dog licking ice cream coneJoined: 11 Aug 2008Posts: 3022Location: Rainbow Road
I'm sick of watching Netflix on a 7-year-old laptop on my coffee table. Time to step up the game.
I've never built a computer in micro-ATX before, but otherwise have plenty of experience putting this kind of thing together. Before I start down the rabbit-hole of product comparisons that is Newegg however, I figured I'd consult the fates.
I'm looking for something that runs windows (shipping with it is optional), is small, quiet and has enough video card to handle 1080p or whatever. Maximum cost ~ $500 (NOT including monitor or other peripherals).
1) Pre-built vs. DIY. Is there much of a savings building it yourself?
2) If pre-built, any models to look at/avoid?
3) Anything else I'm probably not anticipating, but should be?
4) Do you have one of these/ parts for one of these you desperately want to get rid of?
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
Rokus are $99 these days.
Chip McShoulder
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 1:48 pm
dog licking ice cream coneJoined: 11 Aug 2008Posts: 3022Location: Rainbow Road
Netflix is about 75% of the use, but I'd also like to be able to watch a DVD or something I download from time-to-time. I'll put the Roku on the list though, the pricetag is pretty appealing.
I just realized a game console could be an option also, right? I haven't owned one in a long time, but both the PS3 and XBOX have netflix these days, right? Can either of them play .avi / .mp4 movies?
might have vagina, unconfirmedJoined: 06 Jan 2010Posts: 948Location: Space pirate ship manned by dinosaurs
I had an eee box that I got for 300$ about 3 yrs ago. It was pretty alright. They are reasonably priced but often don't come with enough ram. You can upgrade the ram pretty easily. I was meaning to upgrade the ram on mine because it would slow down rendering crazy action scenes but I ended up selling it to cass and john for hella cheap.
lantius
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 6:30 pm
1337Joined: 22 Jul 2005Posts: 6705Location: right over
My Xbox might as well be branded "Netflix" for all I used it in the last year. It's been eclipsed now by the Boxee box though; no DVDs but a much wider range of supported downloaded content.
tehschkott
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 6:50 pm
daywalkerJoined: 09 Nov 2007Posts: 6108Location: Hatertown
I have a MicroATX case for you for the price of... nothing - come and get it. Mobo needs replacing. I can help you find the right one.
As far as software - both Boxee and XBMC are free to install and run. Boxee is XBMC with a proprietary skin geared for commercial uses. I tried them both and got tired of Boxee's commercial goals getting in my way. Neither are perfect but I now run XBMC and am more or less happy with it.
XBMC will also run on Linux if you prefer. If running Linux you can also use MythTV.
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-jason
Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 7:50 pm
Command-Line KiddJoined: 17 Feb 2009Posts: 260Location: The Internet
tehschkott wrote:
XBMC will also run on Linux if you prefer. If running Linux you can also use MythTV.
If streaming Netflix is important to you then linux is not the way to go unfortunately. It may be coming soon, but there have been rumors that it has been coming soon for a while now in the form of a chrome extension/plugin. More Info
Alex
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:28 am
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
The XBox is our Netflix and DVD player. We have a HTPC too, but the XBox just works.
We have an older Acer AspireRevo setup this way that records HDTV for us from cable (and works fine for Netflix, we just like the XBox Netflix and Hulu clients better than the Media Center one). It's tiny, takes almost no power, and is silent.
If you get an Xbox let me know, I think I still have a brand new XBox360 remote in the package that is free for the taking.
alex
jsmg
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 6:39 am
baby bearJoined: 23 Aug 2009Posts: 843Location: your mom
If you do decide to go Xbox, let me know. I'd sell you mine for $100. (And I'd toss in a download code for Halo Reach.)
Actually, I have a spare Kinect I need to figure out what to do with, too.
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Chip McShoulder
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:17 pm
dog licking ice cream coneJoined: 11 Aug 2008Posts: 3022Location: Rainbow Road
I'm avoiding linux in this case, precisely because of the netflix/silverlight issue. I recall reading cases of people getting it to work through WINE, but I'd rather not go there.
Priority is essentially: netflix > .avi/.mp4 > DVD > Blu-Ray. I'd be willing to forgo the DVD/Blu-Ray, but probably not .avi/.mp4
At this point, the XBOX seems to be the most appealing option - what are my options for playing .avi / .mp4 (either locally or over a network) on one of these? Possible with mods/ stock?
