My First HTPC

[Fury05]

I have honestly never heard the fans. Mine is situated next to my tv and as I mentioned never hear any fan noise.

Would you say it makes more sense to then spend less on this machine rather than build an Intel core i3 based machine?

 

[AVSupply]

What are the benefits of the IPTV over the Android box?

Faster, full HD XBMC interface, pre-installed with popular XBMC IPTV addons

And it supports Android if you get bored one day

 

[AVSupply]

Would you say it makes more sense to then spend less on this machine rather than build an Intel core i3 based machine?

My suggestion

Server for server stuff, Media player for streaming off that server

 

[Fury05]

My suggestion

Server for server stuff, Media player for streaming off that server

So if I run an HP server in the spare room for example and use the media player in the living room what would be the best way to get the media player to read the files from the server wirelessly. I don't want to have to keep copying files onto my external drive every few days.

 

[weelzSA]

Would you say it makes more sense to then spend less on this machine rather than build an Intel core i3 based machine?

As I mentioned, I currently use it to host my Plex Media server and 4 HDD's with all my content and then use a Roku 3 to stream from plex. The server is also used to download new content.

In my opinion it is the best setup I have used for a while and wouldn't change anything.

I will also tell you I have had some files that would play then buffer when viewing through plex on my Roku (didn't always happen) but doesn't happen often enough for it to cause me problems.

 

[AVSupply]

So if I run an HP server in the spare room for example and use the media player in the living room what would be the best way to get the media player to read the files from the server wirelessly. I don't want to have to keep copying files onto my external drive every few days.

Create a Samba share "share" folder on the server. Inside share folder have your TV-Shows, HD-Movies, Music, etc. folders and content. Add shares to XBMC and stream away!

For HD content, I recommend you connect the media player and server to a wired network connection

 

[Fury05]

Create a Samba share "share" folder on the server. Inside share folder have your TV-Shows, HD-Movies, Music, etc. folders and content. Add shares to XBMC and stream away!

For HD content, I recommend you connect the media player and server to a wired network connection

This would then obviously be via LAN connection. Any specific type of cable I need to purchase? The quality of the stream would most likely deteriorate the longer the cable is (I speak under correction).

 

[AVSupply]

This would then obviously be via LAN connection. Any specific type of cable I need to purchase? The quality of the stream would most likely deteriorate the longer the cable is (I speak under correction).

100 Metres or more, you might have a problem

Cat5e cable is fine

 

[Fury05]

As I mentioned, I currently use it to host my Plex Media server and 4 HDD's with all my content and then use a Roku 3 to stream from plex. The server is also used to download new content.

In my opinion it is the best setup I have used for a while and wouldn't change anything.

I will also tell you I have had some files that would play then buffer when viewing through plex on my Roku (didn't always happen) but doesn't happen often enough for it to cause me problems.

I do not use Netflix or any other online streaming services so would a Roku specifically, still be necessary? Would a generic media player not serve my purpose?

 

[Fury05]

100 Metres or more, you might have a problem

Cat5e cable is fine

This solution is looking good I'll do a bit more reading on streaming from an HP server.

 

[AVSupply]

This solution is looking good I'll do a bit more reading on streaming from an HP server.

That's my setup and has served me fine the last 4 years. If you have a good uncapped internet connection, the XBMC IPTV addons might just change your life

 

[Fury05]

That's my setup and has served me fine the last 4 years. If you have a good uncapped internet connection, the XBMC IPTV addons might just change your life

Afrihost 2mb business uncapped account. I usually just stream from wiziwig for sports, other than that I haven't found a need for anything else. Will definitely have a look at those addons to see what they're about.

 

[crawler]

I have honestly never heard the fans. Mine is situated next to my tv and as I mentioned never hear any fan noise.

I have fan-less gfx card and never hear it

 

[Chingha]

I must ask about plex and streaming, the reason I use the Micro Server it so that everything is in one place, why would you want to run two units when one will do?

 

[AVSupply]

I must ask about plex and streaming, the reason I use the Micro Server it so that everything is in one place, why would you want to run two units when one will do?

