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multi talented pc

M

mixer

n00b
Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
4
I want to build a PC that can simultaneously
1. Browse with audio from a monitor with speakers (desktop pc)
2. output audio to an amp and speakers (hi-fi pc)
3. stream audio and video to home theater from both blue-ray and netflix (htpc)

with independent audio and video

Is this possible?
 
Ima confuzzeld.

Haven't computers been able to do this for at least 10 years?
 
Do I need seperate sound cards and video cards to do these tasks at the same time? If so, how do you direct sources to use dedicated hardware?
 
mixer said:
I want to build a PC that can simultaneously
1. Browse with audio from a monitor with speakers (desktop pc)
2. output audio to an amp and speakers (hi-fi pc)
3. stream audio and video to home theater from both blue-ray and netflix (htpc)
Click to expand...

1)Well, this you can do with anything.

2)If you want different audio from the main PC, then you need a different sound card, and set that specific application to output sound using the separate sound card. I myself have my X-Fi for regular sound in 5.1, but my Realtek onboard for Ventrilo in Stereo. They have independent sound.

3)Yes, you can stream, but I don't think there's anything out right now that will stream blu-ray video. It already takes infinite hours to encode it, let alone try to stream it in real time. You have to encode that first into a more manageable format, and then stream it that way. I myself stream MP3s to my PS3 using WMP 11, while I leave the PC doing something else.

So yeah, it is possible to do everything at the same time. You just need to have a fast PC to be able to handle it all.

Hope that helps, and anyone correct me if they think I made a mistake.
 
mixer said:
Do I need seperate sound cards and video cards to do these tasks at the same time? If so, how do you direct sources to use dedicated hardware?
Click to expand...
Ok now, you never mentioned you wanted different video too. However, you can use a single video card to have video for both the main Pc, and your home theater LCD. All you need is a modern video card with dual DVI ports. One connected to your LCD, and one to your regular PC. All you need to do is use it in extended mode. It will mix the 2 displays, and you can carry a window from one window to the other. I think the max combined resolution you can have is 2560x1600 per video card if I'm not mistaken. Just drag you player, like WPM 11, and put it in the screen you want, and use the remaining screen to do whatever you want.

I have done this myself in the past. In one screen my family will watch movies, while I will play Solitary and browse the web in the other screen. Just try not to move the mouse over, or it will enter the second screen. You can maximize windows as normal, as long as all 4 corner remain in the same screen. If one corner enter the second screen, then it will maximize taking both screen. So it's not an issue at all if you are careful.
 
A. Which music players allow you to dedicate audio card without reverting to the default every time you restart?

B. Instead of using one video card in extended mode, could I use two video cards similar to audio? With dedicated cards?

C. I am concerned that it will be too difficult to manage extended video and possibly fighting the audio along the way. Would all this be much easier if I just had two boxes?
 
mixer said:
A. Which music players allow you to dedicate audio card without reverting to the default every time you restart?
Click to expand...
I did a quick check on my own PC, and seems like VLC and WMP 11 allow you to pick the sound card to use. I tried PowerDVD 7.3 Ultra, but I didn't find the option. Maybe the new version 9 has it, who knows. Here are some screenshots:

vlc-audio.jpg

(VLC v0.9.8a)

wmp11-audio.jpg

(Windows Media Player 11)

mixer said:
B. Instead of using one video card in extended mode, could I use two video cards similar to audio? With dedicated cards?
Click to expand...
Well, video seems to be more difficult since there's things that need to be bound to the video, like mouse, and the OS. However, there seems to be things that facilitate this now days. Here are some screenshots:

vlc-video.jpg

(VLC v0.9.8a)

pdvd-video.jpg

(PowerDVD 7.3 Ultra)

mixer said:
C. I am concerned that it will be too difficult to manage extended video and possibly fighting the audio along the way. Would all this be much easier if I just had two boxes?
Click to expand...
Well, I wanted to add that VLC has an option called "Always on Top" which will display video over any window that you currently have, or might accidentally move afterward. But seems letter B cover that pretty well anyways.

As far as convenience, that is really up to you. Do you even have the room for several computers and stuff, or even the money for it? I'm sure if you dedecate a little bit of your time to set everything up, it will work like a dream later on. Besides, having everything running from the same PC allows you easier upgrades down the road, and saves you money for more important stuff, like a bigger Tv or whatever.

Ok man, I surely hope that helps you, and anyone else that sees this. I really took my time to take the screenshots and upload them, because [H] has been awesome to me many times in the past.
 
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