I want to try to set up a Raspberry Pi I have as a smart TV box and I was hoping I could find some advice.

My main requirements are:

  • can run Moonlight
  • can be controlled from a Bluetooth game controller (that should also work in Moonlight)

What would be nice:

  • can run VLC or Plex or something
  • can support AirPlay
  • can be used for some actual streaming services like Netflix

Any suggestions?

  • Nyfure@kbin.social
    0·
    2 months ago

    Dont. They are notoriously bad at such things. Lack of Hardware acceleration mainly. These old Chips and problems with single-board-complications are just not worth it at such high prices.
    An Intel N100 MiniPC will have much more compute with less complications.

      • chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world
        1·
        2 months ago

        With Plex banning people with large pirated libraries and their opt-out “watch reports” stuff, they’re showing signs of enshittification. I setup Jellyfin as a alternative option for my library just in case. I even have a domain and HAProxy handling TLS offload for Jellyfin.

        I’m a Plex Pass Lifetime subscriber, but I like Jellyfin a lot. Once they get the HTPC experience a bit more polished, I might fully move to it and retire Plex, but I’m hanging onto Plex for now.

        • Norah - She/They@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
          0·
          2 months ago

          The lifetime subscriber bit makes a lot of sense. I didn’t have a Plex Pass and ditched them last year when the enshittifcation became worse than the effort to move everything over to Jellyfin. Basically swapped overnight once I was committed.

          • chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world
            1·
            2 months ago

            Yeah I have 40+ family members and friends who access my library through Plex…it’s going to be a much more bumpy ride for me and that’s basically why I have this transition period.

  • tty5@lemmy.world
    0·
    2 months ago
    • No SBC that I know of can handle 4k 120Hz HDR output, so getting the most of moonlight is not possible.
    • Low latency decode requires some work to get running
    • AV1 encode/decode has even more latency, do you will be running higher bitrate h264, which in turn means wired network connection is recommended.
    • Streaming services limit 4k and/or HDR access on a lot of content to locked devices. E.g. Netflix only guarantees 720p sdr when watching in a browser - how much more you get depends on the deal with the copyright holder.

    Tl;dr; a long, active fiber HDMI cable + USB over IP might be cheaper, better and easier. That’s what I ended up buying despite the cable length being 60m (200ft).