I’m using a Chromecast with Google TV, simply because that’s what I had when I started.
Hoping a new Shield will come before it dies, alternatively I need to find something else.
After I migrated to a N100 that does all transcoding for me, the media device itself is more about codec support, a nice UI and response times and less about raw power.
Cool, well then I can at least share what I went with that has worked really well: GMKtech N100 NUC from Aliexpress with 16 GB of RAM.
It’s hosting Jellyfin with transcoding, PiHole, Home Assistant, Heimdal, a Valheim server and loads of other small LXC’s in Proxmox.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen it break a sweat.
The NAS holds the .arr stack and Qbit, but that’s it.
I cannot speak to the longevity of it, but I repasted the CPU once I got it and it’s chilling below 45 degrees all day long, so I expect it to last for many years. I also enabled C-states to get idle consumption as low as possible, around 7-8W.
Best of luck with whatever setup you end up with mate!
I run a 4 bay and a N100 NUC.
The Synology is almost a pure storage machine. Works really well with Proxmox on the side. Not a single file has made it kneel yet, and I’ve thrown some high bitrate badboys on it.
Is not upgrading the drives an alternative?
I feel like you sacrifice a lot of practicality removing the NAS, such as automatic backup from phones and very easy remote access.
Personally I also prefer separating data and software, so I don’t lose it all if a component fails.
Just my .02
That would be a mirror of my setup. GMKtec N100 with 16 Gb of RAM doing all the heavy lifting with Jellyfin (transcoding), game servers, HomeAssistant and so forth. Not once has it had a hickup.
It’s a brilliant little thing for really very little money.
Remember to activate C-states in BIOS to achieve the super low idle TDP people talk about, around 6-8W.
Good luck on your journey!
Heroic has treated me very well so far!
Shadow of War runs like a dream after some tinkering
I did the same.
Jellyfin and all “fun” containers to a N100 NUC and let the NAS be a NAS. It’s only running the .arr stack and qBit. Works really well and the NUC has power for days to expand.
Yeah same.
NAS is running with everything I downloaded, seeding 24/7. I started back up about a year ago and my ratio passed 10 before Christmas. I did not download a single thing I didn’t want, but I try to stick to movies big enough to be freelech and downloaded seasons instead of single episodes, again as they are freeleech.
Fun fact for those strugling: my top 10 ratio seeds are all freelech and has netted a total of 2,6 TB. Not a single one of those files are newer than 3 years old.
It’s hard in the beginning, but stick to freeleech and keep building ratio, and before you know it you won’t have to think about it anymore.
Yeah it makes no sense, yet it’s so much fun when stuff finally works like it should!
Everybody loves using Jellyfin at home, but they think I’m mad for spending countless hours setting up everything the first time, then a second time to improve, then a third time as I migrated HW.
Keep having fun with it mate! The possibilities are endless
Comprehensive write up. Thanks for this!
The main reason I went for it now was that the panel has been out a few years and the price is more in line with what I’d like to spend. I’m guessing this new tech will be quite costly to begin with?
The early adopter tax thankfully no longer gives me a high, but I will read up on these and maybe they will be relevant next time around.
Seems like interesting tech, for sure!
I have been dreaming of dabling with Arch, but I just don’t feel ready for it, if that makes sense?
With kids, work and life getting in the way, I just don’t have the hours to tinker with stuff like I used to.
Maybe in a few years when they are older.
I have set up a few headless homeservers with Debian. Hopefully that experience will help then
I have that too, but being a dad limits my gaming time so much that I reckon the monitor is obsolete, technology wise, by the time it becomes an issue.
Time will tell I guess
Goof clips with mates are the best!
Your reasoning makes sense. Thanks again!
Yeah I have a few extra SSD’s in the system, so maybe I’ll give dual booting a crack later on.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Order placed. Cheers mate
Appreciate the input mate. The overwhelming response here was so positive that I just bit the bullet and ordered it.
Life’s to short to have 11 year old monitors, ey?
Guess I’m just “worried” the upgrade in color accuracy and response time won’t be enough to warrant the purchase, but you all seem encouraging so I’m leaning towards upgrading. Cheers !
Short and sweet, awesome mate. I appreciate your advice!
Just you being happy with SDR is a positive sign for me, so thanks for the feedback. What do you stream/record?
Good to know that you are happy with it in SDR while gaming, which will be my biggest use-case. Cheers!
Ok this is amazing!
I’m at work but half an hour just flew by! Need to play with this to learn more CLI. Mint makes my life too easy sometimes, I guess…
Thanks for sharing!