Building Media player

[nix_guru]

How much can you build a media player for? Something that could run movies from over a LAN onto a tv, I don't know much about tv-out but would would be some cheap and effective cards that could be used in an oldish machine?

[nix_guru]

256MB PC3200 DDR (400Mhz) SDRAM $61

AMD Sempron™ 2200+ (1.5Ghz) (Socket A,384Kb, 333Mhz FSB) $81

ASROCK K7S-41GX-SocketA,SIS741GX/333FSB ATA133/1AGP(8X),2XDDR400, Sound/VGA Max64MB/Lan $69

XpertVision (AGP) GF MX4000 64MB 64-bit DDR, TV-Out (S-Video Connector) $74

Seagate ST380817AS NCQ 80Gb / Serial ATA / 7200RPM / 8MB Cache $103

400 Watt ATX Power Supply $43

Total of $431.

Can anyone recommend different hardware, good software in particual some kind of remote control setup would be good as don't want to have to use kayboard/mouse to start a movie in the lounge

[Quadbox]

Erm... Assuming you're planning on using linux, the software is pretty much a no-brainer. Lirc for remote control, Mythtv for everything else.

You haven't included a tv-tuner card of any description there. Nor a case.

EDIT - and 256mb of ram is not going to be enough if you're planning on doing any transcoding on the box

[fester2001]

mabee you should ask in what where should i buy

[Quadbox]

Indeed, it's not at all clear what you're asking here. If you want to know what bits to whack in your htpc, this is the wrong forum.

If you're asking about Mythtv, Freevo, or even windows media centre edition, it's been done a million times before.

[fester2001]

If you're asking about Mythtv, Freevo, or even windows media centre edition, it's been done a million times before.

You missed GeexBox

also is there anyone around here that has had myth tv working with dvb cards?

[nix_guru]

don't need a tv tuner card because there is nuthing out here that is new and worth recording download new shows from america and what not slow ass aus tv

as for the case I'm going try and throw it all into an old VCR case should fit it.

Would an older system like a p2 400 with a newer pci tv-out capable card work well in a linux htpc ?

[fester2001]

it would Probibly be fine for playing divx with one of the above distros, ive hade geexbox playing movies on a shitbox just fine

but somthing a little faster wouldnt hurt

[StratosFear]

Originally Posted by nix_guru

256MB PC3200 DDR (400Mhz) SDRAM $61

AMD Sempron™ 2200+ (1.5Ghz) (Socket A,384Kb, 333Mhz FSB) $81

ASROCK K7S-41GX-SocketA,SIS741GX/333FSB ATA133/1AGP(8X),2XDDR400, Sound/VGA Max64MB/Lan $69

XpertVision (AGP) GF MX4000 64MB 64-bit DDR, TV-Out (S-Video Connector) $74

Seagate ST380817AS NCQ 80Gb / Serial ATA / 7200RPM / 8MB Cache $103

400 Watt ATX Power Supply $43

Total of $431.

Can anyone recommend different hardware, good software in particual some kind of remote control setup would be good as don't want to have to use kayboard/mouse to start a movie in the lounge

Xbox = $230ish (cheaper if you shop around)
Remote = $45
80gb = $69 (OPTIONAL)
Mod = $25

Cheaper and a lot more features. Although steeper learning curve for the inital setup.

www.xboxmediacenter.de

(Just an alternative to think about)

[nix_guru]

i was looking into the xbox as well but where can you get the mod done? I thought the mod was more around $80

[StratosFear]

Originally Posted by nix_guru

i was looking into the xbox as well but where can you get the mod done? I thought the mod was more around $80

I'm not gonna go into detail but the bare chips can be had for $10-$25 depending on which one. Although that is under the assumption you can solder.

Fully installed your probably looking at closer to $50 - $80 depending on where you go.

[fester2001]

Hrm i wonder how long this thread will last here

[Quadbox]

Originally Posted by fester2001

also is there anyone around here that has had myth tv working with dvb cards?

Yes indeed. Over a year ago now, though, so I assume it's progressed quite a bit since then.

Gentoo makes it a bit of a no-brainer. Pretty much just add "dvb" to your USE list, then recompile all the mythtv ebuilds with "-eD"

[fester2001]

i had heaps of trouble getting mythtv installed and when i did my card stilll didnt work and i have been reluctent to try it again

[Quadbox]

Originally Posted by fester2001

i had heaps of trouble getting mythtv installed and when i did my card stilll didnt work and i have been reluctent to try it again

Did you have your card working in the first place?

Mythtv doesn't configure drivers for you. If it isn't working in xine/mplayer/whatever, it won't work in mythtv