RB are you happy with that chipset over the Atom/Ion route? Given that those seem to use less power? I'm tempted to steal your build
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After reading the thread posted here from the XMBC forums it would seem that there may be issues streaming full Bluray ISOs with full HD audio on the lower spec'd integrated cpu/mb setups. Having been caught out a few times recently buying stuff that is spec'd to perform to a set standard which only just reaches it on a good day with a favourable wind I would rather over spec than try to force it in. Like building a PC to the min specs of a fav game, it will work, sort of, but would be quite a bit better if you had chucked just a little more cash at it. By all accounts, an i3 should be able to handle all HD movie stuff and then some...
I am going on reviews and user feedback though as I have not bought yet
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Mind you. Will 10/100 ethernet stream full 1080p? Because I can upgrade my server for less than £300.
Short answer, for 2D full bluray on a network fairly empty of traffic with reasonable network equipment (NICs, routers etc) then you should have no problems.
Longer answer...
As taken from Wikipedia (
Bluray).
BD Video movies have a maximum data transfer rate of 54 Mbit/s, a maximum AV bitrate of 48 Mbit/s (for both audio and video data), and a maximum video bit rate of 40 Mbit/s.
So, in an ideal world;
The max for the 2D Bluray spec, 54Mbps (6.75MB/s).
The max for the 100Mbit network is 100Mbps (12.5MB/s in control/error correction etc).
Now in reality the max for 2d Bluray stands but the max for 100Mbit is affected by a number of things;
- Network cabling.
- Efficiency of the network interfaces on both ends and on devices in between.
- Hard drive speeds on the source.
- Network traffic.
- Specification of intermediate network components.
- Any other actions the source or destination devices may be engaged in.
A fairly stably attained throughput on a 100Mbit connection should be around 85Mbps (10.625MB/s) payload data rate (ie. reported rate in windows after it strips all the error correction and control data out). So with a reasonable setup we are still well within the specs for Bluray.
3D Bluray ups the ante a bit through. 3D Bluray has a max video throughput of 64Mbps (Main TS @ 48Mbps & sub TS @ approx 24Mbps used for the second eyes image). You also need to add to this control data and audio data. Unfortunately the Bluray Rom white paper
here doesn't specify, that I could find, the max total bandwidth required for 3D (audio, video and control/correction). Hopefully someone else can reference a reputable source for this info. It is also clear from the 2D specs that the max audio spec'd bandwidth plus the max 3D video spec'd bandwidth does not equal the max total spec'd bandwidth for 3D Bluray. I would personally err on the side of caution and go for Gbit network if possible for 3D.
Eg this bundle:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=BU-188-OK&tool=3 would happily transcode the stuff I need in full 1080p, its just a case of whether or not my TVs ethernet card can cope with it.
For this I would first go back to basics. What do you want to achieve and what do you currently have ?. I would include thinking about things like future compatibility (TV/HTPC), storage space, ease of access for ripping movies (HTPC / Server), other things you may wish to do (internet browsing, streaming from internet sites like Spotify/GrooveShark/iPlayer, Torrents or NBZGet), Facebook (for the wife naturally), webcam (suggesting for contact with friends and family and not setting up a PayPerView service
), email. Remember people tend to 'grow' into solutions if they have the room so a HTPC with internet browsing may then be used to stream video or music and check email etc and you don't need to sit at a desk. Using XMBC you could also control a HTPC with an Android or Apple phone/pad. On the other hand, none of those things may interest you or your family (how much of your mobile phones functions do you use for example. I know I use very few).
The stuff linked to should perform pretty well on the server
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Mind I'm being dense. I started to look at a HTPC because I want to run XBMC.
Not so uncommon
. I have bought a couple of movie players and both failed to meet my expectations (what they could stream, being able to run with moviesheets 'out of the box'). I would now prefer to not be locked in to one set of hardware and software and be at the mercy of the manufacturers dev team, this is why I am looking at the HTPC.
RB
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