W95 Android TV Box 1GB RAM 8GB ROM USD $26.62 (~AUD $36.02) Delivered @ GearBest

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geek001 on 04/07/2018 - 10:19 gearbest.com (274 clicks)
Last edited 04/07/2018 - 10:32 by 1 other user

Hi all,

I received this unit last night. To be honest, the specs are unremarkable for an Android TV Box as Android doesn't run very well on 1GB Ram. But after I put LibreElec on this, it works really well. For the uninitiated, LibreElec is a fork of Kodi that runs on low spec hardware. LibreElec doesn't run on all Android tv boxes, this is what makes this a good deal.

I recently moved my TV to another room with very bad TV reception. I have an existing unit where I watch normal live TV over the internet (when the missus isn't watching her Korean dramas on Kodi).

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• 

  Bappy on 04/07/2018 - 10:25

  Thanks OP - I have a Beelink GT1 that I wanted to try with LibreElec.

  Have you got any instruction on installing LibreElec on W95?
  Is this on Freaktab Forum?

  • 

    geek001 on 04/07/2018 - 10:34

    +6

    Yes, I do actually. It is relatively safer than updating roms. This is what I did for the W95 box.

    https://forum.libreelec.tv/thread/5556-howto-faq-install-com…

    Burn the LibreElec image onto a microSD card in the instructions above.

    Replace the dtb.img on the microSD card with this file: https://kszaq.libreelec.tv/s905/8.2/device_trees/S905X/gxl_p…

    Reboot using "recovery method (2nd variant)" method in the above install instructions.

    If it doesn't work, just take out the microSD card and the box will boot up in its original Android.

    In your case, it looks like you have a different board and a S912 chipset, so you may need to try other dtb files. If LibreElec doesn't work for you, you can try CoreElec, which is a fork of LibreElec. https://github.com/CoreELEC/CoreELEC/releases

    • 

      lplau on 04/07/2018 - 11:00

      What laser would you recommend to burn the microSD card?
      I am thinking of using one of these:
      NEJE JZ-5 Mini Laser Engraving Machine
      https://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers-3d-printer-kits/pp_2762…

      • 

        geek001 on 04/07/2018 - 11:04

        On a microsd card reader. You can try the laser engraving machine, but it really depends on what operating system the machine is running.

    • 

      bamzero on 04/07/2018 - 11:43

      Using internal memory for data is a worthy mod also. Guess it depends what internal memory your box has but it's still likely going to be much faster than SD. You can then use pretty much any old SD card you have, and still go back to Android if you need.

      Making this change made all the difference. It was pretty good before, much better than running on Android, but using internal for data takes it up a another notch, everything is so much more responsive (ie flicking through a list, cover images etc are loaded instantly instead of that slight delay)

      I have a 16GB box, not sure how much space you have left on an 8GB box, but can probably get away with it.

      • 

        geek001 on 04/07/2018 - 11:55

        I just use the installtointernal to install LibreElec permanently onto my box. I only do that after I use it for a while and find no issues with LibreElec. Good idea though, but I can't imagine me ever needing to use the default Android installation since it is a 1GB ram device. :)

        I don't store my media files on the device, so 8GB is pretty sufficient for me to store addons files. I have a separate Windows computer sharing media files via SMB. And even then, the media files are only the ones I want to keep. I just stream media files off the internet most of the time.

        But yes, you are right, when LibreElec runs off the device internal memory, it is noticeably faster.

      • 

        bamzero on 04/07/2018 - 12:05

        @geek001:

        Ah yeah, I just assumed using as a network player, I also keep media on a NAS.
        Definitely not a good idea if you want to keep media on the box itself but guessing no one would do that, even with a 16GB model.

        I'm very unlikely to use Android on mine either, but figured it's the best of both worlds.

  • 

    geek001 on 04/07/2018 - 10:51

    +2

    By the way, I forgot to mention. Your remote may not work with the default LibreElec. The Android on your box would have its own version of Kodi installed. In the config folders, there is a remote configuration file called remote.conf. You will need to copy that file off the Android Kodi and put it in the LibreElec Kodi config folders and your remote should work again.

    • 

      iDroid on 04/07/2018 - 12:27

      Nice!

      Thanks for the tip, locked and loaded in head ready to forget.

  • 

    avan1976 on 04/07/2018 - 10:54

    1GB is not much for android. Expect laggy use in general.
    But more than enough if you stay in Kodi the whole time.

