HTPC & Media Server help

[Murnz]

Hi all,
I am fairly new to this so any help would be appreciated. If this is in the wrong forum would a mod please move it to the correct one.


My questions are:

1. would I benefit from having a HTPC and streaming media server?
2. If I would benefit, what sort of HTPC and streaming media server would I be looking at i.e parts etc.?
3. How would they all be connected through my home network etc?
4. What sort of software would I need to run this?

My current situation:

I have my gaming PC which is connected to my router (technicolor TG582N), which I use to back-up my DVDs/ Blu-Ray’s etc. which I then save onto the HDDs. I have my PS3 also connected to my router. I would then use my PS3 to playback the content onto my TV and the software on my gaming PC is PS3 Media Server which is handling the transcoding etc.

My audio is done via a Yamaha AV-Receiver (RX-v595) which is connected to the TV (Panasonic Viera - bought within last 1.5 years think its a 50" or 60" TV).

Ideally I would like to not keep using my gaming PC for this, and would prefer to have some sort of system setup whereby I can have my movies backed up on a ‘server’ as such, and I can then view them on my TV (24/7 or basically on demand whenever need be). The video format is mainly in 720p and 1080p – and I have found that the PS3 does upscale some older quality content.

Please note: I do not intend to game on this system, as I currently have my gaming PC, PS3 and I also have a tivo system.

What are my current options as per my questions outlined above?

 

[hillmanant]

I just went through your same situation I tried PS3 Media Server its cool but not if you want to watch a movie in the other room while someone is gaming on the pc the server is pulling from. Here is my thread and build that I decided on for a HTPC/Media Server it might help you. You would have to add a dvd drive if you want the server to do the ripping but other than that the build should apply.