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/buye...compqstart.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]

Originally Posted by 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?

This.

[tpunx99GSX]

Any desktop. A good amount of RAM for transcoding, a good amount of space for storage.
PS3 Media server is the software i use to stream to my TVs, Xbox and PS3. Works great, runs anywhere, its free. I currently run it on my normal windows desktop computer.

[DoughtCom]

http://www.raspberrypi.org/

$25

[turbotalon1g]

That thing looks crazy.

So I can use it to surf the web? I've never used Linux though.

That is amazing.

Let me know when the beta version comes out I want it.

I love you.

[viridionplague]

if you use something like ps3 media server make sure you have a good processor as well (also for transcoding). PM or text me a budget and i can build you a rig to meet your needs if your interested.

[DoughtCom]

Haha I'll let you know Aaron, here's an updated video of it decoding 1080p h.264 encoded video. This is what most movies are pirated (I mean liberated in).

They aren't on sale yet, but I'll be getting on asap and let you know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=4NR57ELY28s

[turbotalon1g]

Originally Posted by DoughtCom

Haha I'll let you know Aaron, here's an updated video of it decoding 1080p h.264 encoded video. This is what most movies are pirated (I mean liberated in).

They aren't on sale yet, but I'll be getting on asap and let you know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=4NR57ELY28s

[tehehodi]

Nice! Do want

[turbotalon1g]

Looks like its out!

http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs

[JET]

I highly doubt that will stream HD movies and it won't have the processing power to decode either. I have a pretty nice HD streaming setup at home, if you are using a PS3 to decode it you really don't need much. Gigabit connection is the main one if you are running full Blueray quality.

I built my computer for about $400 and have now added 2 more HD's to it. The computer is more than fast enough for streaming via PS3 Media Server. I could never get straight streaming to work via the PS3. It would always start to stutter after a while. I filled up the 1TB and 2TB in it and have another 3TB drive on the way. I downloaded 1.2TB last month, Comcast has the 250GB cap turned off right now :P