The main issue revolved around the ongoing technology transition. This site may earn affiliate commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. In some cases, the NAS may provide some extra features, such as access to the files from outside your local network, or redundant backups so that you never have to worry about permanently losing files. Unlike most PCs, which benefit from more air-flow and a larger form factor, a HTPC should fit right in with the rest of the appliances around your television set.
For this reason, most users choose a Mini or Micro ATX case and motherboard, rather than the standard ATX tower, since the cases are much smaller and come in various different dimensions. The noisiest component in a computer is usually the fans that keep the system cool, so some of the enclosures designed for media center use are fanless, relying instead on natural cooling, as well as the reduced heat concerns that go along with more budget-minded components.
Striking a balance between noise level and heat is essential, since a noisy machine will drown out the quiet moments in your favorite movies, but letting the machine get too hot will quickly reduce the lifetime of your components and could result in total failure of the machine. The graphics chip you select has become relatively unimportant unless you plan to play games in which case you may want to read our recent take on rising system requirements for PC titles.
Any of the current integrated graphics chips easily handle p. The only option you need concern yourself is the output, but most motherboards offer HDMI-out. Going 4K complicates matters. DisplayPort, which is more common, is almost never found on televisions. Adding 4K support to your wish-list means upgrading the scope of your entire project — for now, at least. An OS like Linux or even Windows can expand the functionality of your system to include almost any software, as well as web browsing and gaming, but at a cost.
Linux builds are usually free, but take a bit more computing know-how to get installed and running properly. Whatever decision you make regarding your operating system, the consensus is that the lightweight and powerful XBMC platform is ideal for controlling an HTPC. The software acts as an alternative GUI and media manager, giving you a customizable interface that is easy to control by remote from your couch.
The XBMC platform has a raft of audio and video codecs built in, as well as an ecosystem for downloads that add various functions from specific streaming services to emulators for old games.
In Media Library , select the type of media you want to add for example, Music , and then select Next. Select Add folders to the library , and then select Next. Select On this computer includes mapped network drives , and then select Next. Browse to the folder where your files are stored, select the check box next to the folder, and then select Next. Media Center will search the folder for digital media.
It will also save your folder selections for the next time you start the program. Media Center automatically scans selected folders for compatible media files. If you want to import files from a shared folder on another computer, the process is similar: select On another computer and Media Center will search for shared folders rather than local ones.
You can return to Media Library any time:. A TV tuner is a hardware device that you can connect to your computer through an internal expansion slot or an external expansion port, such as a USB port. All of your digital music, photos, and home movies—as well as a variety of online media—will be only a few clicks away.
Windows 7 More Tips: You can also use a mouse to open Media Center. Need more help? Join the discussion. Was this information helpful? Yes No. Thank you!
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