Thanks for the reply and technical breakdown! You've educated this old moron 😆
After some pondering, that may be the best option; sell the x86 stuff and get a Pi 5 instead. Shame I can't use the hardware I currently own, but I'm already thinking about designing a case with an integrated 16x2 LCD and IR...*launches Fusion360*
I havn't used a Pi for media since the original Model B with Openelec. How's the experience these days? I remember being amazed at how well it handled HD content, given the price and form-factor, but UI navigation was a stuttery, slow affair. Presumably things have moved on since then.