Streaming content from windows 7 to tv? - GoFuckYourself.com

96ukssob · 09-07-2010, 01:42 PM

Just about done running cables through my entire house to TVs and trying to find the best way to stream content from a windows 7 pc to the TVs.

I read that XBox 360 is a pretty good choice, but I'm not looking to go out and buy a bunch of xbox's to do this.

Right now its mainly just some music from iTunes, few videos and 2 bluray movies... dont have that much room for my entire library and just testing this out with my desktop in my office on the 2nd floor. Id like to not have to run to the basement every time I want to watch a movie, so this will be a great option for the 2nd floor.

Anyone running something similar and what is the best (and not insanely expensive) way to do that?

Jim_Gunn · 09-07-2010, 01:54 PM

I hooked up an old Win XP P4 to my 52" LCD HDTV in my living room as a media server and I simply drag and drop any Xvid, Divx etc video files over to the the P4 from my laptop or wherever I have the files via a wireles connection and play the files locally from the P4 in my living room to my HDTV using a DVI to HDMI cable. The best part is that the P4 has a Windows Media Center version of XP on it which comes with a remote so I can play, pause, FF or RW from the couch!

MrBottomTooth · 09-07-2010, 01:56 PM

I use a small computer made by Acer called a Revo. (has built in HDMI) Basically makes the perfect home theater PC if you have a server in the house you can stream from. Just add a $20 infrared receiver and you can control it with any programmable universal remote. (I use a couple different models from Logitech)

I have it boot up directly into Windows Media Center, and I have the mediabrowser plugin installed, so you can run a setup like this:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2sddO...eature=related

I tried using xboxes but there was too many file format incompatibilities.

Install the shark007 codec pack and you can play absolutely ANY file type in media center.

96ukssob · 09-07-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim_Gunn

I hooked up an old Win XP P4 to my 52" LCD HDTV in my living room as a media server and I simply drag and drop any Xvid, Divx etc video files over to the the P4 from my laptop or wherever I have the files via a wireles connection and play the files locally from the P4 in my living room to my HDTV using a DVI to HDMI cable. The best part is that the P4 has a Windows Media Center version of XP on it which comes with a remote so I can play, pause, FF or RW from the couch!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBottomTooth

I use a small computer made by Acer called a Revo. (has built in HDMI) Basically makes the perfect home theater PC if you have a server in the house you can stream from. Just add a $20 infrared receiver and you can control it with any programmable universal remote. (I use a couple different models from Logitech)

I have it boot up directly into Windows Media Center, and I have the mediabrowser plugin installed, so you can run a setup like this:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2sddO...eature=related

I tried using xboxes but there was too many file format incompatibilities.

Install the shark007 codec pack and you can play absolutely ANY file type in media center.

Nice!

Thats pretty much exactly what I'm trying to do, however control it from 3 different TVs.

I found a few options that allow you have multiple outputs, but I'm not sure if you can watch one file on one TV and another on another TV.

Basically, it will go HTPC (or currently just my PC) then cat6 wires connected near the TVs... trying to figure what to connect the cat6 to, to display the content on the TV

MrBottomTooth · 09-07-2010, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bossku69

Nice!

Thats pretty much exactly what I'm trying to do, however control it from 3 different TVs.

I found a few options that allow you have multiple outputs, but I'm not sure if you can watch one file on one TV and another on another TV.

Basically, it will go HTPC (or currently just my PC) then cat6 wires connected near the TVs... trying to figure what to connect the cat6 to, to display the content on the TV

Unfortunately for my method you basically need a separate PC for each TV. You would keep all your media files on your current main PC and use that as the server, then run the cat 6 to each TV where you would have another PC to use just to stream the videos from your server.

