So I'm considering building a cheap computer to hook to my tv, to stream, download, and watch movies with. I should just need something that's capable of browsing the internet, with a decent video card, and a large HD for movie storage, right? Is there anything I'm missing?
Mebbe Bluetooth for keyboard/cursor control
That's about it.
I built one not too long ago.
Motherboard with HDMI out (which I don't use since it isn't sized to the screen properly for some reason).
Processor with integrated HD graphics.
1TB hard drive.
Wireless keyboard.
I didn't get a wireless card since it is right next to my router and I can use the ethernet cable.
In a micro-ATX case.
I've got a Mac Mini w/ a bluetooth Logitech DiNovo Edge keyboard. It's hooked up to my TV via HDMI. I like the concept of the Dinovo Edge keyboard, but the trackpad leaves much to be desired. Otherwise it seems ideal for me.
You might look at IR power switches so that you can power it on/off via normal remote.
I've used this one: http://www.simerec.com/ Works great since you can program the power signal based on your most commonly used remote.
I use it combined with a Media Center remote.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Description=windows%20media%20center%20remote&Submit=ENE
Configure the OS to autologon at startup and to hibernate when you hit the power switch and you can use it like nearly any other device in your living room.
I tend to run MediaPortal (http://www.team-mediaportal.com) to access TV cards, network media and other media on the system (DVD/Blu-Ray, USB drives) on my systems with HuluDesktop to watch online TV shows and movies. There are some Netflix, YouTube and other plugins available for MediaPortal.
Watch out for DRM and trying to play DRM encoded HD material without a HDMI solution that provides the necessary hardware handshake. HDMI hardware and drivers should be HDCP or you'll be limited in resolution or whether it will display at all.
Hope this helps!
1080p? Or 720p? You'll have a hard time finding something cheaper than a Raspberry Pi
I did this a good while back with an ASUS NetTop computer- roughly the size of a hardback book, used a laptop-size drive, had 1080p HDMI out. Relatively low-power processor but a very powerful GPU that allowed it to play back video at 1080p once you got the drivers sorted out. Stopped using it as much once my viewing patterns changed and they came out with a few other streaming services on the AppleTV.
How cheap is cheap. I also picked up a mac mini from the mac refurb store for pretty cheap, can't remember how much. Seems it was more than 25% off and had the full warranty and was a current item. The stuff in the 'refurb' store is mostly returns with no problems.
I got a $250-ish Dell from the Dell Outlet part of their website, and added a dual tuner card to it. I use the motherboard's HDMI out and run Windows Media Center. Works well. Only complaint is Comcast killed all of their ClearQAM signals (even for basic) so now I need to replace my Tuner card with one that will use a CableCard. Or fire them. Given my latest bill, that's the more likely scenario.
Used PS3? Logitech Revue if you want a full keyboard.
You can plug a keyboard into a ps3, fyi
the only real strike against a ps3:
if you wanted to browse from the tv, the browser is garbage.
no excuse, garbage.
other than that, its a good machine~
I have a ps3 as my media center. All I use is Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon, and blu-rays/dvds from Redbox. Even using just those, its a pretty flawed system.
That said, their Netflix, Hulu interfaces are fantastic. Amazon's interface pretty much blows... but not the fault of the PS3.
curious which ps3 edition you have?
The 2nd gen slim.
Assassin HTPC Blog is what I used when I decided to build a home theater PC. I was a complete moron when it came to building a computer aside from knowing you needed a motherboard, ram and cpu and that blog went through everything. It lays out the minimum requirements you absolutely need for a HTPC and then explains what benefits you get when upgrading parts to more expensive options, for example upgrading from an Intel i3 4140 to an i3 4340 gets you better graphics capabilities that will help with games but is a waste for media. He even covers setting up software like XBMC and different programs for ripping DVDs etc. And he likes to go with free software when he can, so it ends up being pretty cheap.
Some of the info on the site is "premium content" and requires a subscription but most of it is free. Everything's spelled out in plain English and he includes prices for all of the parts he talks about too.
I have the last of the non-slim ps3s and I haven't noticed any noise problem, probably because my gaming PC makes so much noise it drowns out the ps3. Also I agree on all points made above that it blows as computer substitute.
Aw dammit can't believe I'm late to this...
I use a cheap desktop for exactly what you describe (as well as a media server). You don't need a good video card if you're not playing games, onboard/cheapo is fine. You do want bluetooth and lots of storage, and a low-maintenance cooling solution (if you must have fans, make sure all intakes are filtered. Passive cooling would be best, positive pressure cooling is a good compromise). I'd recommend a GNU/Linux OS because you'll be doing some unusual things and you don't want to run into the limitations of Windows.
On Linux you can hook up a Dual Shock 3 w/ keyboard to act as a convenient, small, wireless keyboard + mouse substitute. There are some PC joysticks that are similar but they're very hard to find.
EvanB wrote: 1TB hard drive.
Dunno about you but 1TB wouldn't get me anywhere. My server has over 7TB combined. They make 4TB HDDs now (talking "drivemaker's terabytes.")
You guys with home-built HTPCs, how much wattage do they draw during streaming? Idle?
Anyone care to post an example build and cost?
Has anyone here done one with strictly passive cooling?
In reply to GameboyRMH:
Agreed, I don't know what the point of a 1TB HD would be. Either house a redundant array in the HTPC (not what I would recommend) or get an SSD and stream everything (what I would recommend).
ProDarwin wrote: You guys with home-built HTPCs, how much wattage do they draw during streaming? Idle? Anyone care to post an example build and cost? Has anyone here done one with strictly passive cooling?
Mine draws 40W idle, a little more with normal video playback activity, running flat-out about 130W IIRC? But those are old numbers which are probably better now.
Rough build list, don't have specs or exact costs but this should give you an idea:
Cheapass case, PSU, cooling, case extras...call it $100 all together to house and cool the PC. I used a huge passive CPU heatsink and a software heat-limiting system...long nerdy story. PSU has a fan and I have one (filtered) intake fan to keep the case pressure positive so that it doesn't suck in dust. Trayless SATA hot swap racks rock BTW.
Cheapo mobo $100
Basic CPU $100
RAM $50 (paid a lot more for mine, but this is what you should expect)
DS3+KB $80 (OW! Maybe get one used?)
Extra hard drive controller $20
USB BT adapter $15
Hard drives (at current costs): 1x4TB, 1x2TB, 1x1TB, currently around $60/TB, plus I reused an old one for the boot drive.
I think my nettop was about $300 altogether after adding the additional RAM to bring it up to max. Unfortunately, I don't think they make the model I have any more, though the EEEBox looks to be the more modern version. Was limited by the fact it used laptop drives as far as internal drive size, but mine had an eSATA port on it so I had a very large external hooked up to it.
Power draw was pretty low- I never measured it specifically though. It wasn't passively cooled, but was for all intents and purposes silent- I could barely hear it running (and half the time that was the external drive...) from across the room even with nothing else on, with everything else on and watching things it was impossible to hear.
It had its drawbacks- you could forget about any kind of gaming on it since it used a very low-power CPU, but it was great for anything video-related. And it was small enough that I could pack it up and take it along when I went on vacation or work travel.
Do you need it to play Blu-Rays?
How hard is it to find programs. There are a few shows on cable that my wife really likes so to do this she would have to be able yo find them easily and possibly record them like she does now with our DVR. I am computer illiterate beyond playing on the Internet but if I could get rid of the cable company I'd learn how to build one.
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