(forgive me if this is in the wrong thread)

Goals:

- To make a PC box that is entirely devoted to streaming video content from the internet, but not just from sites like youtube and hulu but other sites that like justin.tv (so basically need full flash support on my webbrowser).

-output to TV (but not necessarily in HD; PC out is fine)

- Able to have keyboard, mouse controls of box

- slim case

- I need to do this cheaply (<$500 but less than that would be great too)



I know there are various solutions already out there but the biggest problem is that they only give you access to hulu and youtube (like playon). Also, many of those boxes only let you access network video files and not internet streaming and many of them don't have keyboard inputs.

I made an HTPC with PVR support for myself a while ago and spent a decent chunk of change but I had different goals. I had two huge harddrives stored in there, tons of RAM, the best video card, and a good capture card. I dont' think I need most of those anymore because I don't have a data i/o problem with the hard drives. I just don't know what I need.

I think I need

- a slim case (just for asthetics, can sacrifice if necessary)

- a lot of ram (don't want my webbrowser to hang on the webbrowser while it is loading those streaming video websites)

- basic hard drive, chipset, MB, video card



Alternatively, I wouldn't mind streaming my desktop from my other room to my TV but don't know the cheapest way of doing that. Again, I would want to have keyboard/mouse control of that computer as I would be going to websites and i would want decent picture quality.


So, any recommendations? I am definitely open to any existing solutions but I just don't think there is anything out there.

Thanks in advance. Used to come here a lot about 4 years ago and was badass then.

here's a real cheap way to do it:

http://paulstamatiou.com/diy-200-dollar-pc

i might recommend doing something like this, but getting a decent video card to output to your TV.

best of luck!

Everything you need to know about building a HTPC can be found here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=940972).

I suggest you go to Newegg and get the parts to build a dual-core Pentium system in a micro-ATX case, should be able to do it for around $300, WITH HDMI video for a very little more.

Thanks for the suggestions. That first site seems a bit out of date and even the second link doesn't seem like it has been updated since about a year ago. Are there better/cheaper hardware options?


But also, the issue with those sites is that they emphasize playback of high quality videos. While that woudl be nice, my main bottleneck is my internet connection. I'm never going to have really high quality video. Just want a box that plays videos that originate from websites - but any website I want.

What do people think of hacking an Apple TV?

A hacked ATV is great (I have one) for SD content, but it lacks the processing power for HD flash. They are working on support for a $25 add-on card that will allow for 1080p h.264 video, but that still won't help you with flash.

If you're fine with SD, then by all means, get a refurbished 40GB ATV for $150 (http://store.apple.com/us/product/FA711LL/A) and install Boxee.

If you want HD web video, then the only option is a dual-core desktop processor. Below is a very cheap build that will do what you need for under $300 (even less after rebates). You still need an OS and some sort of control system, but that's going to depend on what sort of frontend (if any) you want to use. Since you're focusing on web video, I recommend Ubuntu + Boxee. both are free, and Boxee is specifically designed around web video.

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3269/cheap2.png

That wishlist looks really nice, I would second that.

Btw abasu2003, this is not the forum for HTPC, you should go here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=26

There might be more knowledgable people there.