Under TV PCs/Media Centres

Bloodrayne · 12 Sep 2011 at 14:02

I'm plotting a PC Overhaul in the coming months; but given that I'm a bit behind on technology thought I'd ask some additional questions...

Obviously the overhaul is for my new games machine (which sits in a room upstairs) but I wondered if there was yet suitable tech available so I could use the processing power of this system, but have the output displayed on my TV downstairs? The only reason I have a 360 is because it's much better for social gaming in the lounge, but it would be nice to have the option to play some titles on the big screen - is there a suitable system that slots in nicely alongside the TV?

I'm also after a touch screen system to use as a media centre, so would be looking to have my upstairs PC as a pretty much 'always on' system - is this realistic?

mp260767 · 12 Sep 2011 at 14:16

can you not setup your xbox to link to the pc upstairs and stream off that ?

as for the media centre how about slotting your old kit into an htpc case ?

Bloodrayne · 12 Sep 2011 at 14:31

Hmm... Streaming to the Xbox would work for media, but if I wanted to use the upstairs PC hardware to play games on the TV downstairs would that work? If so, problem solved! But I had thought that I'd need some sort of networked PC downstairs so I could control the games via that.

I think my old PC kit would more than do for a HTPC case, my dad got his hands on a touch screen and I quite fancied one in my living room as opposed to a stereo system (although obviously still connected to some good quality speakers)

mp260767 · 12 Sep 2011 at 14:55

ahhhh misunderstood the requirement didn't realise you want to use the game pc to game on the tv as well

, not aware of anyway you could do it tbh.

heard of pc's stored in lofts etc, but usually allows for cabling to be connected for video/keyboard

.

honosuseri · 12 Sep 2011 at 15:04

For gaming, carry the rig downstairs lol I'd hope you have a HDMI input on the TV certainly a DVI or VGA one. Spare kettle lead for the psu to make life easier and a wireless keyboard and mouse you are set

If you have an old rig that is HTPC capable then use it! The xbox is a media centre extender, you have much better options using a PC and the XBMC software you could even add a blu-ray drive maybe? It's free software so download it and have a look you'll see what I mean

You can buy small touchscreen monitors. I know this because I've used them in car computer builds. We used centrafuse as the interface, it has gps,web browser, multimedia etc built in we could use XBMC instead though but we'd lose a lot of the car features.

You'll see what I mean when you try XBMC you'll notice it's "finger friendly", if you set the small TS monitor to a clone of the big screen and have XBMC to start on bootup your laughing.....that said I wouldn't be surprised if you could use a modern touchscreen phone to control the PC now......i used to use an old PDA come phone as a infrared remote

mp260767 · 12 Sep 2011 at 15:47

honosuseri said:
You'll see what I mean when you try XBMC you'll notice it's "finger friendly", if you set the small TS monitor to a clone of the big screen and have XBMC to start on bootup your laughing.....that said I wouldn't be surprised if you could use a modern touchscreen phone to control the PC now......i used to use an old PDA come phone as a infrared remote

have seen xbmc apps available for touch phones, thinking of it myself for home

Bloodrayne · 12 Sep 2011 at 16:39

Thanks - half positive.

Yeah, I wanted to leave my rig upstairs but wondered if there was a system where I could have something downstairs that would allow me to communicate with the upstairs PC (instead of having to lug the entire thing downstairs). Clearly not something that anyone else has to worry about though!

TV is fairly new and not a concern on the inputs front!

honosuseri · 12 Sep 2011 at 19:02

The only other option I can come up with is a HDMI transmitter. That said you still have an issue with your mouse and keyboard. It's possible that bluetooth might have enough range but that's quite a gamble to make, the kit wont be cheap either

Bloodrayne · 14 Sep 2011 at 10:41

Yeah - thanks, looks like my ideas are exceeding technology again... I thought that there may have been a method, and that I just hadn't thought of it... I know that there are wireless USB hubs these days and thought that there could have been a workaround.

I shall think on...

Bumhug · 14 Sep 2011 at 10:43

Not used this for a few years but used to work well http://streammygame.com/