Cheap home theatre PC advice
Hello all!
I've been trying to weigh up whether to go down the PS3 route or for a HTPC and have just about decided that I probably won't play the games very often and the media support on the PS3 didn't seem that great.
I want to be able to play mkv files (with DTS/DD audio) from my NAS and be able to access online services such as iPlayer, netflix, lovefilm, youtubeHD etc.
This board seems ideal (quiet, hdmi, optical audio out).
Asus E45M1-M PRO (link) Integrated AMD Dual-Core Processor E-450 with AMD Radeon™ HD 6320 Graphics ~£117
I have a WD Scorpio 250GB sata 2.5" HD from a laptop that can be used and a laptop DVD/RW (will need to get an adapter as I believe it is PATA) - tray type, not slot load. I also have a rather unattractive microATX case that could be spray painted - but it will need a new PSU.
Am I going down a reasonable route, or would you suggest something else? Budget is around £250.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
If you have a main pc nearby have you thought above streaming via a Bluray player ?
My Samsung 6800 will play all my mkv files, plus it has net access to iPayer and Lovefilm/Netflix etc.
AND its designed specifically for HD playback.
AND its under a ton if you buy online and collect instore at John Lewis / Waitrose (if they still sell it that is)....
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
Thanks for the reply. I have a Mac upstairs - gave my PC to parents!
I have a Phillips Blu-ray player at the moment, but it can only play mkv files from a usb drive, not from the NAS (and no netTV access).
Maybe I should consider your suggestion - cheaper and simpler (not as fun!).
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
Quote:
Originally Posted by
g8ina
My Samsung 6800 will play all my mkv files, plus it has net access to iPayer and Lovefilm/Netflix etc.
You've either been very lucky or the 6800 has been given a lot more love then the 6900.
The BD-C6900 I gave my mother (came free with my TV) has ~30% success rate on the HD MKVs I have tried on it.....
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
ahhhh might be the 6900 actually :) All my MKVs will play, just not all of them will FFD or Rev :)
Sometimes I need to remux them before they will play, but thats not difficult (ReMuxer)
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
For a micro-ATX form factor I would go with Llano instead of the E450.
Similar idle power, but way more grunt on tap should you ever need it.
Bottom of the range A4-3300 is only £50, so plenty to spend on a motherboard and still come up cheaper.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
As far as cases go this one is a pretty good one with a low cost:
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/color...-with-450w-psu
I have a quad core athlon II, 4gb of ram and a GT 240 in mine and it is quiet (with akasa amber fans) and fits perfectly in my tv's glass stand.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
IF you don't require a Disc Drive for DVD's or Blu-Rays then building a machine yourself is almost pointless.
Get something like this:
http://www.ebuyer.com/279898-acer-as...p-pt-semec-036
Then install this:
http://openelec.tv/
And you will be set. openelec is based on XBMC but is customised so that it is more suited to nettops or PC's with slow CPUs so that it can boot and run quicker. I've been using an Acer Revo 3600 for a while now and I have never had any issues with it. It's been a solid performer and its power consumption is minimal at best.
The ION2 GPU is easily capable of playing almost any HD video file you chuck at it.
I have the first generation ION in the 3600 and it's perfectly fine, MKV HD is flawless.
It can be mounted to a VESA mount too so if you have a TV with it's VESA mount free attach it to the back of it.
I can't see why anyone would want anything else unless they are after a disc drive or TV recording functionality.
ALSO NOTE: If you do want a disc drive, you could always add an external drive.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
I don't think the Acer will fit the bill - it doesn't have optical out from what I can see. I do like the idea of it fitting on the back of the TV.
I'll take a look at the openelec software too :-)
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
Just noticed that the Acer Revo RL70 does have optical out though...
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Goldfinger_007
I don't think the Acer will fit the bill - it doesn't have optical out from what I can see. I do like the idea of it fitting on the back of the TV.
I'll take a look at the openelec software too :-)
Looking at the pictures it has SPDIF on it... - Sorry it seems like it's only on certain models. DOH!
This model does: http://www.ebuyer.com/279899-acer-as...p-pt-semec-037
Also openelec is basically XBMC but just more optimised, so it maybe better to checkout XBMC or download it for your PC and check it out.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
Just spotted it - thanks. Not on the feature list for some reason. RL70 seems a slightly better spec for only ~£4 difference.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Goldfinger_007
Just spotted it - thanks. Not on the feature list for some reason. RL70 seems a slightly better spec for only ~£4 difference.
Yeeah, I edited my post to say it's not included, the image is wrong! IT is included in the more expensive version, I'm not sure what the AMD chip in the RL70 is like, but google shows that it does run with XBMC so I imagine it's more then capable for videos!
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
I would seriously avoid the PC route, absolute pain in the neck to get something quiet and fast, and even more of a pain in the neck to get something with a decent software solution and remote control support that doesn't require loads of configuration and setting up, i.e. mediaportal.
A dedicated box is far easier in my experience, something basic like an AC Ryan if you want to go really budget, all the way up to a Popcorn Hour. Some of the new TVs even support Youtube and so on out of the box.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
The E450 is a refresh to the fusion E350, with a small clockspeed bump to the CPU and GPU, plus some special Turbo Core sauce for the GPU that bumps the shaders from 508MHz to 600MHz if there's TDP to spare. Given that the E350 could beat out dual core Atom + ION2 in pretty much every task, the E450 should do the same, just slightly more so ;) For HTPC, it's pretty much ideal: the GPU has a full implementation of UVD3, so you get all major formats hardware accelerated, along with Flash video acceleration. Oh, and it also bitstreams DTS and DD over HDMI.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
What do you all think of the Boxee Box?
Seems to tick all the boxes...
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
It got decent reviews but I'll be honest I'm not a big fan of boxee.
if your considering either you should try XBMC and Boxee on windows first.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
I was just looking over the specs of the boxee and for £143 compared with the £179 Acer, I think I'd rather go with the Acer and choose the right software as you've suggested.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
Who knew there were so many options! Thanks for all your suggestions so far.
Am now investigating the WD too: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digi.../dp/B005NYOKC2
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
Ok, it looks like the Boxee and WD are both out of the running due to lack of UK apps/services (Netflix[BB], Lovefilm, Demand5, 4od, itvplayer), so the question now is Acer or Lenovo... (with XBMC)
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
Go for the cheapest option as it has a similar GPU.
If your after Apps and you install openelec you should also check the XBMC forums for more apps, the software does provide basic apps, but others can be found in the XBMC forums.
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
I'm using the WD TV Live and does stream everything you can throw at it. Plus it does have apps for both iPlayer and Netflix as well as loads others. Plus it will index your videos in the same way as XBMC (although not quiet as elegantly).
Re: Cheap home theatre PC advice
What did you go for? I'm seriously considering the Revo to replace my dead PCH.