so you want a hackable Quad Core set top box....

I STILL THINK THAT MARVEL CHIPS ARE THE BEST FOR NAS - BUT LOTS OF POSTS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT HAVE ASKED ABOUT OR REFERENCED THIS PARTICULAR CHIPSET......

Amlogic S905 based Android set top boxes ~= $30

typical spec Quad Core with 8 graphics cores / 1GB ram+ / 8GB+ Nand/emmc

When you replace the dtb file can be run on any device with Amlogic chip S905.

The minimum media size - 8 GB
. https://yadi.sk/d/srrtn6kpnsKz2

Wiki
. https://github.com/150balbes/Amlogic_s905/wiki

Option how to start.
. http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s905/tronsmart-ac/firmware-roms-tools-at/565449-running-linux-from-sd-card-or-usb-flash-drive-using-balbes150-method-and-files

Universal multi-boot.
. https://yadi.sk/d/bqV6MEL-sWKmv

HOWTO
. http://www.cnx-softw...mx-or-k1-plus/#i

Running Linux From SD Card or USB Flash Drive - Using Balbes150 Method And Files.
. http://freaktab.com/forum/tv-player-support/amlogic-based-tv-players/s905/tronsmart-ac/firmware-roms-tools-at/565449-running-linux-from-sd-card-or-usb-flash-drive-using-balbes150-method-and-files/page5

purchase link
http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?minPrice=17&maxPrice=&isBigSale=n&isFreeShip=y&isRtl=yes&isOnSale=n&isFavorite=n&isLocalReturn=n&isMobileExclusive=n&shipCountry=UK&shipFromCountry=&shipCompanies=&SearchText=s905&CatId=5092303&SortType=price_asc&initiative_id=AS_20160623114728&needQuery=y

credit : http://forum.armbian.com/index.php/topic/1143-armbian-for-amlogic-s905/#entry8693



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2016 02:57PM by Gravelrash.

Nice.

Here is the listing of some S905 products on eBay. I don't know why, but they all have been flagged by eBay as NOT eligible for eBay purchase protection programs coverage. Regardless, I am really tempted to get the 1st one on the list.

1. Beelink MiniMXIII TV Box (2/16 GB RAM/storage) under US $17 + Free S/H. 4 negative feedbacks in the past month really don't look good at all.
2. HD 4K MXQ Pro (1/8 GB RAM/storage) under US $18.99. Feedback rating is good.

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 06/24/2016 08:16AM by habibie.

@habibie - would you be surprised to hear that i have just placed an order for the Beelink one....

@Gravelrash: Wow ... But, the Beelink listing has disappeared and the seller has 0 items on sale now. I am just hoping this is just a fluke because I wanted to place an order of 2 pcs. BTW, I contacted the seller 12 hrs ago and am still awaiting for his response.

Is there such thing as ARM or Marvel CPU/motherboard combos? With a couple RAM slots and optional SATA.x.& USB 3?
There were fanless quadcore combos for AMD and Intel that were around $59 at NewEgg months ago.

I know like Bodhi says, not to get too many bells and whistles that will be obsolete, but seems RAM is timeless. Just thinking out loud.

=========
-= Cloud 9 =-

JoeyPogoPlugE02 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is there such thing as ARM or Marvel CPU/motherboard combos? With a couple RAM slots and optional SATA.x.& USB 3?
>

That would be a perfect board to have if it does exist at an affordable price.

habibie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here is the listing of some S905 products on eBay. I don't know why, but they all have been flagged by eBay as NOT eligible for eBay purchase protection programs coverage. Regardless, I am really tempted to get the 1st one on the list.

1. Beelink MiniMXIII TV Box (2/16 GB RAM/storage) under US $17 + Free S/H. 4 negative feedbacks in the past month really don't look good at all.
2. HD 4K MXQ Pro (1/8 GB RAM/storage) under US $18.99. Feedback rating is good.

-------------------------------------------------------

It looks like both the above items that have been flagged by eBay as NOT eligible for eBay purchase protection programs coverage are already taken off the eBay list. I found the following items that also have been flagged by eBay as NOT eligible for eBay purchase protection programs coverage and let's see if they too will be taken off the list soon.

1. HD 4K MXQ Pro (1/8 GB RAM/storage).
2. HD 4K MXQ Pro (1/8 GB RAM/storage).

The following items have not been flagged by eBay as NOT eligible for eBay purchase protection programs coverage and let's see if they will survive.

1. HD 4K MXQ Pro (1/8 GB RAM/storage).
2. HD 4K MXQ Pro (1/8 GB RAM/storage) -- a new seller with 0 feedback.
3. HD 4K MXQ Pro (1/8 GB RAM/storage).

looks like the usual with advertised super inexpensive devices.

caveat emptor : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor

Exactly.

Where will be go? How will we survive?

=========
-= Cloud 9 =-

It would be a perfect board to have if it will be at affordable price!
Check out what I found in Israel - http://www.chinaprice.co.il/tvbox/5896/beelink-minimxiii

I recently bought this Mecool KM8 P TV Box Amlogic S912 $28.99 (1/8 GB RAM/eMMC storage) and it has been running with LibreELEC OS sans any problem, yet. I have not opened it up to inspect if it had GPIO port (which I doubt). If it does, perhaps adding a GPIO-to-SATA expansion board will allow one to add a SATA HDD and use the device as a NAS?

habibie,

> I recently bought this
> Mecool
> KM8 P TV Box Amlogic S912 $28.99 (1/8 GB
> RAM/eMMC storage) and it has been running with
> LibreELEC OS sans
> any problem, yet. I have not opened it up to
> inspect if it had GPIO port (which I doubt). If it
> does, perhaps adding a GPIO-to-SATA expansion
> board will allow one to add a SATA HDD and use the
> device as a NAS?

No, you cannot do that with GPIO. It is not a bus like USB, PCI, or SATA. With box like this, NAS is never a good choice. Buy a Dreamplug clone or a GoFlex Home/Net if you can get them for 20-30 USD and use it as NAS.

-bodhi
===========================
Forum Wiki
bodhi's corner (buy bodhi a beer)