Upgrade PC or go with HD Extender??

[grooves12]

Ok, my current setup is a single HTPC.

I have it setup using my Harmony remote and works great... it is also used as my DVD player for my home theater. However I am trying to get some h.264 channels going and it is not quite powerful enough to get the job done.

I am contemplating upgrading it w/ an AMD 780g motherboard and possibly adding a Blu-Ray drive down the line... which would give me an all-in-one capable of doing everything I need. (I also burn DVD's from it from time to time)

But, the HD extender looks like a nice setup and not having to fuss with codecs all the time seems like a good option... but without being able to play DVD's or Blu-Ray remotely, I'm wondering if it might be better to just upgrade my current system.

What do you guys think?

[HawgGuy]

Extender. Cheaper and far fewer headaches in the long run.

[tmiranda]

Originally Posted by HawgGuy

Extender. Cheaper and far fewer headaches in the long run.

Yes, what he said.

[Shield]

Upgraded PC......

[doc]

I'd go with the extender.

Once you get one you'll wonder why you didn't get one sooner.

[gplasky]

Extender.

'nuff said.

Gerry

[chrisc16]

+1 more for the extender.

I can't tell you how nice it is not to ever have to worry about codecs. It seems like I was messing with those weekly when I was using my PC client. Now they are a thing of the past for me.

You could always keep your PC there too, and use it when you want to use the web on your TV, play BD discs, etc.

[lovingHDTV]

HTPC unless they come out with an extender with a DVD player in it.

Look at the new Intel G45 based board.

[Mitch G]

+1 for the extender.
For DVD watching you can rip your DVDs and serve them up on the extender until a cost effective Blu-Ray player comes out.
(Well, that's been my plan, at least. )


Mitch

[Fuzzy]

I don't have a an extender, and had been using a PC Client in the living room for quite some time. I just recently upgraded the server, got the cables I need to extend it to the living room, and did away with the Client alltogether. This was mostly to cut costs though, as it was just yet another PC running in my house, sucking juice, and pumping out heat. If it doens't work out running the server as my living room, I'll probably rebuild the client, as I used it for HD-DVD (Blu-Ray if I put it back), and for gaming. I can't give up on my Stereo 3D gaming! Madden '08 in true 3D is pretty damn sweet.

[lovingHDTV]

Originally Posted by Mitch G

+1 for the extender.
For DVD watching you can rip your DVDs and serve them up on the extender until a cost effective Blu-Ray player comes out.
(Well, that's been my plan, at least. )


Mitch

I really have no desire to rip all my netflix DVDs nor try and map a DVD drive from another computer to use it. That is all a PITA for me.

[appelm]

You don't have to rip your dvd's to watch them on the extender. Just buy and install AnyDVD on one of your computers on the network (your server for instance). Put the DVD in the DVD tray of that computer. You may have to share the DVD drive on your network if it doesn't belong to the server. In Sage, add the DVD drive to your media library. Then you can just play the DVD on the extender without ripping. Works great for me!

[appelm]

Originally Posted by lovingHDTV

nor try and map a DVD drive from another computer to use it. That is all a PITA for me.

Sorry didn't notice your wrote this. Frankly, I don't find it much of a pain. I actually do rip most of my netflix rentals just because I don't have time to watch them right away.. I like having a selection of many movies in my library that I haven't watched yet. None the less, for those occasional times when I don't feel like ripping and just want to watch the movie right away, the above mapping method (which you only have to do one time), works fine.

[Shield]

One main reason I voted for the PC is I assume the HD extender has the default Sage UI? It can't have SAGEMC added to it can it?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Shield

One main reason I voted for the PC is I assume the HD extender has the default Sage UI? It can't have SAGEMC added to it can it?

You can use custom STVs on extenders -- see the FAQ: What STV files can I use on a SageTV Media Extender?.

- Andy

[appelm]

Sure can.. SageMC works great on the extender..

Some pluggins don't work though.. like the netflix watch now plugin (though there is a work-around), and callerid.

[Shield]

Originally Posted by Opus4

You can use custom STVs on extenders -- see the FAQ: What STV files can I use on a SageTV Media Extender?.

- Andy

Well it appears they're out of stock unfortunately...I may have to pick one or two up..

[jptaz]

I was on the fence about the extender, but pulled the trigger last week...maybe I got one the last ones they had in stock

I just hooked it up last night and it is awesome. I plays back a number of HD files way better than my computer. I was having all sorts of interlacing issues with 1080i material. I was up and running pretty quickly. I still have not figured out my remote control situation yet, but for now I can live with three remotes ( One for the projector, one for the TV, Receiver, DD/DTS Decoder, and now the HD Extender remote).

Also if they get 80GB PS3 back in stock at SonyStyle they are $250 if you purchase it with a new Sony Card. A Pretty afordable Blue Ray Player. I think I may try out the anyDVD option described above though.

John

[grooves12]

Well, I ended up going against the grain and upgraded the computer to a 780g system...

It WAS a little bit of a PITA to setup (mostly because I decided to try Vista)... but I now have everything working very smoothly and am pretty happy with the results. The extender probably would have been more seamless... but I don't have to worry about stacking another box on top of my AV area, and worry about adding another device to my Harmony and do even more switching between devices.

[phelme]

Originally Posted by grooves12

Well, I ended up going against the grain and upgraded the computer to a 780g system...

if you get a chance to try an HD-PVR with the 780G, let us know how the playback performance of it's TS files are and how much CPU is used.