New HTPC Setup ideas?

Hamish

Hamish

Hamish

Soldato
Joined
14 Apr 2003
Posts
4,950
Location
Deepest Yorkshire
So, I'm thinking of getting a new HTPC setup as i feel like my current setup is reaching its limits, what's the opinion on this?

Current Setup:
Popcorn Hour A-110 with 1.5Tb Hard drive
Logitech Harmony one remote
TV

problems:
hard drive is almost full
hard drive has no redudency
would like XBMC to know when i've watched TV programs
would like sexier interface (XBMC)
i've got into video editing and would like something which has a decent processor for faster transfers over SMB/AFP for video editing (using FCPX) direct from networked drive
torrent client on popcorn hour can only handle about 5 torrents, would like rtorrent + rutorrent
no ftp/sftp client on popcorn hour to download things remotely, therefore I often have to leave my laptop running all night (13" MBA) to download things, then copy them across to popcorn hour
would like TimeMachine network backup capability
would like rsync client to replicate important stuff remotely onto a server

proposed setup:
QNAP Turbo NAS TS-419P II with WD Caviar green 2Tb x3 in RAID5
And either
Apple TV3 + XBMC
or
XStreamer Ultra 2

What do the masses of OcUK think?
 
I have considered the r pi. If I could find a case for it. It would also be pretty cool if it could be powered by a USB port on the nas. The apple tv would also be good for AirPlay though. Could be a while to get a r pi as I think the first batch is sold out.
 
My Suggestion... based on my existing solution

HP Microserver with Unraid installed
Pc based HTPC such as Acer Revo or something custom made
 
blairw said:
My Suggestion... based on my existing solution

HP Microserver with Unraid installed
Pc based HTPC such as Acer Revo or something custom made
Click to expand...

Sounds like a lot of work. Ideally I'm looking for an almost plug and play solution that will sit quietly/silently and compactly under the tv and use hardly any power.
 
Hamish said:
Sounds like a lot of work. Ideally I'm looking for an almost plug and play solution that will sit quietly/silently and compactly under the tv and use hardly any power.
Click to expand...

I dont think you are going to get redundancy with a quick and easy solution. If you can live without that then something like an acer revo would be ideal. Not sure raspberry pi will be able to handle fast file transfers so thats probably out.
 
I got an Acer Revo for behind my TV in the bedroom and I'm considering selling my Antec Fusion based in the living room for a second one.
 
Disco Boy said:
Can you elaborate on this?
Click to expand...

Everything I've read says the simplicity in the kernel of the ATV3 means there are fewer opportunities to find an exploit.

The existing ATV2 one uses a boot exploit or something and the 3 does t use this.
 
I'm no expert, and suspect somehow it will be done, just won't be quick I'd expect.

Unless you NEED 1080p for XBMC, I'd stick with a 2.

I bought a 3 (my first one) and I'm very happy with it. I use my iPad & iPhone to AirPlay to it, and use air video on my pc to serve the content. That works well, but no DTS, and no 1080p either, so not ideal. Xenon mkv converts mkv to a ATv3 compatible format in about 20mins tho, to stream from iTunes.
 
blairw said:
My Suggestion... based on my existing solution

HP Microserver with Unraid installed
Pc based HTPC such as Acer Revo or something custom made
Click to expand...

+1

If I was doing my setup again this is the route I would probably take just for the saving in time & cash as currently run synology 411j with all my media and a Llano HTPC which I can't fault but overall probably cost a couple of hundred more than the microserver/revo setup.

The Microserver (HP ProLiant Turion II N40L MicroServer about £130-40 after cashback) can be built to boot off the internal usb into a raid/media server/download machine (this thread for more info) then chuck a XMBC Linux build onto Acer Revo RL70 (about £180)(this thread for a breakdown of the RL70)
 
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