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Media Center PC + Xbox 360 = Awesome

MDE

MDE

Lifer
I finally got my media center PC set up with a hardware MPEG2 tuner card and an HDTV Wonder a couple days ago and I don't know why I waited so long. Networked with my Xbox 360, it's definitely one of the cooler things I've set up PC-wise.

I just wish there was an easy way to pipe DirecTV into it without using a separate reciever. Oh well, OTA HD and cable will have to do for now.
 
Yes it is awesome.


Although, I really like the video marketplace part of live on the 360, even though it's kinda overpriced
 
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Personally, I prefer just using a PC over a PC + X360.
Click to expand...
I like having less boxes to switch between. Plus it's nice to be able to use the PC for something else while I have MCE going on the 360. I can play WoW with a friend and have a video or TV going at the same time, but I can see where you're coming from.
 
Ever since I got my original Xbox modded, it's been XBMC streaming music from the PC. Prior to that I did make heavy use of the Xbox 360's streaming functionality.

Let me ask you guys a question though - does anyone know how to make music playing off of the Xbox 360 come out of my rear surround speakers, as well as my front + center? I'd like it to toggle into mirrored stereo mode, else it's a bit of a waste.
 
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Personally, I prefer just using a PC over a PC + X360.
Click to expand...

Not me..

I have the 360 in the living room hooked up to a plasma. The g/f can just hit one button on the harmony remote and figure things out. If I had a pc in the living room I'd be dealing w/ spyware and other crap. Also, you get the benefit of video marketplace stuff.
 
ive actually got my 360 connected to a media center "server". it sits in the closet (doesnt even have a monitor) and has 750 gigs of recording space along with 2 HD and 2 SD tuners.

media center is a very nice system.

I like the sever concept because i can add extenders to every tv in the house and have the same bank of tuners and recorded tv at every tv in the house. and since i dont have actual pc's at every room its usually much quieter and cooler (heat wise). and more user friendly for guests.
 
Originally posted by: MDE
I like having less boxes to switch between. Plus it's nice to be able to use the PC for something else while I have MCE going on the 360. I can play WoW with a friend and have a video or TV going at the same time, but I can see where you're coming from.
Click to expand...

I use two separate PCs for my setup. One connects to my Samsung DLP via VGA and uses it like a normal monitor. I used to use my XBOX 360, but I do watch videos that have subtitles, and setting up Transcode360 to support subtitles and such wasn't as easy as simply using another PC. Also, there was a slight loss in the video (the first couple seconds were chopped off).

Originally posted by: zixxer
I have the 360 in the living room hooked up to a plasma. The g/f can just hit one button on the harmony remote and figure things out. If I had a pc in the living room I'd be dealing w/ spyware and other crap. Also, you get the benefit of video marketplace stuff.
Click to expand...

I use an ATi Remote Wonder 2. I used to use Media Center with it, but frankly... the MC software is junk. It loved to crash on incomplete videos (not watching them, but trying to create a thumbnail) and it got so bad that the software will no longer start up. I tried using a freeware version of Media Center... I forget the name of the software, but it doesn't use your windows codecs and requires its own codecs... which is just retarded. So I just went with standard Windows navigation. The PC also serves as the main downloading medium for torrents and uses a NAS-based setup for sharing music/videos/files with any of my PCs on my network.

So it does a little more too.
 
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Originally posted by: MDE
I like having less boxes to switch between. Plus it's nice to be able to use the PC for something else while I have MCE going on the 360. I can play WoW with a friend and have a video or TV going at the same time, but I can see where you're coming from.
Click to expand...

I use two separate PCs for my setup. One connects to my Samsung DLP via VGA and uses it like a normal monitor. I used to use my XBOX 360, but I do watch videos that have subtitles, and setting up Transcode360 to support subtitles and such wasn't as easy as simply using another PC. Also, there was a slight loss in the video (the first couple seconds were chopped off).

Originally posted by: zixxer
I have the 360 in the living room hooked up to a plasma. The g/f can just hit one button on the harmony remote and figure things out. If I had a pc in the living room I'd be dealing w/ spyware and other crap. Also, you get the benefit of video marketplace stuff.
Click to expand...

I use an ATi Remote Wonder 2. I used to use Media Center with it, but frankly... the MC software is junk. It loved to crash on incomplete videos (not watching them, but trying to create a thumbnail) and it got so bad that the software will no longer start up. I tried using a freeware version of Media Center... I forget the name of the software, but it doesn't use your windows codecs and requires its own codecs... which is just retarded. So I just went with standard Windows navigation. The PC also serves as the main downloading medium for torrents and uses a NAS-based setup for sharing music/videos/files with any of my PCs on my network.

So it does a little more too.
Click to expand...


It's crashing because of crappy codecs. You're probably using the k-lite codec pack or whatever.. That's a very well known issue with the thumbnails and codecs.


 
been streaming MCE over my 360 to my home theater for about a year now and it is awesome.

we are able to view pictures, movies, home videos and music to the home theater with my 880 harmony remote.

so easy my wife can figure it out.😉

-fish
 
What exactly do you need to get this up and running? I have a PC, a 360, and the desire to stream stuff from my PC to my 360. I used to have a modded xbox but it broke one day. That thing was freaking awesome and I have missed it since that fateful day a few years ago.
 
Originally posted by: tHa ShIzNiT
What exactly do you need to get this up and running? I have a PC, a 360, and the desire to stream stuff from my PC to my 360. I used to have a modded xbox but it broke one day. That thing was freaking awesome and I have missed it since that fateful day a few years ago.
Click to expand...
A PC with Windows XP Media Center Edition or Vista Home Premium to play video and music. For TV you'll need an analog hardware MPEG2 based TV tuner (minimum) plus a supported HDTV card. To watch non-WMV video you'll have to run Transcode360 too. On a 3.6GHz Northwood P4 with 1GB RAM I can run MCE, Transcode360 and WoW at the same time with no noticeable slowdowns.
 
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