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Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Your Very First HTPC? But Where do You Start? (/showthread.php?tid=94199)

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- itsjwills - 2011-07-04 17:17

Yes I do have a wireless home network already. Obviously I would want to try and make a wired connection between the two XBMC boxes though.

So I wouldn't be able to build just one machine for storage and have two Apple TV 1 boxes with the CrystalHD Card and XBMC installed on them running to the TV's?

Wouldn't that be easier than having three different machines (and cheaper)? What would be the downside of having Apple TV rather than another complete XBMC machine?

Thanks for all the help!

- Superorb - 2011-07-04 17:21

I don't know the limitations of the ATV1 and the CrystalHD chip as far as high bitrate 1080p rips are. You will see no benefit by using a wired network between just the two XBMC boxes, as they won't talk to each other anyways. Wired from the XBMC boxes to the file server is what you want wired.

There are also several Powerline options too. You plug one end into an electrical out let near the switch/router, and the other one into an outlet near the XBMC boxes. It creates a wired network over the electrical wiring in the house.

- bluray - 2011-07-04 20:56

itsjwills Wrote:Yes I do have a wireless home network already. Obviously I would want to try and make a wired connection between the two XBMC boxes though.

So I wouldn't be able to build just one machine for storage and have two Apple TV 1 boxes with the CrystalHD Card and XBMC installed on them running to the TV's?

Wouldn't that be easier than having three different machines (and cheaper)? What would be the downside of having Apple TV rather than another complete XBMC machine?

Thanks for all the help!
If you're planning to stream 1080P with HD audio, I'm not recommending any wireless device. It's troublesome, and wired network is the best for this task.

If you really want wireless, these devices received highest reviews among critics and users: Asus RT-N56U Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless-N Router and Western Digital WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit

- eskro - 2011-07-05 21:05

Agreed, 1080P via WiFi is not recommended....

- mcgeebc - 2011-07-05 21:23

This is a great write up. Thanks.

I don't understand the need for a more advanced video card for 3D playback.

Couldn't I play a SBS (side by side) video and let me TV convert it to 3D? It seems like no matter what format 3D file I have, my TV does all of the work to convert. What am I missing?

- eskro - 2011-07-05 21:33

must be a special feature your TV has i dunno Tongue

i know that using POWERDVD, if i recall good, it can kinda convert 2D to 3D...

- alkit - 2011-07-06 00:45

eskro Wrote:Agreed, 1080P via WiFi is not recommended....

I'm not speaking for everyone, just what I have running in my setup.

I have an Asus RT-N56U Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless-N Router with a Linksys Dual Band USB wireless adapter.

I connect in the 5G frequency, and I'm able to stream an 11gb FULL HD (with DTS sound track) mkv file. (I haven't tried a blueray ISO file or anything as large as that, so I can not say whether that will work ok or not)

If you are not too far from the router, and buy a decent router, I think you should also be fine doing 1080P HD streaming.

- bluray - 2011-07-06 04:48

alkit Wrote:I'm not speaking for everyone, just what I have running in my setup.

I have an Asus RT-N56U Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless-N Router with a Linksys Dual Band USB wireless adapter.

I connect in the 5G frequency, and I'm able to stream an 11gb FULL HD (with DTS sound track) mkv file. (I haven't tried a blueray ISO file or anything as large as that, so I can not say whether that will work ok or not)

If you are not too far from the router, and buy a decent router, I think you should also be fine doing 1080P HD streaming.
Internet HD streaming and MKV streaming should work fine with the dual-band wireless router, because it is lower HD. If you have time, please try streaming BD m2ts and ISO files. If you can stream these two files, it is a great router.

- Sean1516 - 2011-07-07 01:04

I have a quick question about the hard drives, I want a 2TB HDD to store all my movies and music, what can you suggest for me?

- eskro - 2011-07-07 03:54

* Hard Disk Drives ($80)