Mini PC As A TV Source

[dddave]

I currently use a 6 year old HP Win 8.1 laptop as my TV source via HDMI.  Basically:  Netflix, YouTube, Vimeo.  I used to use Kodi as well but stopped using it as frustrations grew.

It works but it's a somewhat cumbersome arrangement, especially when using it doing email or other online chores.

I recently visited a friend in the US who used an older mini desktop computer as his source along with a Bluetooth keyboard.  It seemed to be a lot less cumbersome.

 

I have no experience with the Mini-PCs I see advertised on Gearbest and Lazada.  Most of the less expensive ones seem to have 2gb ram and Celeron processors.  Mini' TV Boxs with i-5 or i-7 processors are in the upper limit of my affordability and seem a lot to pay for a TV source.

 

Do these devices really have much advantage over decent Android TV box's for running similar content and accessing the internet?

If yes, what are the minimum specs and recommended specs for a decent Mini-PC that will be used mostly for TV viewing and some light internet but no resource hungry applications? 

I do understand that my internet connection plays a deciding role in what I ultimately see but I'd still like to find a decent and convenient a decent TV source.

[KittenKong]

My desktop PC is permanently connected to a regular monitor and my large TV, via an A/V amp. So I use it for everything.

For anything that requires keyboard or mouse, or reading small text, I just use the monitor. For everything else like watching TV or films I just turn the monitor off, turn the TV on, and use a 300B air mouse to control it all. Works fine and avoids a lot of hassle.

[dddave]

1 minute ago, KittenKong said:

My desktop PC is permanently connected to a regular monitor and my large TV, via an A/V amp. So I use it for everything.

For anything that requires keyboard or mouse, or reading small text, I just use the monitor. For everything else like watching TV or films I just turn the monitor off, turn the TV on, and use a 300B air mouse to control it all. Works fine and avoids a lot of hassle.

Pretty much what I do now but I find being tethered to the HDMI cable annoying.  I'm concerned that over time, the HDMI port will become damaged and stepping around the cable is a PIA. 

[robblok]

I got a NAS drive to do what you are trying to do. Its connected to my network and to a media device that is connected to my TV. So all the movies TV series I download i can play on the TV or any computer in the house. 

 

If your going to use a mini PC for this, you don't need an expensive one. You do need one shared drive so you can have all your media files on one place. 

[worgeordie]

Yes I have several mini pc's,bit of a hobby,I find they are

much easier to use for watching/streaming ,Films,series,

news, Sport not so much,but BBC and ITV are showing the

World Cup.

Got to Aliexpress, check out XCY and HYSTOU,they have some

useful mini pc's, Intel N3160 quad core ,J1900  quad core,bare bones ,add your 

own,HDD /SSD and Memory up to 8GB, cost of PC 100-120 $,

Delivery free,use China Post, NOT courier,no charges should

occur.

I just have all streaming sites in my browsers speed dial,so

very easy to use,and for general use too.

regards worgeordie

[Fruit Trader]

More work and research is required to use a PC as a media center but once its sorted there's not much can beat the features.

 

I have a Win10 DELL Optiplex i3 mini PC in the bedroom and a i5 HTPC at the main TV. Both use Kodi for media library and Flirc for IR remote.

The HTPC also has wireless keyboard and mouse so its a armchair PC with 55 UHD screen. Also have a spare Chinese mini PC that has Openelec/Kodi embedded entertainment center installed. Freenas + Emby store my media.
 

[n210mp]

For economy

I have refurbished  old desktops with a minimum of a Pentium CPU , a 1GB graphics card  plus 4gb of Ram  with obviously an  HDMI socket and   they can all  be acquired so cheaply.

 

The desktop PCs  are  perfect for any purpose you would wish to use a PC for Emails, Facebook   Youtube, Kodi , netflix etc.

All operated from a small wireless integrated mouse and keyboard into your 60 Inch Big TV

 

So many more advantages than an Android streaming box .  

 

Anyone want to buy my old  Android Minix Box?

[OneMoreFarang]

About Mini PCs in general: I use Intel NUC since years now and I am very satisfied with their performance and quality.

 

[Peterw42]

8 hours ago, dddave said:

Do these devices really have much advantage over decent Android TV box's for running similar content and accessing the internet?

I do everything you describe with android boxes, they are cheaper and haven't found an instance were I would rather a mini PC. Get one with a mini qwerty keyboard built into the remote

[KittenKong]

If everything you watch can be played on Chrome (and it sounds like it can) then all you need is a Chromecast. No wires. Very good, very cheap.

https://store.google.com/gb/product/chromecast_ultra?hl=en-GB

Link goes to the UK page but it is available in Thailand. There are two versions and the cheaper non-Ultra one would probably do you.

[tweedledee2]

My laptop is always connected to my TV by HDMI. I use a wireless optical mouse to navigate. In addition to streaming video, I use the TV screen to view my email, search the web and use the onscreen keyboard and mouse when typing.  So much easier on the eyes viewing on the 42" TV screen than the 17" laptop.   

[AJBangkok]

I use intel NUC mini computers for my TV boxes and they are great. In the past I used android tv boxes, minix and even a nivida sheild but for my needs i’ve found that my windows based NUC can’t be beaten. The only issues are that my older NUC’s have a mini hdmi port so I need an adapter and on occasion I turn on the NUC to watch TV and windows begins an update so I waste 5 minutes waiting for it to update.

 

An NUC with a minimum spec processor and bit of extra ram is more than you’ll ever need for watching TV. If you want to use autocad or run complex spreadsheet macros then get a higher spec processor.