1 edit | reply to TOPDAWG
Re: Ditching Shaw cable need media player ideas Basically I could get away with two tv's for now. The kids can go to hell and stick to their notebooks.
What I need is a media player that will let me browse the internet and have full video playback. Not worried about audio files. From too much reading seems most of the media players seem half ass attempts at something with each one missing something (I do have a Asus O!play Mini which works good as bare bones video player). So ATM I'm thinking HTPC or a netbook capable of playing video on a 47" TV. I'm also not worried about BR playback as I'm ok with DVD quality and really none of the videos I download are 1080 usually stick to downloading videos in the 1.5td or less size.
Main thing is getting news and having a video playlist availability. We have a 92 year old grandma living with us so when everyone is at work I'd like to just create a play list of bunch of video files and let it play for hours.
I was going to go with Boxee Box but being discontinued I guess I'll pass?. My budget is obviously the cheapest I can get but seems with a new router, htpc/media players/netbooks I'll be hitting close to $1000 for two tv's.
This is what I was thinking of for the htpc
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=58341···oid=1230
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=67325···oid=1230
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=70273···oid=1230
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=61144
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=41337
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=52411
Oh yah and say another $60 for a small HD. I have a bunch of Segate 500/1BExpansions which I use to store the video.
Total is $300+ tax and give me the ability to go to i3/5/7
I would run Linux on it and XMBC. I do have a bunch of Humble Bundle games I bought and with Steam being in Beta for Linux I'm thinking an HTPC.
I also fund this cool little guy »www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a···13138368 |
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 TOPDAWGPremium
join:2005-04-27
Midland, ON
kudos:3
4 edits | OK that PC would handle all your needs but I'd add a GPU in the mix too for the GPU acceleration. For the other tv's I'd get a WD live box. they can be had for like 100 bucks and play media on their own if you don't want to store everything on the network.
Someone may can come in here and list out some better hardware for the same price or a little more. I don't keep up on hardware much.
»www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/···pot%2002
Take a look at some PC's on there some nice hardware for cheap prices. I got my father in law a system to build him off there 2 weeks ago for a good price.
»www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/···CatId=31
A system like this would cover all your needs I'd think. If I'm wrong someone please say something. No idea of the build quality of the hardware but hardware wise this would cover your needs. Some of the reviews on there say the case sucks. |
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Doonz
join:2010-11-27
Beaumont, AB Reviews:
 ·Shaw
| reply to analog andy
said by TOPDAWG:good god man he does not need a 4 core PC with 16GB to run media. That is way over-kill just for media unless he also wants to run games. I like your idea but that is so costly and can be done so much cheaper.
Andy can you post what your budget is so folks can better list your options. Also what you want to do and how many TV you got and the like.
If he wanted to run HTPC then i woulda just recommended a Zotac and called it a day.
But i figured since the poster was looking for a solution I provided one that would not only grow with the next new thing but is simple and easy to use and can also allow him to bring his media on the road also would allow playback of any file type onto any device..
Just for reference My setup:
Usenet Server:
Quad core xeon @ 2.6ghz with 16gb ram, 4x240gb ssd in raid 10 (This set up was required to achieve full speed on Usenet on 250/15 package from shaw)
Software installed: Sabnzbd, sickbeard
Couchpotato Server:
Virtual machine running 8X2.6ghz cores with 4gb ram
Deluge Server:
Virtual Machine running 8x2.6ghz with 16gb ram
PlexMediserver
cpu 2x 6x2.4ghz opterons with 32Gb ram, 4x 128gb ssd in raid 10
Freenas File server
Quad core xeon @ 2.6ghz w/32GB ram
16x3tb in raid 10
End Devices (Multiple in use at the same time)
3x Ipad
1x Iphone
1x ATV2
1x Android phone running plex
3x Roku 2 XS |
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TOPDAWGPremium
join:2005-04-27
Midland, ON
kudos:3 | oh yeah I like your set-up you posted as it's future proofing more then what I posted exp if 4K ever comes home you'll need more then a dual core to run that I'd guess. Issue was OP did not give enough info on what he wanted and his budget. |
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TOPDAWGPremium
join:2005-04-27
Midland, ON
kudos:3
1 edit | reply to analog andy
OP I just saw this on engadget. It may be a good HTPC for ya. hm looking at it seems like by time you get everything it's a bit piracy. Also looks like dell.ca does not curry it.
»www.engadget.com/2012/11/10/inte···-priced/
»www.anandtech.com/show/6444/inte···hands-on |
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Doonz
join:2010-11-27
Beaumont, AB Reviews:
·Shaw
| reply to TOPDAWG
said by TOPDAWG:oh yeah I like your set-up you posted as it's future proofing more then what I posted exp if 4K ever comes home you'll need more then a dual core to run that I'd guess. Issue was OP did not give enough info on what he wanted and his budget.
Most time people settle on the lowest price but not necessarily what they wanted... |
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Reviews:
 ·TekSavvy DSL
·TekSavvy Cable
| reply to analog andy
Right now the best media box on the market is the Vizio Co-Star, when it comes to embedded media players! You just can't get any better for $99
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjOo5NY_SPs
The only thing better is a HTPC! |
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| For the living room I'll go with a HTPC with the above build but with an i3
Totally forgot about game system emulators so this should let me play all the games I want. I'm not into the life like games so prefer my games to be what look like a game should be cartoonish.
