RaptorSA
Executive Member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2008
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Living room server solution: looking for Media Center/Notebook/WhateverIcanFind.
Hi guys,
I apologise for posting this here but for some reason I can't post anything on the Classified section (strange, since I've been on MyBB for years and have 500+ posts). Feel free to move this to the classifieds if need be, but I think some comments from her might actually help in case I'm making the wrong decision.
I've recently moved over to MWeb uncapped from my WebAfrica 20GB account. I think it's about time for a PC at home that can handle my torrent scheduling (which I want to manage via uTorrent from my Android phone when I'm on the go) and downloads, serve as some kind of NAS server (normal network drive sharing would be fine), RDP/VNC access and maybe a little IIS server that I can play around with. The PC will be connected directly to my Billion Access point in the living room, which also has my Sony surround sound, PS3, Xbox and a 47" LCD (2 HDMI ports, one for the PS3 and one for the PC/Media Server I need). Eventually I'll add a 1 or 2TB storage device, but for now HDD space doesn't really matter.
Anyway, so what I really need is a machine with HDMI, enough memory and horsepower to run things like Windows Media Center extender, HD streaming/display etc. I've been thinking and it seems that a Core 2 Duo notebook of some sort with about 2GB RAM would be perfect. It's slim (decoder style), uses less power, quiet and I like notebooks since they're usually more stable with things like sleep mode etc. out of the box than custom built machines sometimes are, unless my mindset towards desktops are too much in the dark ages these days. No really, I last built and owned a desktop machine 6 years ago. Also, a notebook with a healthy battery and the lid closed would run for a long time whenever there's a power outage or unstable power of some kind.
I don't have a lot of cash for this (let's say, max R4K), and even if I did I don't want to spend too much. So what do you guys think would be a good choice, try to find some kind of 2nd hand notebook, or is there some way of building/buying a "cheapish" HTPC that would do the same job.... in other words, is there an alternative I'm not aware of...?
I've checked in the classifieds and on BidOrBuy but they either don't have anything or the notebooks that would have been perfect have all been sold, so if you know of anyone who wants to sell something like this please let me know.
Even a sifficiently spec'd notebook with a broken screen would do great.
Thanks in advance.
Hi guys,
I apologise for posting this here but for some reason I can't post anything on the Classified section (strange, since I've been on MyBB for years and have 500+ posts). Feel free to move this to the classifieds if need be, but I think some comments from her might actually help in case I'm making the wrong decision.
I've recently moved over to MWeb uncapped from my WebAfrica 20GB account. I think it's about time for a PC at home that can handle my torrent scheduling (which I want to manage via uTorrent from my Android phone when I'm on the go) and downloads, serve as some kind of NAS server (normal network drive sharing would be fine), RDP/VNC access and maybe a little IIS server that I can play around with. The PC will be connected directly to my Billion Access point in the living room, which also has my Sony surround sound, PS3, Xbox and a 47" LCD (2 HDMI ports, one for the PS3 and one for the PC/Media Server I need). Eventually I'll add a 1 or 2TB storage device, but for now HDD space doesn't really matter.
Anyway, so what I really need is a machine with HDMI, enough memory and horsepower to run things like Windows Media Center extender, HD streaming/display etc. I've been thinking and it seems that a Core 2 Duo notebook of some sort with about 2GB RAM would be perfect. It's slim (decoder style), uses less power, quiet and I like notebooks since they're usually more stable with things like sleep mode etc. out of the box than custom built machines sometimes are, unless my mindset towards desktops are too much in the dark ages these days. No really, I last built and owned a desktop machine 6 years ago. Also, a notebook with a healthy battery and the lid closed would run for a long time whenever there's a power outage or unstable power of some kind.
I don't have a lot of cash for this (let's say, max R4K), and even if I did I don't want to spend too much. So what do you guys think would be a good choice, try to find some kind of 2nd hand notebook, or is there some way of building/buying a "cheapish" HTPC that would do the same job.... in other words, is there an alternative I'm not aware of...?
I've checked in the classifieds and on BidOrBuy but they either don't have anything or the notebooks that would have been perfect have all been sold, so if you know of anyone who wants to sell something like this please let me know.
Even a sifficiently spec'd notebook with a broken screen would do great.
Thanks in advance.
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