Recommendation about Mini PC for linux mint

[monchito]

Hi all, i'm searching one mini PC that work fine with mint, so I need yours recommendation and experiences. I only found some intel NUC and Linux mintbox (cool one, but expensive for me)

The basic needs are these:

- No more than USD $200.
- Fine for web-streamer (flash, ... all of them)
- Fine for media center.
- Fanless system (if it's possible).

Thanks a lot!,

Also, i checked here : https://community.linuxmint.com/hardware but can't filter by mini PC.

[xenopeek]

For that budget either look for a 2nd hand older NUC or consider a Raspberry Pi 3 with Kodi (it won't run Linux Mint). There's a collection of home theater PC builds here http://mymediaexperience.com/htpc-builds/ where you can see for your budget Raspberry Pi 3 is the best match.

[Citizen229]

Few questions monchito.
1) Do you already have a MATX/MITX/ MicroATX case already?
2) Do you have ddr3 ram sticks lying around that are good?
3) Do you have friends who have old hardware rotting in the closet you could get for free/cheap?
4) how much of a DIY guy are you?

[monchito]

For that budget either look for a 2nd hand older NUC or consider a Raspberry Pi 3 with Kodi (it won't run Linux Mint). There's a collection of home theater PC builds here http://mymediaexperience.com/htpc-builds/ where you can see for your budget Raspberry Pi 3 is the best match.

Hi xenopeek, thanks for reply, i got two raspberry PI1 (512MB). Is test Raspbian OS but the browser seems very slow. (Not good for web-streamer, and is one my requeriments) Maybe, Raspberry PI 3 (1GB) is better, but not fast enough (I think). And not work with mint.

Thanks for this link: http://mymediaexperience.com/htpc-builds/, is great!

Few questions monchito.
1) Do you already have a MATX/MITX/ MicroATX case already?
2) Do you have ddr3 ram sticks lying around that are good?
3) Do you have friends who have old hardware rotting in the closet you could get for free/cheap?
4) how much of a DIY guy are you?

Citizen229, thanks for reply. I thinking about a plugAndPlay HW. Not getting much work of casing, cables, setup and that sort of things.

I'm thinking about this mini PC: http://www.giadapc.com/products/minipc/ ... /F200.html
What do you think?

Thanks,
Monchito.

[odtech]

Hi all, i'm searching one mini PC that work fine with mint, so I need yours recommendation and experiences. I only found some intel NUC and Linux mintbox (cool one, but expensive for me)

The basic needs are these:

- No more than USD $200.
- Fine for web-streamer (flash, ... all of them)
- Fine for media center.
- Fanless system (if it's possible).

Thanks a lot!,

Also, i checked here : https://community.linuxmint.com/hardware but can't filter by mini PC.

Hi. Look at Intel J2900 or J1900 pc's. They are very cheap and usualy fanless as the cpu is very low power. I did a custom build for myself 2 years ago with the previous generation and it works perfectly.

Asus J1900I-C Motherboard
Adata 4Gig DDR3 1600L SODIMM (Notebook RAM)
500Gig HDD
CFI-A6X19 Chassis
Antec Mini-ITX Case ISK110-VESA Alternative Chassis

Looking back now i'd have rather taken the Antec chassis as it would have made the pc totaly fanless and it is VESA compliant meaning you can mount it on the back of your tv if you don't have your tv wall mounted.
Above build does not have wifi so you'd have to get a usb wifi.

[greerd]

Perhaps a MintBox?

[monchito]

Hi all, i'm searching one mini PC that work fine with mint, so I need yours recommendation and experiences. I only found some intel NUC and Linux mintbox (cool one, but expensive for me)

The basic needs are these:

- No more than USD $200.
- Fine for web-streamer (flash, ... all of them)
- Fine for media center.
- Fanless system (if it's possible).

Thanks a lot!,

Also, i checked here : https://community.linuxmint.com/hardware but can't filter by mini PC.

Hi. Look at Intel J2900 or J1900 pc's. They are very cheap and usualy fanless as the cpu is very low power. I did a custom build for myself 2 years ago with the previous generation and it works perfectly.

Asus J1900I-C Motherboard
Adata 4Gig DDR3 1600L SODIMM (Notebook RAM)
500Gig HDD
CFI-A6X19 Chassis
Antec Mini-ITX Case ISK110-VESA Alternative Chassis

Looking back now i'd have rather taken the Antec chassis as it would have made the pc totaly fanless and it is VESA compliant meaning you can mount it on the back of your tv if you don't have your tv wall mounted.
Above build does not have wifi so you'd have to get a usb wifi.

Thanks odtech, look nice but right now i'm really want a plug and play hardware.

Perhaps a MintBox?

