Appropriate nettop choices

Hi everyone.

I am absolutely brand new to xbmc, so please bear that in mind. Currently I have a NAS running Ubuntu where all my backed-up DVD/BD and music is stored. Some 2.5TB of data.

My goal is simply to be able to view that across my home through my theatre system. My goals are small form factor, less vs more effort to build, and relative costliness. I am considering a nettop to achieve these, but haven't the first idea which nettops will fill-the-bill.

I realize that this could devolve into mine is better than yours conversation, and that is not what I am after - simply models to consider.

For what its worth, my goal would be to strip down the nettop and run XBMC Live.

Hopefully I haven't started world war 3 here.

TapRackPull Wrote:Hi everyone.

I am absolutely brand new to xbmc, so please bear that in mind. Currently I have a NAS running Ubuntu where all my backed-up DVD/BD and music is stored. Some 2.5TB of data.

My goal is simply to be able to view that across my home through my theatre system. My goals are small form factor, less vs more effort to build, and relative costliness. I am considering a nettop to achieve these, but haven't the first idea which nettops will fill-the-bill.

I realize that this could devolve into mine is better than yours conversation, and that is not what I am after - simply models to consider.

For what its worth, my goal would be to strip down the nettop and run XBMC Live.

Hopefully I haven't started world war 3 here.

if you have an atom/ion netop you are ready to go, the smallest one I have is a atom 330 based system and it works great. If you are going to keep the content on your NAS you dont need hard drive. You can boot from a flash device of live or openelec (xbmc with embeded linux) or even PXE if you are so inclined, though I have not tried it yet but other have. If you are stripping the linux down, it is already done with openelec, save yourself the time and hassle, unless you must be able to customize the process and run other software on it, if you need that then go live. The netop can have as little as 1G of ram, mine use 1G and have about half the ram free.

netop brand doesn't really make much of a difference. if you plan on 1080P wireless will not likely work well, so just plan on going wired.

small nettops with small fans make small noises, hard drives make noises, nettops with no fans and no moving parts make no noise. The only one who will know if the noise bothers you is you once you hear it.

They all create heat so plan where you will put it so heat can disparate.

no, no ww3

planning on running Linux is good cost-wise...

i even suggest OpenELEC version of XBMC
as its really good and fast!!

you can definitely look at the ZOTAC ZBOX's....

Here's what you can do for cheap!!


[NETTOP] Zotac ZBOX ZBOXHD-ND22-U ($235)
[OS DRIVE] PATRIOT XT Boost 8GB USB flash drive ($16)
[RAM] Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 204-pin DDR3 1066Mhz ($26)
TOTAL: $277

So ClayPigeon, If I were to look at the Zotac ZBOX HD-ND02-U, should I reasonably expect it to operate in Full 1080p with minimal issues? Let's assume I go the openELEC route and XBMC for Linux.

Sorry to pick your brain, but you seem to have atleast a little more experience than I. And frankly, I don't want to throw a few hundred away to find out I should have spent a touch more.

For that matter, if I went with a tiny SSD, would that increase/decrease/no change the performance?

Thanks in advance.

If your looking for one of the best Netops then you may want to look at the asrock Ion 330HT Or the 330 Pro here http://www.asrock.com/nettop/overview.as...=ION 330HT 330HT

I bought a 330HT for running windows 7 and plays everything with ease.
But if your on a budget and you only want it for XBMC then Go for openelec and run it from a thumb drive this baby rocks(pardon the pun)
Ps Got mine for £240 with 2GB ram and a 320GB hard disc Not sure how that converts to dollars

asrock Ion 330HT are good but they are like $450 USD....
i still suggest:


[NETTOP] Zotac ZBOX ZBOXHD-ND22-U ($235)
[OS DRIVE] PATRIOT XT Boost 8GB USB flash drive ($16)
[RAM] Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 204-pin DDR3 1066Mhz ($26)
TOTAL: $277

TapRackPull Wrote:So ClayPigeon, If I were to look at the Zotac ZBOX HD-ND02-U, should I reasonably expect it to operate in Full 1080p with minimal issues? Let's assume I go the openELEC route and XBMC for Linux.

Sorry to pick your brain, but you seem to have atleast a little more experience than I. And frankly, I don't want to throw a few hundred away to find out I should have spent a touch more.

For that matter, if I went with a tiny SSD, would that increase/decrease/no change the performance?

Thanks in advance.

So first off, you can always spend more money when it comes to computers, cars, etc etc. and opinions are like assholes every one has one.

I dont have a HD-ND02-U, I have a foxconn 330i which looks to be basically the same spec, no hard drive just a 8GB USB stick in it. I am using openelec on it, and I feel it works fine. Based on my usage, if I spent any more money on it for a faster CPU, more ram, or an SSD drive it would add no real additional value for what I used it for, which is being a XBMC client to watch 1080P movies, TV and play music. The best I can do for you is to point you to this video I made of that exact box using what is considered to be the most intensive skin, as I move through the menus and options and play a 1080P movie and some TV and music. See this youtube link for the video, the original post is here describing that nettops specs and how my environment is configured.

My bias is towards efficacy, I try not to buy what I don't need and what doesn't provide me what I perceive as additional value, with technology it gets better faster cheaper every day, why pay more for the future today when I can buy it cheaper later at the time when I might really need it? I gave up long ago chasing that dragon. If future versions of xbmc need more hardware power in some unknown future time, I will replace my nettops then with what ever fits the spec at that time.

The Zotac ND22 is the best nettop so far. See link in my signature.

MidnightWatcher Wrote:The Zotac ND22 is the best nettop so far. See link in my signature.

Really, the ND22 is the "best"? best at what?

Let me defeat you with my crafty logic. ;-)

What if I require absolute silence for my nettop. Oops, the ND22 is no longer the best anymore, perhaps the shuttle xs35gt is best, fanless vs fan, fanless is best.

The point being, it depends on what is important to you and what your requirements are. If you are going to declare best, you need to define the benchmark and be able to quantitatively prove it.

I am sure the ND22 is a fine nettop, most notably it has a more powerful CPU than the HD-ND02-U, if your expectations are met with what the what the nd02 provides, are they not equally? And if your expectations are met with the ND02, if cost was part of your criteria, one could argue the nd22 is the worst, if that is what was important.

well, ok....

i suggest the Zotac ND22 mainly because its more powerful which means,
if one day he wants to install windows on his Zotac,
he'll be able to watch NetFlix-HD and still be able to
use heavy Lifting AEON MQ2 XBMC skin...
Also play some emulators....
So, thats why i think its a better choice....
However, if those aren't important for you,
i guess you could go with a ATOM powered Nettop
like the $190 Zotac ZBOXHD-ND02-U http://ow.ly/1tAr3J ....
But to me, and for only $45 more, i would get my hands on the HD22...

its $45 well spent!