Command-Line KiddJoined: 17 Feb 2009Posts: 260Location: The Internet
Doesn't Netflix on Xbox require an Xbox Live Gold membership as well as a Netflix membership?
Alex
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:13 pm
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
it does
xbox plays avi/mp4/divx over the network just fine out of the box.
if you use an xbox for this you want a second generation one (the smaller white case). the earlier ones are loud power hogs. The new ones are pretty quiet.
Andrew_Squirrel
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:20 pm
Joined: 01 Mar 2010Posts: 2098Location: Greenwood
Alex wrote:
xbox plays avi/mp4/divx over the network just fine out of the box.
My roommates and I have had different experiences than Alex, I can't get any divx movies located on my windows machine to play through his Xbox. We've been able to do audio files and a few basic video files but it hates divx movies and TV shows for some reason.
Note: We also haven't tried this again in about a year so maybe they have upgraded the operating system to patch this issue recently.
Chip McShoulder
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:32 pm
dog licking ice cream coneJoined: 11 Aug 2008Posts: 3022Location: Rainbow Road
-jason wrote:
Doesn't Netflix on Xbox require an Xbox Live Gold membership as well as a Netflix membership?
alex wrote:
it does
Good to know. I can't say I'm thrilled about that, but even factoring in the $60/year for the membership, I think the XBOX is still coming out ahead price-wise.
baby bearJoined: 23 Aug 2009Posts: 843Location: your mom
DivX support was patched in a few years ago, Andrew. Not sure why it's not working for you, did you mod it?
The 360 is also supposed to support the MP4 format.
I had forgotten that the Xbox requires a Gold account for Netflix and Hulu, which pretty much sucks and may not make it worthwhile for you anymore. I would have one of those anyway so I never notice.
Please note that my Xbox sale offer is for an Elite, aka one of the "loud power hog" models. I am in fact only offering so that I may justify purchasing a new Slim. I feel it's only reasonable to be honest.
If you want all of that stuff PLUS Blu-ray, I think that building a HTPC or buying a PS3 are your two best bets. I'd probably go for the former personally, but the PS3 does play games I guess. If Blu-ray/discs are not a requirement, I think it's sort of a toss-up between Roku/Boxee boxes, and the 360 remains a good contender if you don't mind the Gold subscription.
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caustic meatloaf
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 3:47 pm
Joined: 06 Dec 2010Posts: 1235537Location: a hammy melange...
jsmg wrote:
I feel it's only reasonable to be honest.
Obviously you are not a salesman.
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tehschkott
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:15 pm
daywalkerJoined: 09 Nov 2007Posts: 6108Location: Hatertown
Replace the mobo in mine, install Win 7 and XBMC or Boxee and call it a day. No subscription necessary - I think it even has a plugin for Netflix but can confirm.
Of course going Xbox might provide an excuse to pick up a game controller. I'm told boys in successful relationships need those kinds of excuses.
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tehschkott
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 5:19 pm
daywalkerJoined: 09 Nov 2007Posts: 6108Location: Hatertown
In a pinch you can also bypass and play movies in VLC if you have to (are you people STILL playing with codecs? Divx? Ha! That is so 2002!). You can also torrent this way if that's your thing.
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MyNameIsJeff
Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:05 am
BOOSH!Joined: 17 Jul 2007Posts: 2042Location: Nearest bar.
PS3 + PS3 Media Server (Free) = Streaming HD video, all formats.
Easiest, cheapest solution.
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fatasian
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:09 pm
dick wang's fatherJoined: 26 Aug 2008Posts: 1707Location: devenshire
MyNameIsJeff wrote:
PS3 + PS3 Media Server (Free) = Streaming HD video, all formats.
Easiest, cheapest solution.
went to purchase PS3 based on this at the sony store, they pointed me to this.
dog licking ice cream coneJoined: 11 Aug 2008Posts: 3022Location: Rainbow Road
What I wound up doing in the end is taking a smallish (4"x12"x16") computer off Scott's hands.
I could have got a smaller computer if I paid for one, but hey. It's about the size of an XBOX/PS3, and it's silent.
I'm still trying to setup/get used to XBMC, but I don't love it yet.
I found an app for my phone that lets it work as a remote, which has been handy. Eventually, I'll probably get one of those logitech keyboard/trackball things, but for now, the phone works great for starting the next episode of BS:G without leaving the couch.
That little Sony box looks interesting, though. Only $70, huh?
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dog licking ice cream cone
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1337
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might have vagina, unconfirmed
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