WTB: Cheap Computer

[Diesel2005]

I'm looking for a cheap desktop computer that I can use to run XBMC for streaming content.

Free would be awesome if anyone is trying to get rid of equipment.

[Buster.Himen]

Free stuff:
http://forums.beyond.ca/st/372685/free-old-school-motherboard-cpu-mem-combos/

Complete PC
http://forums.beyond.ca/st/372676/fs-intel-core2-e6700-system/

[yohan4ws]

These guys have used systems for sale all the time ::

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/calgarycomputerwholesale/m.html?_ipg&_from&_nkw&_armrs=1&_sop=10

ERA, the electronic recyclers ...

You can get a dual core w/ 4GB Ram for less than $100.

A raspberry Pi will also get you there for $50. Google raspbmc.

[Diesel2005]

Can a Raspberry Pi handle mkv file formats?

[Buster.Himen]

Originally posted by Diesel2005
Can a Raspberry Pi handle mkv file formats?

Running some form of Linux, definitely not Windows.
..and by mkv (simply the 'container'), I think that you mean h264 encoded video content ?

[AE92_TreunoSC]

Most single cores cant handle heavy encoded HD movies. Hell I've seen intel duos struggle on big files.

[yohan4ws]

Originally posted by Diesel2005
Can a Raspberry Pi handle mkv file formats?


now for a reply for someone who knows whats going on with streaming media from your PC..


Yes, the Raspberry Pi can handle MKV formats. I'm assuming that you're going to be streaming downloaded movie files, if yes this will do it.

Get a raspberry pi, a 2+ GB type 10 SDCard, install raspbmc on it, on your windows computer install an NFS server (hanewin) as SMB will take too much cpu usage and will cause your videos to buffer...

I've played the hobbit mkv (6.6gb file) and it plays marvelously via my Pi.

Best part, if you have HDMI, it uses CEC to control if your tv supports it you can control it with the same remote control. Works great on my Toshiba LCD.

[Diesel2005]

Found One.


Thanks