A Real Video Player

[Teuton]

You have been absolutely no help! ;-) I got this idea while reading an article on theinquirer.net ( http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36007) about how we don't need massive amounts of HD space and thought I would if I could find an easy system to install videos.

 

[Aikouka]

http://www.logicsupply.com

Build a mini-ITX computer. I found a DVD cataloguing software (free) the other day that can also rip the movies called MyMovies ( http://www.mymovies.name/ ). If you put MCE on the computer, it could access the database and play directly from it. Works nicely since MCE is cheaper than Windows XP Pro anyway .

EDIT: Made link hyperlinked.

 

[Teuton]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
http://www.logicsupply.com

Build a mini-ITX computer. I found a DVD cataloguing software (free) the other day that can also rip the movies called MyMovies ( http://www.mymovies.name/ ). If you put MCE on the computer, it could access the database and play directly from it. Works nicely since MCE is cheaper than Windows XP Pro anyway .

EDIT: Made link hyperlinked.

Now that's better. Thanks. I guess I have to build it myself because Sony, Samsung, JVC, and Toshiba don't want my money!

 

[Auric]

Nifty schtuff there at logicsupply. Again, though, I would personally go with a Core 2 Duo Mini-ITX mobo so that it would not be limited to last-death-throes MPEG-2. But such are usually in the industrial class and cost mucho dinero and the choices dwindle significantly the more viddy outputs are required (for true portability). In which case they begin to compare unfavourably to aforementioned laptop option.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Auric
Nifty schtuff there at logicsupply. Again, though, I would personally go with a Core 2 Duo Mini-ITX mobo so that it would not be limited to last-death-throes MPEG-2. But such are usually in the industrial class and cost mucho dinero and the choices dwindle significantly the more viddy outputs are required (for true portability). In which case they begin to compare unfavourably to aforementioned laptop option.

I think (at least some of) those VIA boards have hardware mpeg decoders.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
I think (at least some of) those VIA boards have hardware mpeg decoders.

If I remember correctly, that's the case. I've been mulling building one of these PCs for years for a multimedia machine that's quiet yet has the power to do what's necessary. For the OP, it wouldn't matter, but one of my biggest constraints is how well the VIA boards can handle H264 decoding as I do have and see a lot of media files being released in H264. It may require a relatively low-end low-profile graphics card to handle it, but that shouldn't be a huge deal.

 

[poisonthewell]

Originally posted by: pibb
I'd build a computer with massive amounts of harddrive space, rip all my DVDs to DivX/Xvid copies making them around 700-900MB for each movie.

Then I'd buy a used Xbox and perform a softmod on it and install Xbox Media Center. Run XXGUI (server interface) on the PC, and network the PC to Xbox using a crossover cable or directly into your router.

That'd do exactly what you want while taking the need of having the PC in the living room out, it would also take out most all of the hardware strain on the PC besides the harddrive being accessed. This is how my setup works, and it suites me just fine. I've got over 100 DivX/Xvid encoded movies setting on my harddrive, plenty of choices and all I have to do is turn on my Xbox

http://www.xbox-scene.com/ http://www.how2xbox.com/site/ should get you started.

Good Luck.

I agree with this suggestion. I have one as well with a 300gb hdd. Haven't connected it to the network but this is exactly what you need, plus it's the cheapest and most customizable option.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
I think (at least some of) those VIA boards have hardware mpeg decoders.

If I remember correctly, that's the case. I've been mulling building one of these PCs for years for a multimedia machine that's quiet yet has the power to do what's necessary. For the OP, it wouldn't matter, but one of my biggest constraints is how well the VIA boards can handle H264 decoding as I do have and see a lot of media files being released in H264. It may require a relatively low-end low-profile graphics card to handle it, but that shouldn't be a huge deal.

That's what I was talking aboot. A peppy CPU (Core 2 Duo) would be preferred for AVC (as I doubt the VIA boards incorporate such decoding but please provide linkage if true) otherwise you're stuck with olde timey MPEG-2. If a "Real Video Player" or HTPC cannot handle all formats, especially the one which will rapidly become ubiquitous, then it is of limited use and not worth the effort or cost in my opine. If you just want to handle old schtuff like MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 ASP then sure get an existing $100-200 stand-alone media player but don't spend exponentially more on a fiddly custom PC box that can't do any better.

For a custom PC box, a video card can help other CPU's with SSE2+ but then you are getting into something larger and thus less portable, even given the same mini-ITX board and cost-wise versus just going with a C2D and full software decode you don't end up saving anything.