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first build but need to replace the follwing....

  • 28-07-2012 1:16pm
    #1
    emo72
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,341 ✭✭✭


    under the telly i have a bluray player,a popcorn hour, lg revue googlebox, sky hd box and various harddrives connected to the popcorn.

    have them running through an onkyo 607 receiver with jamo surround sound speaker set.

    its a wiring nightmare and the missus has been "asking" me for ages to sort it out, im just about to crack and try get something sorted.

    im thinking a htpc to replace all the media players, and assuming xbmc is the way to go because it plays all video file types ? is that correct ? dont mind spending a few bob on this and making it my pc as well. graphics cards and soundcards and mobos are totally bewildering to me.

    Is it possible to integrate my skybox into it as well? So I would need tuner cards?

    As I'm typing my questions here in actually looking at the enormity of this and being put off lol

    Basically looking for a htpc and would like it to be the dogs danglies. Have a budget around 600 euro and I don't need to buy harddrives.

    I hope you guys can help me out.

    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    PogMoThoin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    Are you subscribing to Sky, nothing you build will ever compete with a Sky HD box for ease of use, 7 day program guide and recording with series link.

    You could just build a nice neat HTPC and add some drives, removing the PCH and external drives and share that out across your network. See my thread about the one I built last year: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=75820116

    It has space for about 3 drives (I've not bothered with dvd as I download everything), is completely silent with no fans or moving parts and has optical surround out. I run Xbmcbuntu on it but just use it as a media player only so I never boot to the linux side of things other than to update every so often.


  • #3
    subway
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭subway


    PogMoThoin wrote: »
    Are you subscribing to Sky, nothing you build will ever compete with a Sky HD box for ease of use, 7 day program guide and recording with series link.

    Not true at all. But it takes a bit of work.

    In reality, keep the skybox (or switch to freesat) and get a lower powered xbmc box. The htpc as a concept is dead. If you want an excuse to have a pc under the tv then gor for it, or if you have aspare pc lying around. But designing a system around a windows pc is overkill these days.


  • #4
    Access
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,359 ✭✭✭Access


    subway wrote: »
    The htpc as a concept is dead. If you want an excuse to have a pc under the tv then gor for it, or if you have aspare pc lying around. But designing a system around a windows pc is overkill these days.

    Are you away with the fairies? :D

    Think you just insulted the majority of peeps on here with that comment.


  • #5
    emo72
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,341 ✭✭✭emo72


    subway wrote: »
    PogMoThoin wrote: »
    Are you subscribing to Sky, nothing you build will ever compete with a Sky HD box for ease of use, 7 day program guide and recording with series link.

    Not true at all. But it takes a bit of work.

    In reality, keep the skybox (or switch to freesat) and get a lower powered xbmc box. The htpc as a concept is dead. If you want an excuse to have a pc under the tv then gor for it, or if you have aspare pc lying around. But designing a system around a windows pc is overkill these days.


    Thanks. I was telling the missus about the plan, and she has told me not to get rid of the skybox. Just bluray and media player.


  • #6
    PogMoThoin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    subway wrote: »
    Not true at all. But it takes a bit of work.

    A bit, it takes more than a bit and still could end up failing the wife usability test. I have a HTPC with XBMC, the wife found my previous Boxee Box easier to use as there weren't half the options.


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  • #7
    subway
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭subway


    It takes about a half days work, and, without patronising women, its far more user friendly than a sky box.


  • #8
    emo72
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,341 ✭✭✭emo72


    subway wrote: »
    It takes about a half days work, and, without patronising women, its far more user friendly than a sky box.

    Sorry not replying to this post in particular. But my missus is not up for another remote. She loves the skybox. Worst thing that ever happened to me. She never misses a soap. Telly is taken up from7 to 11.

    Leaves no time for my viewing.

    Can anyone advise on a good soundcard. Love my music and most of my stuff is flac. So would need a decent quality one.


  • #9
    PogMoThoin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    subway wrote: »
    It takes about a half days work, and, without patronising women, its far more user friendly than a sky box.

    A Sky Box is a pathetic layout, but it's what people are used to. Having to go to page 2 to find BBC HD is ridiculous (may not be exact, I don't have a Sky Box, just going from experience in my Mams)
    emo72 wrote: »
    Can anyone advise on a good soundcard. Love my music and most of my stuff is flac. So would need a decent quality one.

    Why do you need a soundcard when you have an Onkyo? Just use onboard optical out and let Onkyo do it's magic


  • #10
    emo72
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,341 ✭✭✭emo72


    Thanks pog, did warn you I'm semi clueless. So I would need a graphics card with hdmi out? And just let the onkyo handle the sound


  • #11
    subway
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭subway


    Look into a harmony remote if multiple remotes are an issue.

    Not 100% sure what you mean though, if you get rid of sky you would have one less anyway?


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  • #12
    PogMoThoin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    emo72 wrote: »
    Thanks pog, did warn you I'm semi clueless. So I would need a graphics card with hdmi out? And just let the onkyo handle the sound

    Onboard graphics is fine for 1080p, just make sure whatever you get has HDMI video and Optical audio out (you most likely do not need optical with Onkyo). You don't need a whole lot of power if all you're doing is using it as a media player. The motherboard I used has an embedded dual core Atom cpu found in netbooks and onboard nVidia graphics. It is designed to run in small devices without cooling so is perfect for a media player. Booting straight to XMBC mean you don't have the overheads of Windows and the Atom cpu becomes very snappy, XBMC on top of Windows is a little laggy.


  • #13
    subway
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭subway


    PogMoThoin wrote: »
    A Sky Box is a pathetic layout, but it's what people are used to. Having to go to page 2 to find BBC HD is ridiculous (may not be exact, I don't have a Sky Box, just going from experience in my Mams)

    I had one for about a week, they really are usless, bu you might be surprised how quickly people adapt to a new system, especially one that actually makes more sense, has more acccesible features and is, imo, more user friendly.

    Ive never had anyone who is unsure how to use my system, once i explain the activities button on the harmony the rest just clicks fairly quickly.


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