Any of you have a PC connected to a TV?

RallyJon · 10:19 AM

I downloaded the Monte Carlo WRC coverage off the web (thanks for nuthin' Speed TV!

) last week. It's in several large AVI files using the DIVX codec. They play fine on my desktop, but I'd rather watch them down in the family room on the TV.

Thinking about the future, with all the video content available on-line, it seems to make sense to be able to play various formats of video (RealMedia, Windows Media, DIVX, etc) on the big TV rather than at my desk.

The obvious solution is to attach a PC to one of the TVs video inputs. But then there is no remote control for pause, rewind, etc.

Is there some sort of video appliance that can play all the major (and minor) video formats? Kind of like TIVO, but with more flexibility.

Another solution would be to have a DVD player that could read various format video files from a data DVD. My car CD player can read MP3s off a data CD, why not my DVD player reading a Quicktime file off a data DVD?

Anyone doing something like this?

legion · 01-30-2006, 10:27 AM

My video card has a S-video output on it, but I haven't tried using it.

A friend of mine has a computer hooked up to his entertainment system. I know he has something in one of the drive bays that lets him use a remote with the system. I'm not sure how expensive or difficult to use this is.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

I built a computer (www.mythtv.com) to record shows and whatnot, and it plays back through the TV's s-video input and a modest 5.1 setup. It's pretty easy to ssh in and move videos from one machine to another, etc. It plays DVDs, can record 2 channels at once, can record one while watching another, etc. Works just like a Tivo. I've spent $350 on it, but am about to buy some bigger hard drives.

Also, my motherboard has a place for an ir receiver, and the way I understand it, almost any remote will work with it. I just keep a keyboard around, but sometime I might get a remote.

John Rogers · 01-30-2006, 12:23 PM

I have a computer with the ATI Rage video card that has the HDTV output jacks and feed our digital cable and satelitte boxes through it to the Mitsu HD TV. I don't usually record much TV but with ATI you can decide on the format and # lines resolution and a 30 minute show ends up about about 4 or 5GB in DVD quality which looks really good on a big screen.

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

I have a PC with the Windows Home Media program. I run my cable to the PC and then connect the PC to the TV. It allows me to watch any video on either my PC or TV, record programs, stop, stop and rewind. Good visual and sound quality for video and TV. I just wish the normal computer programs were on the TV monitor.

campbellcj · 01-30-2006, 10:36 PM

Our plasma has a VGA input but I haven't tried it...different room from the PC's. I usually go the other way -- i.e. DirecTV receiver into an ATI card in the PC and also a networked DirecTivo box. Same end result i.e. I can watch TV and surf the web (or work) simultaneously. Although this is 'only' a 21" flatscreen vs a big 'un.

evren · 01-31-2006, 01:50 AM

I have an old laptop connected to the tv for divx and other movies. to access the controls just use windows remote desktop. works well. toying with the idea of getting something dedicated like an asus digimatrix or silverstone case. Haven't tried mythtv, but i've heard good things. check out this thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=637112

RallyJon · 01-31-2006, 05:25 AM

Thanks, guys. Evren, there's a whole forum over there on this topic!

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

That ASUS DIGIMatrix is pretty cool, too. I'm thinking a PC in a horizontal case might be my best solution for now. I bet in 2-3 years, this category will be much larger.