Xbox 360 question - Playing DVDs on the network

[CrashX]

Thinking about replacing my XP MCE system with something quieter, cooler, and more stable. An all in one hardware platform would be best. So I was thinking of a 360.

I use my MCE machine for two things, 1) playing DVDs, 2) playing/streaming ripped DVDs off of my file server. I don't need a dedicated PC for this very simple tasks. Yet it seems no device out there can do number 2. I'm not talking about compressed DVDs to Divx or Xvid, but pure 100% rips.

Can the 360 do this? Without needing an MCE machine to connect to?

 

[LCX700m]

Just go out and buy an old xbox and mod it.... It streams everything. For under 300 bucks it is the best. I use it to play all format movies and play games.... I don't even have to pay for xbox live.. I use XBC...

 

[quackerww]

Originally posted by: CrashX
Thinking about replacing my XP MCE system with something quieter, cooler, and more stable. An all in one hardware platform would be best. So I was thinking of a 360.

Thats not a 360, they are loud hot and buggy, Get one for the games not for those....

 

[CrashX]

I was hoping for something that could upscale DVDs as well, and Xbox 1 doesn't do that.
I can't believe there isn't a dedicated hardware box out there that suites my simple needs. Any other suggestions?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: CrashX
I was hoping for something that could upscale DVDs as well, and Xbox 1 doesn't do that.
I can't believe there isn't a dedicated hardware box out there that suites my simple needs. Any other suggestions?

There is, it's called an HTPC. You own one.

Make it quieter, cooler, and more stable.

Post your configuration and let us rip it apart. :evil:

- M4H

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: CrashX
Can the 360 do this? Without needing an MCE machine to connect to?

Not to my knowledge. An Xbox 360 connected via media connect to a regular PC will only let you do pictures and music. Videos are only allowed when connected to a PC with the MCE OS installed.

 

[CrashX]

My current HTPC is a relatively decent machine.
Sempron 64 3000+
Asus NF4 board
512MB DDR400
GeForce 6600GT PCI-e with Zalman cooler set to low speed fan
Hitachi 160GB SATA drive
Liteon DVD
Coolermaster case (forget the name, but HTPC style)
I am running the minimum number of fans. Using Asus Q-fan, for fan speed management. I even took apart the PSU to improve air flow/cooling and reduce noise.

It's a decent setup. But it's still Windows. It still needs to be rebooted occasionally. It still makes more noise than a fanless hardware DVD player. The other day in the middle of watching a movie after several pauses it started getting really jerky and wouldn't self-correct. Finally I had to just reboot it in order to get it all smoothed out again.

So I figured since I don't do pictures, or music on it, just DVDs and streaming DVDs, there has to be something better out there. But there really isn't. I tried the Buffalo LinkTheater and while it's a jack of all trades, it's a master at none. It won't just stream ripped DVDs. You have to convert them into a format it knows and likes.