6 replies to this topic

[Rhino1051]

So I'm thinking this isn't exactly the right thread for this so if an admin thinks there's a better place for this then by all means please move it.

Anyways, I'm looking to put together a Home Theater PC on the relatively cheap.  I've looked at all the pre-made ones out there and the retail prices look way inflated.  I built a pretty decent gaming rig for less than they're wanting to sell a system for watching tv and movies.  If anyone has an HTPC that you're happy with or have any input I would love to hear it.  Thanks.

[{SWG} Bradofcanada]

I watch all my movies straight from my gaming rig.I just have an hd cable plugged into one of my graphics cards.It works excellent if you have the right setup.I also use the TV as a second monitor, nothing like surfing the web from my lazy-boy.

Edited by {SWG} Bradofcanada, 16 February 2012 - 04:21 AM.

[Stigoberg]

Get a http://www.raspberrypi.org/, model B, it will go for around 35$ and is able to run XBMC and 1080p movies without any problems, you just need that and a HDD and you are good to go

And the best thing about it is that it's not much bigger than a matchbox

Edited by Stigoberg, 16 February 2012 - 08:21 PM.

[Norse]

This is a pretty open-ended question without first answering questions about what you want to do with it. You can put together a system no bigger than a usb hard drive for like $250 that will play regular 1080p video just fine. It's when you want want to play full 3D video on your billion inch TV while bitstreaming audio where things get kinda fun (and more expensive).

I'm a huge fan of (and user) of XBMC running on a Linux box and I watch these forums pretty regularly for hardware ideas:
http://forum.xbmc.or...splay.php?f=112

[Rhino1051]

Good info guys, thanks for the advice.  To clarify as to what I want it to do, I'm looking to basically use it as a tv tuner/DVR and Blue-Ray player.  I don't have a crazy 3D tv or anything, just a teeny little 42" LED.

[Stigoberg]

Rhino1051, on 23 February 2012 - 06:32 PM, said:

Good info guys, thanks for the advice.  To clarify as to what I want it to do, I'm looking to basically use it as a tv tuner/DVR and Blue-Ray player.  I don't have a crazy 3D tv or anything, just a teeny little 42" LED.

Well, then the raspberry pi is really what you should go for

[spider4423]

i too watch my movies on my gaming rig... i have a secondary monitor