Living Room Computer

wodin · 10-26-2016, 01:40 PM

I have an extra HDMI port on my new giant Ultra HD (4K) TV set, and am thinking about a small (~<$300) Windows 10 computer to use both as a streaming device and a bit of browsing on the big screen .

So far I've looked at the Intel Compute Stick, Kangaroo, and Shuttle Nano in both the Atom/Celeron versions and the Core i3/m3 versions and see pros and cons to all.

I am conversant in IT at the enterprise level but my skills at the consumer level are woefully outdated. So...

Knowing there are folks here who have the skills that I've let atrophy, what say you?

JSWolf · 10-26-2016, 02:03 PM

With the HDMI port, can you do 4K video?

wodin · 10-26-2016, 02:37 PM

Yes, the TV is capable but not all of the computers. The TV also has upscaling from 1080P as do some 4K BluRay players. The Shuttle Nano Core i3 specifically advertises 4K, but it only comes in bare bones, so there's a further expense for RAM, SSD, and OS on that which brings it up to ~$500. The upside is it can be configured for up to 16 GB RAM (I'd use 8) and whatever SSD you can afford.

AnemicOak · 10-26-2016, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

With the HDMI port, can you do 4K video?

I don't know of any streaming service that supports 4K on a PC currently (if one had the bandwidth and sufficient data [or no data cap] available). Some streaming services don't even allow 1080p on a PC yet.

4K Blu-Ray would be more possible as there are Blu-Ray drives that will read 4K discs and software (at least I think PowerDVD will now) that will play them provided the equipment is HDCP 2.2 certified to comply with the new DRM.

@Wodin, depending on what all you want it to be able to do with the PC a good resource for Home Theater PC is the AVS Forums. Might be worth a browse...
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/26-hom...ter-computers/

wodin · 10-26-2016, 02:45 PM

Thanks Brian, Yes there are several BluRay players that do 4K. Samsung, Sony, and a few more. Most (all?) of them also do upscaling from HD. They typically run in the $300 range.

I have Time Warner (Spectrum) cable with no data cap at (up to) 300 MB/sec but I've never seen that speed. The TV has HDCP 2.2 and DRM.

AnemicOak · 10-26-2016, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

Thanks Brian, Yes there are several BluRay players that do 4K. Samsung, Sony, and a few more. Most (all?) of them also do upscaling from HD. They typically run in the $300 range.

Yes, but I meant a PC drive Blu-Ray drive not a set top one.

Quote:

I have Time Warner (Spectrum) cable with no data cap at (up to) 300 MB/sec but I've never seen that speed. The TV has HDCP 2.2 and DRM.

Keep in mind you'll want the PC you're connecting to it to be compliant too. Many video cards aren't 2.2 compliant so something to look out for when shopping. It's moot right now as no streaming service will do 4K to a PC anyway, but if/when they do 2.2 compliancy will be something needed. For current streaming services you'll want to make sure the PC's video card is HDCP compliant, but 2.2 isn't a necessity for non-4K (personally for future proofing it would be for me).

PeterT · 10-26-2016, 06:17 PM

Why not go for a different approach. A Chromecast dongle on the TV and then any device capable of controlling the Chromecast (a tablet / Chromebook / laptop / ... ).

wodin · 10-26-2016, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the suggestion Peter, I took a look at Chromecast and it looks promising up front. The UHD version (Chromecast Ultra) won't be available until next month, and it will be $69. That's almost a throw away, and for sure and impulse buy at $80 less that Roku's UHD version.

Dopedangel · 11-07-2016, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wodin

Thanks for the suggestion Peter, I took a look at Chromecast and it looks promising up front. The UHD version (Chromecast Ultra) won't be available until next month, and it will be $69. That's almost a throw away, and for sure and impulse buy at $80 less that Roku's UHD version.

Have a look at Nvidia Shield tv I replaced my htpc with it when my htpc got a few years old and started hiccuping with the some of the newer video formats. It is capable of streaming 4k netflix and has a built in chromecast receiver.

https://www2.nvidia.com/en-us/shield/android-tv/

wodin · 11-07-2016, 11:38 AM

I finally settled for a Roku box. It's amazing how much they can pack into that little black box.

