Overclock.net › Forums › Specialty Builds › HTPC › Best way to store DVDs digitally and watch on my TV?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Best way to store DVDs digitally and watch on my TV?

post #1 of 13
Thread Starter 
My wife has tasked me with figuring out the best way for her to watch our DVD collection without her having to deal with finding the DVD and putting it in the player. She's gotten used to the "on demand" nature of Netflix and Hulu streaming on our Xbox 360.

So...I turn to the OCN crew for advice...

I already have at my disposal the following:
  • Windows Home Server (soon to be upgraded to WHS 2011)
  • Xbox 360
  • TiVo HD
  • Network with a 1000mbps port next to my TV (currently connected to TiVo but can connect it to whatever or add a hub)

And here are the requirements:
  • Very easy to install/use/maintain (I don't have much time these days - I've been sitting on my WHS 2011 disc for 3-4 months now)
  • Allows fast forward & rewind of movies. My wife was disappointed to find that she couldn't fast foward or rewind a movie she had bought online, downloaded to our WHS, and streamed over Xbox360 media extender.
  • Budget is $500-600 if we need new gear. Also, if there's something coming on the horizon in the next ~6 months, we're willing to wait for the right solution.
  • If I have to plug something into HDMI, I'll need a creative solution to plug 4 devices into 3 ports. In other words, the 3 HDMI ports I have on my TV are already full.


Does anyone have any recommendations?
     
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q9450 @ 3.0 Gigabyte GA-P45-UD3P Evga 9800GTX+ 800/1943/1200 2x2GB OCZ 1066 LV 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
Vertex 2 40gb + 750gb Seagate 7200.10 Lite-On 24x DVD+-RW Windows 7 x64 LG 22" 1680x1050 
PowerCase
Corsair HX520w modular Coolermaster CM-690 
CPUMotherboardRAMHard Drive
Sempron LE-1250 Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair Ballistix 1066 2x750GB Western Digital RE2 Green power 
OSPowerCase
Windows Home Server w/ PP3 Ultra 400w modular Antec 300 
  hide details  
Reply
     
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q9450 @ 3.0 Gigabyte GA-P45-UD3P Evga 9800GTX+ 800/1943/1200 2x2GB OCZ 1066 LV 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
Vertex 2 40gb + 750gb Seagate 7200.10 Lite-On 24x DVD+-RW Windows 7 x64 LG 22" 1680x1050 
PowerCase
Corsair HX520w modular Coolermaster CM-690 
CPUMotherboardRAMHard Drive
Sempron LE-1250 Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair Ballistix 1066 2x750GB Western Digital RE2 Green power 
OSPowerCase
Windows Home Server w/ PP3 Ultra 400w modular Antec 300 
  hide details  
Reply
post #2 of 13
Handbrake all the DVDs to Xbox preset then put them all on a 2tb external and plug that into the 360, it will have to have an Internet connection to play the files but the result will have pause and rewind etc.
     
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
3930k ASrock extreme6 Sapphire Dual-X OC 7970 Gskill Ares @2133 
Hard DriveCoolingOSMonitor
Western Digital green 2TB Rasa 750 Rs 240 Win7 ultimate x64 2x Acer 1080p 21.5" monitors 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Razer Lycosa Raidmax 730W modular Rosewell Armor Razer Naga 
Other
Agility 3 120Gb x2 in raid 0 
CPUGraphicsRAMHard Drive
2760qm 6770m 4gb ECC 1333 750gb 5400rpm 
Optical DriveOSMonitor
Apple super multi Mac OS X and Window 7 17" 1920x1440 
  hide details  
Reply
     
