Linux xbmcUbuntu Box

Could anyone explain to me what kind of hardware i should be looking for if I want a XBMC Player that supports xbmcubuntu? I read on the forums that i may have problems if I try to use a CPU that has an integrated graphics processessor but i haven't really picked up why?

I am nervous with running Ubuntu just because the other builds i did of it seemed to always tax the system when doing things i thought were simple. For example watching a video on an old mac book with OS 10 it wouldn't need to kick on the fan but when i did it in Ubuntu it would get really hot and sound like a space shuttle. So is there certain hardware i should use to make sure it works well?

I read a review on the A10-5800 and it said that it has okay support with Ubuntu Version 12.01 and above. So is xbmcubuntu using that version? What i have read said no.

Not sure if this will help, but i will explain what i am trying to do:

Fast Startup straight to XBMC
Bluetooth Controller (power on/off the system if possible)
HDMI out
1080P Video / Stereo Out
Emulator Support

I was looking at beefy systems in hopes to have PS1/N64 emulation working.

Any suggestions? Price range is about $500 - 700. I get free copys on Windows through MSDN so that isnt a problem, i just like the idea of using a minimalistic linux build.

I am considering something similar. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, so I can't provide first hand advice, but for what it is worth I am staying away from AMD. They historically have not supported Linux well (driver problems) and they just fired their major Linux compatibility developers, so strong Linux support is unlikely to be a priority going forward.

I have heard Intel is okay but Nvidia is best for the GPU. I am considering an i3-3225 without a discrete GPU, but I am not looking to do emulation.

Thank you for the reply.

The emulation is the lowest priority. I am doing this mainly to get a dedicated box to replace the PS3 Media Server application on my Laptop. I get spotty playback and alot of mismatch on the Audio/Video Sync. I was hoping for the emulation so i can justify a beastly project, but i might just end up scaling back a bit.

(2012-11-13 22:52)gd779 Wrote:  I have heard Intel is okay but Nvidia is best for the GPU. I am considering an i3-3225 without a discrete GPU, but I am not looking to do emulation.

IMO that is currently the best setup for linux xbmc. If intel fix the 24p issue with BIOS updates then you can ditch the GPU at a later date and use onboard HD4000

Stick with nvidia if you're going to be using Linux, amd has really poor support. Intel have great open source drivers for Linux but nvidia is the best at video playback. You don't need a powerful system for ps1/n64 emulators, my dual core athlon @ 3.3ghz runs both fine.

Have you guys noticed a performance advantage to Linux vs windows for video playback? or do you guys know of any advantages

I gave up on using windows for my htpc along time ago but when I was using windows one thing that it didn't have was deinterlacing with dxva playback, though this may have changed. One advantage of Windows is setting up emulators/games is easier + tthere's more emulators available.