Media server and anyone got an old video card?

Feek · 09-04-2007, 18:19

I'm going to build my old SFF Shuttle as some kind of dedicated media server type box. I've not thought it through in detail yet though so any advice would be good as to what I can do with it and how to do it.

But due to the fact it's a small box, and the video card I have doesn't allow me to put the cover on (6600GT), I want to put any old crappy card in there.

Mainly because it'll allow me to put the cover back on but also because it'll generate a lot less heat and means the box will run a bit cooler.

So three things really.

1) Suggestions about what to do with it, whether I should just copy all my audio/video into it and share the folder or somehow make it a real 'media centre', whatever that means!

2) Has anyone got an old video card, it can be AGP or PCI, I don't mind which but it needs to be one without huge coolers on the side. Passive cooling would be even better. It really doesn't matter what it's like as it's going to be headless.

3) Best way to control it remotely, VNC, PCAnywhere, what?

Garp · 09-04-2007, 18:35

Dym is tackling this tomorrow with my old SFF box.. aiming to install Media Centre Edition on it and we'll see where we go from there. Being windows hopefully we'll be able to RDP to it (RDP > VNC).

Dymetrie · 09-04-2007, 18:37

Copycat...

I'll keep you posted on progress (and also probably ask questions while I'm doing it

)

leowyatt · 09-04-2007, 19:36

Feek we have an old AGP MX200 card knocking around if you want it.

Mark · 09-04-2007, 20:11

Radeon 9200 SE 64MB, AGP, DVI and S-Video only (VGA port removed because it got in the way of closing my SFF case), low profile, passive, card only. Plenty capable of playing video but if you want anything 3D, think again. FOC @ the kiddies meet if you want it.

MCE isn't particularly smart about sharing media over the network (aka I've had trouble with it). There are similar 3rd party offerings which will do a similar job. Or, if you're feeling really adventurous and have time to burn, you could try setting up an upscaler based around ffdshow. CPU horsepower not optional in the latter case.

Feek · 09-04-2007, 22:03

I think I'm using the term media centre perhaps incorrectly, I think all it'll end up doing is being a network share with media files in.

I've been advised by the 'mine of information' that the 9200SE would be the better option. I will need to plug a monitor in while I build it so I assume I could just use a DVI>VGA adapter for that?

RDP is the other method I was thinking of, the name of which escaped me

Mark · 09-04-2007, 22:49

You can certainly do that, and that's how I used it as well. Just one point about running headless - the card wants to use the (removed) VGA connector if you power on with no monitor connected, so plugging a monitor in later will yield a blank screen. Cured by reboot.

PS - I'm not sure if the VGA header is standard or documented, so it might be possible to reinstate the VGA connector should you be so inclined.

Mark · 11-04-2007, 18:58

Should I be well enough to attend Chessington, does Mr. Feek wish for me to bring the Radeon 9200SE?

Dymetrie · 11-04-2007, 19:09

**update**

Have installed MCE on the mediabox and it seems to be running mostly ok (streams are good, drivers seem a bit shoddy). Gonna have more of a look at it tomorrow to see if it's worth sticking with MCE or rolling back to XP.

Networked the house today (myself and my brother), 80 metres of cable, 200 cable clips. We ran out of cable clips

Very pleased with the outcome, was worth paying out a few quid (literally just a few) for some decent white cable which turned out to be excellent pliable stuff and was moderately easy to lay.

Once I get the s-video out working with the scart adaptor then I'll know how good the result is on the TV, at the moment the only monitor the system will output to is the one I stole off testpattern's rig while he was away

Advice on getting s-video out to work welcome....

Daz · 11-04-2007, 19:11

Never had any trouble getting s-video to work, but the quality has always been nothing short of awful. Probably me though.

What you planning on using it for Dym?

09-04-2007, 18:19	#1
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Media server and anyone got an old video card? I'm going to build my old SFF Shuttle as some kind of dedicated media server type box. I've not thought it through in detail yet though so any advice would be good as to what I can do with it and how to do it. But due to the fact it's a small box, and the video card I have doesn't allow me to put the cover on (6600GT), I want to put any old crappy card in there. Mainly because it'll allow me to put the cover back on but also because it'll generate a lot less heat and means the box will run a bit cooler. So three things really. 1) Suggestions about what to do with it, whether I should just copy all my audio/video into it and share the folder or somehow make it a real 'media centre', whatever that means! 2) Has anyone got an old video card, it can be AGP or PCI, I don't mind which but it needs to be one without huge coolers on the side. Passive cooling would be even better. It really doesn't matter what it's like as it's going to be headless. 3) Best way to control it remotely, VNC, PCAnywhere, what? __________________

09-04-2007, 18:35	#2
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	Dym is tackling this tomorrow with my old SFF box.. aiming to install Media Centre Edition on it and we'll see where we go from there. Being windows hopefully we'll be able to RDP to it (RDP > VNC). __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

09-04-2007, 18:37	#3
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	Copycat... I'll keep you posted on progress (and also probably ask questions while I'm doing it ) __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

09-04-2007, 19:36	#4
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	Feek we have an old AGP MX200 card knocking around if you want it. __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

09-04-2007, 20:11	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Radeon 9200 SE 64MB, AGP, DVI and S-Video only (VGA port removed because it got in the way of closing my SFF case), low profile, passive, card only. Plenty capable of playing video but if you want anything 3D, think again. FOC @ the kiddies meet if you want it. MCE isn't particularly smart about sharing media over the network (aka I've had trouble with it). There are similar 3rd party offerings which will do a similar job. Or, if you're feeling really adventurous and have time to burn, you could try setting up an upscaler based around ffdshow. CPU horsepower not optional in the latter case. Last edited by Mark; 09-04-2007 at 20:15.

09-04-2007, 22:03	#6
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	I think I'm using the term media centre perhaps incorrectly, I think all it'll end up doing is being a network share with media files in. I've been advised by the 'mine of information' that the 9200SE would be the better option. I will need to plug a monitor in while I build it so I assume I could just use a DVI>VGA adapter for that? RDP is the other method I was thinking of, the name of which escaped me __________________

09-04-2007, 22:49	#7
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	You can certainly do that, and that's how I used it as well. Just one point about running headless - the card wants to use the (removed) VGA connector if you power on with no monitor connected, so plugging a monitor in later will yield a blank screen. Cured by reboot. PS - I'm not sure if the VGA header is standard or documented, so it might be possible to reinstate the VGA connector should you be so inclined.

11-04-2007, 18:58	#8
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Should I be well enough to attend Chessington, does Mr. Feek wish for me to bring the Radeon 9200SE?

11-04-2007, 19:09	#9
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	update Have installed MCE on the mediabox and it seems to be running mostly ok (streams are good, drivers seem a bit shoddy). Gonna have more of a look at it tomorrow to see if it's worth sticking with MCE or rolling back to XP. Networked the house today (myself and my brother), 80 metres of cable, 200 cable clips. We ran out of cable clips Very pleased with the outcome, was worth paying out a few quid (literally just a few) for some decent white cable which turned out to be excellent pliable stuff and was moderately easy to lay. Once I get the s-video out working with the scart adaptor then I'll know how good the result is on the TV, at the moment the only monitor the system will output to is the one I stole off testpattern's rig while he was away Advice on getting s-video out to work welcome.... __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

11-04-2007, 19:11	#10
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Never had any trouble getting s-video to work, but the quality has always been nothing short of awful. Probably me though. What you planning on using it for Dym? __________________ apt-get moo

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