Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

I built my parents a HTPC using regular cheap low end PC components with the mobo having built in video & using HDMI to connect to their 50" Plasma.

Only thing I did different was choosing a small horizontal case so it could fit inside the TV cabin & using a uATX mobo since a full sized one won't fit the case.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/348831-home-theatre-pc/#findComment-5609698
Share on other sites

discrete graphics is a shiteload better for transcoding / high def playback, even a 70 dollar video card will crap all over integrated.

given that nearly all motherboards have at least 5.1 if not optical out / 7.1 sound inbuilt, why anyone would bother with a stereo only motherboard is beyond me.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/348831-home-theatre-pc/#findComment-5610713
Share on other sites

In my case it was because it was free. it was just the old work computer. Simply plugged in a 3.5mm stereo to RCA cable for sound and a VGA cable for video. Even being a single core celeron with inbuilt video it still copes fine for what i do with it.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/348831-home-theatre-pc/#findComment-5610886
Share on other sites

I have playtv for my ps3. the pc is for downloaded content. When i'm not so lazy i will stream the video to the ps3.

Im trying that at the moment, its harder to do than it sounds... pain in the ass and have had no success, its on the network but yeah cant share anything at the mo...

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/348831-home-theatre-pc/#findComment-5619029
Share on other sites

Those of you who have used your PS3 as a media server, check this out if you haven't already.

http://ps3mediaserver.blogspot.com/

I have been running this from my acer home media server over wireless and have had flawless playback. I use Netgear wireless N gaming access points however, so you may find that it will be a bit slower for you if you're on wireless.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/348831-home-theatre-pc/#findComment-5620596
Share on other sites

In my case it was because it was free. it was just the old work computer. Simply plugged in a 3.5mm stereo to RCA cable for sound and a VGA cable for video. Even being a single core celeron with inbuilt video it still copes fine for what i do with it.

asolutely right...no need for all that extra crap if all your doing is watching 700mb downloaded movies. which arent overly shiney...and sound is only stereo anyways :) but a video card does make life easier in every way...no comp should be without one regardless of purpose

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/348831-home-theatre-pc/#findComment-5620650
Share on other sites

sounds like you may as well be using an xpox or your ps3 as a media extender then marc

most people I know with dedicated media centres are running a Core 2 Quad, decent GFX for transcoding and SSD's lol.

Its overkill if your not playin games on it but too much power is better than not enough..

I built an old one for my bedroom runnin of an old celeron d 2.8 chip,2 gig ram and a 4350 1gig card that cost me 45$ new .its a useless computer , but makes a perfect media centre . Though it freaks out a bit when i try rewind live tv

For something decent youd want at very least a dual core or i3 processor 4 gig ram, dedicated graphics

(a 70$ card will do fine if you dont play graphics intensive games) I find Nvidia cards to have a much smoother picture than ATIs, make sure it has built in fan

If you have a decent surround system fork out another 50$ or so for a dedicated sound card as well, they make a world of difference to sound quality..

A tv card should only cost about 40$ but ideally you want a dual channel card so you can watch one channel and record another(mine doesnt do this :( ) and you will want the biggest hdd you can afford..probably best run a small hdd for programs and OS then a big one for movie storage

Edited by Arthur T3
Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/348831-home-theatre-pc/#findComment-5622058
Share on other sites

Another option is to go with a mini pc. Something like a Zotac HD-ID11.

http://www.zotac.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=100002〈=en

I have one with a basic HD and 2Gb of RAM. Cost $400 all up.

They run XBMC very well, and can use the onboard nVidia card to decode 1080p Bluray rips no problem.

Advantages over a more tradition system are size and power consumption; ie they are tiny and use bugger all power.

Downsides are lack of upgradability, suck for general purpose computing and you'll need a NAS / Server to store all your files.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/348831-home-theatre-pc/#findComment-5627115
Share on other sites

Or, if you are looking for something to do it all, maybe wait a few weeks and build something around the new AMD low power 'Zacate' chips.

Start with one of these

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=qSoDxhM5mAk1F607

Add DDR3

Put it in one of these

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=15809

Power it with this

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=15958

Fill it with Hard disks.

