Can a HDTV media center be built for $500 if I have the hard drive and case?

2K2 LS1 · 10-18-2009, 11:22 PM

Assuming the budget is $500 and I have the harddrive(s) and case?

The mother board would need to be atx and the goal is to build a machine that can store backed up or possibly ripped movies to play over the hdtv. I would want a video card or board with a decent output over comppnent or hdmi and with optical audio. What parts would you use in the following categories?

Mother board
Processor
Ram
Video card
Sound card
and Os to work with xbmc

BP · 10-19-2009, 05:21 PM

You don't need a video or sound card if you are streaming through an Xbox or PS3. For well under $500 you could get into an HP home server. You are streaming data, not media.

mgar22 · 10-21-2009, 03:56 PM

Does it have to be a PC? Would one of these be out of the question?

http://store.westerndigital.com/stor...catid.13742300

2K2 LS1 · 10-21-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgar22

Does it have to be a PC? Would one of these be out of the question?

http://store.westerndigital.com/stor...catid.13742300

BestBuy has them for $99.99 and I have $35 in gift certificates; needless to say I will be getting one tomm!

mgar22 · 10-22-2009, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2K2 LS1

BestBuy has them for $99.99 and I have $35 in gift certificates; needless to say I will be getting one tomm!

You should get the WD TV Live Media Player. It's $20 extra, but it's network-able. Wired or wireless. You can log into YouTube, Pandora, and Flickr accounts and use network attached storage = Mo' bettar.

2K2 LS1 · 10-26-2009, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgar22

You should get the WD TV Live Media Player. It's $20 extra, but it's network-able. Wired or wireless. You can log into YouTube, Pandora, and Flickr accounts and use network attached storage = Mo' bettar.

This thing works like a champ. Picked one up today!

mgar22 · 10-30-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2K2 LS1

This thing works like a champ. Picked one up today!

I picked mine up last weekend, and yes, it is the best. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to wire up the rest of the TV's in the house to benefit from it. So far, I'm thinking HDMI splitter using those HDMI over CAT5 wall plates. And this for IR extending: Next Generation IR Extender.

2K2 LS1 · 11-03-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgar22

I picked mine up last weekend, and yes, it is the best. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to wire up the rest of the TV's in the house to benefit from it. So far, I'm thinking HDMI splitter using those HDMI over CAT5 wall plates. And this for IR extending: Next Generation IR Extender.

i ordered one of these last night

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

they also have a 4x4 matrix for like $199

mgar22 · 11-04-2009, 04:36 PM

Hmmmm...very interesting, switcher and splitter. You'll have to let me know how that product works out for you.

10-18-2009, 11:22 PM	#1
2K2 LS1 Lifer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: HOA Hell!!!! Posts: 6,870	Can a HDTV media center be built for $500 if I have the hard drive and case? Assuming the budget is $500 and I have the harddrive(s) and case? The mother board would need to be atx and the goal is to build a machine that can store backed up or possibly ripped movies to play over the hdtv. I would want a video card or board with a decent output over comppnent or hdmi and with optical audio. What parts would you use in the following categories? Mother board Processor Ram Video card Sound card and Os to work with xbmc

10-19-2009, 05:21 PM	#2
BP Keep your unicorns Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: At the Dexter Lake Club Posts: 11,429	You don't need a video or sound card if you are streaming through an Xbox or PS3. For well under $500 you could get into an HP home server. You are streaming data, not media. __________________ Buell 1125R Raptor 700R No fast cars though

10-21-2009, 03:56 PM	#3
mgar22 Roy L. Dennis Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Heart of Gold Posts: 1,270	Does it have to be a PC? Would one of these be out of the question? http://store.westerndigital.com/stor...catid.13742300 __________________ SELECT * FROM users WHERE clue > 0 0 rows returned

11-04-2009, 04:36 PM	#9
mgar22 Roy L. Dennis Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Heart of Gold Posts: 1,270	Hmmmm...very interesting, switcher and splitter. You'll have to let me know how that product works out for you. __________________ SELECT * FROM users WHERE clue > 0 0 rows returned

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