HTPC/XBMC

[CarelessJohn]

Hey fellas anybody on this forum knows anybody who builds HTPc/XBMC computer I want to get one who have the link.....

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

^ depends on what you want to do with it

it is just a regular PC with a HDMI capable video card that you install XBMC on
http://xbmc.org/
you can use a laptop if you like
you can buy a bluray disc drive to watch movies

a cheaper and less fussy alternative is to use a streaming media player like a Roku (US$89) or Apple TV (US$99) - far cheaper than a HTPC and nothing to boot up or shut down and you can keep it running without using up too much power or creating alot of heat as a PC would.

You can use PLEX to stream movies from your already existing PC elsewhere in your house to your Roku box etc
https://my.plexapp.com/

[phreak]

One of my htpc actually is just and older model quad core intel chip (for low rpm fan) running about 4gb ram and a simple nvidia 220 video card with hdmi out.. It running win7 with media center on it.. Works flawless, using a remote to sleep/wake/navigate through media center movie menus.. Great use for older hardware..

[ru$$ell]

can just use a regular pc like duane said.Recently putting the finishing touches on mine :

Intel i5 3470
Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H
8GB DDR3 Samsung memory
500 GB HDD (will be adding 3x3tb's soon enough)
Logitech DiNovo Edge Keyboard (dont really need it,after i set up XBMC,this case has it's own front Display and Remote)
Some $75 aftermarket CPU cooler which i picked up from Wizz,must say it pretty quiet.
Random 500W psu (will be upgrading that pretty soon as well)

[singhj]

You can use a raspberry pi and build your own xbmc media player on a budget, if you like tinkering with gadgets.

Its tiny enough to mount and hide behind a TV and you can also add a remote and wireless, attach external hard drives etc.

Its much more cost effective than building or buying a PC for the same purpose and it can literally fit in your shirt pocket

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

Hey fellas anybody on this forum knows anybody who builds HTPc/XBMC computer I want to get one who have the link.....

how do you plan to use it?

Why do you think you need a HTPC?

[ru$$ell]

You can use a raspberry pi and build your own xbmc media player on a budget, if you like tinkering with gadgets.

Its tiny enough to mount and hide behind a TV and you can also add a remote and wireless, attach external hard drives etc.

Its much more cost effective than building or buying a PC for the same purpose and it can literally fit in your shirt pocket

yea,the only problem with the PI is that anything above 720p will lag significantly.

[ModMania]

I use it on a laptop connected to tv via hdmi its a very good alternative to cable tv..and i use my iPhone as a remote control

[CarelessJohn]

I to be honest I have converted my laptop into a HTPC with the whole XBMC experience but what I have notice is that it over heats when using it especially when i have work to do for long periods so i would like a pc design for that with all d software Navi X, Freecable the whole nine...

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

I to be honest I have converted my laptop into a HTPC with the whole XBMC experience but what I have notice is that it over heats when using it especially when i have work to do for long periods so i would like a pc design for that with all d software Navi X, Freecable the whole nine...

Well get that Thermaltake VF7001BNS DH101 HTPC Computer Case that was posted above and you can get any PC shop to install the parts in it for you.



overkill IMO, but you seem to wanna spend extra money to be able to get free pirated content

[srnoth]

yea,the only problem with the PI is that anything above 720p will lag significantly.

Haven't had a problem playing 1080p files in xbmc on my Pi. Slightly overclocked, and playing from an SMB share over ethernet. Menus are a bit laggy compared to xbmc on a PC, but once the video starts, it plays very smoothly.

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

What's the cost to get a Raspberry Pi to a level where it's running XBMC and connected to your TV to play 1080p?

[srnoth]

What's the cost to get a Raspberry Pi to a level where it's running XBMC and connected to your TV to play 1080p?

Unfortunately it works out almost as expensive as a roku or atv.
Pi - US$42
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009SQ ... UTF8&psc=1

Heatsink - $6
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C8N ... UTF8&psc=1

Case - $10
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZL ... UTF8&psc=1

USB Power Supply - $10
http://www.amazon.com/PowerGen-2-4-Amp- ... sb+charger

SD Card - $15
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-Cla ... ds=sd+card

HDMI Cable - $6
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-High ... hdmi+cable

Remote - $15
http://www.amazon.com/SANOXY%C2%AE-Wind ... usb+remote

MPEG2 & VC-1 licenses - $6
http://www.raspberrypi.com/license-keys/

So it can quickly go over $100, but then if you're thinking of building an xbmc Pi, you probably have half this stuff lying around already .

[ModMania]

There are android xbmc boxes available for 70usd and xbmc has an android version...its cheap and runs well

[singhj]

What's the cost to get a Raspberry Pi to a level where it's running XBMC and connected to your TV to play 1080p?

Unfortunately it works out almost as expensive as a roku or atv.
Pi - US$42
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009SQ ... UTF8&psc=1

Heatsink - $6
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C8N ... UTF8&psc=1

Case - $10
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZL ... UTF8&psc=1

USB Power Supply - $10
http://www.amazon.com/PowerGen-2-4-Amp- ... sb+charger

SD Card - $15
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-Cla ... ds=sd+card

HDMI Cable - $6
http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-High ... hdmi+cable

Remote - $15
http://www.amazon.com/SANOXY%C2%AE-Wind ... usb+remote

MPEG2 & VC-1 licenses - $6
http://www.raspberrypi.com/license-keys/

So it can quickly go over $100, but then if you're thinking of building an xbmc Pi, you probably have half this stuff lying around already .

It doesn't necessarily have to cost the same as one of those commercial products.

The PI is actually $35 from one of the authorized distributors such as:

http://www.alliedelec.com/Search/Produc ... U=70229569

The heatsink is not necessary, as it works fine without it and the designer/manufacturer didn't see the need to produce it with one. Good mod none the less...could never be too cool

You can make your own PI case with an old iphone case or even out of lego or recycle something else as a case for it. Heck you can throw the ting in a old butter container if you cheap and lazy...hahah

Check these cases out, pretty cool if you ask me
http://www.instructables.com/id/Rasberr ... -4-shells/
http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... 3&p=183872
http://lifehacker.com/build-a-sturdy-ra ... -961071332
http://www.instructables.com/id/Raspber ... e/?lang=es

The power adapter is also not a necessary purchase as the power jack is a standard micro USB same as most phones use, such as the blackberry and i'm sure everyone has these just lying around or should be fairly easy to get a used one, same for the SD card and HDMI cable.

If the ultimate use is for XBMC, then you can get a micro usb cable and plug it in a USB port on your TV to power the device.

There are remote control apps for XBMC for Android and IOS, so you don't necessarily need to purchase an actual remote, a wireless mouse would also work to operate XBMC.

Essentially it can cost as little as US $35 or as much as a roku or apple tv, with all the bells and whistles.

The purpose of the PI is to encourage innovation and provides a base platform for developers/programmers/tinkers/hobbyist alike.

Best of all its all open source.

[ru$$ell]

yea,the only problem with the PI is that anything above 720p will lag significantly.

Haven't had a problem playing 1080p files in xbmc on my Pi. Slightly overclocked, and playing from an SMB share over ethernet. Menus are a bit laggy compared to xbmc on a PC, but once the video starts, it plays very smoothly.

1080p BR Rips maybe,not full fledged 1080p files i'm guessing