SFF as media PC using older components

ThirdEye

ThirdEye

ThirdEye

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Joined
8 Apr 2003
Posts
390
Hi all, long time since I last posted on OCUK. Hopefully you can still help with my problem. Basically I need some external storage to back up my laptop. I have been considering a Synology 106e for it's feature set and future expandability and it would be a good option for me as it does everything (and more) that I need.

I was then going to get a media receiver (??) to access the music/video etc on my NAS and play it through my hi-fi or my nice new tosh 37" lcd.

However, whilst researching the options on external NAS devices a few comments have been made about SFF PC's being used in this way and this set me thinking about using some old components that I have. My old PC has an Athlon XP2600 processor, 1Gb PC3200 ram, Nvidia Geforce 4200 gfx card and 2 x 60gb IDE drives all on an Asus NForce2 motherboard. It's also got a DVD writer and DVD Rom drive.

I was wondering if I could set up a SFF PC to be used as a media centre pc/NAS device all in one? I wouldn't mind buying new HDD's if needed (eg SATA ones to replace the IDE ones). It'll have to be pretty cheap but also look good enough to go under my nice new LCD :) Oh, it's got to have wi-fi to connect to my wireless network. One concern I have is whether my old processor would be up to the job of dishing up video content (eg DVD's that I put onto the HDD's) and maybe future High Def stuff too.

Think I've covered everything, many thanks in advance for any replies.
 
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Motherboard is an ATX one so point taken re SFF. Do you reckon the other components would be ok. I'm a bit unsure about the gfx card to be honest - it hasn't got a remote and I reckon I might need to upgrade it to get one that has a remote etc.
 
you can still by AMD socket A mATX boards yes, but ocuk dont sell them so you will have to buy from another retailer i cant say where tho sorry

just google for them im sure you will find some at an ok price, as for the gfx card depends on what you gonna use it for really.
 
A powerful graphics card is not needed for media centre use. You will want one that supports the native resolution of your TV though. Some newer ones offer component output as well as DVI/VGA. I think your card will have XvMC support which, I understand, unloads some of the MPEG2 decoding work from the processor to the GPU, which is good.

As for a remote theres a few options. TV tuner cards (work alongside your existing graphics card) are usually supplied with a remote control. Theres also the official MS Media Centre remote. Some cases are even supplied with them.

The CPU will be well up to dealing with standard definition stuff. With the assistance provided by the graphics card it may be OK for HD.
 
Thanks for the replies. If I didn't get Win MCE what other options have I got for the software?

On the hardware front it sound as though the kit I have is ok but maybe I need another gfx card or just add a tv tuner card - any recommendations? Also, to get my DVD's onto my hard drive and then view them on the tv through the media PC are there any recommendations for software to do this?
 
DVD Decryptor is a good DVD ripping tool, and still around although officially banned...

I'm going to look into alternatives to MCE myself. Theres a few Linux alternatives (Myth is one I've heard of)
 
ThirdEye said:
Thanks for the replies. If I didn't get Win MCE what other options have I got for the software?

On the hardware front it sound as though the kit I have is ok but maybe I need another gfx card or just add a tv tuner card - any recommendations? Also, to get my DVD's onto my hard drive and then view them on the tv through the media PC are there any recommendations for software to do this?
Click to expand...

I hear Media Portal is a rather good alternative to MCE.
 
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