Thinking of getting a media center/HTPC

will13 · 5 Apr 2011 at 01:36

So I'm thinking of getting a media center/player like the Asus O!Play HD2, (or the Xtreamer Pro, or AC Ryan HD2), or a HTPC

its gonna be used for video playback and thats it, the only thing is I need a low power draw, so thats why I was leaning towards the things like the Asus, but if I built a HTPC I could use XMBC

another thing is, I've allready got a Intel Pentium Duel Core, and a some DDR2 ram, so if I could use them (and maybe the ATX mobo I got) that would save me some cash

max budget is around £160 without hard drive

so guys, whats your thoughts on this?

stoke1863 · 5 Apr 2011 at 01:43

i made a windows based WMC, Windows 7 does a really good job on media center in my opnion. Add a cheap dual tuning TV card and its great. We useours as oir main device now and its been untouched for a few years.

Get a plugin called Media Browser and you cans it to automaticaly rename and find fan and cover art for any Tv or movies you download. It looks fantastic with the 3D cover flow. Its always impressed people who have come around ours to watch films.

I have mine to auto download certain episodes of TV shows uasing sabNZB

will13 · 5 Apr 2011 at 01:44

stoke1863 said:
i made a windows based WMC, Windows 7 does a really good job on media center in my opnion. Add a cheap dual tuning TV card and its great. We useours as oir main device now and its been untouched for a few years.

Get a plugin called Media Browser and you cans it to automaticaly rename and find fan and cover art for any Tv or movies you download. It looks fantastic with the 3D cover flow. Its always impressed people who have come around ours to watch films.

I have mine to auto download certain episodes of TV shows uasing sabNZB

That would be cool, but how would that work with my backed up dvds?

stoke1863 · 5 Apr 2011 at 01:47

will13 said:
That would be cool, but how would that work with my backed up dvds?

Exactly the same as anything. Just tell media browser to use the folder there stored.

Heres a screenshot of my Southpark collection using emdia browser

and honestly that doesnt look half as good as some of the hi res fan art and covers my HD movies have.

You can also intergreare all the catch up tv like iplayer and 4OD using a plugin called freetuner directly onto media center.

The main user of mine is my parents and they never even have to leave media center as everything is set up now to be accessible from media center,

will13 · 5 Apr 2011 at 01:49

Lol this makes me want to build a HTPC so I can have all my lovely Anime on show like that

stoke1863 · 5 Apr 2011 at 01:55

To be honest the above screens are before i got a better theme and better assists. It looks far better than that now

will13 · 5 Apr 2011 at 01:59

Well it still looks great, trying it on my netbook at moment

stoke1863 · 5 Apr 2011 at 02:04

will13 said:
Well it still looks great, trying it on my netbook at moment

have a google around for media browser skins and covers.

will13 · 5 Apr 2011 at 02:11

How do I get it to rename and download/display the art?

stoke1863 · 5 Apr 2011 at 02:24

will13 said:
How do I get it to rename and download/display the art?

Cant remember of the top of my head but there is something in the settings menu that asks if its ok to rename any files you have in the specified folders you have set,

Best to read the official site as its more useful than my foggy memory LD

will13 · 5 Apr 2011 at 02:38

stoke1863 said:
Cant remember of the top of my head but there is something in the settings menu that asks if its ok to rename any files you have in the specified folders you have set,

Best to read the official site as its more useful than my foggy memory LD

Ahh ok, well I'll have a go tomorrow on my PC, the netbook is abit slow sometimes lol

saitrix · 14 Apr 2011 at 13:25

will13 said:
Lol this makes me want to build a HTPC so I can have all my lovely Anime on show like that

I use XBMC and this is how mine looks with my htpc.

shadow_boxer · 14 Apr 2011 at 14:15

Love XBMC too, had it running on an htpc (Athlon II X240) and I found it very intuitive and easy to use, particularly when compared to mediaportal.

On a side note, how well do people think that a Intel Atom 1.6GHz & ION (N330) would cope with full 1080p content?

vanandjuanunited · 14 Apr 2011 at 14:29

stoke1863 said:
i made a windows based WMC, Windows 7 does a really good job on media center in my opnion. Add a cheap dual tuning TV card and its great. We useours as oir main device now and its been untouched for a few years.

Get a plugin called Media Browser and you cans it to automaticaly rename and find fan and cover art for any Tv or movies you download. It looks fantastic with the 3D cover flow. Its always impressed people who have come around ours to watch films.

I have mine to auto download certain episodes of TV shows uasing sabNZB

same method I use for media
Tried the rest and found this one to be best with media centre master

saitrix · 14 Apr 2011 at 15:21

shadow_boxer said:
Love XBMC too, had it running on an htpc (Athlon II X240) and I found it very intuitive and easy to use, particularly when compared to mediaportal.

On a side note, how well do people think that a Intel Atom 1.6GHz & ION (N330) would cope with full 1080p content?

Should be fine, go on the xbmc forum, loads use those systems on there.

pespro · 14 Apr 2011 at 18:55

Defo going to have to remember that Freetuner...
Does it get the signal off the internet then?