Rethinking HT Setup

[roguerower]

Okay, here goes...

My current setup is comprised of a:

50" Pioneer 101-FD
Denon 2310 Receiver
Polk Monitor CS2 Center
Polk Monitor 70 Fronts
Xbox 360 (gaming)
HTPC (E8400, Asus P5Q Deluxe, 4gb RAM, LG BR drive, 4850, Intel X-25M 80gb, WD Black 1TB, WD Black 640GB)
Time Warner Cable Box

Everything runs via HDMI to my Receiver which then has one HDMI cable to my Pioneer. The 1tb drive is full with DVDs, the 640gb drive is probably 1/4 full, and the SSD is my boot drive.

I've been rethinking my whole electronics setup and want to make a couple of changes.

1. I want to buy a 2tb drive and install it and the 1tb drive into some sort of low power home server so all my SD media can be streamed rather than stored on a PC.
2. I want to buy a PS3 for use as a BR player and because it has more & better exclusive titles than the 360 and then look into selling the 360. I don't play games online and feel that the 360 has a more mature following than either the 360 or Wii.
3. Move my current HTPC back into a desktop case or possibly spring for a mATX mobo and case to save space.
4. Pick up a device capable of allowing me to watch/listen all of my stored media (pictures, video files, ripped dvds in .ts format), skype, and browse the internet. If possible throw a small SSD in there to make it super fast. I was thinking the ASRock Vision 3D but the price tag is HEFTY and I don't need a BR player if I'm picking up a PS3.

So, if anyone can point out a recommendation for 1, 3, & 4 I would be very appreciative.

 

[Rio Rebel]

I just picked up a couple of 2TB drives from Fry's, and I started thinking about building a home server. Then I remembered - there's no point. Just install the drives into the HTPC and forget streaming - just use the HTPC as the home server.

I don't believe there would be a noticeable cost difference in power - especially not enough to justify buying the separate home server box or NAS device.

And don't you ever use any sort of internet TV? I am finding I use Hulu and ESPN 3 more and more often. I would hate to lose that capability in my home theater.

(My only suggestion is if you don't have a sufficient case for your HTPC, look at some of the nice Silverstone black HTPC component cases. I have one with two 5 1/4 drive bays (for both a blue-ray and HD-DVD drive), 2 3.5 bays, and 4 hard drive bays. I love it, and it lets me do a lot more than some of the smaller counterparts.)

 

[roguerower]

I just picked up a couple of 2TB drives from Fry's, and I started thinking about building a home server. Then I remembered - there's no point. Just install the drives into the HTPC and forget streaming - just use the HTPC as the home server.

Like I said, I had planned on picking up a 2TB drive to give myself some more breathing room. Kinda just looking for ideas

I don't believe there would be a noticeable cost difference in power - especially not enough to justify buying the separate home server box or NAS device.

And don't you ever use any sort of internet TV? I am finding I use Hulu and ESPN 3 more and more often. I would hate to lose that capability in my home theater.

I use Hulu quite a bit. ESPN3 not so much but that could always change. That's why I was thinking about getting some low end budget nettop. I won't be using it to watch HD content for the most part (BR thru the PS3, possibly some "HD" streaming video)

(My only suggestion is if you don't have a sufficient case for your HTPC, look at some of the nice Silverstone black HTPC component cases. I have one with two 5 1/4 drive bays (for both a blue-ray and HD-DVD drive), 2 3.5 bays, and 4 hard drive bays. I love it, and it lets me do a lot more than some of the smaller counterparts.)

I didn't go cheap on the HTPC case and it has plenty of room: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112147

Thanks for the input. Like I said, I'm rethinking the setup and just looking for ideas.

 

[s44]

The PS3 is enough to do all your streaming. Your setup is exactly why PS3MediaServer was invented.

 

[velillen]

1) The power savings in a home server vs htpc probably isnt worth it IMO. Espcially for just one or two drives. Unless you are wanting to do raid which you really dont need for just home ripped media. With two drives you can back up to both the 1tb and 2tb drive all your important stuff for the redundancy factor if you wanted/needed.

2.) PS3 works great. just make sure you get the remote for it for bluray playback. Using the controller isnt bad but definitely its much nicer to just use the remote.

3 & 4) I would keep using your current htpc as your htpc. Set top boxes that do the hulu, espn3 are getting more common, but skype and internet browsing isnt very common. What i do is just have my pc sort of hidden at the computer desk. Then just run the hdmi cable to the receiver and if needed the IR sensor for your htpc remote.

PS3 media server is nice (as s44 mentioned) i just like the htpc since i like having things set up how i like it. That and i didnt want to have to worry about incompatible file formats and the such.

Yo can even do what i do since i only use my htpc for playback and live tv, and hook up your tv as either the primary or secondary monitor and use your acer 21" one. then you can just use it as a normal pc on the acer monitor and still have the tv be able to use the pc as a htpc. Only thing is you have ot click on your htpc software so its the active window. Some remotes let you have a button for that though. My htpc (specs in sig) can easily playback 1080p while i browse the internet and do other everyday stuff. Can even do some light gaming and playback