Supported hardware

XBMC needs a 3D capable GPU graphics hardware controller for all rendering. The required 3D GPU chips are common today in most modern computers, and even some set-top boxes. XBMC runs well on what (by Intel ATOM standards) are relatively underpowered OpenGL 1.3 (with GLSL support), OpenGL ES 2.0 or Direct3D (DirectX) 9.0 capable systems that are IA-32/x86, x86-64, or ARM CPU based.

When software decoding of a Full HD 1080p high-definition video is performed by the system CPU, a dual-core 2 GHz or better CPU is required in order to allow for perfectly smooth playback without dropping frames or giving playback a jerky appearance. XBMC can however offload most of the video decoding process onto GPU graphics hardware controller that supports one of the following types of hardware-accelerated video decoding: Intel's VAAPI, Nvidia's VDPAU, AMD's XvBA, Microsoft's DXVA, Apple's VDADecoder/VideoToolBox, OpenMAX, and Broadcom Crystal HD Enhanced Media Accelerator. By taking advantage of such hardware-accelerated video decoding, XBMC can run well on most inexpensive, low-power systems which contain a modern GPU.

The indicated place to discuss or ask about what hardware is good for XBMC is Hardware for XBMC subforum

Supported hardware by OS

Android

See also: Android FAQ and Android hardware

• XBMC for Android is still too early in development to have firm hardware requirements. As such, this is subject to major changes. A conservative estimate would be:
  • Something similar in spec to the Pivos XIOS (the development target for the initial Android port)
  • A NEON compatible ARM processor (for example: Tegra 1/2 probably won't be supported. Tegra 3 is okay.)
  • Android 4.0 or newer (might work on older versions such as 2.3, but this is a conservative estimate after all)
  • Hardware decoding support in XBMC is likely a must for HD video playback (720+). Don't expect this to work on any device until someone has specifically tested it and can confirm hardware decoding support for that device.
• The main aim for the initial port is set-top-boxes/sticks. Expect tablet/phone/touch/etc support to improve with time.

iOS

See also: iOS FAQ

ATV2

• If you have a jailbroken Apple TV 2 running versions 4.1 to 4.4.4 then use these instructions
• If you have a jailbroken Apple TV 2 running versions 5.0 and up then use these instructions
• If you only use your ATV2 for XBMC then it is recommended to stay on ATV software version on or before 4.3 due to 4.3 being more efficient and giving XBMC more system resources. Later versions of the ATV software are still usable, and depending on what skins/features are being used, some people might not notice a difference. Be sure to make sure there is a jailbreak available for whatever version you upgrade to, if you choose to do so.
• Look here to find out which version you are currently running.

iDevices

• To install XBMC for iOS you must have a jailbroken iDevice running iOS 4.x through 5.1. Hardware decoding is currently not working on iOS 6.
• For hardware: iPad 1, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch 3rd gen (16GB and 32GB models only), iPod touch 4th gen.
• iPad 4, iPad mini, iPhone 5, and iPod touch 5th gen do not have jailbreaks yet.

Linux

See also: Linux FAQ

Desktop

• x86 (Intel/AMD-based) processor computer capable of booting to CD-ROM.
  • Intel Pentium 4, Intel Pentium M, AMD Athlon XP/64, AMD Opteron, or newer CPU (that support SSE).
  • Fast modern dual-core processor is required to decode H.264 videos in FullHD (1080p) unless you have hardware video decoding (see GPU requirements below).

• For clarification; XBMC for Linux does not work on the Xbox game-console.

• ATI/AMD, Intel, or NVIDIA (recommended) graphic controller which supports OpenGL 2.0 or later.
  • ATI Radeon R420 (X800) or newer supported, ATI Radeon R700 (HD 4000) or newer recommended.
  • Intel GMA 950 (945G) or newer supported, Intel GMA X4500HD (G45) or newer recommended.
  • NVIDIA GeForce 6-Series and newer supported, GeForce 8-Series and newer recommended.

ARM/embedded

It is very hard to generalize XBMC hardware requirements for Linux-based OSes on ARM hardware due to most of the work in this area still being early/on-going in development. OpenGL ES 2.0 is a must. For most ARM devices, hardware video decoding support will be needed for most HD videos (and possibly some SD videos). Some newer/faster ARM chips can decode some HD video using software video decoding.

Here are a few known Linux/ARM hardware devices that are known to work:

• Raspberry Pi - Hardware video decoding for h.264, mpeg2, and VC-1. GUI is responsive on most light skins.
• Pivos XIOS DS - can run linux and boot directly into XBMC. Hardware video decoding for most video codecs, GUI is very responsive on most skins. Running linux/XBMC on the Pivos will likely result in better performance than running Android/XBMC.
• Pandaboard - GeeXboX is a good OS/XBMC distro for this platform. Limited support, as it is generally not a development target by Team XBMC.
• CuBox - Limited support, as it is generally not a development target by Team XBMC.

Mac OS X

See also: Mac FAQ

• XBMC v12 Frodo and up will require Mac OS X 10.6 and only run on Intel Macs. For the Apple TV 1 you will need to use a Linux-based OS to run XBMC v12 and nightly builds.

• XBMC v11 Eden runs on Mac OS X 10.4.x (Tiger) and later on both Intel and PPC Macs (G4 and above), as well as the Apple TV 1 (silver). Apple TV 2 (black) does not run XBMC for Mac, it runs XBMC for iOS.

Windows

See also: Windows FAQ

• OS minimum supported: Windows XP with Service Pack 3.
• OS recommended: Windows 7, which is required for hardware video decoding.
• Windows Home Server and Windows Server are not supported but have been reported to work with some tweaks.
• For end-users the recommended minimum requirement is a x86-based computer, with a Graphic adapter that supports DirectX version 9.0c.
• x86 (Intel/AMD-based) processor with SSE support.
  • Intel Pentium 4, Intel Pentium M, Intel Atom or better CPU.
  • AMD Athlon XP/64, AMD Opteron, or better CPU.
  • Fast modern (last few years) dual-core processor is required to decode H.264 videos in FullHD (1080p) without the assistance of a hardware video decoder.
• ATI/AMD, Intel, or NVIDIA graphic controller.
  • ATI Radeon R420 (X800) or newer supported, ATI Radeon R700 (HD 4000) or newer recommended.
  • Intel GMA 950 (945G) or newer supported, Intel GMA X4500HD (G45) or newer recommended.
  • NVIDIA GeForce 6-Series and newer supported, GeForce 8-Series and newer recommended.