HTPC

[herit]

I currently stream all my movies and stuffs from my pc, through my PS3. It works great and i'm pretty happy with using it like this, but i've decided to build a PC so that I can keep all my media on one PC and not clutter up my desktop..... soooo, why not just build a propper HTPC

I'll probably still use the PS3 to stream some stuff, will decide when it's complete and I can play around with media center software and whatever. The pc will store all my movies and music etc, as well as being a normal file server (software and so on) and do all the downloading, maybe even a game or 2.

This is pretty much what i've decided on:

Antec NSK-1480 case - http://www.antec.com
Asus M4A88TD-M EVO/USB3 motherboard - http://www.asus.com
AMD Phenom2 x2 555 Black edition - Dual-core (maybe tripple core) , 3.2Ghz
Zalman CNPS8700NT low profile cpu cooler - http://www.zalman.com
4GB (2x 2GB) DDR3
1x 2TB HDD (series and movies etc) and 1x 1TB HDD (OS and other files)

Not quite sure about what software i'll be using yet. I'll give XBMC a try, and google around a bit for some other stuff. I'll also get a nice wireless keyboard/mouse and possibly a logitec remote.

I think that will make for a pretty decent pc/toy
Any comments or suggestions are welcome..... just need to wait for the new year now so that i can get all the stuff.

 

[_Jakes_]

Can't go wrong with XBMC, I've been using for the last year and been loving it all the way, played around with mythtv for a while but doesn't come close to XBMC. I run MCE for tv xbmc for everything else.

 

[techead]

Media portal a good option as well... covers both the TV and the media option

 

[astrauss]

Can MCE record from DSTV? Can the recordings be converted for viewing on an iPhone?

 

[Tinuva]

Nice setup you have planned.

I used the Moneual 312 black case to fit with the rest of my setup: http://www.quietpcusa.com/Moneual-MONCASO-312-HTPC-Case-Black-P556C0.aspx

The software I personally use are as follow:
Ubuntu 10.04 that automatically logs in as a xbmc user and loads up XBMC interface. In the background sabnzb downloads nzbs. To automate the downloads of series as well as sort the files me and fix their names I use software called Sickbeard. It also has a web interface you can use to see when new episodes of your series will be released ect.

What I haven't set up yet is Couchpotato, which supposedly will do the same for me with Movies, you point to movies on imdb you want to get the moment they are released as hd rips or dvd rips or whichever quality you prefer, and this app will grab it the moment it is released on the quality you prefer and also sort it for you into XBMC's library.

If I want to watch TV, I just switch to that though I don't really watch normal aired TV, except maybe sport one day I can afford DSTV.

 

[Biggie]

Nice setup you have planned.

I used the Moneual 312 black case to fit with the rest of my setup: http://www.quietpcusa.com/Moneual-MONCASO-312-HTPC-Case-Black-P556C0.aspx

The software I personally use are as follow:
Ubuntu 10.04 that automatically logs in as a xbmc user and loads up XBMC interface. In the background sabnzb downloads nzbs. To automate the downloads of series as well as sort the files me and fix their names I use software called Sickbeard. It also has a web interface you can use to see when new episodes of your series will be released ect.

What I haven't set up yet is Couchpotato, which supposedly will do the same for me with Movies, you point to movies on imdb you want to get the moment they are released as hd rips or dvd rips or whichever quality you prefer, and this app will grab it the moment it is released on the quality you prefer and also sort it for you into XBMC's library.

If I want to watch TV, I just switch to that though I don't really watch normal aired TV, except maybe sport one day I can afford DSTV.

Agreed.

Sickbeard + Couchpotato + sabnzbd + xbmc = da shiiiiit.

Nice case.

 

[vinodh]

Can MCE record from DSTV? Can the recordings be converted for viewing on an iPhone?

Windows 7 Media Center and XP Media Center Edition can record from DSTV as well record as a PVR using the Media Center guide. However, some of the newer decoders use copy protection. The PC that records the show can play it back but you cannot play it back on another PC. Needless to say, their is a workaround...(PM me).

W.R.T. the OP, building a full blown Windows 7 Media Center is a very effective but expensive option. You get all the media playback benefits as well as Media streaming and the PVR cababilty. Downsides are price, and initial setup issues. Another option is to use Windows Home Server with PowerPack 3. You can then have all you stuff backed up automatically, have Media streamed via the PS3 and over the internet, and leave it to download stuff in the background. Also, the hardware needed is very, very low spec. Downside is the lack of LiveTV and PVR. Check out this link for some ideas:
http://forum.mceguide.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=635

If you just want a media server, check out FreeNAS.