Need a little PC to run Ubuntu and XBMC on the TV. So no fan is good and decent graphics are a must.
Liking this so far…
http://www.fiercepc.co.uk/barebones/shuttle-xs35v3-barebone-mini-pc-computer-intel-atom-d2700-ddr3-nm10-vesa-xs35v3/

http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Computer/cat/Nettop

Raspberry Pi?

There’s a little Acer thing that’s well regarded.

The Church of Jobs will be along soon to tell you all about the Apple TV.

Do you need proper ubuntu? How about a Raspberry Pi?

The Church of Jobs will be along soon to tell you all about the Apple TV.

I guess an Apple TV would be hackable, it’s a variety of Unix underneath, after all. A Mini would be vastly OTT, but the TV is cheap as.
Well, as if by Magic:
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW-TO:Install_Ubuntu_and_XBMC_on_Apple_TV_1
http://electronicsprice.co.uk/product/Apple-TV.html?gclid=CJ6-9ZCUz7QCFQ7LtAod_nEAhQ

ATV 1 is way under-powered for stuff these days! ATV 2 would be OK but 2nd hand prices are quite expensive, would almost be better off getting a proper Mini 2nd hand for a couple of hundred IMO. Just make sure you get one with a graphics chipset capable of being used by XBMC for hardware playback.

ATV3 would be perfect but not hackable (yet).

Or (as suggested) R Pi. I have one, it’s awesome. Runs Linux or Raspbmc (not at the same time though!)

Thread here

Have a look at some of the boards/systems here >>

http://www.mini-itx.com/store

There are quite a few passively cooled mini ITX motherboards to choose from, also some half built systems like the Zotac Zbox. Whilst an Intel Atom CPU will have the grunt for what you propose will the Intel graphics cope, wouldn’t something with an Nvidia chipset or AMD which will offload the video away from the CPU allow for a cooler running and possibly fanless system.