• 

  garage sale on 04/07/2018 - 10:34

  Android 7 runs OK with 1GB if people are just using VLC for movie playback, or the Netflix app for watching Netflix, etc. It's when people try to run multiple apps or gaming (depends on game size) that problems arise, but I've found the same problems on our 2Gb units.

  Bigger risk is waiting 1-2 mths for it to arrive and then deciding you wanted the better unit for an extra $15 ….

  If people want 2Gb ram, or the 905x or 912 instead of the 905W, then price goes up unfortunately.

  These things are priced as throw away if broken , the IR receiver led on one died, and the hassle (cost and time) of replacing the led meant unit goes into bin or runs off wireless dongle and keyboard.

  • 

    geek001 on 04/07/2018 - 10:46

    I guess it depends on what you want to use it for. I wouldn't recommend this unit to even run the default Android, let alone run Netflix or gaming.

    I only wanted to use these units for Kodi. I did toy with the idea of getting a 2GB unit, but my father in law has a 2GB unit, and I don't see any difference in performance in LibreElec. I guess you could splurge out and pay a bit more for same unit but with 2GB ram, which is maybe less than $10 more, but for my purposes, there is no need.

    Btw, I forgot to mention, the Priority line shipping for this unit is only about 50 USD cents more, you could spend that and get it in about 2 weeks instead of 1-2 months.

  • 

    bamzero on 04/07/2018 - 12:00

    Yeah, before the 905W came out the 905x boxes were cheap, 2/16GB could be had for under $40 (I think I picked up mine for $33 or something)

    GB has the MECOOL M8S Pro+ 2/16 905x for US$39.99 with free priority line shipping.
    (I thought on that one, bluetooth didn't work in LibreELEC, but the GB listing says no BT at all so I guess I'm getting them mixed up.)

• 

  adr8 on 04/07/2018 - 11:00

  +1

  I have the 2GB version, paid $40 AUD and pretty happy with it so far. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/381751

• 

  Goof on 04/07/2018 - 11:05

  I currently have a Raspberry Pi 3 running LibreElec just fine (wired Ethernet to HDMI + RF remote). But being a tinkerer I'm curious to know if there's any benefit to changing to use one of these instead. Any advise?

  • 

    geek001 on 04/07/2018 - 11:13

    +2

    Hello fellow tinkerer. I used to have Raspberry PI 3 running OpenElec doing the same thing. To answer your question, no, there are no extra benefits running these units instead of Raspberry PI 3. I only changed to using one of these units because I have to repurpose my Raspberry PI 3 to do something else. Another tinkering project of mine, running Home Assistant. These units are cheaper than getting another Raspberry PI 3 + box + remote. :)

    • 

      cryptos on 04/07/2018 - 18:11

      +1

      Well there is one obvious benefit, these decode H265..

• 

  [Deactivated] on 04/07/2018 - 11:27

  Hi OP, I SUFFER thru my Mrs Korean dramas too o.O

  • 

    geek001 on 04/07/2018 - 12:08

    Korean dramas are not so bad. But in my experience in real life, long dramatic pauses never work, not even if you are a really good looking guy. In real life, there are no cameras looking at you from different angles for 2 mins. 2 mins pauses are usually long awkward pauses. Lol.

• 

  bamzero on 04/07/2018 - 11:46

  +1

  So is GB collecting GST? I've seen comments that say they are, but I can't see it in the cart (only gone as far as second stage, haven't hit the Place Order button.)

  • 

    geek001 on 04/07/2018 - 11:58

    I don't think they are. I did the same thing just before to get the total in USD to post this deal.

  • 

    Bobbymg on 04/07/2018 - 12:39

    now they are adding postage cost for normal post delivery
    I never voted Liberal and ll never do
    :-)

    • 

      bamzero on 04/07/2018 - 12:41

      It varies between products. Some are free, some have free priority line.

• 

  mingofmongo on 04/07/2018 - 15:12

  +1

  But does it run Windows 95 ?

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  1cent2much on 04/07/2018 - 20:54

  Genuine question..
  Will one typically get down voted if he/she complains about Gearbest and nothing to do with this item?

  • 

    bargaino on 05/07/2018 - 12:24

    Not if you provide a link to similar item at better seller. And don't downvote the deal - people get sensitive about that.