*****BUDGET***** Media? PC build

Just got an LCD HDTV, and want to build a PC that I can hook up to the TV. I want to add all of my movie files to the harddrive(s), run the HDMI through it(to record), and install an internal BlueRay....

My problem? I have no idea what kind of motherboard/processor to run! It's been a while since I built a PC. All I have are laptops right now, and have been out of the game for a while.

I want this to be somewhat of a budget build, so if I can find a motherboard with onboard HDMI, that would be great. I am prepared to add a video card if needed.

I have been searching my favorite elecronics site(newegg), and I think I've confused myself more than before...lol


HELP!

The XBox 360 is my Media Center PC. I got the $10/Month Netflix subscription along with the ~$3.50/Month Live Gold membership. I am able to stream all the on demand Netflix content (in addition to 1 DVD out at a time via snail mail), most of it in impressive HD to my TV. The 360 also connects to all of the other PCs in my house and can stream music, pictures + video (including divx/h.264/mpeg4 movies) to my TV from those PCs.

With the XBox you get a fairly quiet PC, HDMI, a very stable OS... all for a price of a barebones HTPC (case, power supply, motherboard... you'd still have to add the processor, hard drive, memory...).

You won't have blueray or DVR functions. I've considered rolling my own DVR but the dish network DVR I have is just too good. I wouldn't even come close to functionality/ease of use.

If you really want blueray... buy a PS3 too!

You could probably get a 360, PS3, 1TB NAS setup and 1year Netflix + Live Gold Membership for about the cost of a good HTPC rig.

If you insist on rolling your own, check this out...

http://linuxmce.com/

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 9829&hl=en

eelhc wrote:The XBox 360 is my Media Center PC. I got the $10/Month Netflix subscription along with the ~$3.50/Month Live Gold membership. I am able to stream all the on demand Netflix content (in addition to 1 DVD out at a time via snail mail), most of it in impressive HD to my TV. The 360 also connects to all of the other PCs in my house and can stream music, pictures + video (including divx/h.264/mpeg4 movies) to my TV from those PCs.

With the XBox you get a fairly quiet PC, HDMI, a very stable OS... all for a price of a barebones HTPC (case, power supply, motherboard... you'd still have to add the processor, hard drive, memory...).

You won't have blueray or DVR functions. I've considered rolling my own DVR but the dish network DVR I have is just too good. I wouldn't even come close to functionality/ease of use.

If you really want blueray... buy a PS3 too!

You could probably get a 360, PS3, 1TB NAS setup and 1year Netflix + Live Gold Membership for about the cost of a good HTPC rig.

If you insist on rolling your own, check this out...

http://linuxmce.com/

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 9829&hl=en

Thanks for the tips and links.

My bro brought over his Xbox this past week. I really was impressed with the xbox live marketplace, and the netflix...However, I have DSL where I live. I cannot get high speed cable. I really did not like waiting 18 hours to finish downloading an HD movie...If I was into gaming alot more, I would get an xbox.

It's a very nice system, just not for me.

Thanks!

If it were me I'd be looking for a device that can be used for both. e.g a giant HDV recorder possibly even one you hook external HD's too.

I'd scrap the idea of a "media pc"and look for devices specifically for the task.

It's been a while since I looked but I know I've seen some pretty slick devices in the past such as wi-fi version that will broadcast to all TV's

Richard S. wrote:If it were me I'd be looking for a device that can be used for both. e.g a giant HDV recorder possibly even one you hook external HD's too.

I'd scrap the idea of a "media pc"and look for devices specifically for the task.

It's been a while since I looked but I know I've seen some pretty slick devices in the past such as wi-fi version that will broadcast to all TV's

A valid point as well.

Maybe "media PC" is the wrong term. I'm looking for PC functionality ie: media burning, internet, and MILD video editing, just to nake a few, PLUS the ability to play DVD/BR/movie files as well as my entire music collection right from my living room....I have a wireless keyboard and mouse and am able to control it from my couch.

I've seen the devices that play from external HD's...PRETTY COOL! Except I want to watch as many movies as I can in High Def....My laptops do not have BlueRay readers, so I have no way of getting that media on my external HD's...Not to mention that BlueRays are 25gig+...Hence the need for the Blue Ray player in the PC.......Why not just get a stand alone Blue Ray????......I just like the idea of a PC!

I'm assuming you don't know you need software for cracking them if you want to transfer to HDD? Same with DVD but that is much more freely available.

There's only one commercial software solution available for Blu-Ray that I'm aware of and I believe technically it's illegal to possess if you're in the U.S. FYI you missed the boat if you don't already have it because they just switched to a "subscription fee" which will be required to update for new titles.

However the boys at doom9.org are working on free version.

Richard S. wrote:I'm assuming you don't know you need software for cracking them if you want to transfer to HDD? Same with DVD but that is much more freely available.

