I have an older Gateway PC acting as my media center/file server. I have it hooked up to a 42" 720p Samsung Plasma TV via VGA from the on-board connection on the PC. As such, the resolution is not very good: 1024x768 and the picture doesn't really fit on the screen. Can you recommend a cheap video card (under $50) that will let me connect via HDMI and show things at a decent resolution without stretching or cropping the picture? No gaming, just playing video files.
posted by nitsuj
on Aug 24, 2012 -
37 answers
I use Windows 7 Media Center to timeshift basketball games and it works fine, except that after a commercial break where there is a bright white commercial, the brightness is shifted down, and the subsequent footage is too dark. This happens at record time but I'm not sure exactly what is causing it or how to disable. My capture card is an ati tv wonder 600 pci.
posted by Manjusri
on Mar 25, 2012 -
2 answers
Setting up a media PC for my television. Already have all the hardware set up, just wondering what kind of software people are using to have a "reasonable television-like experience" with mouse only or wireless xbox360 controller (currently looking in to getting one of these)
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posted by tehloki
on Jan 20, 2012 -
6 answers
I am trying to find Media Center software (preferably for Windows) that has a video buffer so that I can watch HD video over wi-fi.
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posted by Bonky Moon
on Sep 14, 2011 -
12 answers
I'd like to be able to select my Linux box as my audio out device in my Windows 7 box. Is there a way to make that happen?
posted by jsturgill
on Sep 10, 2011 -
9 answers
Looking to build a Intel Sandy Bridge Windows 7 machine that will primarily function as a centralized repository for mp3s, movies, and photos. Anyone have any hardware recommendations?
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posted by decrescendo
on May 31, 2011 -
5 answers
I have a few questions about a home server / backup / HTPC solution and I would really appreciate some help. Details inside.
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posted by decrescendo
on May 18, 2011 -
13 answers
I have long held a fantastic dream of what I want my home theater
setup to be. I've tried several times, in several different ways, to
realize this dream - but there is always something. There's always
something that doesn't work right - that makes my final implementation
lacking in some fundamental way. I'm starting to give up hope. So -
I'll tell you what I want and what I've tried - and I want you to tell
me if there's another way. I can't be alone here.
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posted by kbanas
on Nov 29, 2010 -
10 answers
I’m planning on buying a Mac Mini as an HTPC, but I have some questions about the best option for additional storage.
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posted by cosmic osmo
on Jun 30, 2010 -
13 answers
I came into some hardware I have no other use for, so it's time to try some "media center" software! Yay! Difficulties: Spouse-friendliness is important, I don't know the media center scene very well, the hardware I have isn't all that fancy, and my patience for scouring all the different projects' forums to sort them out is somewhat limited. Can you help me sort out my options and pick something that's close to my requirements?
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posted by majick
on Mar 10, 2010 -
13 answers
I have a TV hanging on the wall, and want to put some things under it - laptop, antenna, etc. My room is very narrow, so I need a narrow table.
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posted by zavulon
on Feb 5, 2010 -
10 answers
Please help me understand audio configurations. I have an HTPC with Media Center connected to a Denon receiver. The TV and speakers also connect to this receiver. Everything works fine, except for in the rare case when I am playing an .avi file that is encoded with audio in six (6) channels. In this one specifc case, I can hear sound effects, music, but no dialogue. I think I know why, but I don't know what to do about it.
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posted by omair
on Jan 7, 2010 -
4 answers
Which is the best method for adding codec, playing video from remote shares, and most of all usable web browsing to an AppleTV?
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posted by rokusan
on Nov 20, 2009 -
5 answers
Help me in my quest to never have to get up from the couch: What kind of wireless keyboard/mouse, keyboard/trackball, or keyboard/something-I-haven't-heard-of combo would you suggest for a media savvy couch potato who doesn't want to have to get up to navigate Hulu?
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posted by tihleigh
on Nov 6, 2009 -
9 answers
Looking to build/buy a (maybe) Linux-based media center. Requirements: HDMI, YPbPr, and (bonus) standard RCA output (not all at once), region-free DVD/Blu-ray playing (physical drive[s?]), some sort of remote control, automatic boot into media center interface, small size (not a tower), and (of course) lots and lots of codecs: Blu-ray rips, H.264 .avi, VIDEO_TS folders, the works. Need to know: cost, upkeep, storage options.
