Thinking about an HTPC...

[kn]

The AppleTV thread and a couple of HTPC threads from a couple years back have got me thinking I should be setting up an HTPC. I've been collecting DVDs and Blu-Rays for years (legally) and am running out of physical storage space (four bookcases full). I stopped counting but it's probably in the neighbourhood of 2000 discs.

I don't need streaming across an internal network to multiple devices, just quality playback on my HDTV via my Denon AVR. If I can't get Blu-Ray quality video and audio playback (DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TruHD), then I'm not interested.

Is it really as simple as buying a PC with a dvd/blu-ray player, a few terrabytes of internal storage, ripping everything, installing Plex, XBMC, (or something else), and hooking it up to the receiver via HDMI as if it was the DVD/Blu-Ray player?

I'm missing something... Will the receiver recognize the "media browser" software?

Just looking for something simple to replace disc-popping and reclaim some much needed space...

Thanks

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by kn

I don't need streaming across an internal network to multiple devices, just quality playback on my HDTV via my Denon AVR. If I can't get Blu-Ray quality video and audio playback (DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TruHD), then I'm not interested.

You can do all this.

Originally Posted by kn

Is it really as simple as buying a PC with a dvd/blu-ray player, a few terrabytes of internal storage, ripping everything, installing Plex, XBMC, (or something else), and hooking it up to the receiver via HDMI as if it was the DVD/Blu-Ray player?

Yes and no. That's basically all you need but I wouldn't call the process "simple". Don't forget about remote control (WiFi, BT, or IR are all options).

Originally Posted by kn

I'm missing something... Will the receiver recognize the "media browser" software?

Not really sure what you mean here. Your receiver only cares about the bits coming over the HDMI cable, not the software that's putting the stream together.

[kn]

Thanks, Mick. I forgot about remote control...

What I mean about the receiver, is that when I switch on the blu-ray player and then go to the corresponding input on the receiver, I get a menu where I can choose to watch video, look at photos, or setup various parts of the player.

If I was to instead use the same connection but the HDMI from the receiver was going to the computer, when I turned the computer on, what would I be seeing? I'm assuming it's booting into an OS? If so, how do you get a "Media Browser" type interface? I'm not going to be seeing Windows 8 on my TV, will I?

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by kn

Thanks, Mick. I forgot about remote control...

What I mean about the receiver, is that when I switch on the blu-ray player and then go to the corresponding input on the receiver, I get a menu where I can choose to watch video, look at photos, or setup various parts of the player.

If I was to instead use the same connection but the HDMI from the receiver was going to the computer, when I turned the computer on, what would I be seeing? I'm assuming it's booting into an OS? If so, how do you get a "Media Browser" type interface? I'm not going to be seeing Windows 8 on my TV, will I?

You would be unless you paid for or downloaded some kind of Media Interfacing software. Using a Logitech K400 is always recommended for dealing with a PC UI from the comfort of your couch.

Media Browser type software is all over the web, the most popular being XBMC, followed by Mediaportal.

[kn]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

You would be unless you paid for or downloaded some kind of Media Interfacing software. Using a Logitech K400 is always recommended for dealing with a PC UI from the comfort of your couch.

Media Browser type software is all over the web, the most popular being XBMC, followed by Mediaportal.

Thanks, PsYcNeT. I'm going to hook up my current laptop to my receiver via HDMI just as a test...

[kn]

Posting this with my laptop connected to my AVR... man, have I been missing out...

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by kn

Thanks, Mick. I forgot about remote control...

What I mean about the receiver, is that when I switch on the blu-ray player and then go to the corresponding input on the receiver, I get a menu where I can choose to watch video, look at photos, or setup various parts of the player.

If I was to instead use the same connection but the HDMI from the receiver was going to the computer, when I turned the computer on, what would I be seeing? I'm assuming it's booting into an OS? If so, how do you get a "Media Browser" type interface? I'm not going to be seeing Windows 8 on my TV, will I?

You'd see the Windows 8 boot sequence then you can set XBMC (or better yet, Plex) to start automatically on boot so it goes right into the media center UI. I run mine on a Mac Mini with a built-in IR receiver so a Harmony controls it easily.

[kn]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

You'd see the Windows 8 boot sequence then you can set XBMC (or better yet, Plex) to start automatically on boot so it goes right into the media center UI. I run mine on a Mac Mini with a built-in IR receiver so a Harmony controls it easily.

A couple questions...

1) Can the Mac Mini handle blu-ray? I'm guessing it's converted into another format that Apple can handle?

2) If you have more content than can be stored on the Mac Mini, do you daisy chain to an external hard drive? Have a server somewhere and wirelessly transmit to the Mac Mini?

After some browsing, this place looks like the best in creating built-to-order HTPCs: http://www.assassinhtpc.com/

A bit expensive although I'm not up to building my own from scratch...

[PsYcNeT]

Yeah you would be a lot better off having someone build you an HTPC for 500 bucks or less than having a "performance" HTPC built.

If only the EeeBox came in a blu-ray version, you'd be set.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by kn

A couple questions...

