Which Mede8er to buy? 500X or 500X2

[Goldpanner]

I hope I'm in the right section, I have been reading on this site and the web about which Mede8er would be a better choice, the 500x or 500x2, I will be replacing an older 500x and would like to stick to the same type of unit.

I see units for sale bragging about the: NEW!!! Revised Chipset 1073DD C+`in the 500x going for $185.00 USD on Ebay with the: Processor: Realtek RTD1073 - 128MB SPI Flash - 128MB DDR2 SDRAM.

The from the same seller I see the 500x2 going for $215.00 USD which has these specs: Processor: Realtek RTD1185 - 256MB SPI Flash - 256MB DDR2 SDRAM and Chipset RTD1185 256MB Flash memory - 256MB DDR2 SDRAM.

The only major differences I see between the 2 besides the chipsets and ram is that the 500x2 can take a 3tb hard drive where the 500x can only handle 2tb.

But is it worth the extra $30.00 for those major items? I have an older TV, the CRT type, nothing fancy, no HDMI, and we are fine with that, basically all we use it for is playing .iso's, .avi's, Mp3's. And I already have a 2tb internal hard drive full that I want to be able to just drop in the new one without having to re-format it again, as well as my two external hard drives that are 2tb's each.

My older 500x was a nice unit, it had it's faults but it played anything I could get into it, I only wish it lasted longer but as I search the web I find that the issues I had and have are very rare so I must have been one of the unlucky ones but I'm willing to give the 500 another try because we liked the first one so well.

So if anyone out there can give me a heads up I would appreciate it, I have used "TViXie" to do all my movie information and I'm wondering if the newer 500's can still use those files properly so that I don't have to convert hundreds of folders over to something else.

And one last question, I'm sure if I purchase the 500x it will be updated to the newest and last firmware for it will I be able to roll it back to V2.1.0 or V3.0.2, the reason I ask is because some of my files seem to work better with them firmware versions. Some of my files show up as invalid when I go way up the ladder on firmware updates.

Thanks for your help:)

[Mike42]

If you stll have choise concider the X3 series aswell. Otherwise the 500x2 is a good choise
Has some extra features and is worth the extra $30,- i think

Gr, mike42

[Maasbommel]

I am not sure you can still buy a new 500X at a retailer, so will mean you have to buy a second hand unit - wich might be not ok... That is the risk with buying second hand stuff.....

[Goldpanner]

If you stll have choise concider the X3 series aswell. Otherwise the 500x2 is a good choise
Has some extra features and is worth the extra $30,- i think

Gr, mike42

Thanks - I don't seem to be able to find the 500x3 version around where I am at the USA, only the 500x2.

[Goldpanner]

I am not sure you can still buy a new 500X at a retailer, so will mean you have to buy a second hand unit - wich might be not ok... That is the risk with buying second hand stuff.....

The retailer on Ebay in the USA sells the 500x as new not reconditioned, I believe his handle is: mediaconceptusa  and he sells most all the versions of the mede8er, he is the seller I bought my last unit from back in April 2010.

I have read on here and on the web that the 500x is no longer made the 500x2 replaced it and I hear that the 500x2 is being phased out too, I'm not really worried about them being phased out seeing as I don't keep up with the latest and greatest, as long as the unit can play my files and be ready to go when I have a huge bowl of popcorn and a case of beer ready for movie night that is all I need

I agree I would not buy a second hand unit and I have looked at other media players but I still haven't found one that compares to the Mede8er, and the bonus of this forum which really adds to the units value, so I want to stick to the Mede8er.

I will e-mail that seller on EBay and ask if he is selling old stock or reconditioned or ? Because he advertises them as new with an updated chipset. Thanks for your response.

[Thorgal]

No wonder you can't find it because there is no 500X3 (the X3D series starts with the 600X3D).

But aware about the big downside of the X3D series.... missing DIVX support.

[Mike42]

Thanks - I don't seem to be able to find the 500x3 version around where I am at the USA, only the 500x2.

Yes your right, there's no 500X3. However the 600X3/800X3/1000X3 all have same functionality as the 500X2 however with
some extra feautures.

mike42

[Thorgal]

+ twice as much faster RAM (SLC/DDR3) and higher clockrate of the CPU. The user interface should be faster this way and maybe better streaming performance as well. Everything else should be the same.

The X-series is not he best choice because of the tiny small RAM and support of only up to 100Mbit LAN.

[Maasbommel]

You can compare here:
http://www.mede8er.com/mede8er_product_matrix.html

And also read up hear regarding all the models:
http://www.mede8er.org/

[Goldpanner]

Thanks to all of you who have responded to my questions, I appreciate it! And for the helpful links. I contacted that USA seller and he says he is an authorized reseller of Mede8er brands and other brands as well and he only sells new units.

I found on his website that I can get a new 500x for $165.00USD with free shipping, pretty good deal on a great unit. I like the other features on the newer models but seeing as our entertainment system is well from the late 90's the basic 500x would suit us fine, when we update to HD then the story will change for us and then we'd transfer the 500x to the bedroom and have the latest unit in the living room.

Once again thank you guys, you helped a lot, I'm sure this will help others out too

[Archer]

My recommendation would be to avoid all mede8er products.

I was an early adopter, and bought into all the hype that they wouldn't be doing what WD did in bringing out new hardware versions and leaving previous versions without firmware updates.

I believe the last update for my box was 2 years ago. It now sits in a closet, and I have long since replaced it with a full HTPC. I have regretted my purchase of the mede8er almost since day 1.

[Goldpanner]

Well I purchased a new 500x and received it last week, it was nice to be able to just pop the old hard drive in and it fired right up, I noticed inside that they redesigned the board a bit different then my older unit, some of the cables have been moved to other areas and certain parts are no longer there.
And the remote is smaller, by a third at least then my older one, including using 2 AAA batteries instead of 2 AA batteries. And the seller pre-loaded the latest firmware on it v4.0.5.
So far everything works great and we are hoping for many good years on this unit, at least a bit longer then we got on the older unit:)
Thanks again everyone for your help.

[Goldpanner]

My recommendation would be to avoid all mede8er products.

I was an early adopter, and bought into all the hype that they wouldn't be doing what WD did in bringing out new hardware versions and leaving previous versions without firmware updates.

I believe the last update for my box was 2 years ago. It now sits in a closet, and I have long since replaced it with a full HTPC. I have regretted my purchase of the mede8er almost since day 1.

I was thinking that after my older unit started giving me trouble awhile back, but we enjoyed the 500x too much and we are hoping that it was just bad luck for us to have those troubles seeing as I don't see anybody else reporting similar video issues, and as for the firmware updates and glitches if you look around with other media tanks which I'm sure you have you will see that they all have their issues with firmware troubles, so that don't really bug me.
What makes the Mede8er media tank stand above the rest is this forum, ask any question and usually there is someone who can help you, 24/7, that alone is worth it to us and that is why we bought into the 500x again:)
But thanks for your post I appreciate your opinion.