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posted by reductiondesign
on Oct 5, 2009 -
5 answers
Going crazy trying to figure out my HTPC/media server options from scratch. Yes, I've been reading other threads but I'm a unique snowflake so there's
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posted by itesser
on Aug 10, 2009 -
11 answers
How do I connect my xbox 360 to computers on the same wireless network if the xbox 360 is connected to a wireless bridge?
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posted by billtron
on Jul 8, 2009 -
6 answers
Help me set up an geeky A/V solution in my new house! Ideally, I am looking for the One Box in my house that would record cable television (preferably in HD), show live TV, and act as media server for all of my televisions and computers. Is that possible?
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posted by blahblahblah
on Apr 7, 2009 -
11 answers
I am creating a media center out of a high end Dell XPS Studio. I am using Dell hybrids as the extenders, but have a question about the storage/backup RAID setup I should use.
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posted by schindyguy
on Feb 16, 2009 -
4 answers
Looking for a media center solution (not necessarily a Media Center solution), that will automount DVD images (ISO files) for playback.
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posted by Ritchie
on Jan 10, 2009 -
15 answers
WirelessNeworkFilter: Please help me set up my home wireless network using two routers. Despite all the particulars of my situation, there must be an easy solution.
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posted by billtron
on Dec 19, 2008 -
7 answers
DVDs and Blu Ray discs are such a pain with their ability to be scratched and the need to find where a disc is, is it in the right case, etc. I find myself often drawn to standard definition “on demand” movies on cable (free ones) instead of searching my own high definition or DVD movies. Is there a way to have the convenience of “on demand” and the quality of the original media?
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posted by arniec
on Oct 7, 2008 -
11 answers
HD-capable HTPC advice / help? I'm overwhelmed here... XBMC, Boxee, MythTV, Windows Media Center, CableCARDS, Popcorn Hour, Apple TV -- too many options!
What should I build to fit my needs within a reasonable cost?
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posted by twiggy
on Oct 2, 2008 -
16 answers
Is there some way to tell the Windows Media Center software just to use a specific TV tuner card input (rca, s-video, etc) avoiding its incessant search for a cable box or its requirements that I use the remote? I know I did it, once ...
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posted by The Great Big Mulp
on Sep 20, 2008 -
0 answers
With digital OTA coming in February and the possibility of dipping into HD in the near future, help me give my 2 year old HTPC a facelift.
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posted by genial
on Sep 10, 2008 -
4 answers
So, I have about 1400 CDs and I'd like to be able to listen to them at any time from a server at several locations through out the house.
Whats new in the world of media servers?
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posted by softlord
on Jul 7, 2008 -
21 answers
I like Windows Home Server, but need to keep my PC media box to run my media center. Can I get the same features (remote access, automatic backup, and media extension) without decapitating it, i.e. by switching to Vista, using dedicated applications, or running WHS differently than advertised?
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posted by anotherpanacea
on Mar 13, 2008 -
5 answers
How do I make an easy to use media server? I'd like a nice, pretty interface that'll allow me to play any files on the back-end without having to do work on the front-end. Can Windows Media Center be run over a VPN? Is there one that more properly showcases new movies or television shows?
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posted by geoff.
on Mar 2, 2008 -
7 answers
What's the best way to configure an HTPC to easily manage and control 3 separate audio outputs and then flexibly route those outputs to 3 separate locations?
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posted by Embryo
on Dec 29, 2007 -
15 answers
I want to import HDV footage straight from my HDV video camera (Sony) to my Sony VGX XL100 "Living Room PC" aka "Media Center", and then, if possible without reencoding it, play it out to my HD TV, or to my computer monitor. Is there software, or a software combination, to make this possible?
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posted by londongeezer
on Sep 26, 2007 -
3 answers
What is the best solution for setting up a media center that can serve regular DVD, HD DVD, BluRay, QT, MKV/H.264, AVI, et cetera to a 47 inch LCD at 1080p?
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posted by adi
on Sep 23, 2007 -
9 answers
