I want to build my own PC-based Home Entertainment system

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I wasn't sure where to put this, so I'll put it here:

What would be involved in building a home entertainment-type PC? I do not want something like Myth-TV or any TiVo-type device. Nor would I want the device to be attached to the internet. I just want to be able to backup all of my DVDs (including ones I've made myself) and be able to watch them randomly or create playlists based on such things as genre, title, and so forth. I would imagine I would need quite a few large capacity hard drives, but that's not the problem.

Basically, I want the video equivalent of an MP3 player.

Any tips or suggestions?

[yoda313]

Try a MCE unit. They are rectangular nontower pcs dedicated for video.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Try a MCE unit. They are rectangular nontower pcs dedicated for video.

Thanks, b.ut that doesn't really do anything I need

[Craig Tucker]

How about something like this. No need for an additional PC system.

http://www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=273&osCsid=5b9ea5ef46bfd7...a63c2d107a82ef

[Treebeard]

so you basically want a file server that is holding all these movies? and have it connected to your TV?

[Mr. Blue Sky]

so you basically want a file server that is holding all these movies? and have it connected to your TV?

That, or add a nice LCD monitor. I would also like to be able to add drives as the previous ones get filled up.

[Faustus]

Not sure about the random DVD playing thing unless perhaps you turned them into Divx or Xvid files but of the ones I've tried I Liked Myth-TV the best. and with KnoppMYTH its a breeze to setup on the right hardware.

http://www.mysettopbox.tv/knoppmyth.html

[yoda313]

Well there are networked dvd players now that can play back hdtv recorded files. I'll dig up a link and see if you might be interested - though it was only a lan port no wireless in the model I'm thinking of.

EDIT - here you go:

AVPL2/DVD

(I/O Data)

http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/DVD/avpl2.ASP

Ethernet Capable for playback from PC
USB 2.0 Compatible
MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX, and WMV9 Compatible
Component (Y-Pb-Pr) 720p/1080i video output


It's another option to look at least.

[Faustus]

Modded Xbox with a bigger drive may not fit ALL your features but also works pretty nice.

[yoda313]

Modded Xbox with a bigger drive may not fit ALL your features but also works pretty nice.

Plus you'd be able to use the wireless adapter - good point faustus