Streaming Media PC

hail-hail

hail-hail

hail-hail

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9 Aug 2006
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47
Hi, I am trying to spec a new PC and want to use it to stream media.

My PC will sit in my office and I would like to send out media, mainly HDTV videos and music. This needs to be done wirelessly.

Send PC monitor display to a HD LCD TV in another room. This will be whatever i am doing on my PC including playing movies on the PCs HD-DVD drive.
Send music to a stereo.

Is this possible, I am starting form scratch and will be building the new PC hopefully before christmas.
 
hail-hail said:
Hi, I am trying to spec a new PC and want to use it to stream media.

My PC will sit in my office and I would like to send out media, mainly HDTV videos and music. This needs to be done wirelessly.

Send PC monitor display to a HD LCD TV in another room. This will be whatever i am doing on my PC including playing movies on the PCs HD-DVD drive.
Send music to a stereo.

Is this possible, I am starting form scratch and will be building the new PC hopefully before christmas.
Click to expand...

Why not something like Netgear's media box thingy? Unless you really need to control your PC from the lounge for some reason?
 
It is possible, people do such things all the time. What you're talking about sorta involves three machines though. One server, one display machine, and one audio machine. There are small devices intended for just streaming audio such as the AirTunes so you could shop around for that. On the video side you'll need some more grunt, essentially needinga full HTPC; mobo, GPU (can be onboard), CPU, RAM, case, human interface.

Also, wireless networking is very poor for streaming HD content. After the first eight times the signal cuts out you'll pull your hair out and run 100 mbit Ethernet through the heating ducts. ;)
 
BillytheImpaler said:
It is possible, people do such things all the time. What you're talking about sorta involves three machines though. One server, one display machine, and one audio machine. There are small devices intended for just streaming audio such as the AirTunes so you could shop around for that. On the video side you'll need some more grunt, essentially needinga full HTPC; mobo, GPU (can be onboard), CPU, RAM, case, human interface.

Also, wireless networking is very poor for streaming HD content. After the first eight times the signal cuts out you'll pull your hair out and run 100 mbit Ethernet through the heating ducts. ;)
Click to expand...

Personally I'd suggesting something like a Squeezebox for music...

And then for video - which I've no experience with - a unit with its own hard drive which you can either:-
1) Wirelessly put media onto.
2) Worse case move it to your PC and plug it in via USB. Sounds a bit painful though.
 
Ok, had a look at the EVA700 and it looks to struggle with Video anyway, never mind HD. So I have had another thought.

Buy a media PC, keep it under the Telly and hard wire it to the TV and a seperate surround sound set of speakers.

So I need a media PC.

HDMI graphics card with output to Composite/DVI
Big hard drive to store all my media.
Wireless connection to my Router.
Some sort of TV Tuner card to allow me to record telly, preferably with a HD input allowing me to connect my SKY HD box.
HD DVD drive.

Does this sound like an achievable plan?
Anything missing?

Anyone help with specs of the bits I need?
 
NeilFawcett said:
What exactly are you trying to accomplish? What do you want to watch/listen to etc?
Click to expand...

I am trying to allow myself to do a number of things:

Watch HD-DVD on my telly.
Download video / tv shows etc and watch them on my telly
Store and view my camcorder recordings and view them on my telly.

I am converting my double garage into a family room, will be putting in a new LCD and want to ensure I get all my wiring etc sorted while I am still at the planning stage.

The ultimate would be a top spec pc siting in my office which can stream to any of the LCD tellys in my house, if all wireless then I don't need to think about anything else but it seems like this is not possible.
 
hail-hail said:
I am trying to allow myself to do a number of things:

Watch HD-DVD on my telly.
Download video / tv shows etc and watch them on my telly
Store and view my camcorder recordings and view them on my telly.

I am converting my double garage into a family room, will be putting in a new LCD and want to ensure I get all my wiring etc sorted while I am still at the planning stage.

The ultimate would be a top spec pc siting in my office which can stream to any of the LCD tellys in my house, if all wireless then I don't need to think about anything else but it seems like this is not possible.
Click to expand...

Everything you've mentioned so far will be available probably within 6 months on something like a Philips DVD player... with a big ? around how you want to handle your camcorder footage.

At the moment my Philips 630 will upscale to HD, and play TV episodes off a USB dongle.

I suspect early next year we'll see HD players with build in USB2 and DivX etc.

All this leaves is your camcorder footage.


Personally:-
- I'd wait for a HD DVD player that will also play stuff off USB. You can then just put your TV episodes on a 4-8gb pen drive and watch them in blocks. Or burn them to disc even if you want to keep them.
- As for your camcorder stuff, burn it to DVD and a backup to a cheap and chearful 500gb USB drive.


You didn't mention music?

ps: Put an ethernet cable to the region of your TV/media devices. Can't do any harm!

pps: Don't put the TV on the wall unless you really have to... If you do, put it on a false wall where you can just drop cables down it, like a sort of chimney.
 
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