Does anyone have a good guideline for computing requirements? I'm not planning to stream like with PleX or anything, I just want something I can stick on the back of my projector and forget about except for when I want to watch something or download something.

Requirements

  • Small form factor
  • Low power draw
  • Enough SSD space for ~6 movies
  • Storage expandable by external flash device
  • Wi-Fi (my modem can't be moved closer)
  • Bluetooth AND 3.5 mm for audio out

Something like the Nvidia Shield would be perfect but its too hard to download things onto it directly. Ideally, I wouldn't have to have a personal computer other than this device. Currently, I plug my laptop in and stream, but my streaming sites no longer work well and it does not have the storage for me to download movies.

Since I am not trying to use this as a home server to stream off of, I shouldn't need a lot of computing power for transcoding or parallel sessions or nothing like that.

AS mentioned in the title, my budget is around $150 (not including external storage). Any more than that, and it's not worth upgrading from my laptop.

  • AssortedBiscuits [they/them]
    ·
    1 year ago

    I snagged a Dell OptiPlex 7050 Micro from eBay for around 90 bucks, so something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/115785371324

    I don't know about Bluetooth, but it meets your other requirements. The only con is the PC I got didn't come with an antenna, but I just used an antenna from an old network card and it seems to be working fine.