I'd run it with Linux + XBMC and software RAID for storage.

Low power, but faster than an Atom based mini system.

I'm thinking about setting this up to replace my Zotac ID11 when they come out.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/348831-home-theatre-pc/#findComment-5627119
Share on other sites

The PS3 signed code hack should give you some nice media sharing sometime soon maybe even mkv playback.

Thank F&*k for that, so many good movies are in mkv and its a pain in the arse to convert, so i just troll until i eventually find a good mp4 of what i want. Sometimes though they dont work to good!

Let me know if you ever see it come through, i hope PS3 eventually give us a patch for it like they did for 3D!

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/348831-home-theatre-pc/#findComment-5627724
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Cheers. Skyline is back on the menu, can’t get rid of it. It’s like a child you don’t want, or herpes 
    • I got back to Japan in January and was keen to get back on track as quickly as possible. Europe is god-awful for track accessibility (by comparison), so I picked up a first-gen GT86 in December just to have something I could jump into right away. The Skyline came over in a container this time and landed in early January. It was a bit battered after Europe, though—I refused to do anything beyond essential upkeep while it was over there. The clutch master cylinder gave out, and so did the power steering. I didn’t even bother changing the oil; it was the same stuff that went in just before I left Japan the first time. Naughty. Power steering parts would’ve cost double with shipping and taxes, so knowing I’d be heading back to Japan, I just postponed it and powered through the arm workout. It took a solid three months to get the car back on the road. Registration was a nightmare this time around. There were a bunch of BS fees to navigate, and sourcing parts was a headache. I needed stock seats for shaken, mistakenly blew 34k JPY on some ENR34 seats—which, of course, didn’t fit—then ended up having the car’s technical sheet amended to register it as a two-seater with the Brides. Then there’s the GT86. Amazing car. Does everything I want it to do. Parts are cheap, easy to find, and I don’t care what anyone says—it’s super rewarding to drive. I’ve done a few basic mods: diff ratio, coilovers, discs, pads, seat, etc. It already had a new exhaust manifold and the 180kph limiter removed, so I assume it’s running some kind of map. I’ve just been thrashing it at the track non-stop—mostly Fuji Speedway now, since I need something with higher speed after all that autobahn time. The wheels on the R34 always pissed me off—too big, and it was a nightmare getting tires to fit properly under the arches. So I threw in the towel and bought something that fits better. Looks way cleaner too (at least to me)—less hotboy, less attention-seeking. Still an R34, though. Now for future plans. There are a few things still outstanding with the car. First up, the rear subframe needs an overhaul—that’s priority one. Next, I need to figure out an engine rebuild plan. No timeline yet, but I want to keep it economical—not cutting corners, just not throwing tens of thousands at a mechanic I can barely communicate with. And finally, paint. Plus a bit of tidying up here and there.  
    • Nope, needed to clearance under the bar a little with a heat gun, a 1/2" extension as the "clearancer", and big hammer, I was aware of this from the onset, they fit a 2.0 with this intake no problems, but, the 2.5 is around 15mm taller than a 2.0, so "clearancing" was required  It "just" touched when test fitting, now, I have about 10mm of clearance  You cannot see where it was done, and so far, there's no contact when giving it the beans Happy days
    • It's been a while since I've updated this thread. The last year (and some) has been very hectic. In the second-half of 2024 I took the R34 on a trip through Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland - it was f*cking great. I got a little annoyed with the attention the car was getting around Europe and really didn't drive it that much. I could barely work on the car since I was living in an inner-city apartment (with underground parking). During the trip, the car lost power steering in France - split hose - and I ended up driving around 4,000kms with no power steering.  There were a few Nurburgring trips here and there, but in total the R34 amassed just shy of 7,000kms on European roads. Long story short, I broke up with the reason I was transferred to Europe for and requested to be moved back to Japan. The E90, loved it. It was a sunk cost of around EUR 10,000 and I sold it to a friend for EUR 1,500 just to get rid of it quickly. Trust me, moving countries f*cking sucks and I could not be bothered to be as methodical as I was the first time around.
×
×
  • Create New...