IT geniuses!! I needz desktop, media server?

[turbotalon1g]

I'm looking for a desktop, it's main purpose would be to store and stream media.

Obviously I don't know my ass from a hole in the ground on this topic, but I know that their are some on here that have nice setups at home.

Please help.

Aaron

[95talonracer]

Are you looking for a new or used one?

[turbotalon1g]

Doesn't matter I guess.

Looking more for direction on what I should get.

[95talonracer]

I picked up an ASUS desktop for the business and it works great. It has a i-7 processor, 8gb ram upgrading to 16 soon, 64-bit system, and 1TB memory. It also has a built in Intel HD graphics card but I will be upgrading that to a little bit better one with dual HDMI outputs as well.

Here is a questionnaire to help you choose your system that would work best for what you are using it for.

http://compreviews.about.com/od/buyers/l/blcompqstart.htm

[scheides]

You don't need anything fancy these days to do the media thing. Will it be viewed on the PC or do you want it to stream to a device to be viewed on your TV?

Biggest thing is hard drive size....hard drives are expensive right now due to mother nature's impact in the far east but a 1-2TB hard drive will be more than enough for you. Do yourself a favor and budget for an equal-or-greater sized usb or firewire external hdd to back all of your media up to, losing everything sucks.

[turbotalon1g]

Oh so I can buy a normal desktop thing and be ok?
I have a 250GB external HD and a 1TB external HD (well its an internal, but uses a dock that you can just plug different internal HDs into)

I won't be using it for anything but maybe some internet surfing on occasion.

[tehehodi]

Yes, regular desktop would work. Something with some decent processor and some ram. Also, if you were building your own. I would advise you to get a low wattage power supply since it will be constantly on. :)

Just browsing the internetz on your tv?

I have a crappy 2003 laptop hooked up to mine and thats what i use for "media" like netflix and watching streaming tv shows, the pronz!!!, internet browsing, homework, I just added a wireless mouse and keyboard to the whole setup. It works fine. Slow, but works. I like laptop cause it's small and can be hidden easier than desktop.

But if you have some money to spend, get a laptop/desktop with hdmi if your hooking it straight to your tv.

[turbotalon1g]

Oh my bad, I meant if I sat at the desk. I'm hoping to be able to stream wirelessly with no issues or should i have it wired?

My desk/printer is the opposite corner of the room, occasionally I'd sit there to surf otherwise I'll just use my laptop as always for web time.

[tehehodi]

I'm lost. Wire that bish in, hide the "media" server, pull movies with your ps3 from that server. Is that what your trying to do?

Or are you just wanting a seperate computer in that room just to "stream" movies, then your fine if it's wireless or wired. Wired will give you a better/more stable connection. But if your router is near by and your laptop isn't having any issues with dropped connection, I don't see why you coudln't have it wireless. Catch my drift?

Yoo unda stan? O hap fwen com oba to hell yoo?

[turbotalon1g]

I'm lost. Wire that bish in, hide the "media" server, pull movies with your ps3 from that server. Is that what your trying to do?

Or are you just wanting a seperate computer in that room just to "stream" movies, then your fine if it's wireless or wired. Wired will give you a better/more stable connection. But if your router is near by and your laptop isn't having any issues with dropped connection, I don't see why you coudln't have it wireless. Catch my drift?

Yoo unda stan? O hap fwen com oba to hell yoo?

This.