Version fight - Windows vs. Embedded Intel EGL - Who wins?

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I recently picked up a Intel NUC to use as a OpenPHT playback device (no need for serving).

I was debating whether it should be setup with the Windows or Embedded version of OpenPHT. I’m mainly focused on 2 areas - **Stability **and video quality. I’ll be playing 1080p and 720p content on a 1080p TV. The device will always be on.

Would appreciate any thoughts!

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I’ve run Windows and Embedded. Windows gives you additional options for playing back non-plex sources from websites or other services like Netflix. However, I couldn’t be happier with the simplicity of my ODroid Embedded. It does one thing and one thing only, Plex.

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Embedded is a dream for a home theater setup.

It’s super easy to install, I’d say try embedded and if you don’t like it go back to Windows (doubt you’ll go back, though)

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Though I don’t use OpenPHT…
(Originally PMP, then Plex for Kodi and most recently PlexKodiConnect) and although im a windows kiddie… unless you REALLY need the other advantages that a full OS gives you…then it’s LibreElec embedded all the way.
Even more so for an always on device… No worries of Windows Update, or other things hijacking the OPENPHT player.

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I have a NUC and and there is no substitute for openelec/embedded version (FYI- you can do anything on embedded that you can on the windows version).
I ended up installing a 2nd, small SSD just for embedded, and the larger SSD is running win 10 (soon to be back to 7).
cant really compare the 2 as it totally depends on whether you want to devote your NUC to being just a plex player (which I did).

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Thanks so much for the feedback everyone.
I’ve done a somewhat unscientific comparison (please take with grain of salt) and have found the following:

  • Menu animations seem to be a bit smoother on the Windows version (black edition skin)
  • Network transfer speed/caching during playback is faster on Windows (perhaps better Wifi drivers)
  • Video quality LOOKS to be a bit better on Windows (I don’t have 2 units or a video capture card to do a pure A/B comparison)
  • I did a 24 hour playback test of randomized 720p movies of various size/bitrate for both versions. Both passed without freezing/crashing
  • I did a 24 hour screensaver/idle test for both versions using the slideshow screensaver. The embedded version froze somewhere during the test - had to be hard rebooted

Tests were conducted with the same server connected to network via ethernet. Embedded vs. Windows tests were conducted via built in Wifi on the NUC device. The NUC is model - NUC6CAYH.

I’m taking a bit of time trying to “un-windows” Windows 10 - disabling updates, login, forcing boot straight into OpenPHT, forcing OpenPHT to have focus, etc. If that proves fruitful, I’ll stick with Windows, if not, I’ll try and further test embedded.

Let me know if you have any thoughts/questions/tests at all!

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the dev uses embedded on his NUC, i use windows on my 2 nucs.

you can easily make windows 10 more suitable, disable the windows update service, turn off notifications. you can auto login using ‘control userpasswords2’ from command prompt

you shouldnt need to worry about forcing focus as there should be nothing taking it away after you have done the above

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@daniel.cull

Thanks so much for the advice. I’ll be sure and do that. This will be in use for my parents, and they seem to always be able to break stuff.

I’m also doing an Autohotkey script that will check to see if OpenPHT is running. If it is, it will switch focus to it. If it isn’t running, it will start it up. I’m going to map that to the “X” button on the Xbox One remote that I’m giving them. It’ll be their “panic” button if they mess something up and end up in windows somehow. :slight_smile:

Thanks again!

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@katohideaki01 said:

  • I did a 24 hour screensaver/idle test for both versions using the slideshow screensaver. The embedded version froze somewhere during the test - had to be hard rebooted

This started with 1.8. It’s specific only to the slideshow screensaver and the others don’t seem to do it. Also the OS is not frozen, only OpenPHT. Restarting the OpenPHT process is enough to recover.

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@gbooker02 said:

@katohideaki01 said:

  • I did a 24 hour screensaver/idle test for both versions using the slideshow screensaver. The embedded version froze somewhere during the test - had to be hard rebooted

This started with 1.8. It’s specific only to the slideshow screensaver and the others don’t seem to do it. Also the OS is not frozen, only OpenPHT. Restarting the OpenPHT process is enough to recover.

Interesting - didn’t know it was a known bug. Just to be clear - we’re referring to the embedded version? How do I restart the OpenPHT process? Via SSH?

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I’m not saying it is a known bug (I’m not an OpenPHT developer); I’ve just seen it myself starting with 1.8.0 (embedded). I saw it with the generic embedded version myself at least 6 times.

To restart the OpenPHT process

ssh root@ipaddress.
(default password is `openpht`)
systemctl restart plexht
exit

I did this a few times, but since I’d rather have an OpenPHT that works without having to do something to fix it every day, I changed my screensaver to dim and it’s not locked up since.

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@gbooker02 - thanks so much for the input. Much appreciated.