HTPC vs PS3 as a media center.

[prerich]

I here all of the advantages of the PS3 over standalones, and for the most part - the PS3 has a feature advantage over standalones (not a PQ and AQ advantage). I would like to start a discussion about the adavantages and disadvantages of a well built HTPC vs a PS3. HTPC'rs and PS3'rs start chiming in and we will compare these two machines to each other. I'll start first:

HTPC advantages

1. Can be repaired and built by the owner
2. Analog audio outs for older receivers
3. Better upscaling abilities - HTPC'rs have been doing this for years
4. Can play games at Extreme HD levels - and at ultra high refresh rates
5. DVD-A
6. Burn, rip, catalog, ect media files.
7. Watch HDTV programing and on some - and record cable box channels via firewire (not sure if DirectTV includes a firewire port).
8. Upgradable by the user.
9. Faster Load times than the PS3 on a quality HTPC.
10. IR remote controlable
11. Storage space
12. Can play exclusive PC games (but can't play PS3 games)
13. Can play BD,HD-DVD,WMV-HD, DivX, DivX-HD, and downloadable content
14. Home security and monitoring system.

HTPC disadvantages

1. No SACD - but thats also Sony proprietary and all PS3's are not SACD capable either.
2. Generally cost more (only for PS3 40 gig version if you get an 80 gig I coudl build an HTPC for less that would be faster).
3.Can't play PS3 Games (see number 12 above)
4. Needs software program and they can be buggy - (I've had no problems with WinDVD 9 Plus BD yet - has happily played every BD I own).
5. Current software downres TrueHD and DTS HD Master from 48/24 to 48/16 (but many titles are 48/16 already) - Newer program updates are taking care of this problem.

[supersix4]

should point out that 12 and 4 will cost alot, if not more than a ps3 in some cases. cant use a 8400/8600 series to run a game like crysis in "extreme hd".

[Entertainment72]

Pardon my ignorance, so with an HTPC you connect it to your HDTV? So in theory you use your HTPC as the actual player.. where do you keep it at.. below the TV etc?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by supersix4

should point out that 12 and 4 will cost alot, if not more than a ps3 in some cases. cant use a 8400/8600 series to run a game like crysis in "extreme hd".

10-4 but the new 9600's will run Crysis. There not as expensive as the 8800'/9800's.

Good points! This is the type of stuff that I'm looking for - PS3 people chime in also

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Entertainment72

Pardon my ignorance, so with an HTPC you connect it to your HDTV? So in theory you use your HTPC as the actual player.. where do you keep it at.. below the TV etc?

My HTPC is connected to my HDTV and my projector via HDMI. (I could have connected via vga also). I keep it in my rack My case is a rack mounted HTPC case (I have a lot of equipment). My mouse and keyboard are wireless and are located on my coffee table. Oh... and yes, it is my actually player.

[pseudomaniac]

True Media PC Vs Playstation.

Prioritize.

If games is your top priority - get the PS3.
If movies is your top priority - decide if you'd rather have a real surfing / browsing / media storage box or if those are secondary.

Movie Playback - ones probably as good as the other, except upgrading the drive on the Media PC is going to be much easier.

The Media PC is going to be the larger investment. (from the owner of a homemade media pc)

[supersix4]

I really wouldnt consider the 9600 series "extreme HD"

http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi..._9600_gt/7.htm

based on those tests its having trouble beating or coming close to the 8800gt on 1920x1200 (not even including the 8800gtx/high 9 series exc.)

I think your right about alot of the htpc points but gaming is gonna add heavy to the cost's if you want to have a real quality gaming experience + you have to add in while the ps3 will be set to run the games coming out in 2+ years pc's just can't offer that...

but your right you can make some great htpc's for little price, but a pro for a less expensive system couldn't be gaming if your not willing to spend the $$$.

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by Entertainment72

Pardon my ignorance, so with an HTPC you connect it to your HDTV? So in theory you use your HTPC as the actual player.. where do you keep it at.. below the TV etc?

I have two laptops that are media centers and have Blu-ray drives.
A laptop and a HDMI cord of ~10 foot length makes it quite capable

Yes! IR Remote as well.

Any HTPC can be connected by cable or even wirelessly($$$) from another room.
Sony even has a HTPC that was designed for the entertainment center:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665296592

Let me cruise through NewEgg and I can build a freakin monster HTPC!
As for the HTPC placement, anywhere really - next to the TV, under it, depending on what case you choose... decorate it with a plant like a piece of furniture and get a 25' HDMI cable.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by pseudomaniac

True Media PC Vs Playstation.

