Media Streaming

stokecity_m · 27 Feb 2011 at 22:25

I currently use my Xbox 360 to watch movies, listen to music that is held on my PC.

I find this to be slow and frustrating at times. (HD 1080i wont play well at all)

Is there anything you guys would recommend to either speed this process up or replace and achieve the same result ?

Cheers in advance.

Subliminal Aura · 27 Feb 2011 at 23:33

Zotac Zbox (Nvidia ION) box and stick XBMC on it or build one if you can.

You won't look back

stokecity_m · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:00

How do they work?

Subliminal Aura · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:06

Hardware : eg Zotac ND22 or ND01 or one of the acer revos add RAM and harddrive and you basically have a PC

Software : Once you've installed windows or linux - install XBMC as your media centre.

ps Search xbmc on youtube and it'll make you 'want'

stokecity_m · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:18

so i could just build a cheap small pc and run it though that?

iamtheoneneo · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:21

yes you can go the revo route, but personally i went 775. but nowadays i3 is cheap enough to do it with, loads of good silverstone cases to hold it all in aswell (sg05/06) then stick xmbc on it for nice smooth 1080p play.

Subliminal Aura · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:24

Sort of .... The zotac and revos are NVIDIA ION based which means that they can accelerate 1080p with very little cpu usage buy offloading the work on to their graphics cards.

If your small cheap pc has the same or better graphics then you're on the ball.

Typically stick to the Nvidia cards. Here's a list of compatible cards

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia_PureVideo#Table_of_PureVideo_.28HD.29_GPUs

The higher the purevideo and VDPAU values the better. Go for VP3 / B as a minimum requirement

stokecity_m · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:26

so an amdx2 2.9ghz 2ddr3 ram would just need a cheapish graphics card adding and away i go?

How would i go about using files form another pc (one in the bedroom is the main pc)

Subliminal Aura · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:28

Yeah well I went the Nvidia ION route due to the low noise and power consumption ... 23W for full load is impressive.

However as mentioned if you want some more CPU grunt then step the CPU to something better than the atoms

Subliminal Aura · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:32

stokecity_m said:
so an amdx2 2.9ghz 2ddr3 ram would just need a cheapish graphics card adding and away i go?

How would i go about using files form another pc (one in the bedroom is the main pc)

That's not a bad processor it might even be able to do the HD by itself ... If it can't get this card for 10-15 from MM

GeForce 8400 GS G98 VP3[9] B December 2007 Only later 8400 GS cards use the G98 chip, which supports VP3

I've used one of them and can vouch for the hardware acceleration

stokecity_m · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:35

Well i've just looked at the XBMC on my main system and it looks awesome and is nice and smooth to use.

The only trouble is getting the files from the other pc.
How would i go about this without having to copy them all?

iamtheoneneo · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:43

network?

lol

Subliminal Aura · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:47

add video smb samba source ie over the network - share the files

I'll leave a trusty apprentice in here to fill in the gaps ... My job here is done ... out

stokecity_m · 28 Feb 2011 at 00:53

iamtheoneneo said:
network?lol

not got a clue about networks etc as i've only ever ran one pc before.

stokecity_m · 28 Feb 2011 at 01:54

Subliminal Aura said:
GeForce 8400 GS G98 VP3[9] B December 2007 Only later 8400 GS cards use the G98 chip, which supports VP3

if i was to use his card what would i do for the sound as this only carries pictures?

How would i connect sound to the tv?

hawker1986 · 28 Feb 2011 at 07:34

Ermmm what sort of network are you running? wireless/wired. Theres no reason that your Xbox shouldnt stream properly from the PC. I imagine that your network is the problem, so unless your planning on moving all your media to a new machine thats really where you should look first or else youll spend the money on this new box and have the same problem.

Hawker

stokecity_m · 28 Feb 2011 at 07:56

Me pc is connected via ethnet to my router up stairs and my xbox is connected wirelessly to the router from down stairs.

I'm currently using the white netgear Router from virgin media.

I believe the xbox receives the info via the Internet I was hoping it might be faster to share the info via a network as they are both connected to the same Router.

hawker1986 · 28 Feb 2011 at 08:50

OK well unless your using fast wireless (150mbps+) then that is going to be your limiting factor, and presumably your "new" PC your planning on getting will be in the same room as the Xbox and connect wirelessly?

If so your problem will persist. What you may want to consider before forking out for a new machine which may not improve things is either running an ethernet network cable from the router, or failing that as it may not be possible and assuming your electrics are reasonable then some 200mbps homeplugs to connect your Xbox to the router. I use homeplugs to stream where I live and it works very well, I can stream 2 1080p sources at the same time, but my electrics are very good.

Should be a lot cheaper than a new machine and if it doesnt work you can always take them back.

Hawker

Subliminal Aura · 28 Feb 2011 at 08:54

stokecity_m said:
if i was to use his card what would i do for the sound as this only carries pictures?

How would i connect sound to the tv?

Ah yes, in that case spec yourself a card with HDMI out that also carries the sound.

Sorry about that, afaik the 8400gs doesn't carry sound

G210 is the next bet

stokecity_m · 28 Feb 2011 at 10:26

The "new" pc and xbox sit directly below where the router is in the bedroom, so would a better router help? As I currently get 3/5 bars of signal on the xbox.