-abel-h2-5-nuc-pc-review/1

Also a review of the AMD version from Gigabyte:

http://www.computershopper.com/desktops/reviews/gigabyte-brix-gb-bxa8-5545

And a review of the new Asus Chromebook: (Celeron NUC platform)

http://liliputing.com/2014/03/asus-chromebox-review-chrome-desktop-celeron-cpu.html

 

[finbarqs]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...140326155334:s

that's the guy I got. Now I'm thinking it's not a transcoding issue, but more of a bandwidth issue.

 

[Kaido]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...140326155334:s

that's the guy I got. Now I'm thinking it's not a transcoding issue, but more of a bandwidth issue.

Are you streaming over Wifi?

 

[finbarqs]

3g, and wifi. my upload is 65mbps, and at my office it's 16mbps down. I tried just downloading a file from home, and I'm getting 1.8-1.9MBps. so it's something probably with plex i'm guessing...

 

[Kaido]

3g, and wifi. my upload is 65mbps, and at my office it's 16mbps down. I tried just downloading a file from home, and I'm getting 1.8-1.9MBps. so it's something probably with plex i'm guessing...

Hmm. Can you temporarily relocate it and test over Ethernet?

 

[EvilYoda]

Is it possible to buy just a "kit" version of a NUC? I like the size, power requirements, and capability of the NUC but would like to make a case (3D printer) for the hardware plus a few hard drives for feeding all of my media needs. Or is this something already available?

 

[Kaido]

Is it possible to buy just a "kit" version of a NUC? I like the size, power requirements, and capability of the NUC but would like to make a case (3D printer) for the hardware plus a few hard drives for feeding all of my media needs. Or is this something already available?

Yup, but sometimes (oddly) they're more expensive:

http://www.logicsupply.com/components/motherboards/next-unit-of-computing/

They sell mSATA to SATA adapter boards, plus iirc some of them have SATA ports inside, and the larger ones have a second SATA bay for dual-drive capability. A pair of 4TB drives would be pretty slick for media storage!

 

[EvilYoda]

Interesting. I'd purely be using it for A/V purposes so I imagine that even the lower i3 CPUs could handle the workload - is Iris Pro an option with the lower-end processors? Wondering what kind of madVR/LAV filters I could run. I don't see myself going away from a dedicated blu-ray player so I'm not worried about integrating that into the NUC.

 

[DoeBoy]

I have an i5 nuc. I noticed it had an internal sata port. The question is what is the least intrusive method to power an external drive i you were able to get a sata cable off that port to the outside of the nuc?

 

[alaricljs]

Depends on the drive. There is this crazy 2.5" eSata/USB2 case from Vantec It uses USB for power whether it's using the eSata or USB for data.

There are others with a barrel connector that include a USB->barrel for power.

 

[AzNPinkTuv]

Kaido!

Quick question. For these haswell nuc's, how were you able to sync up the harmony remote to the IR port on the haswell nuc.


Thanks!

 

[Kaido]

Kaido!

Quick question. For these haswell nuc's, how were you able to sync up the harmony remote to the IR port on the haswell nuc.


Thanks!

What OS are you using?

 

[Kaido]

Hackintosh on the NUC:

http://www.tonymacx86.com/419-customac-nano-prebuilt-micro-pc.html

 

[you2]

The chomebox from asus actually seems pretty cool for $178. It is approx 1/2 the speed of a mobile I-3.

 

[Aikouka]

The chomebox from asus actually seems pretty cool for $178. It is approx 1/2 the speed of a mobile I-3.

The problem is that you currently cannot install Windows because it only has USB 3 ports and the software required to install it doesn't support USB 3.

 

[you2]

Now that is truely amusing; can you not install it from a sd card ? I run linux myself so it never occured to me the check the limits of windows; still I would think the sd card might work ?

The problem is that you currently cannot install Windows because it only has USB 3 ports and the software required to install it doesn't support USB 3.

 

[Aikouka]

Now that is truely amusing; can you not install it from a sd card ? I run linux myself so it never occured to me the check the limits of windows; still I would think the sd card might work ?

Ars's review on the Chromebox has a good bit of information on what's required to install a different operating system and why you can't (currently) install Windows:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014...ini-pcs-in-a-low-power-inexpensive-package/2/

 

[you2]

Thanks for the link. Sad news

 

[Kaido]

Ars's review on the Chromebox has a good bit of information on what's required to install a different operating system and why you can't (currently) install Windows:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014...ini-pcs-in-a-low-power-inexpensive-package/2/

Still, an interesting box for an interesting price. I have an 11" Acer C720P Chromebook and freaking LOVE it!

Also posted a picture of the NUC vs. the new Optoma LED projector in the other thread, but here's the image with the NUC on top: (Gigabyte BRIX model)

http://i.imgur.com/iZMMJ3s.jpg

That's a 720p LED projector with HDMI input & a 100" image. Yay for tiny technology!

 

[superxero044]

Guys the i5 nuc is $329 on amazon right now!

 

[you2]

bizzare that is the version without the power cord. They charge you $40 for the power cord ?

Guys the i5 nuc is $329 on amazon right now!

 

[AzNPinkTuv]

What OS are you using?

Win 8.1

I also have a separate system same install with win 7 ultimate.

Thanks again!

 

[Kaido]

Win 8.1

I also have a separate system same install with win 7 ultimate.

Thanks again!

Doing some digging, not a super-clear answer available. Which Harmony remote are you using? Feel free to PM me & we can discuss further (and post the results back if we are successful).