View Full Version : XBMC - linux server / dummy terminal
Hey guys,
I have a couple questions related to XBMC. If I were to have a server running in the basement do I need anything apart from the ordinary specs to stream 720p and 1080p content? Also if I were to build a HTPC running XMBC to grab the content would it be more important to have a better/faster processor or video card.
Thanks,
kmkarim
Pvt_Ryan
2008-12-15, 12:26
Processor is probably slightly more important. For gfx a nvidia 76XX+ or 86XX+ will be more than suffice .
For the server in the basement I wouldnt actually have a server unless you need it for something else and even then I would recommend a NSLU2. They run at 233Mhz (133Mhz if you get the underclocked one but it is easy to clock back up) http://www.nslu2-linux.org/ Install Debain on a usb stick (I use a 4gb but tbh 1gb is more than suffice and attach an external 1TB usb drive to it.
The one downside to a NSLU2 is that it uses 10/100 ethernet and not gigabit but tbph I haven't seen this affect the anything other than the initial transfer of files to it.
The other route you could go is a Buffalo (?) DNS-323. Same thing as the NSLU2 but more powerful and instead of having only 2usb connections has 2 interal 3.5" bays. I also believe it has gigabit ethernet.
The main advantages of these over an actual server are:
1) Lower power consumption
2) less space requirements
http://www.dlink.co.uk/cs/Satellite?c=Product_C&childpagename=DLinkEurope-GB%2FDLProductCarousel&cid=1197319419183&packedargs=locale%3D1195806691854&pagename=DLinkEurope-GB%2FDLWrapper
http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?origin=gbase13.2&prodID=960362
Once you have linux on them just use nfs exports for your xbmc front end to mount and samba share the directory for access from windows machines.
100meg is fine and I've spoken to guys on the unRAID forums who have streamed multiple 1080 streams over that interface. unRAId is what I am using for my servers, see sig. The HDHomerun also only has a 100meg NIC and does multiple OTA streams no problem. Put your money into the CPU in the XBMC box, even a P3 server could likely feed the box without issue :D
Okay, well I would prefer a server as im going to be running some other stuff on there but reading from this you guys are saying the server proc. should have no difference on the XBMC. I was looking at the same mobo you have BLKMGK (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34597&vpn=P5N7A%2DVM&manufacture=ASUS) and was wondering if another video card would make a difference. (You have the 8400)
Thanks,
kmkarim
althekiller
2008-12-16, 07:01
Before everyone gets confused, are you talking streaming the files or a pre-decoded stream? The former requires basically nothing, would require a disgusting amount of power to get more than one stream going.
Okay, well I would prefer a server as im going to be running some other stuff on there but reading from this you guys are saying the server proc. should have no difference on the XBMC. I was looking at the same mobo you have BLKMGK (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=34597&vpn=P5N7A%2DVM&manufacture=ASUS) and was wondering if another video card would make a difference. (You have the 8400)
Thanks,
kmkarim
I believe you are getting two builds mixed up. The board in my sig - and the video card - are part of one build that I have running just fine. The ASUS board you reference in this posting is a new one and not yet fully up and running. It has an onboard NVIDIA 9300 and should need no added card. In this new build I have the motherboard, memory, CPU, and nothing in the slots. Some others have this board running great with HDMI audio and all, I am still setting mine up and so cannot yet pass judgment on it.