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Intel’s 2nd-gen Compute Stick is a faster, better iTunes media server

One year after introducing the original Compute Stick, a version of which was featured in our guide to building a $150 iTunes media server, Intel today announced the 2nd-gen Compute Stick ($159-$499) with many noteworthy improvements. Still shaped like a pack of gum, the new Compute Stick fits a full-fledged PC into a small black enclosure, elongated modestly to accommodate a second USB port and new wireless hardware. This year, Intel is offering Atom, Core M3 and Core M5 versions, though even the $159 quad-core Atom version has enough power to serve as a full-fledged iTunes media server…

Each new Compute Stick measures roughly 1.5″ wide by 4.45″ long by 0.47″ thick — smaller overall than the Apple TV Siri Remote — while packing enough power to run standard Windows 10 apps, notably including iTunes. The size and integrated HDMI 1.4b connector enable the Compute Stick to plug directly into any HDTV, while USB and wireless features let you connect external storage devices and peripherals as needed.

Unlike the 802.11n, single-port original model, the new Atom version of the Compute Stick includes one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 port, as well as dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi support. It ships with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board memory, expandable using SDXC cards to an additional 128GB before USB or wireless storage are considered. The Atom processor inside has been bumped to Cherry Trail, and the MSRP is $10 higher than the first model’s, though first-gen Compute Sticks can currently be had for $100 to $120 online. Intel’s new Compute Sticks with Atom processors will be shipping soon.

Additionally, more powerful versions with Intel Core M3 ($399) or Core M5 ($499) processors will be available in February. They will jump from the Atom version’s Bluetooth 4.0 to Bluetooth 4.2, use a different power port, and lose the USB 2.0 port while growing 1mm in length. Each version will have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.

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Comments

  1. Alex Moran - 8 years ago

    Would this be underpowered as a plex media server ? I have no desktops at home only laptops looking to buy a Mac mini to use for my plex server

    Unless of course some one would reccomend a better option

    Looking for something small hence Mac mini

    • depicus - 8 years ago

      I’m using a 2007 17″ Mac laptop for Plex and it works fine so I expect this would be fine

    • Laughing_Boy48 - 8 years ago

      I think it would depend on what types of video files you need to transcode or the degree of quality you want to watch. Most of the higher end QNAP and Netgear NAS boxes have core i3 processors and they can comfortably do 1080p. I definitely wouldn’t take the risk of going with the Atom processor Compute Stick version for anything except browsing or listening to music. I’ve simply never been much of a fan of Atom processors so it’s just my personal opinion. I use a 2.8 GHz i7 MacMini as a PLEX server and that device can handle anything I throw at it. It’s probably overkill in my case but I got it for my HDTV and that’s what I use because it can do so many things. It definitely works great as a Kodi setup device for streaming online movies so it can handle both Kodi and PLEX at the same time.

    • calisurfboy - 8 years ago

      LaughingBoy48 Said it best.

      I bought the older generation Intel Stick for my sister so she could do online school work on a larger screen than the tablet which she was given. This is perfect for light web browsing and watching youtube videos or, in her case, email and homework. Anything more and it will stutter due to the demands you place on it. I would definitely not recommend it for Plex. For Plex I am using a Mac Mini and, for my father, I set up an Intel NUC. Those higher end NAS that are actually capable of HD video are pretty pricy and overkill for just wanting to do streaming.

    • ShadowPeo - 8 years ago

      May work as a Plex server, but it depends on whether the streaming client requires the file to be trans-coded, if not it will be fine, if so it may do one or two devices. I do personally use several at client sites for digital signage and they are perfect for that. At home I have used it to stream from Plex rather than to the new Apple TV I purchased as a test. As it is a fully fledged windows or Linux distro (I never did see those Linux ones materialize) you can install any codec you want on them, thereby negating the need for the trans-coding allowing you to use almost anything as your server, no remote but this can be fixed with additional hardware and overall what I have come to see as a better solution

  2. chrisl84 - 8 years ago

    I want a mac mini mini

    • chroniktronik - 8 years ago

      Indeed, call it a “MacStick”.

  3. Magnus Hedemark - 8 years ago

    This is all misleading. A PC can’t really be a proper iTunes server because iTunes is completely proprietary. These things will be, at best, anaemic desktop machines for lightweight email, web surfing, etc. If you open too many tabs at once, you’ll feel it. You’ve got enough resources here to boot an OS, but not enough to do anything useful without thrashing your swapfile.

    • Jeremy Horwitz - 8 years ago

      It’s not misleading whatsoever; you’re just misinformed. I’ve tested the prior version of the Compute Stick and it works exactly as expected to run iTunes as a server for media files to other devices.

    • Smigit - 8 years ago

      “A PC can’t really be a proper iTunes server because iTunes is completely proprietary”

      What? Why can’t a server be built on proprietary software? There’s nothing in the definition of ‘server’ to say it has to be an open platform, it just need to be capable of providing services to a client (in this case something like an Apple TV or another desktop).

      I have a headless iTunes server at home right now that can serve media to my 3rd gen Apple TV.

  4. carmineguida - 8 years ago

    If you look at the inside of the new “Macbook”, without the batteries, it’s just slightly bigger than these sticks.
    http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new_macbook_no_batteries.jpg

    Apple could make a “MacStick” (as “chroniktronik”) said here. They could just give it the 1 USB-C port and a display port.

  5. R.I.P. Raspberry PI, I never knew you.

  6. Michael Mazal - 8 years ago

    I have had 5 apple tv’s in my house. I run itunes on a 2007 macbook to stream movies to them. Recently we added 2 more apple tv’s it seems to disconnect and I have to close itunes and re-open it frequently. The external hard drive I use is new so I think the computer may be underpowered. Would I be able to run itunes on this to stream the movies? I don’t use airplay rather I go to connected computers on the aTV and stream from there.

  7. I tried to download ITunes but am getting an error message on my Intel v2 stick. What am I doing wrong?