Hi. New here. Searching for a low-cost USFF box to use as an WMC/Plex box. My only use of WMC is likely to be as a PVR, with recorded programs to be served by Plex through Roku. Broadcast will be our only source of non-Internet content.
The same HTPC will also be the Plex server. I might also run Playon but, considering that I have a Roku 2 and no cable subscription to log into content web sites with (e.g., TBS) I don't see a lot of added value in Playon.
Considering that I'd be recording broadcast TV from an HDHomeRun or similar, using MCEBuddy for post-processing, and Plex might serving something to the Roku, all at the same time, what kind of CPU do I need? I hope to buy it used or refurbished but want the CPU to be sufficient to last a few years. Is an i3 sufficient? Or do I need an i5?
Power efficiency is a concern, but not paramount. Being quiet is, too. A low-but-adequately powered fanless box would be ideal. Support for a 2.5" HDD would be useful but not crucial. I have a 30GB m.2 NGFF SDD for the OS, if a newer NUC is better. As an example, is this refurbished Lenovo M91 sufficient, including use of the DisplayPort by way of a DP->HDMI adapter cable? (I have a USB IR receiver I can use with a remote.)
At 10.8" x 9.4" x 3.1" the referenced Lenovo doesn't qualify as USFF, I guess, but it needn't sit right next to the TV. Smaller is better but this is cheap enough to outweigh that factor.
Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks
Chris
USFF HTPC?
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Crash2009
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You may want to reconsider DP if you plan to run Protected Channels through WMC. WMC will not play Protected through DP.chrisgnv wrote:including use of the DisplayPort by way of a DP->HDMI adapter cable?
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chrisgnv
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Thanks for the detail about DP. I decided to buy a Intel NUC i5 with 2.5 inch drive support. It has an HDMI output. That way, if the whole WMC/PVR thing falls through, I get a decent desktop computer out of it. I already have a spare 60 GB m.2 SSD for the OS, a 2.5 inch HDD for data, and a wireless keyboard and mouse. I only have to buy RAM which isn't too bad.