Hi greerd, mintBox are greats! But exceed the U$ 200 (maybe $295 + international shipping)

What do you think about these: http://www.giadapc.com/products/minipc/ ... /F200.html ???!!!

Thanks!

[greerd]

Hi greerd, mintBox are greats! But exceed the U$ 200 (maybe $295 + international shipping)

What do you think about these: http://www.giadapc.com/products/minipc/ ... /F200.html ???!!!

Thanks!

I guess it looks good, 2 core 64 bit processor, you might want to install Mint Xfce with 2GB memory. Also note that it does not come with a drive or wifi.

[odtech]

Hi all, i'm searching one mini PC that work fine with mint, so I need yours recommendation and experiences. I only found some intel NUC and Linux mintbox (cool one, but expensive for me)

The basic needs are these:

- No more than USD $200.
- Fine for web-streamer (flash, ... all of them)
- Fine for media center.
- Fanless system (if it's possible).

Thanks a lot!,

Also, i checked here : https://community.linuxmint.com/hardware but can't filter by mini PC.

Hi. Look at Intel J2900 or J1900 pc's. They are very cheap and usualy fanless as the cpu is very low power. I did a custom build for myself 2 years ago with the previous generation and it works perfectly.

Asus J1900I-C Motherboard
Adata 4Gig DDR3 1600L SODIMM (Notebook RAM)
500Gig HDD
CFI-A6X19 Chassis
Antec Mini-ITX Case ISK110-VESA Alternative Chassis

Looking back now i'd have rather taken the Antec chassis as it would have made the pc totaly fanless and it is VESA compliant meaning you can mount it on the back of your tv if you don't have your tv wall mounted.
Above build does not have wifi so you'd have to get a usb wifi.

Thanks odtech, look nice but right now i'm really want a plug and play hardware.

Perhaps a MintBox?

Hi greerd, mintBox are greats! But exceed the U$ 200 (maybe $295 + international shipping)

What do you think about these: http://www.giadapc.com/products/minipc/ ... /F200.html ???!!!

Thanks!

There are branded pre built machines. HP and Acer amongst others makes them, just google j1900 or j2900 pc.

[monchito]

There are branded pre built machines. HP and Acer amongst others makes them, just google j1900 or j2900 pc.

Thanks, i will search it.

[mnmlisme]

while this topic's still warm, searched upon j1900 and discover gigabyte's brix mini pc, though so many models! but cheapest (and most common) sold is the BXBT 1900. Will this be sufficient to be daily desktop replacement? planning to upgrade to ssd and 4GB ram too to enhance performance.

[odtech]

while this topic's still warm, searched upon j1900 and discover gigabyte's brix mini pc, though so many models! but cheapest (and most common) sold is the BXBT 1900. Will this be sufficient to be daily desktop replacement? planning to upgrade to ssd and 4GB ram too to enhance performance.

That depends entirely on what you do with it. It should perform well enough for all media purposes but to be sure do some research first before buying.
You want to specifically look at 1080p H.265 and if you plan on going to 4k any time soon then also check if the cpu can handle it.
Here is a short list of users reporting on performance with HD streaming, one reported that 720p H.265 only used about 30% of the CPU.
https://www.reddit.com/r/htpc/comments/ ... m-comments

[mnmlisme]

while this topic's still warm, searched upon j1900 and discover gigabyte's brix mini pc, though so many models! but cheapest (and most common) sold is the BXBT 1900. Will this be sufficient to be daily desktop replacement? planning to upgrade to ssd and 4GB ram too to enhance performance.

That depends entirely on what you do with it. It should perform well enough for all media purposes but to be sure do some research first before buying.
You want to specifically look at 1080p H.265 and if you plan on going to 4k any time soon then also check if the cpu can handle it.
Here is a short list of users reporting on performance with HD streaming, one reported that 720p H.265 only used about 30% of the CPU.
https://www.reddit.com/r/htpc/comments/ ... m-comments

oh 1080p is fine, while watching youtube as well. just a thought if i should build a sff pc (which is hard to come by, parts-wise) or settle with the j1900 brix and use it for my workstation (office work and light picture editing)

[odtech]

or settle with the j1900 brix and use it for my workstation (office work and light picture editing)

For this i would not recommend a j1900 cpu. If your budget is really that tight then go for it but i would recommend going for an i3 instead.
I recommended the j1900 or j2900 because your original requirements looked like your going to use it for a media center.

[mnmlisme]

or settle with the j1900 brix and use it for my workstation (office work and light picture editing)

For this i would not recommend a j1900 cpu. If your budget is really that tight then go for it but i would recommend going for an i3 instead.
I recommended the j1900 or j2900 because your original requirements looked like your going to use it for a media center.

ditch the mini pc idea and went with Thinkpad i5 powered X220 instead. Better value, better machine for practice, mobile, and it looks good!