There's only one commercial software solution available for Blu-Ray that I'm aware of and I believe technically it's illegal to possess if you're in the U.S. FYI you missed the boat if you don't already have it because they just switched to a "subscription fee" which will be required to update for new titles.

However the boys at doom9.org are working on free version.

I am well aware of the software *wink wink*.....


My point was that I really want BlueRay playing ability. If I don't have BR media on a HD, then the media playing devce cannot play it, only SD. So my "all around" solution was/is to build a PC that can play both...

Hunlock wrote:Just got an LCD HDTV, and want to build a PC that I can hook up to the TV. I want to add all of my movie files to the harddrive(s), run the HDMI through it(to record), and install an internal BlueRay....

My problem? I have no idea what kind of motherboard/processor to run! It's been a while since I built a PC. All I have are laptops right now, and have been out of the game for a while.

I want this to be somewhat of a budget build, so if I can find a motherboard with onboard HDMI, that would be great. I am prepared to add a video card if needed.

I have been searching my favorite elecronics site(newegg), and I think I've confused myself more than before...lol


HELP!

Buy a used Xbox 360 or PS3. Much better option.

Okay.....With an Xbox, can I hook up external hardrives to play media from them? If so, how do they connect? My main goal is get my media(on harddrives), to play on my LCD, through my surround sound. Can an Xbox do this?

I appreciate all the options given, but no one has any opinion on motherboards?

Hunlock wrote:but no one has any opinion on motherboards?

I just built a pc for a guy that dose some gaming. this is the mobo i used not top shelf but good for a budget. I use to only buy ASUS boards but seems like they started going down hill, I had some DOA ones so i switched to MSI. This is the fifth MSI mobo now with no problems at all. just my 2 cents!

Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813130182
Processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103254

Razzler wrote:

Hunlock wrote:but no one has any opinion on motherboards?

I use to only buy ASUS boards but seems like they started going down hill, I had some DOA ones so i switched to MSI. This is the fifth MSI mobo now with no problems at all. just my 2 cents!

I used to use a lot of MSI motherboards and they probably are good products. Several years ago the industry was plagued by 'counterfeit capacitors' and it affected most manufacturers. Most problems showed up post warranty. A few manufacturers did the right thing and replaced out of warranty boards; Abit was one that did. MSI was one manufacturer that refused. Asus I never cared for. I've used and had good luck with Intel, Abit, Gigabyte, Biostar, FIC & Aopen. I stay away from PCCHIPS, ECS and a few others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

Hunlock wrote:Okay.....With an Xbox, can I hook up external hardrives to play media from them? If so, how do they connect? My main goal is get my media(on harddrives), to play on my LCD, through my surround sound. Can an Xbox do this? I appreciate all the options given, but no one has any opinion on motherboards?

Check this link out... it should explain everything you need to know.

http://blogs.msdn.com/xboxteam/default.aspx

There are a TON of used XBox 360s for sale on any local Craigslist. Be very careful though... the early XBox 360 units have a known solder problem that'll eventually lead to the red rings of death (broken unit). They've since fixed the problem with the Falcon + Jasper chipsets.

The XBox 360 will pull the media off a USB hard drive or a network connected PC or NAS device (which is my preference). Think of the XBox 360 as a set top box which takes your media, decodes it and displays on the LCD. The Media Center PC will definitely give you more control + customization... but the XBox is really easy and stable. It literally took less than 15 minutes to set up media streaming from my XP PC to my HDTV set through my XBox 360.

All Newegg #'s

HTPC Case - Item #:N82E16811121027
Mother board - Item #:N82E16813131355
CPU - Item #:N82E16819103255
Ram - Item #:N82E16820148111
Hard drive - Item #:N82E16822148288
Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM - Item #:N82E16827136133

Total + Shipping $389
Install Windows XP Media Center OS with sp3 & you are all set.

You can also take a look through these:

http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Publi ... temNumber=

spc wrote:Install Windows XP Media Center OS with sp3 & you are all set.

I don't think XP media center OEM is available w/ SP3; you'd have to get the XP Media Center w/SP2 CD and then apply the SP3 update. Also, XP has had it's life extended somewhat till May 30, 2009.

http://www.crn.com/software/212501445

kozel wrote:I don't think XP media center OEM is available w/ SP3; you'd have to get the XP Media Center w/SP2 CD and then apply the SP3 update. Also, XP has had it's life extended somewhat till May 30, 2009.

Yes sp2 & update to sp3 on window's update site. Personally I would wait for windows 7 before recommending vista but I guess it depends on how good 7 will run.

"Microsoft said it would retire the operating system (XP) only after June 30, 2010, or one year after the release of Windows 7, whichever comes later."

http://www.pcworld.com/article/144152/w ... _year.html