Media Player vs HTPC

for R1800 you get:
-HP ProLiant MicroServer (Chassis, PSU, Mobo, Dual Core CPU, RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, 7xUSB, eSATA, GB LAN, Bluray/DVD Drive Bay, 4xHDD Bays)
-GT520 (DVI/HDMI and Sound, which can handle 27GB MKV Blurays.)

HP ProLiant MicroServer (R1300)
http://hpshop.co.za/p-7357-hp-proliant-microserver.aspx

MSI NVIDIA GeForce GT520 Graphics Card (R535)
http://www.nivo.co.za//buy~msi.nvidia.geforce.gt520.graphics.card.n520gt.md1gd3.lp.~p26482



I have no idea what one would do with a qwerty remote, lol, but here is a nice remote with LCD screen:

Logitech Harmony 650 Remote (R450)
http://www.wootware.co.za/logitech-...-lcd-54-buttons-replaces-up-to-5-remotes.html

*it doesn't come with a receiver as it's meant to control your home theater, tv, hifi, etc, but they are out there and aren't too expensive.

you will almost NEVER need QWERTY in xbmc though, and when you need it an on screen keyboard will pop up.
It really is useless and a waste to get one, trust me.



Im not sure what cables you are talking about, unless it's the HDMI cable?
you can get one with gold plated connectors if you want for R75, from hdcabling.co.za
 
Thanks for the links.

How would you control XBMC without the IR receiver on the PC itself?

EDIT : With a large library, a QWERTY is almost essential in searching? I have 32,000 songs and 1,300 movies - and scrolling each would be tedious. Typing 'Cha Cha Slide' is so much easier ... ?

ANOTHER EDIT : The Xtreamer is DC 1.8 4GB DDR3 vs DC 1.3 1GB DDR2. Is there any lag?
 
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Dolby said:
How would you control XBMC without the IR receiver on the PC itself?
Click to expand...

You can't, You need an IR receiver for any remote (unless its bluetooth based, in which case it will be a USB dongle hidden in the rear USB port, or the one hidden inside the hp's chassis itself.)


Dolby said:
EDIT : With a large library, a QWERTY is almost essential in searching? I have 32,000 songs and 1,300 movies - and scrolling each would be tedious. Typing 'Cha Cha Slide' is so much easier ... ?
Click to expand...

wow, 1300 movies huh? :p

well you can:
- press vol +/- or pgup/pgdown to scroll multiple items at a time
- filter by year, genre, etc
- and you can still type with a remote, using onscreen keyboards, or the remote buttons itself (2=abc, 3=def, etc)

using any of the above you will find an item quickly, even with much larger libraries....trust me.
(but if you really can't, go ahead and buy that keyboard remote stuff)

edit: you can always use your iphone/android as a remote too, btw...


Dolby said:
ANOTHER EDIT : The Xtreamer is DC 1.8 4GB DDR3 vs DC 1.3 1GB DDR2. Is there any lag?
Click to expand...

no lag afaik, but RAM isn't really expensive if you want more
 
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Cool ... thanks!

I'll give it some thought - but after adding the IR receiver and the HDMI cable, the difference between the two is R1,400.00

For the R1,400.00 I get the QWERTY keyboard/trackpad (even if it isn't needed), the 8GB USB stick, a faster machine (quicker CPU with 4 x the RAM), wifi N
 
most remotes have numeric keypads that work like phones... so to get to A you push 1, to get to B you push 1 twice, etc.

I have one of those mini QWERTY keyboards you posted initially, its a pain in the arse...especially in the dark... I've just ordered another media center IR remote control.
 
Yea ... I can see how it wouldn't be that easy to use actually. But it's in the package at R3,500.00

I'm still deciding on what to take - but it appears the HTPC is still going to be just over R2,000.00 anyway. For the extra R1,500.00 you're getting a more powerful machine with wifi.

