Anyone using an HTPC in 2020?

Gimpymoo · 16 Jul 2020 at 21:42

Anyone using a PC in 2020 in their main living area instead of a streaming stick/box/native TV apps?

Radox-0 · 16 Jul 2020 at 23:22

I do have a HTPC, but its for streaming content from few discs I have and primarily gaming.

Most typical apps, I will use straight off the TV which is enough (Amazon, NowTV, Netflix and Disney +)

hornetstinger · 16 Jul 2020 at 23:34

Nope. Android s912 , octo core with core eleac. Low power, silent.

LizardKing · 17 Jul 2020 at 15:00

yep, running with a sat card and mediaportal front end, i've yet to come across anything that can match its capability's, its not just a htpc though as it acts as a nas/vm host for other bits and pieces.
I do use a now tv stick for streaming services though. i've found it far better supported than the windows/smart-tv apps.

MOOGLEYS · 17 Jul 2020 at 16:37

Nope with all the available streaming stuff now its not worth it. Only downside is if your internet goes down......

robfosters · 17 Jul 2020 at 16:59

Nope, I have a shield with a loaded Hard drive attached

ubern00b · 17 Jul 2020 at 17:23

Shield Pro 2019 using Kodi/Plex and a NAS for local content. Apps on the Shield for streaming services. FireTV sticks in the bedrooms.

sad099 · 17 Jul 2020 at 18:32

Used to have one, but retired it recently, got fed up with constant updates, needing to upgrade etc and additional boxes under the TV along with the extra wires, clutter and dust
Switched to using the Xbox one - Kodi for playing older local server content , Amazon, netflix etc.
That along with Sky meets all my needs.
Would have been nice to have a one box solution that does all the above in a HTPC that was easy to manage / maintain, but never found it

Bigpops · 17 Jul 2020 at 18:44

I retired mine early this year after using it for I don't know how long. Probably 12 or 13 years and 2 sets of internals.

I replaced it with an OSMC Vero 4K+. Streaming services are taken care of by the TV itself.

My media is still sitting on an Unraid server, as it has done for a decade or more.

wellibob · 17 Jul 2020 at 21:13

I use a decent laptop as a htpc. Just plug in and go/use. Have several pc's, tablets and phones so laptop isn't used for much else. Yes it's luxury but thats what I like. Options . I do also own a 4k roku, Amazon 4k stick. I rarely use the TVs smart features.

Tee Hee Johnson · 17 Jul 2020 at 23:50

I use a wee Xeon server as i do other things with it too.

It's running Plex.

garnett · 18 Jul 2020 at 00:08

wellibob said:
I use a decent laptop as a htpc.... Yes it's luxury but thats what I like.

Sounds like a clunky ballache. What am I missing?

hornetstinger · 18 Jul 2020 at 08:33

I guess if you use the HTPC for music and video ripping and encoding ok, but for speed, ease of use, silent media boxes are far better than years ago.

MatsyLR · 18 Jul 2020 at 09:00

I've always used a Rasperry Pi with OpenElec/LibreElec for many years.
I now use a android s912 3GB ram box with CoreElec flashed to internal.

sHo0sH · 18 Jul 2020 at 09:15

I was having this discussion with a forum member offline the other day, I truly can't see a real need for a full htpc in the living room anymore unless you also want to triple A game with it as well. Streaming movies from a network or internet source is just so easily done with a tv stick or android box its just total overkill. I'm happy to be proved wrong though.

wellibob · 18 Jul 2020 at 10:29

garnett said:
Sounds like a clunky ballache. What am I missing?

It's a modern thin and light. I don't sit in front of the tv 24/7 so the laptop has other abilites other than sitting next to the tv via a hdmi lead.

jpaul · 18 Jul 2020 at 12:30

yes ... isn't (windows) laptop hdmi facility in the living room, a must, if you want to
- access iplayer downloads .. their tv app is a bit rubbish
- browsing internet on a decent laptop screen and moving any media stuff to the (extended) tv screen - casting's a bit laborious
- access music streaming services (eg tidal) with full keyboard to find stuff

would be nice to have the (laptop) horsepower to run 4k madvr, for upscaling, noise reduction, hdr eotf curve adjustment - but I suspect you need a serious server/desktop to do that.

benjii · 18 Jul 2020 at 12:36

I have an HTPC, mainly for watching content using madVR. I like that madVR allows for 3D LUTs, so both the TV and HTPC are properly calibrated. madVR also has phenomenal upscaling, really good for watching older content on 4k screens. I still use the Netflix and Amazon Video apps on the TV, but the HTPC gets the most use.

jpaul said:
would be nice to have the (laptop) horsepower to run 4k madvr, for upscaling, noise reduction, hdr eotf curve adjustment - but I suspect you need a serious server/desktop to do that.

Our HTPC just has a G4560, 8GB ram and a GTX 1060 6GB. It does very well with madVR processing.

garnett · 18 Jul 2020 at 19:03

wellibob said:
It's a modern thin and light. I don't sit in front of the tv 24/7 so the laptop has other abilites other than sitting next to the tv via a hdmi lead.

It's more the having to put it in place, connect it up, and set it up that sounds rather less luxurious than having something dedicated, in place, and ready to go. But as I say, I am probably missing something.

wellibob · 18 Jul 2020 at 19:37

garnett said:
It's more the having to put it in place, connect it up, and set it up that sounds rather less luxurious than having something dedicated, in place, and ready to go. But as I say, I am probably missing something.

Not missing anything. Absolutely a media box like a roku, fire TV, Nvidia shield TV or even the hideous Apple TV box are nice compact viable options to a htpc. I use all of them (not the Apple TV) but a htpc just has more features I require. Choice is yours. Enjoy.