Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Res how has the performance of your ASRock been so far? Since I would've gone Windows 7 (if I got one), I read this thread and seems it's still not ready (performance-wise) to become a MS media center PC

[url]http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/t/84564.aspx[/url]

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

The ASrock has been solid for me since ive bought it. Its been up for a couple months at a time until a power flicker since I dont have it on a UPS. I am using a stable build of xbmc on ubuntu though. I bet that this thing couldnt keep up with Windows hefty needs compared to my minimal ubuntu install though, just because of all the crap windows uses by default when it runs.

this thing has just some Atom processors, which works perfectly for this small OS, and the NVidia chip does all of the 1080p decoding, so that still looks perfect. But i bet trying to get those Atom processors to run Windows might suck.

I'm not sure how to do this in Windows, but I have to turn on VDPAU to get the vids to play properly.

[URL]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VDPAU[/URL]

This is a library that NVidia wrote for linux hosts that will allow the OS to offload all of the video decoding to the GPU. If this isn't on then the files will play like crap. So I know that this is the important part of the system, the NVidia chip, which is why I bought it.

I'm not sure how this works in windows though, since the ubuntu OS really isnt doing anything else but running a minimal X server and the xbmc software it works perfectly fine. I'm betting all the crap Windows overhead might not be so fine.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

are you running the standard Ubuntun install or is this a toned down edition?

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

I installed ubuntu minimal:

[url]https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/MinimalCD[/url]

The whole OS is only a few hundred megs and doesnt have a bunch of crap running. Its a super small base install, then I installed the X11 packages on top of it. So not a bunch of gnome or kde crap or openoffice is installed that I dont need. Saves HD space, plus less pids running at boot time is a good thing.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

presume X11 package is a GUI? Or did you do everything via cli?

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

[QUOTE=res0nat0r;787671]when i get done coverting all of my old dvds into isos i will have like 700 movies available immediately. [/QUOTE]

Is there a reason you prefer to convert dvd to iso rather than avi or mp4?

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

[QUOTE=dusk;826201]Is there a reason you prefer to convert dvd to iso rather than avi or mp4?[/QUOTE]

yes, because ISO maintains the original DVD in the EXACT same quality of the original RIP. Changing formats results in loss of quality (even if it is marginal)

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

[QUOTE=Kamal;826152]presume X11 package is a GUI? Or did you do everything via cli?[/QUOTE]

Yeah the X11 server is just the basic window manager, and then you can install any number of different guis on top to make it look how you want. like: gnome, kde, enlightenment or something small like fluxbox.

[QUOTE=dusk;826201]Is there a reason you prefer to convert dvd to iso rather than avi or mp4?[/QUOTE]

What kamal said above, i just 1:1 copy the whole disc so i get the menus and everything in one big file and it runs just like a dvd. i dont like avi's etc because the quality is crappy and im a snob, so i like dvd or hd stuff only.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Cool, that sounds like what I will need to do from now on. DVD decrypter would do the job well correct.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Yes DVD Decrypter will do it. If you will use ripped DVDs in WMC7, then you don't need to rip it as an ISO. You rip the entire dvd as standard VOB native files which WMC7 will read. You just need to cue up the ripped dvd movies via the "movies" folder and not "videos" folder during setup.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

^^^ Thanks K.

So after fiddling around with xbmc aeon skin the entire day today, still haven't figured out how to automatically download info for movies and tv shows in my library :what

Please tell me that there is an easier way to do this????

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

yes, its called Windows Media Center :p

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

[QUOTE=dusk;826478]^^^ Thanks K.

So after fiddling around with xbmc aeon skin the entire day today, still haven't figured out how to automatically download info for movies and tv shows in my library :what

Please tell me that there is an easier way to do this????[/QUOTE]

You need to add a source directory, and then go and define what 'type' it is. I think it supports: music videos/movies/music/tv shows right now.

Once you do this you can choose a scraper to use, which is the software that will go out and use the websites api to pull down the content. Read about it here:

[URL]http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=Scraper.xml[/URL]

You have to have your files named in a certain way, or have a .nfo file with a imdb.com link in them for movies. I do this and it will connect to imdb.com automatically and get the poster/plot/date/actors/art etc without you having to do anything.