Prioritize.

If games is your top priority - get the PS3.
If movies is your top priority - decide if you'd rather have a real surfing / browsing / media storage box or if those are secondary.

Movie Playback - ones probably as good as the other, except upgrading the drive on the Media PC is going to be much easier.

The Media PC is going to be the larger investment. (from the owner of a homemade media pc)

This is true - it will be the larger investment, but I believe it pays for itself in the long run. After the intitial layout - the cost of repair is minimal if you know how to do it yourself. It's almost like pay me now (HTPC) or pay me later (PS3), but somebody's gonna get paid !

As far as gaming goes - I think it all depends on what games you are into. It's already been said that you can't beat the PC for gaming experience and feel (that's why Microsoft gave a handicap to people that played HALO3 with the XBox 360 on the same server as PC people - the Xbox people couldn't keep up - so they made the xbox shoot with pinpoint accuracy).

Good post

[prerich]

Originally Posted by dadkins

I have two laptops that are media centers and have Blu-ray drives.
A laptop and a HDMI cord of ~10 foot length makes it quite capable

Yes! IR Remote as well.

Any HTPC can be connected by cable or even wirelessly($$$) from another room.
Sony even has a HTPC that was designed for the entertainment center:

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665296592

Let me cruise through NewEgg and I can build a freakin monster HTPC!
As for the HTPC placement, anywhere really - next to the TV, under it, depending on what case you choose... decorate it with a plant like a piece of furniture and get a 25' HDMI cable.

Ohhhh....so you're a Newegge'r also ? That's my main spot!!!

[dadkins]

Hell Yes!
Turn me loose there... STAND BACK!
I'll be melting NASA in a couple days! LOL!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I really wouldnt consider the 9600 series "extreme HD"

http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi..._9600_gt/7.htm

based on those tests its having trouble beating or coming close to the 8800gt on 1920x1200 (not even including the 8800gtx/high 9 series exc.)

I think your right about alot of the htpc points but gaming is gonna add heavy to the cost's if you want to have a real quality gaming experience + you have to add in while the ps3 will be set to run the games coming out in 2+ years pc's just can't offer that...

but your right you can make some great htpc's for little price, but a pro for a less expensive system couldn't be gaming if your not willing to spend the $$$.

I'll give you that one I have a friend with the new 9800 in his HTPC with a quad core processor - this thing screams!!!!! I almost cried!

[brett_day]

Advantages of PS3 as a Media Center

1.Cheaper than a quality HTPC
2.Much more reliable and Stable than Any PC
3.One of the best Blu Ray Drives in the business
4.Remote play with the PSP
5.Wireless media streaming from a non HTPC, means a big hd is not required
6.TV shows to be coming to PSN in near future
7.Can use wireless controller sony bluetooth remote for blu ray
8.HD gaming without needing to spend upwards of $600 for an sli or crossfire set up
9.World exclusive games such as GT5, Metal Gear Solid 4
10.Upscaling dvd player to 1080p
11.Built in wireless for net connection
12.Good web browser, picture viewer and music player
13.Supports HDMI v.1.3 out of the box
14.No BSOD.....Ever
15.No software or Driver incompatability issues.
16.True Lossless Audio Support
17.Can use Linux, which imho is far better than any M$ OS
18.Cell Processor Baby!
19.No adware, Spyware. Viruses or Trojans

[supersix4]

Alright I just built a Very modest one on newegg

NZXT Duet Classic Mid-tower case (+75)
Core 2 Duo E8500 3.15 (+270)
Corsair Dominator PC2 6400 2x1gb (+149)
EVGA 650i Atx (+100)
APEVIA 500w power supply (+40)
Hitachi 1TB (+230)
8600 GTS 512(+150)
LG Blu-ray/HDud (+200)

Total $1214

while I think its a decent price, still not a better deal than a ps3(+once the parts come your building it) if you really use alot of the comp features gaming wise it just wont be there so like b4 if you game and dont wanna spend 1500+ stay away from HTPC

on a side note I did do a low end one and still couldnt beat the ps3 (price/games) but it would do the job if your looking for an HTCP

ASUS P5KPL-VM Mobo (+75)
Core 2 Duo E7200 2.5ghz (+132)
Kingston 2GB PC2-5300 (+40)
SONY Blu-ray-ROM BDUX10S (+190)
EVGA 8600gt 256mb (+80)
WD Caviar 320gb HD (+70)
APEVIA X-QPACK-BK/420 (+90)

Total $677

[prerich]

