New MP3/DivX player is done. Success!!!

[FrustratedUser]

Finally got the new parts to convert the old rig to a MP3/DivX player.
Got a new GF2MX w/ TV-out + new sound card to replace the old.

It works great! The TV-Out is very good. (At least on a standard 20" TV)
Now I just need the router to connect to the main rig to serve the music.
:beer:

 

[Platypus]

I built a media box a while back too, I love it. What all does yours do, and specs ?

 

[FrustratedUser]

It's just my old Celeron @ 500, 192MB RAM, W2K SP4 with old small 8.5GB HD so it's nothing fancy.
It plays DivX and other video + audio just fine. Don't really need a big HD since it's supposed to be served from the main rig.
No capturing will be done on this since it's a bit on the slow side. It works but can not do MPEG2.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
It's just my old Celeron @ 500, 192MB RAM, W2K SP4 with old small 8.5GB HD so it's nothing fancy.
It plays DivX and other video + audio just fine. Don't really need a big HD since it's supposed to be served from the main rig.
No capturing will be done on this since it's a bit on the slow side. It works but can not do MPEG2.

Cool, mine runs in a 300mhz p2 with 312MB RAM, it runs Debian Linux. It's got an old Caviar 5 gig inside and it streams mp3s over my network. It powers a BetaBrite LED sign and uses some simple Perl I tampered with to display the ID3 tags from mp3s through XMMS. It also plays movies to a TV via S-Video and connects to my surround system. It was a fun little project

 

[FrustratedUser]

It sounds and looks great connected to the Stereo and TV (S-Video).
The annoying thing is that trhe playlist in WinAmp (2.76) is unreadable. Is there a way to increase the font size?
Maybe the newer versions are better.

It would be sad to give it away or scrap it because it works perfectly fine.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
It sounds and looks great connected to the Stereo and TV (S-Video).
The annoying thing is that trhe playlist in WinAmp (2.76) is unreadable. Is there a way to increase the font size?
Maybe the newer versions are better.

It would be sad to give it away or scrap it because it works perfectly fine.

Try a different skin for Winamp, also update to 2.91 at least..

 

[FrustratedUser]

OK thanks.

 

[FrustratedUser]

It would be cool to have remote for it. Corded keyboard + mouse is not very optimal for controlling it from the sofa.
I could go cordless but it's a bit more than I want to spend for now. Video and Audio cards was $59 new from Newegg.

Is it easy (or fairly easy) to do the LED/LCD display you mentioned?

 

[FrustratedUser]

Bump

 

[SunnyD]

Why not Winamp 5? Much better video quality (filters) IMHO, and it has the integrated Winamp Internet Radio and TV - I listen to Hitzradio all the time with it.

 

[FrustratedUser]

The old one just happened to be installed already. I like version 5 too.

 

[jonnyfin]

woohoo! divx rules!

 

[dethman]

or you could just buy a $120 phomaster with a remote. and it'll play mpeg2.

 

[NL5]

checkout


www.myHTPC.net


It's a TIVO like interface, very readable on a TV.

 

[EmperorIQ]

??

what is this media box concept? sounds awesome!!! i use my xbox to play things, is that basically it?

thanks.

 

[dman]

What kind of a case did you use. I've got an ATX Board and XP2500 Barton just waiting to be used but don't want a loud / bulky PC by my TV. I could got mATX I suppose but don't want to spend money there...

 

[Ciber]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
The old one just happened to be installed already. I like version 5 too.

Winamp 5 will let you change fonts and font sizes.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: dman
What kind of a case did you use. I've got an ATX Board and XP2500 Barton just waiting to be used but don't want a loud / bulky PC by my TV. I could got mATX I suppose but don't want to spend money there...

It's and old Compaq Presario so it's the old stock case with stock PSU and stuff. The PSU is only 150W but it still works after 4 years.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
??

what is this media box concept? sounds awesome!!! i use my xbox to play things, is that basically it?

thanks.

Basically a PC with the capability to to play video on a TV. Some have a TV card in it to use it as a TiVo.
Any old PC with decent specs will do.

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
It would be cool to have remote for it. Corded keyboard + mouse is not very optimal for controlling it from the sofa.
I could go cordless but it's a bit more than I want to spend for now. Video and Audio cards was $59 new from Newegg.

Is it easy (or fairly easy) to do the LED/LCD display you mentioned?

Do a google for winLIRC. It will point you towards a remote for your pc.

 

[Heisenberg]

I put one together a while back too. Best thing I ever did. Works great and I even rigged up a coaxial digital output for the sound.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Interesting stuff MCrusty.

 

[Kanalua]

I've got a 1 Ghz Celeron, 256 MB SDRAM, GeFOrce2 400MX (tv-out), 80 GB and 30 GB (does the downloading and storage), and a Audigy Platinum running my Entertainment PC. I don't record TV, just TV out...I use an old Hollywood Plus Card for S/VCD...Use the Live Drive for Digital Optical out...works REALLY nice...