multi media pc builders

[Crafty]

That  IS-KM333 looks lekker. Where did you get it from?
I need to reprogram the logitech since I've got a new NAD, and added the blueray.

[Willi]

That totals: R.3,576.23 with shipping

That excludes an OS and a storage drive.

I can spend say R 4 k?

Just get a Mede8er with a 2TB harddrive for less than that. Even comes with a remote. Quick and easy installation, and has some resale value. Plays nearly everything, less noisy, less heat and quicker startup time. Looks like a piece of hifi kit.

</opinion>

[Wolvebain]

That excludes an OS and a storage drive.

Just get a Mede8er with a 2TB harddrive for less than that. Even comes with a remote. Quick and easy installation, and has some resale value. Plays nearly everything, less noisy, less heat and quicker startup time. Looks like a piece of hifi kit.

</opinion>

Yeeeaahhhh.... but!

• My WiFi is running WPA2 Enterprise. And most of these 'HD media devices' don't support that... Other folks may not have that limitation tho..
• Another thing I noticed, most of these devices lag when FF/RW 1080p movies... With a proper mimo 300Mb/s add-on card + the decoding & playback of a PC is unbeatable...
• Media PC is sooo much more versatile:
  
  • Skyping
  • social-networks
  • reading emails
  • web surfing
  • hook-in & gamepad(s), and you can enjoy some games, especially the MAME/PS emulator games

Also... use the optical/digital outs, so you can even connect 'em to older stereo amps, and enjoy quality sound if you don't have an HDMI AV Receiver..
Also... if you using CCTV/IP Cameras, Automated Telescope, etc. etc. etc... you can hook 'em up to your BIG screen.

And, if done correctly, it is DEAD silent

Depends on how much you wanna get outta it...

That  IS-KM333 looks lekker. Where did you get it from?
I need to reprogram the logitech since I've got a new NAD, and added the blueray.

DuDe!!! It Rocks!!! 
Got it from Sonic Informed, but you can get it from a few online retailers [ZapsOnline, Prophecy, iKonicIT, etc. etc.]
I went for the wireless, and not the BT version, cos I wanted to use it on my XBox360 & my PS3 as well [ works awesomely too ]

Cool thing is, it's USB rechargeable... So no more battery swapping [even rechargeable batteries need to be taken out and charged]
Add to that, that my old HTPC ws an MSI with i-Charger and the new one is an Asus with Ai Charger, I can charge it, even of  the HTPC is off or sleep, etc

[/list]

[Willi]

Yeeeaahhhh.... but!

• My WiFi is running WPA2 Enterprise. And most of these 'HD media devices' don't support that... Other folks may not have that limitation tho..
• Another thing I noticed, most of these devices lag when FF/RW 1080p movies... With a proper mimo 300Mb/s add-on card + the decoding & playback of a PC is unbeatable...
• Media PC is sooo much more versatile:
  
  • Skyping
  • social-networks
  • reading emails
  • web surfing
  • hook-in & gamepad(s), and you can enjoy some games, especially the MAME/PS emulator games

Also... use the optical/digital outs, so you can even connect 'em to older stereo amps, and enjoy quality sound if you don't have an HDMI AV Receiver..
Also... if you using CCTV/IP Cameras, Automated Telescope, etc. etc. etc... you can hook 'em up to your BIG screen.

And, if done correctly, it is DEAD silent

[/list]

It also excluded the remote :p

Fair enough... what does your rig cost, being dead silent, running killer wifi, your hardware, and so on. I cannot say why you'd want to read emails or Skype on your television, maybe I'm just spoilt with the tablet. I can understand the CCTV camera inputs, which will be a nice to have. It's still not value for money to spend this sort of money on a media centre PC.

[cybasoul]

Take a look at mine, I built it recently. My friends who've seen it for the first time asked me if I bought a new amp. I removed the silver handles that give it a "rack component" look. I spent a lot on it, maybe a bit too much but its a flippin' Swiss knife of media PCs. Using a harmony remote and a Rii Mini keyboard http://www.riiminikeyboards.com/. I can barely hear it breathing.

http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,10969.15.html

[zer0]

Take a look at mine, I built it recently. My friends who've seen it for the first time asked me if I bought a new amp. I removed the silver handles that give it a "rack component" look. I spent a lot on it, maybe a bit too much but its a flippin' Swiss knife of media PCs. Using a harmony remote and a Rii Mini keyboard http://www.riiminikeyboards.com/. I can barely hear it breathing.

http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,10969.15.html

My one criticism of many purpose built HTPC chassis, like your Lian Li, is a DVD drive that's not hidden. To me that screams "I'm a PC!"
I've been using a Thermaltake Mozart for close on 10 years now and if I ever decide to replace it I'd love to buy a Silverstone CW02.
http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=138

[cybasoul]

My one criticism of many purpose built HTPC chassis, like your Lian Li, is a DVD drive that's not hidden. To me that screams "I'm a PC!"
I've been using a Thermaltake Mozart for close on 10 years now and if I ever decide to replace it I'd love to buy a Silverstone CW02.
http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=138

Thats the one compromise I decided to live with. I did some extensive research on a big number of cases and most of them looked awesome but had critical issues such as headroom and airflow. That Thermaltake case is a thing of beauty, but I wouldnt be comfortable having a quad core and a decent graphics card in it unless you are gonna water cool it(which is more expense).

[zer0]

Thats the one compromise I decided to live with. I did some extensive research on a big number of cases and most of them looked awesome but had critical issues such as headroom and airflow. That Thermaltake case is a thing of beauty, but I wouldnt be comfortable having a quad core and a decent graphics card in it unless you are gonna water cool it(which is more expense).

I hear what you're saying, but do you game with yours as well? Mine is 100% dedicated to media so it never gets close to the danger zone temperature wise.

