Media streamer or under tv pc?

Daveymaclad · 27-09-11, 10:48 AM

My poor old laptops got to the stage in its life where it's really struggling to process 25gb bluray files onto my tv so it's time I incorporated a more stylish solution to my living room.

I have two options open to me. Buy a ready built media streamer with hard drive or build myself a more than capable pc to nestle in a micro atx case under the telly.

Has anyone here got or used a media streamer? My main concern is the processing power in them won't have enough power to process some of the bluray content I have. The one I've picked out is the AC Ryan HD2 2tb model @ £202. It says it's capable of playing full high def at 1080p but then again so does my asus eee transformer and that can't even store a blu ray let alone play it!
Advantages - Cheaper option; smaller unit; less power consumption; functions from remote.
Disadvantages - Strong concerns over ability to play full 1080p high def; very limited applications; poor interweb access; unable to perform downloads; 40mm fan means lots of noise when things heat up!

My other option is a self build @ £360 which would be a core i5 2500k with built in gpu, 8gb ram and one of my existing 1tb hard drives. Being a fully fledged pc it'll also allow me to web browse and download straight to my hard drive.
Advantages - Far more capable system, upgradeable, definitely can cope with 1080p content, quieter
Disadvantages - Would require keyboard/mouse, no remote, nearly twice the price, nearly twice the size.

Any thoughts or experiences people care to share?

Thanks in advance

Dave

stuartmmcfc · 27-09-11, 11:51 AM

Dave,
I've got no real expert advise to give but I recently put my old pc by the telly so I can watch iplayer/ 4 on demand etc and use the tv as a monitor for internet use.
Although you still have to use mouse/keyboard, I got round that, slightly, by having them wireless. I keep them in a draw beside the settee , and apart from having to get up and switch the pc on,it means they are in effect remotes!

dgacampbell · 27-09-11, 12:12 PM

You can get a remote works with the mediacenter in windows 7, altho in fairness i have been meaning to get one for myself, but as i use the wireless keyboard and rat, it has not bothered me to much....... Although you cant get the microsoft media center remote anymore, unless you find one second hand.

I would go the purpose built pc rather than the media player, i do know 2 people with them, altho im sure they where cheap jobs, they defo are rubish.

Hth
Dan.

27-09-11, 11:51 AM	#2
stuartmmcfc 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,243	Dave, I've got no real expert advise to give but I recently put my old pc by the telly so I can watch iplayer/ 4 on demand etc and use the tv as a monitor for internet use. Although you still have to use mouse/keyboard, I got round that, slightly, by having them wireless. I keep them in a draw beside the settee , and apart from having to get up and switch the pc on,it means they are in effect remotes!

27-09-11, 12:12 PM	#3
dgacampbell Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Co.Armagh, N.Ireland Posts: 1,442	You can get a remote works with the mediacenter in windows 7, altho in fairness i have been meaning to get one for myself, but as i use the wireless keyboard and rat, it has not bothered me to much....... Although you cant get the microsoft media center remote anymore, unless you find one second hand. I would go the purpose built pc rather than the media player, i do know 2 people with them, altho im sure they where cheap jobs, they defo are rubish. Hth Dan.