In my case, the server is also my workstation. When I work on the server, I don't want to interfere with any of the media players that are streaming content from it (Unless I power it off). I've tried having a server and HTPC in one, but ended up frustrating my family when there was work to do

 

[Yotch]

Takealot were selling the Celeron 847 Intel NUC for ~R2000 a few weeks ago. You could ask them about current availability.
http://www.takealot.com/computers/intel-nuc-celeron,29535945

 

[Fury05]

Takealot were selling the Celeron 847 Intel NUC for ~R2000 a few weeks ago. You could ask them about current availability.
http://www.takealot.com/computers/intel-nuc-celeron,29535945

Is this a good price for a celeron?

 

[Yotch]

Is this a good price for a celeron?

The Amazon price for this model is ~$150 so R2000 seems like a good price to me (Rebeltech has it listed for slighty less!). Take a look at the Amazon reviews to see if it might be suitable. There is also a new model for around the same price but I'm not sure whether this is available locally yet.
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Next-Co...UTF8&qid=1401217615&sr=8-5&keywords=Intel+NUC
Rebeltech has it listed for slightly less ...
http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.ph...escription=1&zenid=lhqtupdem4v90r8po2m9jsnvg0
New lower power model (internal 2.5" HDD bay) ...
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-DN2820F...UTF8&qid=1401218218&sr=8-6&keywords=Intel+NUC
Faster i3 version (good price!) ...
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Next-Co...UTF8&qid=1401218218&sr=8-4&keywords=Intel+NUC
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...ntel-Nuc-vs-Gigabyte-Brix?highlight=Intel+NUC

 

[Fury05]

The Amazon price for this model is ~$150 so R2000 seems like a good price to me (Rebeltech has it listed for slighty less!). Take a look at the Amazon reviews to see if it might be suitable. There is also a new model for around the same price but I'm not sure whether this is available locally yet.
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Next-Co...UTF8&qid=1401217615&sr=8-5&keywords=Intel+NUC
Rebeltech has it listed for slightly less ...
http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.ph...escription=1&zenid=lhqtupdem4v90r8po2m9jsnvg0
New lower power model (internal 2.5" HDD bay) ...
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-DN2820F...UTF8&qid=1401218218&sr=8-6&keywords=Intel+NUC
Faster i3 version (good price!) ...
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Next-Co...UTF8&qid=1401218218&sr=8-4&keywords=Intel+NUC
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...ntel-Nuc-vs-Gigabyte-Brix?highlight=Intel+NUC

It would seem the price eventually gets pushed up much higher in total when you consider you'd have to add extra components before it will serve it's purpose. I don't think I'll go this route unless there is something I'm missing.

 

[PoisonedPawn]

It would seem the price eventually gets pushed up much higher in total when you consider you'd have to add extra components before it will serve it's purpose. I don't think I'll go this route unless there is something I'm missing.

If cost is an issue, the HTPC does not need to be cutting edge. Built mine with old parts that was laying about - A H61 board, running a Celeron 2020. Threw in a GT520 graphics card (as I had upgraded my PC and the 520 had HDMI out) and 4 gig ram. Added a wireless dongle and it runs XBMC (12.2) on Win 7 (The Linux version starts quicker but I wanted the Windows functions for browsing and a game or 2 for my son) I have a separate "server" with all my content in shared folders, and can play anything, including 12 gig full HD movies (without buffering). Before this I had an even older G41 board which gave as good results.

You are probably better off spending your money on the "server" side; even the most basic pc will be strong enough for the HDPC, as long as the graphics is upped. I regularly have the HDPC in the living room on my wife's series, while I watch a movie on my PC in the bedroom (fixed cat5e connection from server) The network runs through a standard Telkom ADSL router (Netgear N300 - but I run my wireless at 145) Had a 802.11g before, but this did cause buffering every now and again.

Moral of the story - its best to separate HDPC and server - my server currently runs 7 Hdd, and I'm planning more. A single disk on a small HDPC tower will probably run out of space within a small timespan, and is not really conducive to upgrading cheaply. Its position is also not normally good for proper ventilation and wiring. If like me, you later add viewing areas (lounge, bedroom and laptops) the server route makes more sense.

Forgot to mention, bought a cheap R50 buck remote over e-bay as I could not get one locally, and my tower did not come with one.