

- #Build a linux media center pc how to#
- #Build a linux media center pc install#
- #Build a linux media center pc software#
- #Build a linux media center pc Pc#
Your old laptop or desktop can probably top that easily, though it may lag behind top-flight streaming boxes in other areas, particularly in terms of 4K-readiness. Still, it pays to boot the thing up and take a look at its specs.Īs a frame of reference, a 4K Roku TV has a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM.
#Build a linux media center pc Pc#
If your PC isn't truly a stone-age machine, it's probably more than up to the task of serving as your media center. Let’s tackle your big HTPC project step by step! Check Those Specs

#Build a linux media center pc how to#
Here's everything you need to know about how to make a media center PC out of your current PC. Of course, there are a few tweaks you'll want to make to your PC before it's ready to serve as your HTPC. And HTPCs are also perfect for playing your local music and video files. It doesn't take that much firepower under the hood for a PC to do great work streaming Netflix, HBO Max, Sling TV, and more. If you have an old computer (or a new one, for that matter), then you have the makings of a media center PC - also known as a home theater personal computer (HTPC). That includes plenty of consumer-facing streaming boxes and platforms like Roku and Fire TV but it also includes more creative DIY solutions - which is why we're here to show you how to convert your PC to a media center. Here at, we're big fans of anything that lets us watch our favorite movies, TV shows, and more without cable. It goes a step further and adds support for RSS feeds, built-in Daemon tools (to create virtual drives) and offers various preloaded system utilities. And taking a cue from Windows Media Center, it can record live TV (if you have a TV tuner card) and play internet radio. Lots of plug-ins, customisation options and even a scraper to get relevant infoĪbout your media. Like XBMC, it works with movies, music, photos & TV series, plays DVDs, has Portal Media Portal is like a mix of XBMC and Windows Media Center. If you have a TV tuner attached to your PC, Windows Media Center can also record Play Internet radio, rip music from an audio CD and even do basic photo editing. It supports most media formats and can be set up to Add a codec pack (see Shark's codec pack below) to improveįile support. Byĭefault, it looks plain, but there are ways to improve the interface and add Ultimate editions, Windows Media Center is capable but often underused. Get it fromĬenter Included with Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional & It might take a few hours,īut the end result is worth it.
#Build a linux media center pc install#
Install it and tell it where your media is stored. It is capable of playing all popular audio/video formats, playingĬontent directly from CD/DVDs and even files stored inside zipped archives. It has a built-in scraper - a tool that finds and downloads relevant information about your media. You can use it for photos, movies, TV series, music or internet streams.
#Build a linux media center pc software#
NEED Media Centre Software XBMC Windows Media Center Media Portal Available for Windows, Linux, OS X and iOS, XBMC is a preferred and doit-all media centre. ET outlines the basic software you need and steps involved. If you have an HDTV and an old PC, you can easily make a multimedia powerhouse with some free software and a little patience.
