Home Theatre PC In 2023

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Home Theatre PC In 2023

Castlvaniafan

97 posts

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#311177 20-Dec-2023 21:58

Hello, so it's been awhile since I've had a TV. About six years believe it or not! I was heavily into TV for about 15 years, always had a flagship TV and a trusty powerful HTPC hooked up to play local files. I'm really familiar with MPC HC and MadVR and that was my go-to for a decade.

I decided to get a TV now, picked up a LG 77" G3 OLED and wow what a picture. It looks like how I wanted my flagship TVs to look in the past. It seems like the landscape has shifted a bit on HTPC with the introduction of small form factor streamers that are high powered, proliferation of 1GB internet, and affordable NAS products. I was interested in getting some input from here, do you still use a HTPC or a streaming box w/ NAS? What are the benefits on the choice you've made?

I need to do more research on what my options are in 2023. But it seems like the landscape has shifted away from HTPC and in favor of streaming boxes and a NAS storage. I'm probably a bit oldschool now, but I like the simplicity of a HTPC connected directly to the TV, I don't enjoy messing around with front end stuff like Plex UI and then back end stuff like networking (would rather spend that time watching movies!). I also think you'll get a better picture running files locally with Mad VR doing all the hardwork with a beefy graphics card. I'm on the fence on which route to go to be honest!

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Max
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#3173904 20-Dec-2023 22:29

Hi there

Yup still rock a Intel 8th gen laptop as the media pc but all files are served off my TrueNAS Scale VM through ethernet. All media is SSDs. Don't have to transcode I just play direct as Intel 8th gen is enough for my files. However I am someone who doesn't use media libraries such as Plex or Emby or Jellyfin.

To be frank, it entirely depends on your use case. If you're using local media on the go. Then going the route I did and tacking on Plex or Emby or Jellyfin (Jellyfin probably better here as hardware encoding is free but doesn't have relays unlike Plex, VPN like Tailscale would be your way in to your jelly fin instance and then you just transcode if you don't have the bandwidth) would be end goal and a good option.

However if you're just playing it direct to TV... I don't deal with Smart TVs. That question better answered by another but I hope I've answered some.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

CYaBro

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#3173913 20-Dec-2023 23:27

Used a media pc with mediaportal for years but switched to an Apple TV not long after they were first released.
Now have a 4K version.
Apps we use most are YouTube, Netflix, ThreeNow, TVNZ+ and Plex.
I have a PC with the Plex server on it in the network cabinet.
Got a lifetime Plex pass on special a couple of years ago.
Also have a satellite network tuner that links to Plex so can watch live Sky TV. (Using a card reader but won’t go into that here. Haha!)
With the plex pass it means we can use the mobile app while away to access everything on our server.
I also share the plex server with family.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

nzkc

1573 posts

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#3173925 21-Dec-2023 07:26

I have gone a similar way to CYaBro. But rather than Apple TV use Google TV and/or Chromecasts. The fact Google TV and Chromecasts offer the main streaming apps (YouTube, Netflix, etc) was a huge reason I moved to them.

Have a PC in the garage with my media running Plex in a docker container on Linux. TV has Google TV with Plex app installed. When away from home I take a Chromecast with me and use that. Or if its a work trip sometimes just the laptop.

I have not bothered with a Plex Pass. Besides the ability to stream content to a phone I don't see the benefit of one for my needs.

I have tried Emby and Jellyfin in the past too. Been a while since I last did to be fair. I found them to be less polished than Plex and kept coming back to it. I'll give them (and any other new ones) a go over the holidays to see if they are any better now.

I dont really watch broadcast TV anymore so that has not been a concern for me.

jonathan18

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#3173934 21-Dec-2023 08:33

Castlvaniafan:

... I'm probably a bit oldschool now, but I like the simplicity of a HTPC connected directly to the TV, I don't enjoy messing around with front end stuff like Plex UI and then back end stuff like networking (would rather spend that time watching movies!). I also think you'll get a better picture running files locally with Mad VR doing all the hardwork with a beefy graphics card. I'm on the fence on which route to go to be honest!

Interesting... I've not looked back since ditching our Mac Mini-based HTPCs many years ago. Managing those involved WAY more faffing about, both to keep them running smoothly and in operation. In addition, the FAF (ie, family acceptance factor- my modern/acceptable take on WAF!) wasn't nearly as high as what's available now. It was great when there wasn't a decent alternative, but in 2023? Nah, I'm far happier running Plex (also bought lifetime sub a couple of years ago) on the NAS and using Chromecast WGTVs for Plex and VOD apps (and, dare I say it on this forum, the apps built into the TV!).

huckster

844 posts

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#3173939 21-Dec-2023 08:58

MediaPortal was my platform of choice.

Now it's an Android TV box with Kodi and NextPVR running in docker on PC elsewhere running OMV. Not even hooked up to an aerial anymore - using IPTV streams for all NZ Channels.

gehenna

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#3173955 21-Dec-2023 09:12

I haven't built a true HTPC since the last of the Vista WMC days. Which were great times to be honest. But in the last decade I've just used Plex and it's been great for our purposes. I haven't watched broadcast TV since before 2010 so no need for tuners.

Castlvaniafan

97 posts

Master Geek

#3173984 21-Dec-2023 10:15

Nice, seems like most here have gone the streamer + NAS route. I think I'll do that aswell after some consideration. First I need to hardwire ethernet my house.

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cddt

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#3174012 21-Dec-2023 11:34

I am also currently using an old laptop (intel 7th gen) which I was given for free as it was about to be trashed. Runs perfectly and has low power consumption, fast suspend and wake up.

If I were buying new I would look at one of the Beelink boxes or similar (e.g. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005199557750.html) - there are a plethora of similar form factors with chips which are low power but also more than sufficient performance for a HTPC.