There are also dedicated media streamers that basically operate in the same way the xbox would, streaming from your PC. I haven't used any so I can't recommend any. You can pick some of them up quite cheap, but you also have to be careful with which file formats they support.

example of one:
http://www.amazon.ca/Western-Digital.../dp/B001JZFQU4

abshard · 09-07-2010, 06:36 PM

I just use HTPC's

I have 1 in my family room and 1 in my home theatre room

Then i have a bunch of hard drives in my home office computer that stays on 24/7 and use it as the "server"

On the htpc's i use media center with media browser addon

DanielS · 09-07-2010, 08:21 PM

A laptop with a big HD and a HDMI/VGA output is enough

dav3 · 09-07-2010, 08:43 PM

Dell Zino HD:

directfiesta · 09-07-2010, 09:36 PM

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=735

Works great .. they may have a new integrated wi-fi one.
I just connected it to a wi-fi netgear print server and I can play files from any of my computers as well as a local drive or usb key.

You will need one per tv tough ...

J$tyle$ · 09-08-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by directfiesta

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=735

Works great .. they may have a new integrated wi-fi one.
I just connected it to a wi-fi netgear print server and I can play files from any of my computers as well as a local drive or usb key.

You will need one per tv tough ...

This looks pretty cool!

09-07-2010, 01:42 PM	#1
96ukssob So Fucking Banananananas Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: If I was in your ass you'd know it Posts: 12,991	Streaming content from windows 7 to tv? Just about done running cables through my entire house to TVs and trying to find the best way to stream content from a windows 7 pc to the TVs. I read that XBox 360 is a pretty good choice, but I'm not looking to go out and buy a bunch of xbox's to do this. Right now its mainly just some music from iTunes, few videos and 2 bluray movies... dont have that much room for my entire library and just testing this out with my desktop in my office on the 2nd floor. Id like to not have to run to the basement every time I want to watch a movie, so this will be a great option for the 2nd floor. Anyone running something similar and what is the best (and not insanely expensive) way to do that? __________________ Email: Clicky on Me

09-07-2010, 01:56 PM	#3
MrBottomTooth Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,795	I use a small computer made by Acer called a Revo. (has built in HDMI) Basically makes the perfect home theater PC if you have a server in the house you can stream from. Just add a $20 infrared receiver and you can control it with any programmable universal remote. (I use a couple different models from Logitech) I have it boot up directly into Windows Media Center, and I have the mediabrowser plugin installed, so you can run a setup like this: https://youtube.com/watch?v=2sddO...eature=related I tried using xboxes but there was too many file format incompatibilities. Install the shark007 codec pack and you can play absolutely ANY file type in media center. __________________ Get Paid Per Email Like The WEGCASH Days!!!! Last edited by MrBottomTooth; 09-07-2010 at 01:58 PM..

09-07-2010, 08:43 PM	#8
dav3 Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 7,348	Dell Zino HD: __________________ Webmasters :: Juicy Ads :: ACWM :: Crak Revenue :: Money Tree

09-07-2010, 09:36 PM	#9
directfiesta Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Cana, DR Posts: 29,598	http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=735 Works great .. they may have a new integrated wi-fi one. I just connected it to a wi-fi netgear print server and I can play files from any of my computers as well as a local drive or usb key. You will need one per tv tough ... __________________ I know that Asspimple is stoopid ... As he says, it is a FACT ! But I can't figure out how he can breathe or type , at the same time ....

09-07-2010, 01:54 PM	#2
Jim_Gunn Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Where The Teens Are Posts: 5,702	I hooked up an old Win XP P4 to my 52" LCD HDTV in my living room as a media server and I simply drag and drop any Xvid, Divx etc video files over to the the P4 from my laptop or wherever I have the files via a wireles connection and play the files locally from the P4 in my living room to my HDTV using a DVI to HDMI cable. The best part is that the P4 has a Windows Media Center version of XP on it which comes with a remote so I can play, pause, FF or RW from the couch!

09-07-2010, 06:36 PM	#6
abshard Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 6,314	I just use HTPC's I have 1 in my family room and 1 in my home theatre room Then i have a bunch of hard drives in my home office computer that stays on 24/7 and use it as the "server" On the htpc's i use media center with media browser addon

09-07-2010, 08:21 PM	#7
DanielS Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 569	A laptop with a big HD and a HDMI/VGA output is enough