View Full Version : Help connecting pc to tv


triggle
03-16-08, 06:19 PM
I'd like to use my TV to display files located on my PC. My PC is already configured as a dual-display so a vid out is not an option. Currently using a sneaker-net, burn the DVD-rom and play on a DIVx player and TV.

My TV is a 480p CRT Widescreen Panasonic. 720i/1080i but 480p is fine for my AVI and MPEG recordings.

Devices I've considered:
Hauppauge Media MPV - not commonly available to try
Networked DVD player - not commonly available to try
DVD/DIVx Player equipped w USB input (for thumb drive)

I just bought my second USB equipped DIVx player and was hoping I'd be able to make my PC appear as a large thumb drive so the player could load any file. The first DIVx w USB I bought was a Phillips unit. A couple problems caused me to rethink. Writing files to a 4gig thumb drive takes way too long, almost as long to burn a DVD@16x. The second problem is the players interface truncates file names to 30 characters so file navigation is hit and miss. The new RCA player also has this problem so I bet they are use similar firmware.

Is there a way to utilize the USB on the DVD player without limiting myself to a thumb drive. Possibly a network attached drive with both Ethernet to connect to my network and USB to connect to the DVD drive ?

I'd like a device that allows me to browse and watch files on my PC using my TV as the display. My PC has all my recorded media from GB-PVR on it as well as many other AVI files. I'd consider a small PC for this, but I fear the 480p output may not look as good as a dedicated DVD player.

bendog2784
03-21-08, 02:52 PM
I'd like a device that allows me to browse and watch files on my PC using my TV as the display. My PC has all my recorded media from GB-PVR on it as well as many other AVI files. I'd consider a small PC for this, but I fear the 480p output may not look as good as a dedicated DVD player.

With some modification this can be done with an original Xbox and a program called XBMC. It works wonderfully.

triggle
03-21-08, 04:00 PM
Does this assume I already own an X-Box ? I am not a gamer. An X-Box cost what 200-300$ and then it needs mods. Wouldn't I be better off building an HTPC with an HDMI output motherboard ?

The question for me is how good does HDMI look on a SDTV widescreen at 480P ?