CYaBro

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#3174061 21-Dec-2023 14:20

cddt:

I am also currently using an old laptop (intel 7th gen) which I was given for free as it was about to be trashed. Runs perfectly and has low power consumption, fast suspend and wake up.

If I were buying new I would look at one of the Beelink boxes or similar (e.g. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005199557750.html) - there are a plethora of similar form factors with chips which are low power but also more than sufficient performance for a HTPC.

I have just got a Beelink SEi12 unit to use as our server. :)
i5-12450H, 500GB NVMe & 16GB RAM.
I also put in a 1TB 2.5" SSD that I had here doing nothing.

Dove Electronics are distributing these in NZ and they had an intro deal last month with Beelink so I picked it up for $400 + gst. :D

I also got one of these from Amazon: Amazon.com: Yottamaster 5 Bay 2.5 & 3.5 Inch SATA Hard Drive Enclosure, 6Gbps USB C HDD/SSD Enclosure with Fan, Up to 80TB(5x16TB) Direct Attached Storage (DAS) for Data Backup NAS Expansion [PS500C3] : Automotive

Wasn't supposed to arrive until the 29th but it got here on Monday. :)
I've moved my 2x 3TB & 2x 4TB hard drives into it, that I had in my old PC/server and there's a spare slot for a 5th drive.
So far all working great.

FYI I had those drives setup as two RAID1 mirrors in Windows 10 with Storage Spaces, attached by SATA to the mainboard.
They were picked up automatically on the new Windows 11 system and just carried on working as before, inside the DAS unit.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Shindig

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#3174079 21-Dec-2023 15:15

I have an Android based media player spare, I upgraded.

Did you want to try that, rather than a HTPC.

These things are brilliant and play pretty much anything you throw at it.

The little things make the biggest difference.

Castlvaniafan

97 posts

Master Geek

#3174080 21-Dec-2023 15:17

Shindig:

I have an Android based media player spare, I upgraded.

Did you want to try that, rather than a HTPC.

These things are brilliant and play pretty much anything you throw at it.

I randomly bought a Shield Pro TV a few weeks ago, so I have one!

gehenna

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#3174093 21-Dec-2023 15:42

One of the best ones, too.

JimmyH

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#3174107 21-Dec-2023 16:30

What is missing from the post that started this thread is any clarity about what you are trying to achieve. The question is essentially "hey, is a HTPC the best tool to achieve my desired outcome" without stating what the desired outcome is or who the users will be.

If you just want centralised media storage and playback for a family then an HTPC is likely not the best solution. A networked PC or NAS holding the media with some media players (Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, Nvidia Shield or whatever your preference is), and some appropriate software (e.g., Plex, Emby or Jellyfin) will probably work best. Particularly if playing to multiple devices (e.g., TVs, phones, tablets, projectors etc) is required. The setup is minimal, the interface is good, simple remote controls are easy to use, and in my experience the wife-acceptance factor is high.

If on the other hand you are the only user, and only want to play media to one TV, and want do do a wider range of stuff (live terrestrial/satellite feeds, recording with commercial skipping, some retrogaming etc) then an HTPC might still be what you are looking for.

The answer depends what the problem you are trying to solve is?

JimmyH

2886 posts

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#3174110 21-Dec-2023 16:36

CYaBro:

I have just got a Beelink SEi12 unit to use as our server. :)
i5-12450H, 500GB NVMe & 16GB RAM.
I also put in a 1TB 2.5" SSD that I had here doing nothing.

[...]

I also got one of these from Amazon: Amazon.com: Yottamaster 5 Bay 2.5 & 3.5 Inch SATA Hard Drive Enclosure, 6Gbps USB C HDD/SSD Enclosure with Fan, Up to 80TB(5x16TB) Direct Attached Storage (DAS) for Data Backup NAS Expansion [PS500C3] : Automotive

That's a very similar setup to mine, except I have a slightly older generation SFF i5 PC that I acquired cheaply second hand, and am using a NASes attached over ethernet rather than direct-attached USB enclosures.

I'm also using Jellyfin as the software package to manage my media, and Chromecasts and a Roku Ultra on TVs for playback. It works great, and is a hit with the family.

CokemonZ

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#3174136 21-Dec-2023 18:18

CYaBro:
cddt:

I am also currently using an old laptop (intel 7th gen) which I was given for free as it was about to be trashed. Runs perfectly and has low power consumption, fast suspend and wake up.

If I were buying new I would look at one of the Beelink boxes or similar (e.g. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005199557750.html) - there are a plethora of similar form factors with chips which are low power but also more than sufficient performance for a HTPC.

I have just got a Beelink SEi12 unit to use as our server. :)
i5-12450H, 500GB NVMe & 16GB RAM.
I also put in a 1TB 2.5" SSD that I had here doing nothing.

Dove Electronics are distributing these in NZ and they had an intro deal last month with Beelink so I picked it up for $400 + gst. :D

I also got one of these from Amazon: Amazon.com: Yottamaster 5 Bay 2.5 & 3.5 Inch SATA Hard Drive Enclosure, 6Gbps USB C HDD/SSD Enclosure with Fan, Up to 80TB(5x16TB) Direct Attached Storage (DAS) for Data Backup NAS Expansion [PS500C3] : Automotive

Wasn't supposed to arrive until the 29th but it got here on Monday. :)
I've moved my 2x 3TB & 2x 4TB hard drives into it, that I had in my old PC/server and there's a spare slot for a 5th drive.
So far all working great.

FYI I had those drives setup as two RAID1 mirrors in Windows 10 with Storage Spaces, attached by SATA to the mainboard.
They were picked up automatically on the new Windows 11 system and just carried on working as before, inside the DAS unit.

That's a stunning price. Any chance of a hookup?

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