Living Room PC & Router for WiFi

[corkman]

Hi All,

I want to get a living room PC i.e. a PC tower, connected directly to my HD TV with a HDMi cable. The purpose mainly for streaming live tv. I may occasionally download some things through u-torrent etc.

My question is, what spec PC should I get and is there anything that will enhance my viewing experience? I'm guessing I should look for a good a good wifi receiver (what spec would that be?). Do I need any graphics cards or anything like that? RAM, processor, etc.? I suppose it is effectively an "internet PC" with a HDMi output?

What version of windows?

On a separate note, I have a standard TRUE router, which I am guessing is useless.

1. Can you recommend a good router. The max. my building can get is the 8MB signal.

2. Would it make a difference if I connected the living room PC directly to the router with a LAN cable (I will still need wifi for other devices).

Many thanks in advance.

Lastly - where is the best place in downtown Bangkok to get this stuff (Paragon, MBK, etc. on BTS route - I hate going to Pantip coz of the traffic there)?

[AJBangkok]

Where to start with this one. The place to go would be fortune town which is not on the shy train but it is in the MRT 2 stops from Asoke.

You can also order pretty much anything on LAzada.

Next is that you could buy an android box like a minix x8 + and out of the box it will do the things that you mention. If you want you could upload a more user friendly version of KODI for your streaming and add an external storage drive to store bitstreams if you decide that you even need to store stuff any more. Cost will be around 5-6k

If you want to set up your own home theatre PC (HTPC) then the question is simply how much do you want to spend. You can buy a mini PC or a full size PC. I have an Intel i5 NUC mini computer running windows 8.1 with Intel graphics card wifi and a 240gb ssid. It's more power than I need for a htpc and the cost was around 30k but you can build something similar for 1/3 of that price. I wanted the mini PC and the highest spec kit so the price did not matter.

As far as using wifi or plugging in directly to the router. It you have a crappy router then It may affect streaming and quality but with Ethernet you will be bulletproof.

[AJBangkok]

Oh I forgot to mention you will need a keyboard and remote for your HTPC as well. Remotes kind of suck for the HTPC but I use a harmony ultimate remote and a Logitech k400 wireless keyboard.

If you go the android box wat then you get a remote with good functionality in the box and you can upgrade that remote to one with more bells and whistles for about 1000 baht give or take.

Edited July 11, 2015 by AJBangkok

[Chicog]

IF you don't want to be running cables everywhere, get a ChromeCast, which plugs in the back of the TV and will stream any audio or video to it over wifi (albeit up to 720p which is fine for me).

[RichCor]

The place to go would be fortune town which is not on the shy train <...>

Was that a Freudian keyboard slip?

Are you finding the riders on this particular train line more nervousness or timid in the company of strangers. Do you try to chat them up?

Sorry.

[AJBangkok]

Haha according to the wife my eyes are roving when on the sky train so probably

[corkman]

Where to start with this one. The place to go would be fortune town which is not on the shy train but it is in the MRT 2 stops from Asoke.

You can also order pretty much anything on LAzada.

Next is that you could buy an android box like a minix x8 + and out of the box it will do the things that you mention. If you want you could upload a more user friendly version of KODI for your streaming and add an external storage drive to store bitstreams if you decide that you even need to store stuff any more. Cost will be around 5-6k

If you want to set up your own home theatre PC (HTPC) then the question is simply how much do you want to spend. You can buy a mini PC or a full size PC. I have an Intel i5 NUC mini computer running windows 8.1 with Intel graphics card wifi and a 240gb ssid. It's more power than I need for a htpc and the cost was around 30k but you can build something similar for 1/3 of that price. I wanted the mini PC and the highest spec kit so the price did not matter.

As far as using wifi or plugging in directly to the router. It you have a crappy router then It may affect streaming and quality but with Ethernet you will be bulletproof.

This "minix x8 +" thing sounds ideal. A lot less messing around. I'm guessing that with a good router and this thing then I will be good to go. It can be bought at Fortune I presume?

Many thanks.

[NeverSure]

I'm lost. I've never set one of these up. Why would he need another router? Wifi is in the building with the one he has?? Whassup?

What does wifi have to do with this at all as in possible router> ethernet> computer> TV? Wifi only if wanted?

His computer does the streaming and sends it to the TV via the cable(s). Right? What's wrong with the router he has?

Do only certain routers stream video to TV? I thought it was computer> TV via hdmi or RCA/VGA ???? He's talking about wired to TV.

What does he do with the router from TRUE that is enabled by TRUE? Or is that just a modem for authorizing?

