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Yesterday whereas hanging out in my attic amongst all of the outdated stuff I come throughout my outdated PC. This laptop has been laying there for the final for at the least a pair years. Considering of discarding it correctly I began trying to find articles on disposal on the web. Whereas trying to find couple of minutes I discovered a website suggesting the thought of changing an outdated PC right into a media server. Having some bucks to spare and a few free time on my arms I made a decision to go for it.
Simply What’s a Media Server?
Very first thing first I’m positive a few of you might be questioning like I initially was, simply what’s a Media Server. A Media Server is a PC system designed to obtain and file TV packages, play again video and deal with the digital music and picture libraries obtainable in its storage by way of a Tv unit related to it. The primary parts are a sturdy storage system with ample exhausting drive house and processing energy and Random Entry Reminiscence adequate sufficient to ship seamless playback of HD content material.
1. Examine the efficiency of your outdated computer:
Analyzing the outdated PC, I found out that it has a 2.4 GHz Pentium IV processor with 256 MB of RAM. Whereas checking the minimal specs I discovered that it might wrestle when attempting to play the HD 1080 movies so I made a decision to go for a RAM improve to 1 GB and stick with the identical processor as a way to avoid wasting bucks in case I additionally wanted to improve the exhausting drive.
2. Examine storage; look at exhausting drive capability and pace:
The storage capability of the outdated PC is about 40 GB IDE drive; which is far much less as in comparison with the newest media servers. Typically for a media server it’s best to have a capability of 500gb to have sufficient house to carry the equal of 100s of DVDs. Velocity of the exhausting drives can be a consideration. Fortunately each of those issues might be corrected with a raid exhausting drive array.
RAID vs Single Laborious drive:
The RAID array consists of multiple exhausting drives embedded as a single unit for prime capability and pace than the only exhausting drive with an exterior backup. Relying on how the RAID array is configured you too can configure the array for again up safety. That is an additional benefit as no information could be misplaced within the occasion of a tough drive crash.
3. Take into consideration buying a Digital TV tuner Card:
A digital TV tuner card is a fundamental part of media server used to obtain and file video content material from the native cable or satellite tv for pc system to the native exhausting drive. This card may be very helpful as it’ll permit to enter TV into your PC and file your favourite reveals. With a number of firms charging charges as excessive $6 per DVR field per thirty days, the one time value of a TV tuner card may prevent fairly a bit of cash in the long term.
4. Selecting software program for you media server:
Home windows XP Media Heart Version is a good selection of software program for a media server; having a phenomenal graphic interface and simple configuration, it’s nonetheless a bit costly. In case you are strapped for money Linux based mostly working programs may be a good selection as they’re completely free and have Fantasy TV software program for media server objective; however they are often exhausting to configure.
5. Connecting Server to the TV:
The final step concerned on this undertaking is establishing a connection between the PC and the TV. You now must make the choice on whether or not to attach the media server by way of a wired or wi-fi connection. Wi-fi programs might be extra handy and can assist you to entry your media server from all through your home. Moreover when it comes to the location of the wi-fi programs the server might be hidden out of view. The downside to wi-fi programs is that they are often costly. If solely a single TV unit is current then merely operating a wire from the server to the TV could also be higher each when it comes to value and pace of setup.
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Supply by Tyler P Wells
