Raspberry Pi: Difference between revisions
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* Turn off RSS feeds and any scrolling text options for your skin. | * Turn off RSS feeds and any scrolling text options for your skin. | ||
* Use a lightweight skin such as the default Confluence, Amber, Quartz, Bellow, or xTV-SAF. | * Use a lightweight skin such as the default Confluence, Amber, Quartz, Bellow, or xTV-SAF. | ||
* Use an SD card with good rewrite speeds. The class of the SD card doesn't always mean it will be faster, as that speed listing is for sustained reading and writing | * Use an SD card with good rewrite speeds. The class of the SD card doesn't always mean it will be faster, as that speed listing is for sustained reading and writing '''''[http://swag.raspberrypi.org/products/noobs-8gb-sd-card The class 4/6 Samsung SD cards sold on the Raspberry Pi Store] (the ones with NOOBS on them) typically have much better performance than most class 10 cards.''''' For more information about SD card speeds, check out this excellent thread on the R-Pi forum: ''' http://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=53159 ''' | ||
* You can also try to use a combination of SD and fast USB drive for your {{kodi}} install, but recent improvements to the software make it so that even just using a good SD card is about as fast as using a fast USB drive. | * You can also try to use a combination of SD and fast USB drive for your {{kodi}} install, but recent improvements to the software make it so that even just using a good SD card is about as fast as using a fast USB drive. | ||
* Avoid using wifi. If you do use wifi, use a wifi adapter that contains two antenna (either internally or externally). Otherwise, stick to wired ethernet, local USB drives, or ethernet-over-power devices (like Homeplug, etc). | * Avoid using wifi. If you do use wifi, use a wifi adapter that contains two antenna (either internally or externally). Otherwise, stick to wired ethernet, local USB drives, or ethernet-over-power devices (like Homeplug, etc). | ||
Revision as of 19:43, 18 October 2014
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 Devices |
Raspberry Pi
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For more info and help, check out the XBMC Raspberry Pi support forum |
The Raspberry Pi is an ARM powered, credit card sized computer developed in the UK by the Raspberry Pi Foundation for educational and hobbyist purposes. The low power computer is mass produced at very low prices and the high number of units sold gives it massive community support. As an XBMC HTPC, the Pi supports full 1080P video playback, supports most major codecs, most if not all XBMC add-ons, and a reasonably responsive GUI.
Installing XBMC
Main page: HOW-TO:Install XBMC on Raspberry Pi
The easiest way to install XBMC on an R-Pi is to use one of these pre-made OS/XBMC packages:
- OpenELEC - Installing • FAQ • Help forum • USB drive install
- Raspbmc - Installing: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux • FAQ • User guide - Help forum
- XBian - Installing • FAQ • Starters guide • Forum
Which one do I install?
If you just need Kodi, which is how you will get the best performance out of the Pi, then install OpenELEC.
If you need to install additional programs along side Kodi then look at Raspbmc. Keep in mind that OpenELEC includes OE add-ons for most common programs, like download clients, file sharing, etc.
Maximizing performance
- Install OpenELEC.
- Turn off RSS feeds and any scrolling text options for your skin.
- Use a lightweight skin such as the default Confluence, Amber, Quartz, Bellow, or xTV-SAF.
- Use an SD card with good rewrite speeds. The class of the SD card doesn't always mean it will be faster, as that speed listing is for sustained reading and writing The class 4/6 Samsung SD cards sold on the Raspberry Pi Store (the ones with NOOBS on them) typically have much better performance than most class 10 cards. For more information about SD card speeds, check out this excellent thread on the R-Pi forum: http://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=53159
- You can also try to use a combination of SD and fast USB drive for your Kodi install, but recent improvements to the software make it so that even just using a good SD card is about as fast as using a fast USB drive.
- Avoid using wifi. If you do use wifi, use a wifi adapter that contains two antenna (either internally or externally). Otherwise, stick to wired ethernet, local USB drives, or ethernet-over-power devices (like Homeplug, etc).
- If you are using wifi and it seems just on the edge of being fast enough, check out HOW-TO:Modify the video cache.
- Try using NFS file shares instead of SMB file shares.
- Overclock. Most (but not all) Pi's can be overclocked to some point, as long as they have a good power supply. All Raspberry Pi's are clocked at a speed that will work by default, but when the CPUs are made they can sometimes handle a faster speed without crashing. This depends on each individual unit, and there's no universal setting that will work for everyone (except for the default speed that you get without overclocking). Try various overclocking settings and run Kodi for a while and see if it's stable. If one group of overclocking settings causes crashes, try a group of settings that are lower than that. For more information about this check out this forum thread: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=199272
- Feeling adventurous? Check out the latest OpenELEC test builds, which often have even more speed improvements. Just remember that these builds can often be unstable: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=192380
Other advice
- Don't bother with heatsinks or fans. They won't hurt anything, but even an overclocked Pi won't actually need heatsinks. The SoC is designed for very high heat and being in even closer, more confined areas. If the Pi is in direct sunlight for some reason, then you might worry about cooling it off (or just moving it out of direct sunlight). This is true even if you have a tightly enclosed case.
Frequently Asked Questions
- See: Raspberry Pi FAQ
How good is it, really?
See for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErWF2sYgJec
Further reading
Random notes
Feel free to place various notes, tips, and links here. As this section of the wiki gets more organized, those notes will be properly sorted. Consider this like a dumping ground for when you're not sure where to put something.