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
3930k ASrock extreme6 Sapphire Dual-X OC 7970 Gskill Ares @2133 
Hard DriveCoolingOSMonitor
Western Digital green 2TB Rasa 750 Rs 240 Win7 ultimate x64 2x Acer 1080p 21.5" monitors 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Razer Lycosa Raidmax 730W modular Rosewell Armor Razer Naga 
Other
Agility 3 120Gb x2 in raid 0 
CPUGraphicsRAMHard Drive
2760qm 6770m 4gb ECC 1333 750gb 5400rpm 
Optical DriveOSMonitor
Apple super multi Mac OS X and Window 7 17" 1920x1440 
  hide details  
Reply
post #3 of 13
Agreed. But a network drive might make it easier to add/manage the files.
2500k
(10 items)
 
  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsHard Drive
i5-2500k asus p8p67 Powercolor PCS+ HD 6870 Mushkin Chronos MX 120GB 
CoolingOSMonitorPower
Asetek 240mm Radiator Win 7 3x Dell Ultrasharp U2312HM 850W 
CaseMouse
Xion Predator 970 logitech MX 
  hide details  
Reply
2500k
(10 items)
 
  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsHard Drive
i5-2500k asus p8p67 Powercolor PCS+ HD 6870 Mushkin Chronos MX 120GB 
CoolingOSMonitorPower
Asetek 240mm Radiator Win 7 3x Dell Ultrasharp U2312HM 850W 
CaseMouse
Xion Predator 970 logitech MX 
  hide details  
Reply
post #4 of 13
Thread Starter 
Thanks guys!

Curious why playing the files will require an internet connection...and does a Handbrake-generated file play in something other than the Windows Media Center Extender?

Any idea on how many standard length movies I could fit on 2TB? We have a pretty large DVD collection between movies and TV shows.
     
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q9450 @ 3.0 Gigabyte GA-P45-UD3P Evga 9800GTX+ 800/1943/1200 2x2GB OCZ 1066 LV 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
Vertex 2 40gb + 750gb Seagate 7200.10 Lite-On 24x DVD+-RW Windows 7 x64 LG 22" 1680x1050 
PowerCase
Corsair HX520w modular Coolermaster CM-690 
CPUMotherboardRAMHard Drive
Sempron LE-1250 Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair Ballistix 1066 2x750GB Western Digital RE2 Green power 
OSPowerCase
Windows Home Server w/ PP3 Ultra 400w modular Antec 300 
  hide details  
Reply
     
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q9450 @ 3.0 Gigabyte GA-P45-UD3P Evga 9800GTX+ 800/1943/1200 2x2GB OCZ 1066 LV 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
Vertex 2 40gb + 750gb Seagate 7200.10 Lite-On 24x DVD+-RW Windows 7 x64 LG 22" 1680x1050 
PowerCase
Corsair HX520w modular Coolermaster CM-690 
CPUMotherboardRAMHard Drive
Sempron LE-1250 Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair Ballistix 1066 2x750GB Western Digital RE2 Green power 
OSPowerCase
Windows Home Server w/ PP3 Ultra 400w modular Antec 300 
  hide details  
Reply
post #5 of 13
For number of movies, it depends on how you rip them and what size.
I use DVDShrink to rip mine to .iso and shrink them to around 2.5 gigs each. Still have decent quality on a 1080p display IMO and don't take up a ton of space.
I have them stored on my home server (WHS 2011) and stream to every computer in the house (living room, bedroom, kids room, sig rig and garage pc) using WMC and the Mymovies plug in (I don't use the server one, just on each computer). Not sure how .iso playback would work on the xbox.
'Pooter
(15 items)
 
For Sale: AM2 3600+ x2
$25 (USD)
 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Phenom II 830 x4 Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H MSI GTX 460 Hawk 12 gigs (2x2 and 2x4) Corsair DDR3 1600 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOptical DriveCooling
Samsung  Samsung DVD-RW  Samsung DVD-RW  Cooler Master Hyper 212+ 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows 7 Pro x64 ASUS VH242H 23.6" Logitech MX 3200 Wireless Antec Neo Eco 620 
CaseMouseOther
Antec P-180 Mini Logitech MX 3200 Wireless Crucial m4 128  
  hide details  
Reply
'Pooter
(15 items)
 