[QUOTE=Kamal;826554]yes, its called Windows Media Center :p[/QUOTE]

:x

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

^^^ Sweet thanks, gonna give this a whirl this weekend, I spent waaaay too much time messing about the other day. Need to focus on the important stuff...lol

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

as long as you read the docs and follow their naming conventions i have hardly any problems with it, it works really well.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

^^^ Yup, got it all sorted (well almost) over the weekend. And I'm completely satisfied with the outcome. Skin is just perfect.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

I love that skin it is so purdy. there are a few mods on the xbmc forums I wish I could apply but I haven't spend the time trying to figure them out. It would be nice if it would do all of the little logos at the bottom correctly all the time (bluray/DTS/production company logo), but that seems to be hit or miss.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

some nice new silent and small form factor PCs out

[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16859324002&cm_re=habey--59-324-002--Product[/url]

[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16859324001&cm_re=habey--59-324-001--Product[/url]

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Hello friend

I have a small 2 bedroom apartment and even though it will stream a 720p from my media server to my dma2200 over my N router, the picture is jagged and downsized in order to stream ok, but it still doesn't. For my new place, I will wire all the locations with Cat6E and get rid of this headache once and for all.

Now i am searching new one best,

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

[QUOTE=Kamal;837032]some nice new silent and small form factor PCs out

[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16859324002&cm_re=habey--59-324-002--Product[/URL]

[URL]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16859324001&cm_re=habey--59-324-001--Product[/URL][/QUOTE]

interesting. ive never heard of this brand, but i didnt hear of my foreign asrock brand either before i bought it. the specs say it will decode h.264 stuff, im wondering if this onboard chipset really will though? Intel integrated GMA950

I dont know anything about this chipset though. the main selling point for the one i bought was the onboard nvidia chip which does all of the 1080p decoding for me.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

The GMA950 wont do well with HD but GMA950HD (iirc the model) will do pretty well. I read up on them because I was considering the slimline desktop from Gateway.

Though they have a newer one with a Corei3 processor, 6 GB Ram, W7 64BIT, 1 TB HD space for a measly $550 and it did very well on HD tests.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

one of those links was the GMA 950 and the other was Intel Poulsbo integrated GMA500, be careful I dont know if they are the actual HD chips or not.

6GB of ram? damn thats crazy. You could just store the movie in RAM and play it from there to cut down on HD access times :D

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

you could if windows would let you, but with all the file crunching, converting, remuxing, unzipping that my media center pc does, it could be well worth it for sure.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

That's why I do that stuff on linux, this is all it takes:

[code] $ cp *.mkv /dev/shm $ cd /dev/shm $ mplayer -fs *.mkv [/code]:D

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Right on homie, that's a kick ass setup, mad props.

My VoIP, and Home Tech Integration Professor just showed us how to config a network attached server, printers, etc. on a home or business network last night for lecture - very interesting. Next week is RAID 0 1 5 redundancy, blah. I hope to take my CompTIA A+ and DHTI certs/exams this summer. Wish me luck!

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

[QUOTE=res0nat0r;838428]one of those links was the GMA 950 and the other was Intel Poulsbo integrated GMA500, be careful I dont know if they are the actual HD chips or not.

[/QUOTE]

How would you know if a chipset is HD? Now this stuff is getting crazy...:oops:

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Kamal above mentioned:

[quote]The GMA950 wont do well with HD but GMA950HD [/quote]

According to the specs from the newegg site, I dont see the actual GMA950HD chipset listed as the video processor.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

^^^ aaah right, makes sense now.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

my bad, its not the GMA9500, the 2 video chipset decoders are X4500 vs. the X4500HD

(I remembered the HD at the end)

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

this could work out pretty good

[url]http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/05/rii-mini-wireless-keyboard-is-perfect-for-your-htpc-not-your-wi/[/url]

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

saving up for a LaCie rig here

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Found this rather interesting... loving the idea of virtual quad core -

[URL]http://www.mevio.com/episode/219795/dyi-ultra-htpc-with-boxee[/URL]

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

dont buy a Drobo:

[url]http://jan.rychter.com/enblog/2010/6/18/drobo-and-droboshare-a-review.html[/url]

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Do you know what kind he bought i.e. the old Drobo or Drobo S / Drobo FS? The newer ones are much quieter.

EDIT: yes he has the drobo 2.0 (older one) with Firewire. Moreover he's on a MAC. These things sing along with Windows based PCs.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

[QUOTE=Kamal;826554]yes, its called Windows Media Center :p[/QUOTE]

Ok so how does Media Center do this? Does the folder that contain the avi have to have the nfo file as well?

Media Center in Windows 7 is not pulling down any info for my movies :what

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

you will have to install an add on called myMovies

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Cool, will try that.

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Here is another little add-on that I'm trying at the moment

[url]http://mikinho.com/yammm/[/url]

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

Nice thread

Re: my new HTPC + Nas server

my jiggabytes are almost full [code] Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on nas:/mnt/user/crap 9.1T 7.4T 1.7T 82% /nas/crap [/code]