WARNING Building BYOB with pre-used NUC

[IanL-S]

A not of warning to anyone looking for a second-hand Intel NUC. At least on older models the backup battery is next to impossible to replace. You have to remove the main board which according to online posts is challenging.

The main drawback is that when the battery fails, COMOS setting are lost when the power supply cuts out - this can happen from time to time. The default setting is not to restart the PC, which can be a problem if you are away from home. I have overcome this problem [I hope] by attaching the NUC to a UPS.

[raymondjpg]

A not of warning to anyone looking for a second-hand Intel NUC. At least on older models the backup battery is next to impossible to replace. You have to remove the main board which according to online posts is challenging.

The main drawback is that when the battery fails, COMOS setting are lost when the power supply cuts out - this can happen from time to time. The default setting is not to restart the PC, which can be a problem if you are away from home. I have overcome this problem [I hope] by attaching the NUC to a UPS.

Given the current situation regarding viability of an IceTV custom built Icebox I'd say it's time to again look at refurbished NUCs. For example UN Tech has a number on offer, including the NUC7JY with the Pentium Silver J5005 at $142 which would be similar to Icebox but with a more powerful processor.

The main advantage of these refurbished units is that they come with RAM and an SSD (albeit on the low capacity side) but the NUC7JY probably has the option of fitting a 2.5" HDD which would be perfectly adequate to run IceBox.

Your concern about the backup battery is legitimate, and UN Tech noted that they are thoroughly tested, whatever comfort that may provide you.

Edit: The 7th generation NUCs like the NUC7JY were the only NUCs I'm aware of that only had a 2.5" HDD or SSD storage option. So the UN Tech's offering would likely require replacement of a a 2.5" SSD with a larger capacity 2.5" HDD or SSD, if one wanted more starage capacity. As I said, a 2.5" HDD would be perfectly adequate to run IceBox.

[MD]

Worth keeping these two reviews in mind:  https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/un-tech

[raymondjpg]

Worth keeping these two reviews in mind:  https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/un-tech

You have to wonder if many of these internet reviews aren't AI generated or originate from farms where people are paid to write spurious reviews about this that or the other.

I take your point, buying a second hand computer is probably as fraught with problems as buying a second hand car, with fewer consumer protections. But I'd still be looking hard to try and meet the demand for an Icebox BYO at a reasonable price point.

Refurbished NUC7JYs with equivalent RAM and SSD can be found at the same price on ebay and Dick Smith, as an alternative to UN Tech. I don't think it matters which source you choose, there is always the risk that the backup battery will be, or soon to become, defunct.

We had one of the first NUCs manufactured that wouldn't power on, even after we soldered in a backup battery replacement. IIRC we used to kick start the motherboard's CMOS by pulling the power jack out of the back of the NUC, waiting 10 seconds or so then reinserting the jack. The NUC could then be powered on.

If that's all it took to put together a functioning Icebox, then I'd go for it.

Purchasing a cheap Celeron NUC such as the NUC11ATKC2 new is another option. I have one and wouldn't recommend it to anyone to run Windows but I reckon it would be perfectly adequate to run Icebox BYO. However, a barebones will set you back $230-250 before factoring in currently exorbitant prices for RAM and an M.2 SSD.

PVRs have become a niche product. If you want one you pays your money and takes your choice.