Acer Revo R3700 and Plex.

[DejaVu]

Been using XBMCBuntu on my Revo's forever and have just realised the full potential and stability of Plex.
I don't really want to run a XBMC/Plex combo so was thinking about installing the likes of Android x86 (for speed) on my Revo's and then install the Plex for Android App onto it and load it on startup.
The Revo's will only be running Plex. Absolutely nothing else.

The best way?

Yes, that's right you heard me right. I'm defecting to Plex!

[flipper321]

Surely Plex for Android is only the client and not the media server or am I misunderstanding and you have Plex Media Server installed somewhere else?

[DejaVu]

Media Server (PMS) elsewhere on my Linux system. Just need a frontend for Plex (PMC) required on the Revos. But want to do it as 'standalone' as possible.

--EDIT
Been looking about and found people installing MAC OSX to the Revo to get this working. Interesting, but a little overkill (I hope!)

[Geko]

I'd be interested in seeing how you get on.

[x_Mr_C_x]

I'd also be interested to see how you get on.

I've put Windows 8.1 on my R3600 and installed the Plex app from the Windows store which works well. I went the Windows route as I wanted to have XBMC access as well but I've found I never touch XBMC. MY LG TV has a built in Plex client which is great most of the time but is lacking the options of the full Plex client. I've also considered picking up a Roku 2 or 3 to use plex on as I was impressed with the Plex app on the NowTV box.

[DejaVu]

Well, this looks like the way I'll be going -

http://froebe.net/blog/2013/08/23/ho...-ubuntu-linux/

I want to keep Sab/Sick/CP/HP all running on it too, so this looks like my only option.
Worth a go, will keep ya posted.

To take the piss a little, I'm gonna try installing it to XBMCBuntu. lol

[DejaVu]

That didnt go well, so used this instead.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVKoJ4BahFo
Need to do all the updates, install the latest Kernel (for HDMI Audio support) and the NVidia Drivers.

But works a treat!

[DejaVu]

Spoke far too soon.

Plex with Linux Mint on a Revo R3700 (4GB!) is a no-no.

Runs far too sluggish and the stuttering is unbearable as well as constant 'Media Server has gone away' messages. I mean WTF?! Where the fuck could it have possibly gone on my gigabit network!!?.
Also trying to get the buffer settings correct is a total PITA!

I didn't realise how well XBMC was tuned until attempting Plex and in my personal opinion, the features of Plex are very appealing (streaming anywhere and sharing/transcoding media anywhere) but I am reverting back to XBMC for my home network streaming needs.
Plex (or Linux Mint) is too resource hungry to run smoothly on an Atom powered PC.

Now using OpenElec and it's streaming and playing everything perfectly again from my Home Server.

[Rick Sanchez]

I've PM'd you mate. Do these have a DVD drive? Laptop one I'm guessing?

Could I run:
XBMC,
Netflix,
LoveFilm,
iPlayer,
4OD
etc

[Over Carl]

What I'm suggesting to everyone at the moment is using old worthless laptops (e.g. smashed screens) as servers at home. Hardly cost anything, take little space, power and don't kick out much heat, but won't take internal 3.5" drives. (e.g. the going rate for a dell d620 with smashed screen seems to be about £40)

Wouldn't be surprised if I go full circle and go back to full blown servers in the future but atm I'm using old c2d laptops for my servers.

[liveseytowers]

Aren't old laptops like this power hungry and noisy compared to a home server? I've got loads of Dell D630s or better but they only have 76gig drives but 4gb of ram. Would that be OK as a plex server with a usb hard drive for storage?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[Rick Sanchez]

No can do at my Mums, got to be clean, simple, compact and easy to use

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Over Carl]

Aren't old laptops like this power hungry and noisy compared to a home server? I've got loads of Dell D630s or better but they only have 76gig drives but 4gb of ram. Would that be OK as a plex server with a usb hard drive for storage?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

Never had a chance to actually test what it drains, but I considered the fact the psu is 75w, and I'm guessing up to half of this could be used charging a battery. Then out of the half left, I'm guessing more than half of that goes on the screen as you can notice windows massively changing the battery life estimation when you change brightness. So by my very crude guesswork I reckon it uses about 15w.

Plex recommended spec is c2d with 4gb. Yep, the 80Gb drives they normally came with are a bit cack, but that can be swapped with 1tb, then you could put another in the dvd bay. (USB drives would work as well obviously, as long as they are usb2+). My d620 plex server also doubles up as my pbx and I've never had any problems.

Edit: However if you have ones with NVidia gfx you may as well sell them now before they die.

[DejaVu]

No can do at my Mums, got to be clean, simple, compact and easy to use

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

That being the case, I'd suggest a legit box like NowTV. Cheap and easy to use or slightly more future proof, perhaps a Minix Neo 7 with XBMC for Android.

It depends more on your mum's technical knowledge more than what the box can actually do.

Would you enjoy getting calls every night explaining she can't do it?

Don't get me wrong, Revos are great for tinkering and I swear by them. But suggesting it to my mum is probably never going to happen.

@liveseytowers
You'd be surprised at what a low spec a Plex Server needs. I know people using NAS systems for it. A D630 will run it no problem.

I've tested Plex Media Server on my Atom 1.6 Revo and it worked great.


Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[Rick Sanchez]

I need a DVD/blue ray player in one

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[DejaVu]

I need a DVD/blue ray player in one

I think a Revo just for a DVD Player is overkill. DVD's are old hat and I'm almost certain, give it a few years, Blu-Ray will be too. The digital-age is moving too quickly for 'permanent media' IMO.

Now, back on topic...
Due to some new circumstances, I'm now going to attempt to try this again. Plex WILL run on my Revo's natively and smoothly... I'm determined.
I've been running OpenElec XBMC since Plex went belly up, which is OK, but it's not Plex.

I'm thinking I might invest in a couple of SSD's for them - if anyone has any suggestions on cheap ones - as I've heard the performance increase is superb.

[liveseytowers]

I've just installed Plex server on my old HP 6400. Simple to install and worked perfect when streaming to my phone. Will install on my NowTV box tomorrow as well. It's very CPU heavy all my stuff is 1080p so watching something on my phone was maxing the CPU. Played flawlessly though.

So what channels have people installed?

[liveseytowers]

DejaVu, when you get yours working on your Revo can you update us? Got it installed on mine alongside xbmc and streaming to the nowtv box upstairs and seems to work OK with kids stuff, but I struggled to play full hd stuff on my laptop from it.

[NuMbNuTz]

I installed Plexbmc earlier on my revo 3610, streamed my 1080p movie fine for the couple of minutes I tested, also managed to stream a 720p movie from a remote source without issues might be worth a look.

[DejaVu]

I've now completely nobbed off XBMC in favour of OpenElec/PHT on both my Revos. Reason being, the Revo is still only an Atom and I think XBMC being a full blown client is too much for the little fella - although has done very well up to now.
Now I have a 'central server' type setup, I think Plex client is teh way to go and so far is working incredibly well. Coupled together with the NowTV's in all my kids rooms things feel a lot smoother, stable and even the missus is happier using the more simpler Plex.

I highly suggest this (New and a WIP) version of OpenElec/PHT from Mark Walker.
https://forums.plex.tv/index.php/top...ne-pht-distro/

He doesn't appear to be getting much exposure for it yet, which is a shame as he's done a great job with it.
Discussions happening here -
https://forums.plex.tv/index.php/top...-pht-openelec/

PleXBMC is a way to go, but being on a full blown install of XBMC is in a way, bloat.

Also, Channels worth considering all live on the Unsupported AppStore
https://forums.plex.tv/index.php/top...rted-appstore/