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Small Green Computer Vortexbox running LMS?

Zonker92

Zonker92

All shiny and chrome
Who has a Small Green Computer Vortexbox running Logitech Media Server? I'm this close to buying the 1 TB box, because I have had no luck with LMS on either my old Netgear NAS (the version 1 Duo) or my current Synology NAS (the 212J).

The Netgear box kept pausing during playback of my Apple Lossless files with a Squeezebox Touch. I never could get it working right. The Synology box keeps losing its connection to my Touch (a new unit), even when they're hard-wired together, despite countless reboots, reinstalls, rescans and troubleshooting steps, and I've been trying for weeks to get it working right, but the connection always degrades.

(See my threads here and here.)

I want something that Just. Freaking. Works. Has anyone been running the Touch and LMS with a SMC Vortexbox and having it work just fine, or not? Thanks.
 
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You might try messaging AK member RichPA. I believe he's running that exact system.
 
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Thanks! I just wound up buying a used one on eBay; I'll see how it does.

I'm running LMS on my PC now, just as a stopgap, and it works like a dream. Stupid NAS.
 
I bought a Vortexbox 1TB from Small Green Computer and it has worked flawlessly. I did have one occasion whereby I had to backup and reload to jump versions.

Enjoy your purchase! Feel free to PM me if you have specific questions.
 
Thanks! Sounds great; I really appreciate that offer; I may take you up on it.

So here's an update: I've been running LMS on my PC, and listening on my Touch over the network all week and it's been running absolutely perfectly. Really points the finger at LMS on my NAS as the problem, somehow.

Meanwhile, I'm looking for the Vortexbox (Small Green Computer) 1TB to arrive today, or at least in the next few days. Can't wait to load my music onto it and see how it works!
 
whell said:
You might try messaging AK member RichPA. I believe he's running that exact system.
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So he is. Although I mostly use the Sonos interface, I do use LMS from time to time, and it works great. You need either a USB DAC or a USB/spdif converter. It does have built-in analog outputs, but they don't reveal the true potential of the system. Do feel free to PM me, or post here, with questions.

One thing you will find is that although the automatic ripping function works fine, it does not do well with the tagging of multi-disc sets, classical music, or obscure stuff. I also use dBpoweramp for ripping, runs on my laptop with the default directory set to the appropriate folder on the VortexBox. Again, let me know if you have questions. I think you're going to like it.
 
Super-cool; thanks!

FWIW, on my Touch I am using the Enhanced Digital Output app, or whatever it is, with a coax cable connecting the Touch to my PS Audio Digital Link III DAC.
 
Another Vortexbox user here. Mine runs on my main server in a virtual machine with the CD-ROM running in pass-through mode, works great :yes:
 
I use Vortexbox too. It runs on a circa 2003 Dell Dimension desktop computer, and does its job without any fuss. Like Rich, I use dBPowerAmp on my laptop for ripping and tagging. To fix or change tags every now and then, I use mp3tag.
 
robgmn said:
Is it just me, or do the prices seem high for what the units ARE?
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I agree with you. When I ran a standalone Vortexbox, I used a Foxconn barebones, and it came in under $300. Small Green Computer uses Foxconn barebones, which themselves usually dont run much above $100. Mine had an Atom D525, as AMD had no competition for the Atom at that time. If I were to build now, I feel I could do much better.

chassis: http://www.shop.perfecthometheater.com/HTPC-ITX2-Black-Ultra-small-aluminum-chassis-HTPC-ITX2-B.htm

power supply: http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-80

motherboard: http://www.mini-box.com/Intel-D2700DC-Mini-ITX-Motherboard

hard drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136927

memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148317

optical drive: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AD-7640S-DO

After shipping, it all comes in under $400. Man, that sure would look sweet sitting on a rack :yes:
 
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robgmn said:
Is it just me, or do the prices seem high for what the units ARE?
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I dunno - for someone not into gathering and assembling the parts, $500 for a 2-TB server seems pretty good, especially compared to something like the Olive. It's always the case that DIY is cheaper based on parts cost, but I feel like it was a good deal for me.
 
For the non-techie types, Small Green Computer is a nice deal. For what theyre charging, theyre not marking up parts much if at all, youre paying for mostly assembly, installation, and configuration. Building a system with those same components would probably run you somewhere ~$300 give or take.
 
I would add that when I had some software trouble, Small Green Computer was great with support
 
Yeah, I really didn't mind paying a little extra to save the effort of researching and building one. I have enough DIY projects to keep me busy right now; just check my started threads here on AK. :D
 
BadassBob said:
I agree with you. When I ran a standalone Vortexbox, I used a Foxconn barebones, and it came in under $300. Small Green Computer uses Foxconn barebones, which themselves usually dont run much above $100. Mine had an Atom D525, as AMD had no competition for the Atom at that time. If I were to build now, I feel I could do much better.

chassis: http://www.shop.perfecthometheater.com/HTPC-ITX2-Black-Ultra-small-aluminum-chassis-HTPC-ITX2-B.htm

power supply: http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-80

motherboard: http://www.mini-box.com/Intel-D2700DC-Mini-ITX-Motherboard

hard drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136927

memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148317

optical drive: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AD-7640S-DO

After shipping, it all comes in under $400. Man, that sure would look sweet sitting on a rack :yes:
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But I do admit, that looks sexy. Are all those parts compatible? (I don't know enough to say, for example, whether that power supply works with that motherboard and such.) Also, it says 80 watts, while the Small Green units are 25 I think. Is that a valid comparison? And does it need a cooling fan?

Also, the SGC has a buttload of ports, and an IEC power cord.
 
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Zonker92 said:
But I do admit, that looks sexy. Are all those parts compatible? (I don't know enough to say, for example, whether that power supply works with that motherboard and such.) Also, it says 80 watts, while the Small Green units are 25 I think. Is that a valid comparison? And does it need a cooling fan?

Also, the SGC has a buttload of ports, and an IEC power cord.
Click to expand...

My old Vortexbox unit was very similar to the SGC product. Same chassis, different motherboard. Its just this Foxconn barebones unit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119057&name=Barebone-Systems The Foxconn barebone uses a 150W power supply, while the one I linked in my ideal build is only 80W. The Pico PSUs, like the one I linked, are very energy efficient, and work perfectly in such a product that doesnt require gobs of power. In real world usage, both configurations would use nearly the same amount of power.
 
Cool; thanks! Maybe one of my next projects will be to build one of those bad boys.

Also, I have all my music on an external USB 3.0 HD. Can I just plug it into the Vortexbox and mount it as a drive and drag and drop to copy everything over?

Also, if I want to send the different file types (ALAC, MP3, FLAC) into different subfolders on the Vortexbox, is there an easy way to sort them before copying?
 
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