Previously I had the Pi B as a Media Center in action. Files were obtained through LAN, OS completely saved to SD card, otherwise only FLIRC connected to the USB. As OS Raspbmc was used.
When changing to the Pi 2 now changed that a USB stick is also used for storing the data and is used as the OS OpenELEC because OSMC / raspbmc with Pi2 support is still in alpha.
Performance - surface / background tasks:
Eingentlich runs on the surface everything as usual, only faster. Where I have set exclusively on the Amber Skin at Pi, because it simply the most sensible because quickest is for the Pi, I now have the freedom to choose, without having to worry about the performance of me. (Currently I use Metropolis on the Pi 2)
The menus can sift through quickly, even in library views with many movie posters is no longer judder on. Only big jumps down from time to time ensure that the images can not be recharged quickly enough. In 'normal' operation, however, is nothing to feel.
Scanning the library runs felt 3-4x faster, but is still propagated no comparison to the PC, where my collection is complete in 2-3 minutes read while the Pi2 probably today used about 20-30 minutes. The Pi was clear here about 60 minutes.
Gigabit LAN would have been nice, since it represents a small bottleneck. If you have pristine BluRays with bit rates of usually about 30Mbit / s on the network, the standard Windows share (SMB / Samba) will not come after (for whatever reason). However, the somewhat cumbersome route via NFS puts things right, can exhaust the 100Mbit better and then comes with BDs easily clear.
Performance - Video / Audio:
Movies start faster and felt especial chapter / forward jumps are performed with much less delay. Up to 1080p of course everything goes perfectly, but since the old model had indeed been no problems, as long as the hardware accelerated decoding is activated.
Even the Decoden of DTS-HD or True-HD made the little during a short test without complaint. Since I usually but passthrough use (only the core is supported yet, so only hatch of DTS / AC3), I tried the no complete movie long.
The license for VC-1 and MPEG2 is still needed in order to decode the hardware side can. On the software side is the Pi2 not afterwards. The same time the knock-out criterion for anime enthusiasts. For h264hi10p performance for software decoding ranges still not out, so many torrents that use this exotic now, not (useful) are playable.
Power consumption:
Was measured with a Profitec KD302, for both devices a new 5V / 2A power supply was used. The devices run on standard clock, difference, however, in the operating system (Pi - Raspbmc, Pi2 - OpenELEC); the possible influence was disregarded.
Sumption on average each: Pi / Pi2
Motionless menu / Idle: 3.0W / 2.0W
Video playback 720p / 1080p: ~ 3.5W / 2.2W-2.5W
(720p with lowest consumption, 1080p ~ 0,1-0,2W more BluRay Untouched with 2.5W highest)
Passthrough or audio decoding from Pi showed no noticeable difference
The highest consumption of Pi2 with ~ 2.8W I have reached the main menu with RSS feed enabled; So when the Pi remains, but is not used in the best possible in a still menu change. ;)
The heat generation is correspondingly also slightly lower.
I am so far absolutely loved it! Finally really fast menu navigation, fixeres scan the library, free choice of the skins, lower consumption, familiar system.
Who pulls the Pi generally as a Media Center into consideration, can now finally access without hesitation and the 'old' Pi should no longer be considered. For the Old equiment actually a no-brainer when a disturbing recent, small performance disadvantages. A new power supply (5V / 2A) is necessary if one of the ancients still took a 1.5A and Micro SD instead of SD.
Cheaper will not get you away, in the acquisition, as well as during operation.
Recently I was considering even the change on the Cubox, but more than double the price for Gigabit LAN and SATA connector? Somehow superfluous.
