Best Low-end (<$150 USD) Hardware for LibreELEC in 2019

BenAlexander · December 31, 2018 at 1:34 PM

Happy New Years all... I can finally ask this question...

I currently have an original S905 Android box, and while it plays a lot of media fine, Its menu navigation is slow and it is crashing out to Android home.

... Time for an upgrade and hopefully I can get another 4 or 5 years out of it!

Requirements:

Most importantly, I need it to be wife friendly and zip around the menu system! When it boots, it should boot straight into Kodi (and ideally, recover into Kodi after a crash).

My TV supports 10bit 4K OLED with HDR. Primary use is 720p IPTV, but I want to play more 10bit 4K HDR H.265 local media (via ethernet).

Optionally, I'd also like to receive DVB-T on it (and playback locally, as well as to other devices around the house) and maybe some retro gaming too...

My research has led me too...

Android Boxes

$49 - X88 Max+ (RK3328, 4GB/64GB, AC, GETH, Android 9.0)

$49 - MX10 (RK3328, 4GB/64GB, AC, GETH, Android 8.1)

$59 - X96 Max (S905X2, 4GB DDR4/64GB, AC, GETH, Android 8.1, KODI 18)

$67 - H6 Max+ (S912, 4GB/64GB, AC, GETH, Android 8.1)

$99 - X99 (RK3199, 4GB/64GB, AC, GETH, Android 7.1)

$149 - Nvidia Shield 2017 (Tegra X1, 3GB/16GB, GETH, Android 8.0)

*All with whispers of, or community added, support for Linux OS (none appear fully working).

SBC

$45 - Rock64 (RK3328, 4GB, GETH, Official LibreELEC OS)

$46 - oDroid-C2 (S905, 2GB, GETH, Linux Supported)

$80 - RockPro64 (RK3399, 4GB, GETH, Official LibreELEC OS)

$99 - Rock960-C (RK3399, 4GB DDR4, GETH, Official LibreELEC OS)

$109 - FriendlyElec Nano-T4 (RK3399, 4GB/16GB, GETH, Official LibreELEC OS)

$149 - Khadas Edge-V Pro (RK3399, 4GB DDR4/32GB, GETH, Official LibreELEC OS)

* All will required eMMC, Power Supply, Remote, Enclosure, IR, etc.

** Compare the RK3399 SBCs here.

MiniPC

$111 - Odroid H2 BAREBONES (Intel J4105, 2xGETH, 2xSATA, 2xHDMI, Any LinuxOS) <--- Intel UHD 600 GPU)

$140 - Beelink Gemini X45 (Intel J4105, 4GB DDR4/64GB, GETH, Any Linux OS) <--- Intel UHD 600 GPU (without 10bit support)

$150 - X35 Mini PC (Intel 3965u, 4GB/60GB, GETH, Any Linux OS) <--- Intel UHD 610 GPU (with 10bit support)

$150 - Vorke V5 BAREBONES (Intel 3965u - Similar to X35 above, barebones but with much nicer media features)

* Will required Remote, IR, etc.

... As you can see, the S905X2/S912 and RK3399 chipsets are dominating that list. With the only real difference the vendor OS/Drivers support provided

While I like the 'ready-to-go-out-of-the-box' of the Android TV devices, I also know that they are VERY unlikely to see any future OS updates.

Is there an obvious winner in that list? Should I be ruling any out at this stage? Or is there a new contender coming (in the very short term!)

**CvH** · December 31, 2018 at 1:57 PM Official Post

Quote from BenAlexander

I need it to be wife friendly

then better no S905/S912/Rockchip Box in the current state - this might work in an half year onwards but not today

If you want something faster then the S905 Box you already have you are rather forced to Rk3399 or x86.

If you need "speed" and a proper stable support today then x86 is your choice.

Intel NUC Kit NUC7CJYH for example is rather cheap (you need 4gb RAM and USB/SD/M2/SSD) so you are around 150-160 (depending where you buy it).

Quote from BenAlexander

hopefully I can get another 4 or 5 years out of it

no, none of the HW today has what is likely needed in 5 years (HDR + DRM)

Buy whatever fits today !

gregeeh · January 30, 2019 at 3:00 AM

Quote from CvH

Intel NUC Kit NUC7CJYH for example is rather cheap (you need 4gb RAM and USB/SD/M2/SSD) so you are around 150-160 (depending where you buy it).

I don't think this has M.2 and it uses an Intel 600 GPU, so no 10 bit support. The Vorke V5 has 610 GPU and 4K 60Hz via the DP, which would be a better option.

**CvH** · January 30, 2019 at 8:45 AM Official Post

Quote from gregeeh

I don't think this has M.2 and it uses an Intel 600 GPU, so no 10 bit support.

it has 1x Sata and 10bit are no problem - it also has 10bit 4k60Hz via HDMI like all other NUCs

gregeeh · January 30, 2019 at 9:00 AM

The NUC7CJYH does not have 10 bit support as it only has an Intel 600 GPU, hence I think you are incorrect when you say it has 10bit support. Yes, HDMI 2.0 does support 4K @ 60Hz.

The Vorke V5 is a much better product, providing 10 bit (GPU 610) AND 4K 60Hz via the DP.

EDIT: My bad, HDMI 2.0 does support 10 bit. Sorry.

**sky42** · February 1, 2019 at 10:28 AM

real HDR10 (and only HDR10) on the TV right now and HD Audio passthrough is only working with S905X, S905D or S912 and you need at least real 150 MBit.

I tested Mecool M8S Pro L, Xoro HST 260, Xoro HST 260 DVB-C/T2, Mecool KI Pro and since 3 days Vero 4k+. If you buy one with 100M you need a extra usb gigabit adapter. I will keep the Vero 4k+.

Intel GPUs have no HDR10 support working on Linux right now. It will come and hopefully this year. I have a HTPC with i3-8100 and I am still waiting for working HDR.

sadmad · February 1, 2019 at 11:14 AM

Note: X88 Max+ and MX10 do not have GETH, it's 10/100 as per their specs.

LoopbackTrigger · February 6, 2019 at 11:23 AM

Quote from BenAlexander

Its menu navigation is slow and it is crashing out to Android home.

When it boots, it should boot straight into Kodi (and ideally, recover into Kodi after a crash).

I get you may have your heart set on a new box (and may even have it by now) but, by sounds of it, you're running Kodi via Android, not on LibreElec? If so, just saying, the difference in speed of menu navigation and stability (crashing) was night and day when I switched from Android to LibreElec on my S805 box. Might be able to get some more mileage out of your S905.

Kszaq used to publish images for these boxes but seems to have moved away from development. CoreElec appears to be picking up the gauntlet. You can run off SD card too if you want to keep your Android OS available.

indianahorst · March 27, 2019 at 2:18 PM

You should add the Rock Pi 4 to your list:

Here in Germany it costs between 52 and 95 EUR (depending on the exact version: Memory, Bluetooth, Wifi) and it ticks a lot of boxes.

For example Model A without Wifi and BT, with 4 GB RAM:

Radxa, RK3399, 4GB, GETH, Official LibreELEC OS for 80 EUR:

ROCK PI 4 A 4GB: Rock Pi 4 Model A, 6x 1,4 - 1,8 GHz, 4 GB DDR4 bei reichelt elektronik