For guys looking for a mini wireless keyboard, here's a nice special from Esquire (anyone can register and buy from them). What I like about this one is the trackball instead of the touch pad.

[jaxx]

Heres an idea for a cheap, retro looking HTPC case:
http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthread.php?t=529707
http://gizmodo.com/221596/the-vcr-media-center-pc

Some modification work will be needed though   

Ive got an 80's VCR shell in storage, just waiting to be modded.

[Wolvebain]

Figured I'd quote a post I just made on another forum here, as some of you wanted to get the AC Ryan Veolo...

So, last week I picked up an AC Ryan Veolo `smart android hub` as I figured I'd give my folks a simpler media device than a HTPC [since they don't skype, do emails, listen to shared play-lists, etc. etc.]

Hooked it up this morning, so I can do the set-up for my WiFi network, etc.

Well.. I'm not impressed...

First thing was: the remote didn't work... even swapped batteries and still no-go.

So I plugged in my trusty IS-KM333 [Mini Laser Presenter with Keyboard & Touch Pad] and navigated the front-end. 
Then enabled my WPA2-Personal AP & <E> the MAC address [planned to move it to my WPA2-Enterprise AP later]... It connect, and the unit's log was blank as to the reason.. My AP just tells me it rejected the connection... and a bit of investigating showed me that the MAC address listed under the unit was WRONG!

So I then <E> the correct MAC address, it tries to connect, but bombs out after trying to obtain an IP from my DHCP server.. My AP's log shows that a device with it's MAC address is connected., but AGAIN the unit's log had no reason to the cause...

I then enabled my AP's SSID broadcasting, just to check.. and the unit FINALLY connects to my WiFi correctly...


Mapped a network path, and played a 1080p HD mkv file... video plays okay.. FFW/REV isn't as smooth as I'd hoped, but works.. NO AUDIO tho... I try some other movies [DIVX AVI's, etc. etc.] same crap...


Perhaps I just picked a fubar'd unit.. as the iNet reviews had no such issues... regardless, I giving it back sometime this week, and continue with the set-up of a nice BIG & easy to use interface of my old HTPC for my folks instead... much less hassle.

Original post: http://www.pcbg.co.za/threads/13299-AC-Ryan-Veolo

[Wolvebain]

It also excluded the remote :p

Fair enough... what does your rig cost, being dead silent, running killer wifi, your hardware, and so on. I cannot say why you'd want to read emails or Skype on your television, maybe I'm just spoilt with the tablet. I can understand the CCTV camera inputs, which will be a nice to have. It's still not value for money to spend this sort of money on a media centre PC.

I'm a registered dealer, so my total new & old HTPC's cost was minimal... 
I love my [new] tablet as well, but using it for more work related aspects [just, unlike most folks, mine's not a yuppy's PSP ]  But the absolute easy and comfort to just sit back, without needing to hold something like a tablet, and read on a SUPER BIG HD screen, with all the features previously listed, is unbeatable..
I suppose it's not 'value for money' to anyone, especially those who who under utilize the ability of such technology...

Take a look at mine, I built it recently. My friends who've seen it for the first time asked me if I bought a new amp. I removed the silver handles that give it a "rack component" look. I spent a lot on it, maybe a bit too much but its a flippin' Swiss knife of media PCs. Using a harmony remote and a Rii Mini keyboard http://www.riiminikeyboards.com/. I can barely hear it breathing.


http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,10969.15.html

Nice one bud. 
I'll make sometime and do a post/tread of my new & old HTPC... both push out HD quality @ HD resolution, and are DEAD SILENT..

My one criticism of many purpose built HTPC chassis, like your Lian Li, is a DVD drive that's not hidden. To me that screams "I'm a PC!"
I've been using a Thermaltake Mozart for close on 10 years now and if I ever decide to replace it I'd love to buy a Silverstone CW02.
http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=138

HmMmm..
The Antec Fusion Remote chassis that I posted in a previous thread has a flip drive-bay that cover the optic-drive.. sorta like have the old VCR's cassette doors are.
[/list]

[GearSlave]

Wolvebain,

I just want to thank you for all the bits of info you suggested here. I built up a PC pretty much as per your spec earlier. The only critique I have is that I will NEVER, EVER deal with IkonicIT AGAIN! Words won't even describe how unprofessional they are (in fact, they still owe me money), but let me leave it at that. For others, rather use RebelTech - I've dealt with these guys lots of times and I've always walked away happy.

Aaaaanyway... I'm running Ubuntu 11.10 (x64) Desktop on this running XBMC Eden Beta 3 and couldn't be happier. It was quite painful to get to this point, especially the remote and making the PC sleep and come alive again, but it's done and the result is better than I could've hoped. Yes, the Mede8er is plug and play and a lot cheaper, but it's nowhere near as slick and customize able as an HTPC. And if you stay away from Windows as your OS then you don't have to deal with updates and AV programs that slow the machine down whenever you want to watch something.

[Juggy]

You can use your logitech. Ive programmed my logitech using the standard antec ir receiver.
Ps, here is my nad, and mce


Obviously, i still need to hide the wires, but will only tackle that job once the rear speakers are done, and Ive completed the speaker cable build.

What chassis is that?

One of my suppliers is importing Silverstone cases so basically I'm going to chose one and he'll add it to his order.

[GearSlave]

^^^ Looks like an Antec Fusion

[Juggy]

You guys have to check out the options from Silverstone for HTPC cases.

http://www.silverstonetek.com/product_case.php?tno=0&case=c_htpc&area=en

I'm going with either of the following, just need pricing. The top 2 support full ATX boards as well as mATX while the last one only supports mATX.

http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=75&area=en

http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=197&area=en

http://www.silverstonetek.com/product.php?pid=233&area=en