I have a computer stuffed with tons of video and music. Off the top of my head it contains videos ranging from >30GB 1080i mpg and .ts files, 720P mpg and .ts files, XviD files of varying sizes (mostly DVD rips), some DivX (also mostly DVD rips), h.264/x.264/Nero Digital AVC files of resolutions as high as 720P (all use CABAC.. most are main profile there maybe 1 or 2 encoded in high profile). So along with the audio (FLAC, mp3, and AAC), again off the top of my head I have media in the following container formats: .ts, .mpg, .avi, .mp3, .m4a, .mp4. Also, I have a few DVD ISO's laying around.
I really, really don't want an HTPC in my TV room. I have no desire to have any PVR functions an HTPC may be able to perform or whatever. What I'm looking for is a box that can hook-up to a home theater system / HDTV and allow me to access and play the previously mentioned videos over a network.. canbe wireless g/n or 100/1000 ethernet... doesn't matter to me as long as it works. It seems like that is a tall order for an STB type of box but maybe there are boxes that one can somehow install additional codecs in order to play all of these media types?
Ideally, I picture a box with both ethernet and wireless options, an MCE interface or similar that makes browsing through available media easy, is a small form factor, doesn't make much if any audible noise, and has connections/ports for things like HDMI, SPDIF, component, composite, S-video, or some acceptable combination there of that can make the videos on a standard windows shared folder watchable. Is there such a device? Are the processing capabilities too do the h.264/x.264 and 1080i .mp and .ts files too much for anything but a true HTPC? Is there a way for the decoding to be done at the other end (the desktop) and have the video streamed raw over the network? I simply have no clue as to what types of devices are out there. Thanks in advance and I really apologize for my newbieness on the subject. I tried finding this info on my own but was either unable to understand what exactly certain devices did or became further confused.
I really, really don't want an HTPC in my TV room. I have no desire to have any PVR functions an HTPC may be able to perform or whatever. What I'm looking for is a box that can hook-up to a home theater system / HDTV and allow me to access and play the previously mentioned videos over a network.. canbe wireless g/n or 100/1000 ethernet... doesn't matter to me as long as it works. It seems like that is a tall order for an STB type of box but maybe there are boxes that one can somehow install additional codecs in order to play all of these media types?
Ideally, I picture a box with both ethernet and wireless options, an MCE interface or similar that makes browsing through available media easy, is a small form factor, doesn't make much if any audible noise, and has connections/ports for things like HDMI, SPDIF, component, composite, S-video, or some acceptable combination there of that can make the videos on a standard windows shared folder watchable. Is there such a device? Are the processing capabilities too do the h.264/x.264 and 1080i .mp and .ts files too much for anything but a true HTPC? Is there a way for the decoding to be done at the other end (the desktop) and have the video streamed raw over the network? I simply have no clue as to what types of devices are out there. Thanks in advance and I really apologize for my newbieness on the subject. I tried finding this info on my own but was either unable to understand what exactly certain devices did or became further confused.