I'm not arguing because I don't know but I'd like to. A new router??

Cheers

Edited July 11, 2015 by NeverSure

[IMHO]

If you just want to stream internet TV, I can vouch for the Intel Compute Stick - it runs Kodi perfect:

[Chicog]

Why pay $168 for something when a $40 Amazon Fire TV Stick will do the same thing?

[casualbiker]

There are numerous mini PC's on the market from about 8,000b up.. Look at http://www.advice.co.th/ or Jib computer or banana computer. These can all run Windows 8-10.

[casualbiker]

https://www.jib.co.th/web/index.php/product/list_product/1/911/0/

[corkman]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I've got to confess that I am a bit of a dummy when it comes to IT Tech so I seek the easy reliable option.

In this case, that means that the "minix x8" sounds like a good plug and play type option. I can just plug it into my TV, it comes with a remote, it will connect to my wifi, and it is all pretty straight forward. Then I can log onto things on the internet on my tv the same as I would on my Samsung phone. But I won't be using this to browse the internet - just streaming TV etc. So I unplug the HDMi cable that I currently connect with my laptop, and plug the minix 8x into the same slot - and that's it. Done?

Another question - concerning routers. So I did the speed test ping thingy. TRUE tell my by broadband is 8MB. Speedtest.net says my connection (over wireless wifi) is 7.98 download / 0.51 upload. So I guess that means its working pretty well and no need for a new or better router. Right?

[AJBangkok]

Yes it's pretty much plug and play but you are better to update your minix box with Kodi from tvaddons.com - the tvmc version there is fully loaded with everything you need for happy streaming. Once you update it then the the best addon to use for TV shows and movies will be genisis. Just search for your favorite tv show and add it to your favorites if you like.

There is a bit of a learning curve with KODI and the biggest one will be just getting familiar with the name of streams that work best with your connection. Once your set up you can come back here and ask what streamers work best. For example thevideome is one that always works for me.

[AJBangkok]

If you just want to stream internet TV, I can vouch for the Intel Compute Stick - it runs Kodi perfect:

I saw these recently and thought "oh new toy" I gotta get one.

Do they connect by HDMI cable and what kind of remote/keyboard do you use.

I see they are windiws 8.1 but how is the picture quality and can you stream at 5.1 or 7.1

Edited July 15, 2015 by AJBangkok

[IMHO]

If you just want to stream internet TV, I can vouch for the Intel Compute Stick - it runs Kodi perfect:

I saw these recently and thought "oh new toy" I gotta get one.

Do they connect by HDMI cable and what kind of remote/keyboard do you use.

I see they are windiws 8.1 but how is the picture quality and can you stream at 5.1 or 7.1

They plug directly into the HDMI port on the display, but are powered by a separate USB cable/wall wart. PQ is everything you'd expect from a Windows PC running at 1080P. As for surround, yes, it can - but that's also up to the player software and source material, of course.

I just use a bluetooth keyboard with touchpad - works fine.

Edited July 15, 2015 by IMHO

[IMHO]

Why pay $168 for something when a $40 Amazon Fire TV Stick will do the same thing?

Depends what "the same thing is" - if just running Kodi, why pay $40 for a FireTV stick when a $25 Raspberry Pi will do the same thing?

[MaeJoMTB]

The router your BB supplier gives you will work as well as anything else you could buy.

Lowest spec PC or dual core device will also work perfectly.

MCTV from tvaddons is the only program you need to load for your streaming Tv.

[Chicog]

Why pay $168 for something when a $40 Amazon Fire TV Stick will do the same thing?

Depends what "the same thing is" - if just running Kodi, why pay $40 for a FireTV stick when a $25 Raspberry Pi will do the same thing?

Post me a link to a $25 Pi with an HDMI cable and a remote control will you?

And if you can find one that can be powered from the TV's USB port, that would be grand.

I'm all ears.

[corkman]

All,

A different but related question.

I am going to get a new TV for my living room, and move my current TV to the bedroom complete with Android TV plug in thingy.

For the new TV, I am wondering what is best. Do I buy a Samsung Smart TV, or get the equivalent non-smart (dumb?) TV and spend the difference on a good plug-in device?Probably going to get something about 48". I'm really only going to use this for watching TV through the internet (I gave up with True - crap choice of programs). A couple of thousand baht either way is not going to sway my choice on this, but equally I'm going to throw away money "just because" for feature I don't need.

Thanks.

PS. I hate "waiting" for things to start up and load. I'd rather something that I press a button and it's on in a few seconds..... or as close to that as possible.

Edited July 31, 2015 by corkman