PS3 for HTPC?

[ErinH]

Not really sure what section to ask this in, so I'm asking here in the General section.

I saw an article in the recent issue of "Popular Mechanics" on modding a PS3 to be an all-in-one home theater PC. The only real 'mod' is to upgrade the HDD to a larger capacity drive. They were able to load Ubuntu as the OS successfully. I might put this on my list of ideas. Seems like a good all-in-one, especially considering it's BD capabilities out the box. Curious if anyone hear has done this.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how_to/4263321.html

 

[ChunkyDark]

Personally I would still prefer a HTPC since you wouldn't be able to record TV. You would also have to run some sort of emulator to play PC games.
I think you could get just as much value (ignoring cool factor for now ) by buying a refrub mass produced htpc.

http://dealnews.com/Refurbished-HP-Pavilion-Athlon-64-X2-2-8-GHz-Desktop-PC-with-Blu-ray-HD-DVD-for-600-free-shipping/230423.html

 

[jaydog67]

Awesome find

Great post, it makes the PS3 look more appealing for the money you'd spend. I would almost gaurantee that someone will design a program for Linux that would allow you to record TV. Maybe there's already a program out there. I was very suprised that Sony actually would show someone how to load an operating system.

Oh and for playing games the PS3 doesn't give up the game playing ability, read the article he's linked and it tells you all about it.

 

[darien87]

Nice article.

I already have a PS 3 and I've been wanting to put a HTPC together. However, people have reported that when you do this the WiFi doesn't work, and you're limited to SD screen resolution, which pretty much defeats the purpose.

But if patches come out that will be able to work around the listed problems, this seems like an awesome solution for me!!

 

[gus6464]

The problem with PS3 and Linux is that there are no open source drivers for the RSX so video acceleration is a no-go. And don't expect any drivers to come out any time soon because I don't think it's nvidia's plan at all. But if you are content with just using the PS3 for most SD content then it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[ErinH]

Nice article.

I already have a PS 3 and I've been wanting to put a HTPC together. However, people have reported that when you do this the WiFi doesn't work, and you're limited to SD screen resolution, which pretty much defeats the purpose.

But if patches come out that will be able to work around the listed problems, this seems like an awesome solution for me!!

Wi-fi works. Resolution works. Google 'ubuntu ps3' and you should be able to find all the info you need to know.

FWIW, the post above mine is correct. That is the reason I backed out on the PS3 yesterday and ordered a blu-ray drive for my pc. I'm just going to build up my current PC and make it HTPC. Drive and new sound card cost me less than $200.

 

[gus6464]

Wi-fi works. Resolution works. Google 'ubuntu ps3' and you should be able to find all the info you need to know.

FWIW, the post above mine is correct. That is the reason I backed out on the PS3 yesterday and ordered a blu-ray drive for my pc. I'm just going to build up my current PC and make it HTPC. Drive and new sound card cost me less than $200.

What video card are you running? If you want good 1080p output on a HTPC w/ HDMI you are going to need something like a 9600GT or above so at the least its going to run $200. The Palit 9600GT SSC has HDMI and can also output sound as well through it. Friend has a 1GB version and its pretty nice. As far as sound goes all you are going to get is DD5.1/7.1. If you want TrueHD and DTS-HD you are going to have to buy a set top player. No sound card can do those lossless formats as of yet.

Also don't think that your HTPC will be up and running flawlessly doing DVR and everything you want it to do. The HTPC market is still very premature so not everything works as intended with everything else. You have to research the parts you want to see if they work well with each other. Also if you want a Media Center like GUI you are going to have to go for Vista as it's media center is much improved over the XP one. But if you go for Vista you are going to need nothing less then 4GB of ram if you are going for HD content. An HD capable HTPC is not as cheap as some people might think after all is said and done. Also the PS3 will be getting a DVR firmware upgrade in the future as well.

 

[ErinH]

I ran a diagnostic program supplied by the creater of PowerDVD. All lights are green.

Not running full 1080p. Just 720p.

No 5.1/7.1 setup right now either. Just 2.1 in my living room. I'm pretty confident that in the next year one of the lossless formats should be available.

I've spent the last few weeks trying to pick which direction to go and the PC won out. I've had this PC for a while but it's very competent. I built it to do CAD, video editing and other engineering programs so it's not slacking, but it could use some upgrades. I'm not certain that everything will be working great, and would in fact, be surprised if it did. However, the price difference b/t doing this and buying a standalone or ps3 is an easy $200 considering I alread had the PC ready to go. Just had to add a usb audio pass through for optical and BD drive.

By the time I build my house next year (hopefully start next May), things will be more simplified and I'll simply upgrade whatever components are lacking.


Also, fwiw, I'm not doing a very intense setup. Basically, I'm just using my computer for basic media: music via iTunes, and movies off the BD drive. No storing of movies b/c I'm too lazy.

 

[gus6464]

I ran a diagnostic program supplied by the creater of PowerDVD. All lights are green.

Not running full 1080p. Just 720p.

No 5.1/7.1 setup right now either. Just 2.1 in my living room. I'm pretty confident that in the next year one of the lossless formats should be available.

I've spent the last few weeks trying to pick which direction to go and the PC won out. I've had this PC for a while but it's very competent. I built it to do CAD, video editing and other engineering programs so it's not slacking, but it could use some upgrades. I'm not certain that everything will be working great, and would in fact, be surprised if it did. However, the price difference b/t doing this and buying a standalone or ps3 is an easy $200 considering I alread had the PC ready to go. Just had to add a usb audio pass through for optical and BD drive.

By the time I build my house next year (hopefully start next May), things will be more simplified and I'll simply upgrade whatever components are lacking.


Also, fwiw, I'm not doing a very intense setup. Basically, I'm just using my computer for basic media: music via iTunes, and movies off the BD drive. No storing of movies b/c I'm too lazy.

Those software diagnostic programs are rubbish most of the time. But since you only have 2.1 and all you care for is BD @ 720p then your setup will work fine. I was under the impression that you wanted a full blown HTPC with all the bells and whistles, my mistake.

 

[ErinH]

oohhhh, haha, nope. Not full blown just yet.

I've got way too much else going on to dedicate my time/money/resources into a full getup. Plus, with only having 2.1 & 720p there's not much sense in upgrading atm. Like I said, the plan is to have a house built starting next summer. I'll have a dedicated room, then, so I'm just seeing how things go. Who knows, I may just go with standalone parts, then.

My only 'want' was a BD player. It was this or the ps3 and after some serious consideration I chose the pc route for a few different reasons. Plus, that frees up my 22" Sammy to be my new work monitor.

 

[ChunkyDark]

Oh and for playing games the PS3 doesn't give up the game playing ability, read the article he's linked and it tells you all about it.

I read the article, did you read my post?
From the article: "PS3 can't run Microsoft Windows" (bold is mine)
From my post "You would also have to run some sort of emulator to play PC games."


I was just talking about PC games not the PS3 games. Yes you can make most new games playable on linux with work, but that's not work I'm personally willing to do. I spend my whole work day doing that, the last thing I want to do when I get home is fight my computer to do some gaming.

 

[darien87]

Those software diagnostic programs are rubbish most of the time. But since you only have 2.1 and all you care for is BD @ 720p then your setup will work fine. I was under the impression that you wanted a full blown HTPC with all the bells and whistles, my mistake.

I'd like to have a full-blown 1080p HTPC with lossless audio, so what's the best solution for me? I don't PC game though. I just play games on my PS 3.

I would like to have a PC with a DVR, but I already have on in my cable box, and I don't think I can daisy-chain from my cable box to a HTPC, so I guess that's pretty pointless.