Plus it runs the identical software that you'll running - maybe even smoother?
 
Yeh... it doesn't look bad - I went with HP solution as I got them for R800 :p - so a R350 graphics card and I was on the way.
 
Dolby said:
I'll give it some thought - but after adding the IR receiver and the HDMI cable, the difference between the two is R1,400.00

For the R1,400.00 I get the QWERTY keyboard/trackpad (even if it isn't needed), the 8GB USB stick, a faster machine (quicker CPU with 4 x the RAM), wifi N
Click to expand...

Ok, lets break it down where that R1400 is going to.

QWERTY keyboard/trackpad.
Pointless. there is no need for a keyboard or a mouse, and if you MUST have it, use your Phone to control XBMC.

8GB USB stick.
Pointless and cheap. seriously these are like 80 bucks.

Quicker CPU.
Pointless. both players will handle everything 100%.

4GB RAM.
Pointless and cheap. both players will handle everything 100%.

Wifi.
Pointless and cheap. most people will use a LAN cable to stream 1080p content flawlessly.


with that R1400 you can buy a SECOND friggen HP MicroServer :D
heck, it's almost enough money for the best Remote on the planet


Anyway...the main flaw I see with the Xstreamer is it doesn't have any local storage, meaning you need to switch the PC on every time you want to watch something :(
 
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at Digital Planet for R1299 ...

Would also be interested in an Xtreamer Ultra or maybe the Zbox for my other setup, but I see people are actually complaining that they are very noisy ...the ION graphics chip heats up quickly and then the fan speeds up.

The HP is not very noisy, but wouldn't say it is whisper quiet.

EDIT: sorry was replying to much earlier post ... damn Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Keeper said:
heck, it's almost enough money for the best Remote on the planet
Click to expand...

Hehe, I'll actually take the 900 over the 1100 any day, better ergonomics and already comes with RF ... selling for R904 at takealot, still think they made a mistake on the price. 900 is usually much more than the "One" (R1399) all over the world.
 
TYR said:
Hehe, I'll actually take the 900 over the 1100 any day, better ergonomics and already comes with RF ... selling for R904 at takealot, still think they made a mistake on the price. 900 is usually much more than the "One" (R1399) all over the world.
Click to expand...

yeah, he could take that remote, and still have enough for the rest.

HP Proliant Microserver (R1299)
MSI nVidia GT520 (R535)
Harmony 900 (R904)
4GB DDR3 RAM (R200)
Gold Plated HDMI Cabling (R75)

Total : R3013

Man... that sounds like an awesome setup imo :love:
R500 cheaper and you get that Harmony 900 instead of that plain old Xtreamer remote.
 
I have a One already.

Its the IR thing I nee
 
Dolby said:
I have a One already.

Its the IR thing I need
Click to expand...

Pity. I sold a Compro TV Tuner card, Media Center remote, IR receiver with emitters for R100 not that long ago. I've still got 1 IR emitter left if anyone wants it for free.
 
I have the Proliant HP + GT520 Openelec setup ... once I'm happy with my whole XBMC, PseudoTV setup, I am going to try to source a Shuttle XS35GTv2 for the theatre room, completely passively cooled machine with basically the same specs as the Xtreamer Ultra.
 
Dolby said:
I have a One already.

Its the IR thing I nee
Click to expand...

Same here, I have a 900 and am looking for the IR receiver.

I know of an Hp and dell receiver. not sure which other ones will work.
 
As far as I can see, the receiver that comes with the Compro K300 is RC6, so same as the HP/Dell
 
was also gonna get the Hauppauge, but couldn't find confirmation that it was RC6 ... saw some mentions of RC5 and I don't really know what the diff is. Should anyway still work with Harmony's, might just have to tweak delay settings to reduce lag. The Hauppauge receiver on the pic actually looks like the RC6 receivers from HP/Dell.
 
What is the difference between RC5 and RC6?
 
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