For Sale: AM2 3600+ x2
$25 (USD)
 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Phenom II 830 x4 Gigabyte GA-880GM-D2H MSI GTX 460 Hawk 12 gigs (2x2 and 2x4) Corsair DDR3 1600 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOptical DriveCooling
Samsung  Samsung DVD-RW  Samsung DVD-RW  Cooler Master Hyper 212+ 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows 7 Pro x64 ASUS VH242H 23.6" Logitech MX 3200 Wireless Antec Neo Eco 620 
CaseMouseOther
Antec P-180 Mini Logitech MX 3200 Wireless Crucial m4 128  
  hide details  
Reply
post #6 of 13
I personally handbrake my movies and store them on a 320 gig drive in a external dock.

Same premise as a USB thumb drive but can hold a lot
Finally Ivy
(14 items)
 
Old Skool Quad
(16 items)
 
 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Intel 3570K 4.5 ghz @ 1.32v Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD4H MSI 7950 Twin Frozr 1100/1500 @ 1.188 G.Skill SNiper Gaming Series 16 gb (2x8gb) 1866mhz 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
Samsung 840 250 Samsung F3 1TB x 2 WD 640 AAKS x 2 LIte-On 20X DVDRW 
CoolingOSMonitorPower
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus Windows 7 Pro x64 HP w237ld 23" 1080P OCZ ModXStream 600 watt 
CaseMouse
Cooler Master HAF 912 Logitech G400 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q6600 SLACR - 3.2 ghz @ 1.375vv Asus P5B Deluxe/WiFi ATI HD 5870 G.Skill PQ 2x2 800 mhz 
RAMHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
G.Skill PK 2x1 800 mhz WD 1 TB AAKX LITE-ON 20X DVD±R 12X DVDRAM Tuniq Tower 120 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Win7 x64 Professional Vizio 37" HDTV LiteOn SK-9020 Thermaltake TR2 T-500 
CaseMouseMouse PadAudio
Apex ATX Full Tower Logitech M100 generic ADI AD1988B 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
T4200 2ghz Wistron 3612 Intel GMA X4500HD 2+1 gig 800 mhz 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
WD 500 gig BEVT 24x DVDRW Litescribe Win 7 x64 professional 16" 
CaseMouse
HP G60-230US Microsoft Wireless 3000 
  hide details  
Reply
Finally Ivy
(14 items)
 
Old Skool Quad
(16 items)
 
 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Intel 3570K 4.5 ghz @ 1.32v Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD4H MSI 7950 Twin Frozr 1100/1500 @ 1.188 G.Skill SNiper Gaming Series 16 gb (2x8gb) 1866mhz 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
Samsung 840 250 Samsung F3 1TB x 2 WD 640 AAKS x 2 LIte-On 20X DVDRW 
CoolingOSMonitorPower
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus Windows 7 Pro x64 HP w237ld 23" 1080P OCZ ModXStream 600 watt 
CaseMouse
Cooler Master HAF 912 Logitech G400 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q6600 SLACR - 3.2 ghz @ 1.375vv Asus P5B Deluxe/WiFi ATI HD 5870 G.Skill PQ 2x2 800 mhz 
RAMHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
G.Skill PK 2x1 800 mhz WD 1 TB AAKX LITE-ON 20X DVD±R 12X DVDRAM Tuniq Tower 120 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Win7 x64 Professional Vizio 37" HDTV LiteOn SK-9020 Thermaltake TR2 T-500 
CaseMouseMouse PadAudio
Apex ATX Full Tower Logitech M100 generic ADI AD1988B 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
T4200 2ghz Wistron 3612 Intel GMA X4500HD 2+1 gig 800 mhz 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
WD 500 gig BEVT 24x DVDRW Litescribe Win 7 x64 professional 16" 
CaseMouse
HP G60-230US Microsoft Wireless 3000 
  hide details  
Reply
post #7 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by e_dogg View Post

Thanks guys!
Curious why playing the files will require an internet connection...and does a Handbrake-generated file play in something other than the Windows Media Center Extender?
Any idea on how many standard length movies I could fit on 2TB? We have a pretty large DVD collection between movies and TV shows.