AnemicOak · 11-07-2016, 06:41 PM

I'm a big fan of Roku's, hope you enjoy yours.

wodin · 11-07-2016, 07:30 PM

Yes, thank you. The biggest reason is that I'm re-reading Outlander, and wanted to enhance the experience by watching the Starz series (Most excellent BTW). I have Starz furnished by my cable provider, and am able to log into the streaming service on my computer, but I wanted to watch it on the big screen. When I connected my Surface 3 Pro to the TV, the aspect ratio didn't match up so it failed to fill the screen.

Soooo... I looked at the various computer sticks, micro computers, and streaming devices and decided the best bang for the buck was a streaming box. As there are only a very few of them supporting UHD the list was narrowed considerable, and most of the reviews screamed Roku.

So this weekend I had an Outlander binge watch!

10-26-2016, 01:40 PM	#1
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	Living Room Computer I have an extra HDMI port on my new giant Ultra HD (4K) TV set, and am thinking about a small (~<$300) Windows 10 computer to use both as a streaming device and a bit of browsing on the big screen . So far I've looked at the Intel Compute Stick, Kangaroo, and Shuttle Nano in both the Atom/Celeron versions and the Core i3/m3 versions and see pros and cons to all. I am conversant in IT at the enterprise level but my skills at the consumer level are woefully outdated. So... Knowing there are folks here who have the skills that I've let atrophy, what say you?

11-07-2016, 07:30 PM	#12
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	Yes, thank you. The biggest reason is that I'm re-reading Outlander, and wanted to enhance the experience by watching the Starz series (Most excellent BTW). I have Starz furnished by my cable provider, and am able to log into the streaming service on my computer, but I wanted to watch it on the big screen. When I connected my Surface 3 Pro to the TV, the aspect ratio didn't match up so it failed to fill the screen. Soooo... I looked at the various computer sticks, micro computers, and streaming devices and decided the best bang for the buck was a streaming box. As there are only a very few of them supporting UHD the list was narrowed considerable, and most of the reviews screamed Roku. So this weekend I had an Outlander binge watch! Last edited by wodin; 11-07-2016 at 07:33 PM.

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10-26-2016, 02:03 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,757 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	With the HDMI port, can you do 4K video?

10-26-2016, 02:37 PM	#3
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	Yes, the TV is capable but not all of the computers. The TV also has upscaling from 1080P as do some 4K BluRay players. The Shuttle Nano Core i3 specifically advertises 4K, but it only comes in bare bones, so there's a further expense for RAM, SSD, and OS on that which brings it up to ~$500. The upside is it can be configured for up to 16 GB RAM (I'd use 8) and whatever SSD you can afford.

10-26-2016, 02:45 PM	#5
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	Thanks Brian, Yes there are several BluRay players that do 4K. Samsung, Sony, and a few more. Most (all?) of them also do upscaling from HD. They typically run in the $300 range. I have Time Warner (Spectrum) cable with no data cap at (up to) 300 MB/sec but I've never seen that speed. The TV has HDCP 2.2 and DRM.

10-26-2016, 06:17 PM	#7
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,521 Karma: 78910202 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Why not go for a different approach. A Chromecast dongle on the TV and then any device capable of controlling the Chromecast (a tablet / Chromebook / laptop / ... ).

10-26-2016, 07:34 PM	#8
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	Thanks for the suggestion Peter, I took a look at Chromecast and it looks promising up front. The UHD version (Chromecast Ultra) won't be available until next month, and it will be $69. That's almost a throw away, and for sure and impulse buy at $80 less that Roku's UHD version.

11-07-2016, 11:38 AM	#10
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	I finally settled for a Roku box. It's amazing how much they can pack into that little black box.

11-07-2016, 06:41 PM	#11
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I'm a big fan of Roku's, hope you enjoy yours.