Media Center PC Questions:

massahwahl

VIP Member
My brother is looking to build a media center pc. Im going to hep him do this but had some questions I hoped you could answer. The main goal of this is to be able to catalog the 300+ dvds that he owns so he can call them up and have them all stored on his computer and play them off of his computer on his TV. We have the DVD decryptor program which will copy dvds as an iso file, but is there a good program that will play iso's or will Vista media center play iso files? Or better yet is there a version of Linux that will work best for this situation?

Next, what hardware would be best to use. He wants an HDMI output and at least a 500gig HDD possibly bigger for storing movies on. So let me know if you can come up with a system that meets at least those requirements or any comments or answers that you have. Thanks!
 

oscaryu1

VIP Member
300+ movies calls up more than 500GB for sure.

I can only help you on the hardware part...

I'd recommend an SATAII 1TB Hard drive, as with a good processor and lots of RAM. I'd also recommend a 8800 for high resolution stuff.
 

massahwahl

VIP Member
I was under the impression that as long as the card had HDMI out it would be high def. He doesnt want to spend a lot on just the video card, no more than $300. I figured a 1 TB would be the better route too.
 

massahwahl

VIP Member
Well the 8800GT has HDMI on it which is true HDMI so I think we're gonna go with that. If you have any other suggestions let me know.

Here is the build I toyed around with:

Media Center PC

Main Hardware:
1.Geforce 8800GT with HDMI out> $280
2.ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard> $175
3.AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA5600CZBOX Processor>$140.00
4.Spec-Research 01024 Black 0.55~0.65mm SECC ATX Mid HTPC Computer Case 400W Power Supply> $95 (May need bigger power supply)
5.2gig Corsair RAM> $110
6.HDD's 500gig($110) 750($200) 1TB ($300)
7.Heatsink and Fan for processor> $30
8.Wireless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse> $80
9.DVD-RW> $60


These are just kinda toying around and using newegg prices. When I built mine i bought a lot from ebay and saved nearly $400 for a very very similar build. Lemme know any suggestions!
 

massahwahl

VIP Member
Any suggestions how if i rip the dvd's to best play them in media center (just for clarification, he OWNS all of these movies were not talking about illegally ripping them. His buddy wors for blockbuster and gets him insane discounts on them when they pull them off the shelves.) If I use DVD decrypter, whats the best method to save the dvds as and play them back?
 

hpi

banned
Any suggestions how if i rip the dvd's to best play them in media center (just for clarification, he OWNS all of these movies were not talking about illegally ripping them. His buddy wors for blockbuster and gets him insane discounts on them when they pull them off the shelves.) If I use DVD decrypter, whats the best method to save the dvds as and play them back?

Id say use dvd shrink and then back up the dvd to your hdd or a dvd or wtv you wanna do.
 

mep916

Administrator
Staff member
Any suggestions how if i rip the dvd's to best play them in media center (just for clarification, he OWNS all of these movies were not talking about illegally ripping them. His buddy wors for blockbuster and gets him insane discounts on them when they pull them off the shelves.) If I use DVD decrypter, whats the best method to save the dvds as and play them back?

Well, I know that media center will read MPEG2. Other formats such as Divx and MPEG4 (Quicktime) will not playback in media center. The VOB files (the DVD file format) will probably be read by media center.

Does that make sense?
 

massahwahl

VIP Member
Well...yes and no

I dont know if you have ever used dvd decrypter before or not, but it gives you three different types of files to rip your dvd as: ISO, IFO, or File. The only one I have ever used is the ISO because it has the option to read and write right from the program. Would File be the VOB files you are referring to?
 

mep916

Administrator
Staff member
Well...yes and no

Would File be the VOB files you are referring to?

I'm not sure...I've never used that program. There is a program that allows you to rip the VOB files to the HD. I'll edit this post once I find it.

EDIT: The DVD Shrink program hpi mentioned might work.
 
Last edited:

massahwahl

VIP Member
Using the file option to rip the dvd saves everything as the VOB files. What do I need to make media center read those?
 

diduknowthat

formerly liuliuboy
Media Center PC

Main Hardware:
1.Geforce 8800GT with HDMI out> $280
2.ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard> $175
3.AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA5600CZBOX Processor>$140.00
4.Spec-Research 01024 Black 0.55~0.65mm SECC ATX Mid HTPC Computer Case 400W Power Supply> $95 (May need bigger power supply)
5.2gig Corsair RAM> $110
6.HDD's 500gig($110) 750($200) 1TB ($300)
7.Heatsink and Fan for processor> $30
8.Wireless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse> $80
9.DVD-RW> $60


These are just kinda toying around and using newegg prices. When I built mine i bought a lot from ebay and saved nearly $400 for a very very similar build. Lemme know any suggestions!

Is this computer going to be purely used as a Media PC? If so, I REALLY don't see the point of a 8800gt. I think this card will be more than enough for HDMI playback. It also uses less power and is silent.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125075

and..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163033
for case so it actually looks like a HTPC

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116628
So it'll be ready for more than just playback
 

oscaryu1

VIP Member
Is this computer going to be purely used as a Media PC? If so, I REALLY don't see the point of a 8800gt. I think this card will be more than enough for HDMI playback. It also uses less power and is silent.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125075

and..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163033
for case so it actually looks like a HTPC

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116628
So it'll be ready for more than just playback


Hmm, didja read the specifications and reviews of that GFX? It's passively cooled, and some said that it overheats to 100C+... So I don't think such a small case + such a hot card will make a good system.
 

massahwahl

VIP Member
Is this computer going to be purely used as a Media PC? If so, I REALLY don't see the point of a 8800gt. I think this card will be more than enough for HDMI playback. It also uses less power and is silent.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125075

and..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163033
for case so it actually looks like a HTPC

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116628
So it'll be ready for more than just playback

Capture card is not needed since he has HD-Tivo. This is strictly a playback PC.
 
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