The files will play off the Xbox 360 video player hence the External drive hooked directly to the 360, it needs an internet connection due to microsoft requiring the xbox to have to have an internet connection to play avi files.
     
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
3930k ASrock extreme6 Sapphire Dual-X OC 7970 Gskill Ares @2133 
Hard DriveCoolingOSMonitor
Western Digital green 2TB Rasa 750 Rs 240 Win7 ultimate x64 2x Acer 1080p 21.5" monitors 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Razer Lycosa Raidmax 730W modular Rosewell Armor Razer Naga 
Other
Agility 3 120Gb x2 in raid 0 
CPUGraphicsRAMHard Drive
2760qm 6770m 4gb ECC 1333 750gb 5400rpm 
Optical DriveOSMonitor
Apple super multi Mac OS X and Window 7 17" 1920x1440 
  hide details  
Reply
     
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
3930k ASrock extreme6 Sapphire Dual-X OC 7970 Gskill Ares @2133 
Hard DriveCoolingOSMonitor
Western Digital green 2TB Rasa 750 Rs 240 Win7 ultimate x64 2x Acer 1080p 21.5" monitors 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Razer Lycosa Raidmax 730W modular Rosewell Armor Razer Naga 
Other
Agility 3 120Gb x2 in raid 0 
CPUGraphicsRAMHard Drive
2760qm 6770m 4gb ECC 1333 750gb 5400rpm 
Optical DriveOSMonitor
Apple super multi Mac OS X and Window 7 17" 1920x1440 
  hide details  
Reply
post #8 of 13
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the help, guys! I think I might give this a test run.
     
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q9450 @ 3.0 Gigabyte GA-P45-UD3P Evga 9800GTX+ 800/1943/1200 2x2GB OCZ 1066 LV 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
Vertex 2 40gb + 750gb Seagate 7200.10 Lite-On 24x DVD+-RW Windows 7 x64 LG 22" 1680x1050 
PowerCase
Corsair HX520w modular Coolermaster CM-690 
CPUMotherboardRAMHard Drive
Sempron LE-1250 Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair Ballistix 1066 2x750GB Western Digital RE2 Green power 
OSPowerCase
Windows Home Server w/ PP3 Ultra 400w modular Antec 300 
  hide details  
Reply
     
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q9450 @ 3.0 Gigabyte GA-P45-UD3P Evga 9800GTX+ 800/1943/1200 2x2GB OCZ 1066 LV 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
Vertex 2 40gb + 750gb Seagate 7200.10 Lite-On 24x DVD+-RW Windows 7 x64 LG 22" 1680x1050 
PowerCase
Corsair HX520w modular Coolermaster CM-690 
CPUMotherboardRAMHard Drive
Sempron LE-1250 Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair Ballistix 1066 2x750GB Western Digital RE2 Green power 
OSPowerCase
Windows Home Server w/ PP3 Ultra 400w modular Antec 300 
  hide details  
Reply
post #9 of 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by UpgradeSolution View Post

it needs an internet connection due to microsoft requiring the xbox to have to have an internet connection to play avi files.


