Media Centre - DIY

[maviczap]

Anybody built one?

Thinking about building my own media centre, HD + DVD + Satellite PCi card etc

I've built my own PC's from barebones packages & I like the idea of fixing my own stuff or upgrading components rather than buying a new DVD/HD machine

[L3nny]

I have built a couple but there was always some incompatiability somewhere. I now have a PS3 and Sky+ does everything i want it to do and is easy enough for my Mrs to use.

I use a PS3 as a front end for mine. I rip all of my dvd's into huge vob files and store them on an old pc running server 2008. Then you get a program called PS3 media server and the ps3 picks up the server no problem. I can now run all of my DVD's from one place using a nice sony remote and it's very slick. The ps3 also has an internet browser and things like BBC on demand. Finally it will play blu rays which are still hard to rip and store (due to their size).

Chances are you will already have a pc lying about that will fit the bill. You will need a gigabit network in the house to stream things cleanly too.

Oh and me lass can operate it too, sorted.

ive built one, HD, sits in my living room under tv, got a good remote which makes it simple to use, about 600 movies on it, some good software called mediaportal that makes the interfact like this, if you want a build spec, let just pm me,

[L3nny]

That looks pretty cool (apart from the Mamma Mia bit)

I'm looking at one of these at the moment

http://www.digitalera.co.uk/products...-1299-145.html

unless you wanna browse the net then a Network Media Player will do the same and I believe for less cost

[maviczap]

The one I was looking at on Ebuyer had 3 drive bays, so plenty of storage capacity, plus enough height for full sized PCi cards

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140118

Might be worth nosey at MythTV on Linux, or MythBuntu. You can use one system as a dedicated backend, and access the library and tuner from other systems on your network. Currently trying to get it working with a USB stick I have, but don't have drivers for the stick, so can't comment on reliability and functionality as yet.

I like the antec fusion case

[maviczap]

Got good reviews on the Ebuyer site, which is a good guide sometimes