Caoilin
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building your own media server?
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any suggestions here? i'm basically going to be using my current computer because in feb(ish) i'm gonna be building a new one. this one is just a c2d 3ghz with a geforce 260 in it. but i like the case it's in so when i build the new comp i'll be needing a case for this and i figured i could use it as a media server for the tv that's in the living room right now. so what's the best way to go about doing that? any specific software i should be looking at? obviously i'll pick up a cheap wireless computer and mouse for it. but other than that, i really have no clue what all i should be doing.
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"Cao is really an asexual cricket from outer space" - Bernion
"I just wish you had man bits" - ShalisR
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vn_jurojin
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building your own media server?
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http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/how_to_build_a_nas_box
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Lannai
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building your own media server?
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Having run freenas for 3 years...I would NOT recommend it for a "media server." I loved freenas...still do...but I would not be using it for more than network attached storage. Personally, I would go with one of the polished software programs that are available...several or open source. I used XMBC and thought it was nice (didn't support live tv)...but it really comes down to personal preference and experience with different OS's.
http://linuxlookup.com/guide_to_building_an_open_source_htpc_media_center_on_ubuntu
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Lannai
Fidenian
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Aerlinthian
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building your own media server?
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I hope to get around to building a media center box by xmas. Its long over due but I have to wonder how good the free OS solutions are in this area. I love open source but unfortunately if the manufactures don't cooperate, you end up stuck with sub par efficiency which is IMHO a big deal for a box that is going to be on 24/7.
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Lonestar_1
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building your own media server?
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From the sound of it you want to just use the PC as storage and to play stuff on the TV. This is what I have my HTPC setup as.
Win7 media center is good. I do like XBMC better. If I had to do it over again, I might just do 32bit win7 instead of 64bit, as the 64 bit codex's are not that good. So 64 bit media center has a few issues for me. XBMC does not do bit streaming audio (MA DTS/ True HD) currently, but you get DTS/Dolby fine. Other then that XBMC rocks.
There are a couple of TV tuner cards if wanted to go that route that work with cable cards, but that will run few hundred bucks and requires WMC for live TV. There are external plugin's that you can install to WMC that will load out MPC-HC for movies played which will allow WMC to play anything much better. It kinda bugged me as not being as fluid so I just stuck with XBMC.
The GPU/CPU should be enough to play anything, so just get lots of extra green/5400/5900 RPM drives 2-3TB  . That's the only thing you really need. Lots of extra space and some backups. Raid is not a replacement for good backups. Also might try to have fan noise kept down as the low-drone fan noise can be sort of annoying to some.
The only other thing is to see if you have HDMI with audio output or hooking up to separate receiver for audio & DVI to TV, or whatnot.
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Marzuk
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building your own media server?
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I've done this using Ubuntu Server instead of FreeNAS. When I want to watch something on TV, I just pull it up via MediaTomb / PS3.
I will say that depending on the drive configuration, green drives can be unsuitable for this purpose. Green Drive + RAID5 = fail. Just in general apparently they suffer high wear because of how frequently the heads get parked.
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Sprawl-zero1eye-
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Yeah don't get suckered into green drives if you want to RAID. I made that mistake too.
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Caoilin
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building your own media server?
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ugh i forgot about needing sound through the tv. i'd need to get a soundcard for that. i'm still using the onboard sound and it's been problematic lately. plus i think i threw out the cable i need to hook up my video card to sound so i can just use one hdmi cable after the dvi converter.
-----signature-----
"Cao is really an asexual cricket from outer space" - Bernion
"I just wish you had man bits" - ShalisR
"i'll be your dirty ignorant redneck if you will be my drugged out cripple bitch" - shaggynuts24
"again, I'm stupid" - Brandun
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Karsus_the_Great
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building your own media server?
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Are you wanting a media server or an HTPC? Because they are very different things... You can get a copy of windows home server for $60 on sale all the time. Your hardware is way overkill for that. Pretty much everything is self explanatory after installation and it will be compatible with your xbox 360's, ps3's, and other computers without any real problems.
There are free ways of doing it running a samba server and such but this is by far the least painful and most compatible.
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Lonestar_1
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Only if you store all files in approved formats or do transcoding on the fly will consoles play nice. And I believe it was more HTPC related then strictly storage only..
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http://gimpchimp.etilader.com/display.php?user=lonestarr 3500+ solo kills & Lone Enforcer WAR - IronRock Dest- Energist, Moogabooga SWTOR - KV - Energist, Moogabooga
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Caoilin
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building your own media server?
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i use my ps3 as a media player for my tv. i'm pretty well acquainted with how that works.  and yeah sorry, i just want the computer to stream files from my hdd stack in my room, out in the living room. with ease. because other wise i don't know what do with my current comp when i upgrade, outside of donating it and i'm not that charitable.
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"Cao is really an asexual cricket from outer space" - Bernion
"I just wish you had man bits" - ShalisR
"i'll be your dirty ignorant redneck if you will be my drugged out cripple bitch" - shaggynuts24
"again, I'm stupid" - Brandun
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Karsus_the_Great
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Well then thats easy day. Depending on your mobo you can go with something like THIS for an ATX or THIS for mATX which will look really nice for your center and not cost you much.
If you have a good/decent sound system pick up a good sound card, if not, you can go with onboard.
Toss in a BR Reader and you got netflix/hulu/whatever, pandora, your media server, BR player, and even light gaming with no other equipment other than the TV and speakers.
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I know I'm going to hell, I'll bring marshmallows.
Caldari. The only race in Eve that does not fly it's own ships.
Karsus the Great - lvl 240+ Original BM(retired)
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