Several Amlogic S905X2 TV boxes have launched in recent months with models such as X96 Max or Beelink GT1 Mini, and if you’re the kind of user who mostly play videos from local storage as opposed to streaming, you can always connect a hard drive to one of the USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 ports of the media players. However, if you prefer something neater, A95X Max TV box offers similar features, but adds support for internal 2.5″ SATA drives.
A95X Max specifications:
- SoC – Amlogic S905X2 quad core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 1.8 GHz with Mali-G31 MP2 “Dvalin” GPU
- System Memory – 4GB DDR3L
- Storage – 64GB eMMC flash, micro SD card slot up to 128GB, support for internal SATA SSD/HDD
- Video Output – HDMI 2.1 output up to 4K @ 75 Hz with CEC, HDP, HDR support, AV output
- Video Codecs – VP9 Profile-2 up to 4K 60fps, 10-bit H.265 up to 4K 60fps, AVS2-P2 up to 4K 60fps, H.264/AVC up to 4K 30fps, H.264 MVC up to 1080p60, MPEG-4 ASP up to 1080p60 (ISO-14496), etc..
- Audio Output – HDMI, AV, optical S/PDIF
- Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet, dual band 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi 5 (2T2R), Bluetooth 4.2
- USB – 4x USB 3.0 ports
- Misc – IR receiver, front panel display, cooling fan
- Power Supply – TBD
- Dimensions – 13 x 13 x 4.5 cm
- Weight – 260 grams
Note that Amlogic S905X2 processor does not support SATA, and instead the design should rely on a USB 3.0 to SATA bridge. That means there’s no performance improvement to expect, and A95X Max is mostly interesting for cosmetics / convenience reasons.
The devices runs Android 8.0, and ships with a remote control, an HDMI cable, a power adapter, and an user manual. A mobile app is apparently available to record videos in the hard drive installed in the TV box, and share videos, games or movies.
A95X Max is now sold on GearBest for $72.99 with free shipping when using coupon GBA95XMAX. If you search for alternative sellers, be careful as manufacturers are running out of ideas for product names, and another “A95X Max” TV box was also launched in 2016 with Amlogic S905W and 1 to 2GB RAM.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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https://imgur.com/SxHs5U6
since usb3 is exposed but usb2 isn’t, i bet for usb2 to sata bridge
Or a hub?
There is a hub for sure since S905X2 has just one USB2 and one USB3 port (the latter pinmuxed with PCIe). We know that el cheapo USB3 hubs have 4 downstream ports only and we know that at least in the past flashing an OS to those Amlogic boxes required to use the OTG port. If it’s the same here I would suspect the blue USB port labeled ‘USB 4’ is USB2/OTG directly connected to the SoC simply having the ‘wrong’ color (SuperSpeed ports should be blue but I doubt there is a law declaring blue Hi-Speed ports illegal).
So yeah, it could also be an USB2 to SATA bridge behind the internal USB3 hub 😉
Why care? Just look at the funny Gearbest page where they show ‘benchmark numbers’ for both USB2 and USB3 (in the upper left corner write speeds can be seen).
There is a pcie lane? Surprise…
https://www.cnx-software.com/2018/10/21/comparison-s905x-s905x2-s905x2-processors/
My personal opinion is that is better to decouple storage and media player. Usually you need something to put content in a HDD, and media players are not meant to do so.
I am so much happier now with a dedicated NAS!
I agree that fixed nas is wise and the way to go for media that i store.
But I have seen 30 and 50gb media files and they just don’t play right w/o copy to the device. So I’m going to make this system up with kodi player added in, like on my other player boxes and see how it goes.
I was using bsplayer as well as a player, and may try that too, but it isn’t supporting android tv, so I went with Kodi and am acquiring a taste for it on here. time will tell, but this one seems to be just an android box like my last one was that I replace with an android TV. It was ancient and starting to get pushbacks from Google, whereas I hope this one is fully supported by google store.
On 2 day sale at geekbuying $ 69.99
https://www.geekbuying.com/item/A95X-MAX-S905X2-Android-8-1-4GB-64GB-TV-Box-411536.html
what format for the hard drive on these? NTFS newe drive coming up corrupt …