I just unplugged my wifi adapter and was still able to play an .avi off a usb stick. Just pressed the home button and went to video player. Wasn't even in a profile.
2500k
(10 items)
 
  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsHard Drive
i5-2500k asus p8p67 Powercolor PCS+ HD 6870 Mushkin Chronos MX 120GB 
CoolingOSMonitorPower
Asetek 240mm Radiator Win 7 3x Dell Ultrasharp U2312HM 850W 
CaseMouse
Xion Predator 970 logitech MX 
  hide details  
Reply
2500k
(10 items)
 
  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsHard Drive
i5-2500k asus p8p67 Powercolor PCS+ HD 6870 Mushkin Chronos MX 120GB 
CoolingOSMonitorPower
Asetek 240mm Radiator Win 7 3x Dell Ultrasharp U2312HM 850W 
CaseMouse
Xion Predator 970 logitech MX 
  hide details  
Reply
post #10 of 13
The wifi adapter only has to be used once to install the codec or give permission for the 360 to play the file type. After that internet no longer required
Finally Ivy
(14 items)
 
Old Skool Quad
(16 items)
 
 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Intel 3570K 4.5 ghz @ 1.32v Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD4H MSI 7950 Twin Frozr 1100/1500 @ 1.188 G.Skill SNiper Gaming Series 16 gb (2x8gb) 1866mhz 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
Samsung 840 250 Samsung F3 1TB x 2 WD 640 AAKS x 2 LIte-On 20X DVDRW 
CoolingOSMonitorPower
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus Windows 7 Pro x64 HP w237ld 23" 1080P OCZ ModXStream 600 watt 
CaseMouse
Cooler Master HAF 912 Logitech G400 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q6600 SLACR - 3.2 ghz @ 1.375vv Asus P5B Deluxe/WiFi ATI HD 5870 G.Skill PQ 2x2 800 mhz 
RAMHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
G.Skill PK 2x1 800 mhz WD 1 TB AAKX LITE-ON 20X DVD±R 12X DVDRAM Tuniq Tower 120 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Win7 x64 Professional Vizio 37" HDTV LiteOn SK-9020 Thermaltake TR2 T-500 
CaseMouseMouse PadAudio
Apex ATX Full Tower Logitech M100 generic ADI AD1988B 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
T4200 2ghz Wistron 3612 Intel GMA X4500HD 2+1 gig 800 mhz 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
WD 500 gig BEVT 24x DVDRW Litescribe Win 7 x64 professional 16" 
CaseMouse
HP G60-230US Microsoft Wireless 3000 
  hide details  
Reply
Finally Ivy
(14 items)
 
Old Skool Quad
(16 items)
 
 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Intel 3570K 4.5 ghz @ 1.32v Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD4H MSI 7950 Twin Frozr 1100/1500 @ 1.188 G.Skill SNiper Gaming Series 16 gb (2x8gb) 1866mhz 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
Samsung 840 250 Samsung F3 1TB x 2 WD 640 AAKS x 2 LIte-On 20X DVDRW 
CoolingOSMonitorPower
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus Windows 7 Pro x64 HP w237ld 23" 1080P OCZ ModXStream 600 watt 
CaseMouse
Cooler Master HAF 912 Logitech G400 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q6600 SLACR - 3.2 ghz @ 1.375vv Asus P5B Deluxe/WiFi ATI HD 5870 G.Skill PQ 2x2 800 mhz 
RAMHard DriveOptical DriveCooling
G.Skill PK 2x1 800 mhz WD 1 TB AAKX LITE-ON 20X DVD±R 12X DVDRAM Tuniq Tower 120 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Win7 x64 Professional Vizio 37" HDTV LiteOn SK-9020 Thermaltake TR2 T-500 
CaseMouseMouse PadAudio
Apex ATX Full Tower Logitech M100 generic ADI AD1988B 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
T4200 2ghz Wistron 3612 Intel GMA X4500HD 2+1 gig 800 mhz 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
WD 500 gig BEVT 24x DVDRW Litescribe Win 7 x64 professional 16" 
CaseMouse
HP G60-230US Microsoft Wireless 3000 
  hide details  
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: HTPC
Overclock.net › Forums › Specialty Builds › HTPC › Best way to store DVDs digitally and watch on my TV?