Originally Posted by brett_day

Advantages of PS3 as a Media Center

1.Cheaper than a quality HTPC
2.Much more reliable and Stable than Any PC
3.One of the best Blu Ray Drives in the business
4.Remote play with the PSP
5.Wireless media streaming from a non HTPC, means a big hd is not required
6.TV shows to be coming to PSN in near future
7.Can use wireless controller sony bluetooth remote for blu ray
8.HD gaming without needing to spend upwards of $600 for an sli or crossfire set up
9.World exclusive games such as GT5, Metal Gear Solid 4
10.Upscaling dvd player to 1080p
11.Built in wireless for net connection
12.Good web browser, picture viewer and music player
13.Supports HDMI v.1.3 out of the box
14.No BSOD.....Ever
15.No software or Driver incompatability issues.
16.True Lossless Audio Support
17.Can use Linux, which imho is far better than any M$ OS
18.Cell Processor Baby!

#5. You can mediastream without loading the content to your HTPC
#6. Tv shows already available with HTPC no advantage here - HTPC already has it - actually Advantage HTPC.
#7 Wireless remote or keyboard (I have both) Sony Bluetooth - not an advantage
#8 PS3 can't do extreme HD AT 1920X1200 lets not talk 2560x1600
#9 Both platforms have exclusive games - moot point they cancel each other out
#10 PC is the best upscaler - everything out of a PC is progressive scan - scaling beyond 1080p is possible advantage htpc.
#11 Same with HTPC and faster internet connection is possible. Advantage HTPC
#12. Best webbrowser, picture viewer and editor, music editor,player - advantage HTPC
#17. HTPC can use Linux, Umbutu - dual boot ect - advantage HTPC
#18 Cell processor is designed mainly as a server processor not a desktop/HTPC processor - dual cores and don't even mention quads can and have killed the Cell (albeit - it is a good processor - handles physics calculations great).

Five of your "advantages" actually belong to the HTPC platform - but you do make good points about other things.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by prerich

Five of your "advantages" actually belong to the HTPC platform - but you do make good points about other things.

just remember to take FULL advantage of alot of those its gonna cost $$

[prerich]

Originally Posted by supersix4

just remember to take FULL advantage of alot of those its gonna cost $$

In comparison to the PS3 - yes, it may cost more - but you also get a better product. So it comes down to wants. Umbutu is actually free. The only thing I see costing is the video card for the gaming experience. The software for upscaling SD DVD can be done for free also - and you don't need a 8800gt to do that with - I've done it years ago with a FX5800 (thats a long time ago)

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by supersix4

just remember to take FULL advantage of alot of those its gonna cost $$

And the PS3 will never be able to do many things the HTPC can do now.
Got Photoshop?
Got Blu-ray Burner?

Ya don't want to know where I am ATM with one of my VAIOs.
Can't do this with a PS3.
If I really wanted, I could be watching a movie, or the news. Live.



Isn't tech cool?

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by supersix4

just remember to take FULL advantage of alot of those its gonna cost $$

i was going to say....is it really an advantage if you end up spending $1500 - $2000 on a HTPC when a $400 PS3 can do those things

[prerich]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Alright I just built a Very modest one on newegg

NZXT Duet Classic Mid-tower case (+75)
Core 2 Duo E8500 3.15 (+270)
Corsair Dominator PC2 6400 2x1gb (+149)
EVGA 650i Atx (+100)
APEVIA 500w power supply (+40)
Hitachi 1TB (+230)
8600 GTS 512(+150)
LG Blu-ray/HDud (+200)

Total $1214

while I think its a decent price, still not a better deal than a ps3(+once the parts come your building it) if you really use alot of the comp features gaming wise it just wont be there so like b4 if you game and dont wanna spend 1500+ stay away from HTPC

on a side note I did do a low end one and still couldnt beat the ps3 (price/games) but it would do the job if your looking for an HTCP

ASUS P5KPL-VM Mobo (+75)
Core 2 Duo E7200 2.5ghz (+132)
Kingston 2GB PC2-5300 (+40)
SONY Blu-ray-ROM BDUX10S (+190)
EVGA 8600gt 256mb (+80)
WD Caviar 320gb HD (+70)
APEVIA X-QPACK-BK/420 (+90)

Total $677

Yes its hard to beat the 40GB PS3 price but pound for pound the only thing you could compare it to is the 80GB PS3 (still doesn't match up against the modest HTPC) which cost $499.00 but your getting a lesser machine. You've got 320gb of HD space - that's 4 times more space!!!! And it has the same functions as the PS3 plus some.