looking to build a home cinema

cj265 · 26 Feb 2011 at 15:31

Hey guys, i'm looking to build a home cinema but first i want to make a speacial computer just to store all my media, this includes movies, photo's and music.

i want to be able to just put all my movies, and i have a lot, all on one machine and be able to to choose a movie through a few clicks of a button rather than go raking through my entire dvd collection.

any ideas on how i could make a setup like this?

SimonR · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:28

Short answer, buy a NAS like one of Synology or QNAPS and streaming media device like the Playon or just buy the new Xtreamer Prodigy http://www.xtreamer.net/Prodigy/ . Probably a far more robust solution.

Mushii

cj265 · 26 Feb 2011 at 16:32

ok cheers

what do you think would be better, a prjector or a big ass screen?

MissChief · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:06

That depends. If you'll be using it only for movies and using another room for 'normal' TV watching, then a projector, hands down. if you plan to use the room regularly for all TV watching then if you go a projector you could be looking at a new bulb every year to eighteen months and they're not cheap. if that is the case then i'd recommend a TV for normal watching and a projector too. Don't forget you'll need a screen for your projector, probably one that pulls down in front of the TV.

Fr0dders · 26 Feb 2011 at 17:21

I'd be storing it on Network Attached Storage too

Look at Drobo, Qnap and Synology.

cj265 · 26 Feb 2011 at 23:44

cool thanks

i'll look into it.

cj265 · 26 Feb 2011 at 23:45

MrLOL said:
Look at Drobo, Qnap and Synology.

is that three seperate things?

Deep · 27 Feb 2011 at 01:51

cj265 said:
is that three seperate things?

Yeah 3 separate companies

I personally am going for a 4 bay Synology drive with 2x 2tb drives and upgrade the rest at a later date.

http://www.synology.com/enu/products/DS411j/index.php

cj265 · 27 Feb 2011 at 09:43

cool that's smart. easy to upgrade and access everything?

Deep · 27 Feb 2011 at 12:23

While I don't own one yet, from everything I've read its supposed to be simple to do it.

Are there any reasons why the QNAP is better than the Synology?

cj265 · 27 Feb 2011 at 13:11

not that i can see off, and the reviews are decent enough for both. i dont really have any knowledge background in this area. never had a home media system before so when i see all them all my mind explodes!

SimonR · 27 Feb 2011 at 14:16

There is marginal difference betwen the QNAP and Synology. Main difference that I can see is the option to encrypt the drives on the Synology. Other than that features and performance are almost identical. Generally i have found the Snology to be a litle cheaper than the equivalent QNAP model

Mushii

cj265 · 28 Feb 2011 at 19:07

cool never noticed that, thanks for pointing that out!

Glaucus · 28 Feb 2011 at 19:34

SimonR said:
Short answer, buy a NAS like one of Synology or QNAPS and streaming media device like the Playon or just buy the new Xtreamer Prodigy http://www.xtreamer.net/Prodigy/ . Probably a far more robust solution.

Mushii

What cd drive does it have or can you fit any, if that is blu ray that looks amazing. Especially with that optional qwerty keyboard and passive heat sink.

cj265 · 28 Feb 2011 at 20:03

im sure you could insert one, if there isn't. with technology today am sure there is.

Glaucus · 28 Feb 2011 at 21:50

You could run one depending on software, but I want one inbuilt for a nice neat job.

cj265 · 1 Mar 2011 at 17:55

true, save farting about with it.