How much did you spend on your htpc/streaming setup?

I chop and change my mind about this all the time.

At first I had a PS3 doing streaming from PC. Due to 1080p not streaming well over wifi and some format issues decided I needed to change.

I then got a HP Microserver with gpu, media remote etc. This worked brilliantly but then one day I thought it was overkill and then sold it.

I then used the PS3 again and laptop for when I wanted to watch HD as I didnt watch HD that often.

With a 10MB line I started downloading more HD so that solution got annoying.

Currently my gaming PC is now in the lounge with media remote and is working well but want to change again as once in a blue moon want to play a game.

I will probably pick up a Gen8 Microserver in the week and Im going to force myself to stick with it. At least with a "proper linux/windows" pc with gpu you wont run into any compatibility or performance issues like all of these smart tvs/android players do.
 
Busy crunching the numbers...a skylake build with x265 hardware support isn't that expensive.

Not entirely convinced that 6k or whatever is worth it versus just plugging my laptop into a HDMI cable...
 
HavocXphere said:
Busy crunching the numbers...a skylake build with x265 hardware support isn't that expensive.

Not entirely convinced that 6k or whatever is worth it versus just plugging my laptop into a HDMI cable...
Click to expand...

Esquire has special on Gen8 Microserver for R2599 excl.

Agree with the sentiment though, unless you use it all day as a media pc or file server.
 
Coolermaster Mini-ITX case - around R650
i5 4460s (for low power consumption) - R1400 from PotterH
ASRock Mini-ITX motherboard - around R1300
2 x 4GB Crucial Ballistix - around R900
1TB drive I had laying around - R0
Corsair Value Select 450w PSU - R580

So in total around R5k - but this wasn't a once off buy, I bought like one component a month. This machine was intended to be a Steam machine for moderate gaming in the lounge, as you can see by the RAM. I haven't gotten as far as getting the R270x and two controllers I was hoping to buy yet because I was rushed to assemble the machine when Netflix went in dry a couple of weeks ago.

The above setup is currently running Kodi strictly for streaming (I made a post about the add-ons I'm using in one of the Netflix-moaning threads) so my Roku 3 is sitting idle until I get another TV for another room.
 
About R 4000

Lian-Li case .... was about R1500 at the time. But well worth it.. why ? because I lived about 50m from the sea and it was the only aluminum one I could find. 4 years later still going :)

AMD 3 core CPU, GFX HD 4550 , RAM 4 gig , 2 tb WD blue drive ....
 
Dell PowerEdge T110 II SBS with 16GB Ram and 1TB internal HDD (running PMS, Sickbeard, Couchpotato, SABznb etc) R10000
- 2 4 TB external HDD R6000
- Amazon Fire TV 4k - Lounge R1650
- Amazon Fire TV - Bedroom R 1000
- Amazon Fire TV Stick - 2nd Bedroom R600
- 4K TV R9000
- Telkom uncapped wireless LTE - R600 p/m
 
digitalp said:
Dell PowerEdge T110 II SBS with 16GB Ram and 1TB internal HDD (running PMS, Sickbeard, Couchpotato, SABznb etc) R10000
- 2 4 TB external HDD R6000
- Amazon Fire TV 4k - Lounge R1650
- Amazon Fire TV - Bedroom R 1000
- Amazon Fire TV Stick - 2nd Bedroom R600
- 4K TV R9000
- Telkom uncapped wireless LTE - R600 p/m
Click to expand...

Hows that by the way? See its on special at the moment.
 
How do you guys do wireless streaming around the house? You obviously need decent speeds, and my wireless varies in speed, meaning buffering and lag is a hit and miss affair....
 
brucem said:
How do you guys do wireless streaming around the house? You obviously need decent speeds, and my wireless varies in speed, meaning buffering and lag is a hit and miss affair....
Click to expand...
Gigabit wired to everywhere 1080 is required. Which also lets me have a couple of wifi hotshots around the place for decent streaming on portables
 
I have one PC in the house. It has 256gb ssd + 1tb + 3tb. It has Plex.

Downstairs we have a Chromecast on the TV. It cost me R500. I use Hola VPN and cast from the Chrome browser to watch international Netflix on the TV, and Plex. I have a 60mb line so streaming is very good.

I also watch TV in bed, on the iPad Air, with headphones on. I am thinking to get a nice bed stand so we don't have to have it propped up on a cushion. But for the most part, it's ghetto and it works.
 
I spent too much, i5 Intel NUC , 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD and 1 TB FD.

Was thinking about using it for development as well, when I planned it, but I never do, so over the top.

But it really works well as a HT :D
 
Jola said:
I spent too much, i5 Intel NUC , 16GB RAM, 500GB SSD and 1 TB FD.

Was thinking about using it for development as well, when I planned it, but I never do, so over the top.

But it really works well as a HT :D
Click to expand...

Your SSD to storage ratio is way out of whack there.
 
Is it just me or is spending $$$ on an SSD for an HTPC a bit of overkill?
 
cerebus said:
Your SSD to storage ratio is way out of whack there.
Click to expand...

Yes, but this thing uses one of those non-standard mSata SSD's, and it was not that much extra for the 500GB (over the 256GB).

I ordered it from Amazon, well before Zuma crashed the ZAR.

Also note that I said that the original intention was to use it for software development as well.
 
I have 2 of these (2nd hand but practically new), 1 in the main bedroom and 1 in the lounge, both hooked up to 60" Sammys.

Upgraded the ram to 8gb and replaced the drives with 256gb SSD's. Added Logitech K800 wireless keyboards and these for wireless connectivity. More than ample for HD streaming.

Very happy with the setup. Run origin on 1 of the machines so get in a bit of light gaming too. HD4600 can't really do much heavy lifting but Kodi runs beautifully!!

All in all the units plus extras set me back around R4.5k each...
 
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Jola said:
Yes, but this thing uses one of those non-standard mSata SSD's, and it was not that much extra for the 500GB (over the 256GB).

I ordered it from Amazon, well before Zuma crashed the ZAR.

Also note that I said that the original intention was to use it for software development as well.
Click to expand...

I know, but only 1tb for the storage means that it's a very cool development machine but fairly underpowered for an HTPC.
 
brucem said:
How do you guys do wireless streaming around the house? You obviously need decent speeds, and my wireless varies in speed, meaning buffering and lag is a hit and miss affair....
Click to expand...

I have a ubiquity outdoor AP inside that handles my WiFi needs.

Everything is WiFi.


I have VDSL to modem - > mikrotik => lan to server and lan to Ubiquity AP
 
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