For the other tv's I'll just get the WD Live media players. |
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TOPDAWGPremium
join:2005-04-27
Midland, ON
kudos:3 | said by analog andy:For the living room I'll go with a HTPC with the above build but with an i3
Totally forgot about game system emulators so this should let me play all the games I want. I'm not into the life like games so prefer my games to be what look like a game should be cartoonish.
For the other tv's I'll just get the WD Live media players.
What PC you getting? yeah sounds like this will cover all your needs you want. |
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| This list here »Re: Ditching Shaw cable need media player ideas except I'll go with a desktop tyle HTPC case. I'll go with the i3 for now. |
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TOPDAWGPremium
join:2005-04-27
Midland, ON
kudos:3 | cool let us know how it turns out for ya. |
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| I changed the specs. Will wait till tonight when NCIX has their sale to see if I can save some more $$$
Decided on AMD. Wanted the A-10 65W but seems unavailable.
MSI FM2-A75MA-E35 mATX FM2 A75 DDR3 1PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 1PCI SATA3 HDMI DVI USB3.0 Motherboard
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=76851
AMD A8 5500 Quad Core Processor Socket FM2 3.2GHZ 4MB 65W Retail Box
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=77419
Antec Neo Eco 450C Power Supply ATX 12V Active PFC 80PLUS 120mm Fan
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=60491···oid=1305
Patriot Viper 3 8GB 2X4GB PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 9-9-9-24 1.5V Dual Channel Memory Kit - Black Mamba
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=74758···oid=1209
Nmedia HTPC-5000B Desktop Media Centre Case mATX Black 1X5.25 4X3.5INT Card Reader No PS
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=35507···oid=1378
Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.C 500GB SATA2 Hard Drive 7200RPM 16MB Cache 3.5in OEM
»www.ncix.com/products/?sku=57878···oid=1209
Will see if I need any extra fans or might still go with the vertical case and save about $20 more.
$358.94+ taxes |
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| So at the NCIX Black Fri I ended with this for $363 after taxes
MSI FM2-A75MA-E35 mATX FM2 A75 DDR3 1PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 1PCI SATA3 HDMI DVI USB3.0 Motherboard - $59.99
AMD A8-5600K APU Quad Core Processor Socket FM2 3.2GHZ 4MB 100W Retail Box - $99.99
Antec Basiq BP350 350WATT ATX12V V2.01 80mm Quiet Fan ATX Power Supply - $24.99
Nmedia HTPC-5000B Desktop Media Centre Case mATX Black 1X5.25 4X3.5INT Card Reader No PS - $59.99
AMD Entertainment Edition 8GB 2X4GB PC3-12800U DDR3 1600MHz 9-9-9 1.5V Memory Module W/O Heatsink - $29.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB SATA 32MB Cache 3.5in Internal Hard Drive OEM - $49.99 |
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| Ok got it finished and all ready to go. Had problems with the AMD video drivers but managed to get them fixed so sound now works through HDMI and have 3D. |
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TOPDAWGPremium
join:2005-04-27
Midland, ON
kudos:3 | I forking love that case. I just using a tower laid on it's side HA. So is the case built well and lead out well? |
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| Yah I'm surprised how well the case is made and now nice it looks. Was expecting the cheap 10 years ago Chinese made flimsy case but not this is nice.
Just getting the game emulators ready. Wife will be happy to see all the game systems put away for a bit. |
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| reply to analog andy
So the HTPC has been running good and today I got a couple of WD TV Live boxes for the two other tv's. Got singed up for HULU Plus using the US Zip code trick. With Unotelly I got Hulu and Netflix US running.
Just have to build the OTA antennas and SHAW last day is at the end of the month.
Next up is to get cable internet from my current ISP, Lightspeed as its unlimited data transfer and use that for the TV's viewing and use the ADSL I got from them to download the rest of my DVD library and shows on available through HULU and Netflix plus use it as temp backup if the cable goes down.
I got STEAM running so the kids got some games and once STEAM on Linux is out of beta I'm set. |
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| LOL after banging my head for several hours trying to get the HULU plugin for XBMC, Hulu Desktop and Netflix working on the HTPC (Linux Mint 64bit), went out and got another WD TV Live for the living room TV. The HTPC will be used for playing STEAM/Games/DVD's and Browsing the internet. |
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| reply to analog andy
I have finally reached the elite "no cable" club. Except for daily news no one in the house seems to be missing anything.
Mind you my cable internet (From another company) was suppose to be hooked up that day and I guess the SHAW guy must have "accidentally" not connected it properly when he went to do something at the cable box lol. |
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TOPDAWGPremium
join:2005-04-27
Midland, ON
kudos:3 | cool yeah I've been over a year without paying for cable but I still got it they never cut it off. I learned a never sit down to watch TV it's always just something on in the background %90 of the time. Only issue I got is my high ass internet bill at $87 a month. |
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