I have gotten really excited over the pocket PCs and mini computer coming out lately with android and atom processors. I am thinking about putting together a simple media server using arch or ubuntu, for SSH, file storage, home media, and to mess around with node.js and ruby on rails.

I would really prefer to get one of the pocket PCs based on Z3735F. I need one with at least two USB 2.0/3.0 ports and a Ethernet port. I have found a few models out there. From what I have read though these machines have secure boot enabled with no way to disable it, so getting linux installed on them is next to impossible, and I have also read that the driver support is still pretty poor. The models that have the ports I am looking for are all sold by Chinese companies, which isn't a problem in and off itself, but you hear a lot of stories about people getting parts they didn't expect and low quality components.

I looked at the cubox and similar units based on the mx.6 arm chipsets, and they looked pretty nice. I am leaning towards an intel solution though, only because I am not sure how good software support is on ARM, and because I am not sure how well the ARM quads will perform as servers. They do seem decidely less beefy then the comparable SoC atoms.

If I buy right now I will probably get the liva X

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16856501011

It looks pretty sweet and seems to perform pretty well.

For some reason though this is only available in a dual core, albeit at a higher clock speed.It seems as if the Z3735F models should have higher performance because they have two more cores, but I am not sure if that is the case.

Would appreciate some advice on hardware and software. If anybody experimented with this kind of thing? Any tips? Thanks.

The top model Odroid (Korea) costs 75$ and sports an 8 core ARM CPU with 2GB memory. My itch to get one is great, but I have enough useless hardware lying around.

Liva doesn't look bad either.

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How does that compare to the RK3288 in performance?

I like the DIY, but I think I would prefer to get a system with all the specs built in. By the time I add storage to it and some kind of case I am will be paying quite a bit more I think.

I couldn't say, sorry.
You are probably right. The Liva at about US$100 has a sturdy-looking case and 32GB built-in. The CPU is somewhat weaker, but you can upgrade memory.

Be careful with the core count on ARM CPUs. While the Exynos 5 on the Odroid XU4 is indeed an 8-core CPU, it is a big.little configuration, which means in this case that it has 4 Cortex-A7 and 4 Cortex-A15 CPUs. Those can not be used simultaneously, you can use either the big cores or the little cores.

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Hmmm - that made me go look at the site again as, like @berndbausch, I keep trying to convince myself I need an Odroid.Gotta buy one and find out .... :shrug:

You misunderstood me. I keep trying to convince myself I don't need one.

I too have a bunch of old kit, but nothing I would run 24-hours a day because of the power drain. Too damn expensive these days.
I been wanting to do an owncloud instance for a while.

Found this video of someone running a bunch of games on a tablet based on the atom bay trail. He some how get it to play skyrim at 17fps, which is actually pretty impressive. They are capable little computers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWBJ...ion_1993660119

Portal 2 ran at a more comfortable 30-40fps at whatever settings. I don't plan to do any gaming on it, but it does speak to its power.

Looking pretty closely at a vesmile IPC002. Thing thing comes with a giant battery on it, so for 110 dollars I would be getting a low power micro serer with a battery back up . Kind of...It only has two USB ports and no ethernet, but I already own a USB hub and an ethernet to USB adapter. With my external drive plugged into the hub with a mouse/keyboard combo and the ethernet adapter plugged into the open USB I should be able to get reasonable speeds.

http://www.amazon.com/VENSMILEC2AE-i.../dp/B00REGG6QU

Best part is somebody did a video review and showed the bios. He didn't go into secure boot options, but it was there. A vesimile rep told a customer on a review site it could be used to install ubuntu, but its a chinese company, so I take that with a grain of salt.

The RK3288 ARM systems are technically more powerful though, and there are tons of really cool mini computers, including this PC stick with an ethernet port.

http://www.tomtop.com/MINI-RKM-V5-An...l4oaArGK8P8HAQ

Decisions decisions.

I too have been looking at one for making a dedicated firewall.

MINIX NEO was a choice along with a PIPO x8 and one on amazon with a battery in it and dock for about that same price.

Seems you generally have to fool the thing by using a 32 bit uefi loader then loading a 64 bit OS. A few articles about on that.

2.2 watts is a good start. The liva has a usb3

Yeah I heard about it but it sounds difficult and combersome? Care to link a guide? I would like to use the Pipo but I am scarred away by the bios issues.

I have found it. The perfect Z3735F based mini pc.

VOYO V2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/1818031...chn=ps&lpid=82

It has a 4500mah battery (some models have a 8000mah batter).
It has ethernet, HDMI, micro USB and standard USB and a DC power port.

Best part, it comes iwth 32GB ROM and a built in 64GB ssd drive! How cool is that.

The pricing is a tad steep for the segment at 150ish dollar (some places cheaper others more expensive) but I think that is what I am going to get.

Now just be available after Christmas!

VENSMILE® iPC002 Wintel Mini PC Compute Stick Atom BayTrail CR,Z3735F Quad

At amazon if you want a similar system. My only complaint is that the battery in it may also be a burden for full time use. I burned up a t-mobile cell modem like that.

Pretty sure any of the atoms in that class have a goofy 32 bit boot uefi.

How many users? I've been running Owncloud on a Raspberry Pi2 since it was released earlier this year supporting the 4 in my family.

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