Stream Machine? Looking for everyone's input.

[Proxish]

Hey guys, 

 

 

That's not a misspelling, I'm talking about a streaming machine. 

I'm looking to build the absolute cheapest stream machine possible, and if no one has already uploaded a build log for one, I'd like to share it and a build log/tutorial for everyone over on YouTube to watch and build for themselves.

 

I build and repair Pc's part time, but I'm coming on here to ask for suggestions because I've heard a little about the Raspberry Pi and the new Intel Galileo, and I'm wondering if something like those could come close to the specs I'm looking to build. My knowledge past mainstream building is very limited.

 

The main goal here is to stream Steam directly from my main build in one room, to my livingroom Tv via my router using ethernet.

The only capabilities I need this miniature build to be capable of, is 1080p at 60hz display, and basic online capabilities such as browsing and Netflix. I essentially want to build a stationary nVidia Shield, but without the gameplay capabilities.

 

So throw your ideas in, if I'm not made to look like a total idiot because this is either not possible, or already been done, then I'll update this main text as we make progress.

[ToxicFire]

Well the Pi is arm based architecture rather than x86/64 so wouldn't support the steam distro (least not officially someones bound to build an arm based client for steam). As for the Galileo my concern would be the memory and video capabilities not really looked at that platform yet thought though the price point for galileo is nearly 3 times that of the pi.

[Mistral3031]

i would go out on a limb and say get something like a NUC or Zotac Z box would do what your looking for and would be pretty hard to build something like it for cheaper unless u went with cheapest parts possible. then i would say mini itx non K i5 core cpu, 4GB of ram, and intel NIC on the MB mabye AC Wifi built in just in case you have to move it too far from your Ethernet.  Then either a slim itx case like Silverstone Milo ML05B or RVZ01B just for example.  But yea i would look at prices of something like a NUC with a strong i3 or i5 to compare price with a machine would cost to build then things like size unless u got room next to your tv  

[Proxish]

Well the Pi is arm based architecture rather than x86/64 so wouldn't support the steam distro (least not officially someones bound to build an arm based client for steam). As for the Galileo my concern would be the memory and video capabilities not really looked at that platform yet thought though the price point for galileo is nearly 3 times that of the pi.

 

Thanks for the info, I wasn't aware the Galileo was that expensive, I've applied for a developer kit, as I'd like to experiment with it. But it'll be a while before I hear back about it.

 

 

i would go out on a limb and say get something like a NUC or Zotac Z box would do what your looking for and would be pretty hard to build something like it for cheaper unless u went with cheapest parts possible. then i would say mini itx non K i5 core cpu, 4GB of ram, and intel NIC on the MB mabye AC Wifi built in just in case you have to move it too far from your Ethernet.  Then either a slim itx case like Silverstone Milo ML05B or RVZ01B just for example.  But yea i would look at prices of something like a NUC with a strong i3 or i5 to compare price with a machine would cost to build then things like size unless u got room next to your tv  

 

I'll have a look at those just now, and post back if I get anything interesting out of the search.

Thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated.

[VortexS]

You will need a machine that can handle 1080p video streaming really smooth, so I guess you have to actually go for a full pc design instead of Pi like creations.

[ToxicFire]

You will need a machine that can handle 1080p video streaming really smooth, so I guess you have to actually go for a full pc design instead of Pi like creations.

 

The pi quite happily supports 1080p heck there are version of xmbc built for the pi. Biggest draw back with the pi will be getting a steam client or a version of steam os build to run on the pi, it will happen it will just have to be community made rather than by valve.