1) Can the Mac Mini handle blu-ray? I'm guessing it's converted into another format that Apple can handle?

I don't play any physical media on my Mac Mini - but it handles 1080p blu-ray rips just fine. If encoded correctly, most GPUs have some type of hardware decoding they can use to let low/medium-powered systems play 1080p video back smoothly.

Originally Posted by kn

2) If you have more content than can be stored on the Mac Mini, do you daisy chain to an external hard drive? Have a server somewhere and wirelessly transmit to the Mac Mini?

I haven't needed to do this, but I could connect an external USB drive or stream across the network from some mass network storage. If I needed to do this I'd likely run a Plex server with a few TBs of storage hidden away somewhere and run light clients in my media rooms (Roku, Apple TV, etc.).

In fact - I'd highly recommend running a server out of sight and a Roku or something else cheap and non-intrusive as a client in your actual media room. Building a silent HTPC, that doesn't look totally out of place with your other media devices, and has a high WAF in terms of navigation & control is probably closer to "hobby" than anything else. But putting a "normal" PC in a closet somewhere and a media player box that's made specifically for that purpose with your media devices will be much easier (and probably cheaper).

[Burninator]

With my HTPC setup I don't rip my Blu-rays. I personally don't think it's worth the space they take up (up to 50GB). I've been meaning to buy a couple large disc wallets and putting my whole disc collection in those (CD/DVD and maybe Blu-ray) and just chucking all the packaging. You'll be able condense your 4 book shelves into something that will fit in a cabinet.

[kn]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

In fact - I'd highly recommend running a server out of sight and a Roku or something else cheap and non-intrusive as a client in your actual media room.

I'm starting to lean that way as well. I saw someone in the AppleTV thread reference a Synology server.

My only question then is, do you pre-transfer movies to your media room's device or is the media browser smart enough to realize that the selected movie is on the server, not locally, and transfer it on demand?

[sa226]

If you are somewhat technically inclined, be careful because tweaking and making your HTPC awesome will take up a lot of your time. In kind of a good way.

Mine is perpetually unfinished, there is something I always want to improve or tweak.

I built a small PC using a small case and uATX mobo. Oldish CPU and HTPC video card. It runs windows 7.

I run XBMC. I rip everything onto a 3 terabyte HDD. If it is an action movie or whatever, I don't encode at all it is a straight rip. If it is just a comedy or whatever I encode using handbrake.

I have Netflix plugged into the main menu of XBMC that launches into the WMC netflix because it is the best. I also have emulators for NES, SNES, MAME, SEGA, N64 that all launch from the XBMC main menu. There is also the Sickbeard\Couchpotato stuff too.

There are also repositories with hundreds of plugins that get you some free cable channels and streaming movies. The customization is endless and kinda fun. I considered running a server, but with the affordability of HDD's these days and the space I have in my HTPC case, I just felt it was an extra hassle.

Or if you just want something that works out of the box with little tweaking. Apple TV, Roku etc that has been mentioned above is more than adequate. Heck with the quality of Netflix all you really need is a Netlix machine and a VPN with an on\off switch and you are set.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by kn

I'm starting to lean that way as well. I saw someone in the AppleTV thread reference a Synology server.

My only question then is, do you pre-transfer movies to your media room's device or is the media browser smart enough to realize that the selected movie is on the server, not locally, and transfer it on demand?

The files would reside on the server and be streamed to the devices on demand.

You also might want to consider hard wiring your network setup as well if you do want to stream full (or nearly full) size Blu-ray rips. Most wireless setups can have trouble transferring the 20+ GB in real time. You'll also need a ton of storage for that level of quality.

My advice would be to try ripping a couple of Blu-rays and see what kind of file sizes you'll be dealing with to get the quality you're after. If you're happy with the look of 10 GB size movies then wireless would probably be fine, but if you're not happy with anything but BD level video and audio compression you'll probably need to focus on a setup that can provide that.

If you have more than one computer you could just do a test server and client with Plex and try out streaming stuff from one to the other to get a feel for how it works. Setup is pretty painless and it'd be a good way to test the waters.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by kn

I'm starting to lean that way as well. I saw someone in the AppleTV thread reference a Synology server.

My only question then is, do you pre-transfer movies to your media room's device or is the media browser smart enough to realize that the selected movie is on the server, not locally, and transfer it on demand?

Whatever device you run a Plex (or whatever) client on will stream it directly from your Plex server.

[kn]

Thanks a lot for the advice everyone.

I know what my next project is going to be...

[CKPThunder]

Originally Posted by kn

I'm starting to lean that way as well. I saw someone in the AppleTV thread reference a Synology server.

My only question then is, do you pre-transfer movies to your media room's device or is the media browser smart enough to realize that the selected movie is on the server, not locally, and transfer it on demand?

I may be mistaken but if you are considering one of these media player boxes (Apple TV, Roku, WD TV Live etc...), I don't believe any of them will play DTS-HD or Dolby TrueHD which was one of your original requirements.