TV box as a PC possible?

[Nicolas TIK]

I am noob on this and I am just asking...
TV box is basically similar to Raspberry pi, Orange pi, Banana pi (I am not sure but this is how I think). I am wondering, is it possible to install Debian/Respbian or any ARM support OS on it? So that it would look like a desktop PC and use it just like raspberry pi?
Or maybe TV Box are not as opensource and hardware are some how locked to prevent user from modifying it?

[System Error Message]

The problem with using these boards is that the ram is fixed and raspberry pis all have 1GB of ram. Even smartphones are faster and you have to consider the price of everything (monitor, accessories).

Still if all you want to do is just documents, web browsing, simple things than ARM can do that. If you want to do even more complex things you are looking at x86.

[tom66]

You could probably root one and flash an image onto them if you wish.

They are not going to have much hardware support in the stock Linux kernel, because they usually run Android and the manufacturers bundle custom open-source or proprietary drivers into their Linux builds to get them to work.

You can probably get a framebuffer (display), USB and networking. Things like hardware acceleration, necessary for 3D graphics and video decode, will likely not work. Wi-Fi may not work if it is not interfaced over USB (typically the embedded boards use something like MII or eMMC signalling standards as USB ports are more expensive).

[rob77]

even if you're lucky and there are drivers for the graphics chip and there is a linux image  for your TV box and you'll manage to install it without bricking the box... it will be a terribly slow desktop... slow as hell... even raspberry pi is slow as a desktop.
if you're looking into a option of having a single screen for TV and PC then rather go for Intel NUC or Gigabyte BRIX platforms. i personally use the BRIX - it's a very small form factor but it's a full blown PC (even has vesa mount so it can ber mounted on the back of your TV if you wish).

[rdl]

The low end BRIX are neat little computers. I have two of them. Mine use less than 10 watts of power and performance is plenty acceptable for most tasks. The only problem I had was the WiFi card they came with when I bought mine is almost useless with Linux but worked fine with Windows 7. Cost was less than $175, including 4 GB RAM and a 120 GB SSD. I'm running Linux Mint now, but here's a shot from when I tested Windows 7.

[System Error Message]

some tv boxes use non standard hardware with no way of repurposing them. Some run android which can be repurposed.

[NiHaoMike]

Something to consider is the Nvidia Shield TV. At $150 on sale, it will easily beat similarly priced x86 systems, especially in graphics. (For reference, it's about on par with some Core m PCs.) As a HTPC, it will satisfy all but the most demanding videophiles.

[rob77]

Something to consider is the Nvidia Shield TV. At $150 on sale, it will easily beat similarly priced x86 systems, especially in graphics. (For reference, it's about on par with some Core m PCs.) As a HTPC, it will satisfy all but the most demanding videophiles.

it won't even remotely beat any x86 as a desktop it will surely beat many systems in gaming (android games only), but not as a desktop.

main reason is because it's ARM, you can install ubuntu or other linux distro there but you will be not able to use any 3rd party programs (e.g. eagle) and won't be able to run windows programs under wine (e.g. any other PCB/CAD/CAM software).

so a x86 system is essential for desktop - and you can even run windows there if you wish

[Kilrah]

TV box is basically similar to Raspberry pi, Orange pi, Banana pi (I am not sure but this is how I think).

Unless you're sure or detail it enough nothing can be inferred.

If it's standard enough there might be a generic OS that runs on it, but if it isn't or deviates too much there will be missing drivers, proprietary things etc that prevent it.

[anman]

Models S912 probably can be compared. I liked the products TANIX successful combination of media consoles and PC on Android. Or Realtek rtd1295DD, best player, Zidoo x9s

[anman]

ODROID good product, but the price of necessary modules to it increases the cost of several times. As an alternative option for those who like win10 - Intel Atom Z8700 .

[technix]

Those TV boxes are technically PCs, but based on what chipset they are based on you may or may not have the luck in modding them.

I have a dead (as in service - we never used that Std-Def service after upgrading to Hi-Def - the circuit is perfectly working) one but the proprietary drivers got me extremely crippled in trying to hack it.

[anman]

A worthy opponent for ODROID-C2 - can be Khadas Vim An Open Source

[Kilrah]

My adblocker is probably rightfully blocking that affiliate/tracking link to a Russian domain...

[technix]

My adblocker is probably rightfully blocking that affiliate/tracking link to a Russian domain...

I often use my trusty virtual machine behind a VPN for those. Safe link - okay copy the final resulting link out, unsafe link - rewind the VM to a known good state.