What exactly is a "HTCP"

[QuantumBit]

Hello!

 

I know HTPC mean Home Theater PC, but what's the point of having one? Is it just for browsing the internet, using netflix etc? Wouldn't something like a chromecast etc be better and cheaper?

 

Thanks!

[79wjd]

Living room gaming, watching netflix/hulu/etc, watching dvds/blurays.

[Pittman90]

8 hours ago, QuantumBit said:

Hello!

 

I know HTPC mean Home Theater PC, but what's the point of having one? Is it just for browsing the internet, using netflix etc? Wouldn't something like a chromecast etc be better and cheaper?

 

Thanks!

 

A lot of people like to game on pc In their living room, while it can be done with something like a steam link or a nvidia shield its not the same 

[Wolther]

Something you'd connect to a TV (or audio system), kinda like a console or media center alternative

[QuantumBit]

1 minute ago, djdwosk97 said:

Gaming/watching X/watching dvds/bluray content on your tv. 

So it's basically an upgradeable smart DVD/Blu-Ray player?

 

(With possible gaming features?

[QuantumBit]

1 minute ago, Pittman90 said:

A lot of people like to game on pc In their living room, while it can be done with something like a steam link or a nvidia shield its not the same 

Couldn't someone just hook up a gaming PC and get the same experience?

[SaulkM]

Generally, it is a cheaper PC meant for video playback of movies on a big screen in a smaller form factor in some cases.

[toasty6776]

It's basically a console alternative, or, the way I'd use mine, a way to access your media library on the big screen. I actually ripped all of my parents blu-rays and DVDs once I moved out and threw them onto my NAS so I don't have to buy like 500 movies for myself.

[79wjd]

2 minutes ago, QuantumBit said:

Couldn't someone just hook up a gaming PC and get the same experience?

That's all an HTPC is (sometimes with an optical drive).

[toasty6776]

2 minutes ago, QuantumBit said:

Couldn't someone just hook up a gaming PC and get the same experience?

Technically there isn't a real difference between a gaming PC and an HTPC. The only thing that makes it HT is the way you use it. There are many people out there who have HTPCs that outperform other people's gaming PCs.

[QuantumBit]

1 minute ago, toasty6776 said:

It's basically a console alternative, or, the way I'd use mine, a way to access your media library on the big screen. I actually ripped all of my parents blu-rays and DVDs once I moved out and threw them onto my NAS so I don't have to buy like 500 movies for myself.

Ohhh. So now you have a bunch of movies on your NAS?

 

(Just want to make sure I'm understanding what you're saying)

[Pittman90]

8 hours ago, QuantumBit said:

Couldn't someone just hook up a gaming PC and get the same experience?

Normally its a small form factor like mini ITX but yes you could use any pc for it 

[TomR]

8 minutes ago, QuantumBit said:

Hello!

 

I know HTPC mean Home Theater PC, but what's the point of having one? Is it just for browsing the internet, using netflix etc? Wouldn't something like a chromecast etc be better and cheaper?

 

Thanks!

Is a Chromecast cheaper? Yes.

is a Chromecast better? Not a shot in hell, you know this!

[TomR]

5 minutes ago, QuantumBit said:

Couldn't someone just hook up a gaming PC and get the same experience?

Live with a woman and let us know how putting a gaming PC in the living room works out, lol.

[toasty6776]

12 minutes ago, QuantumBit said:

Ohhh. So now you have a bunch of movies on your NAS?

 

(Just want to make sure I'm understanding what you're saying)

 

 

Yup. I basically just copied all my parents' movies onto my NAS so I don't have to buy them myself or borrow them from my parents.

But tbh I don't recommend that for everyone. It takes a metric shedload of time and disk space (each blu ray needs to be ripped one at a time and takes up about 30GB of disk space). I actually already had the hard drives for my NAS so I didn't have any problems there but it took some dedication to copy those disks...

[bgibbz]

They are obsolete(imo). Before smart tvs and chrome cast was the norm, it was useful to have an AIO device to host local media, play dvds, stream media, and play games on. Now a days, the same effect can be achieved with a PS4 or a good blue ray player. 

[sazrocks]

1 hour ago, bgibbz said:

They are obsolete(imo). Before smart tvs and chrome cast was the norm, it was useful to have an AIO device to host local media, play dvds, stream media, and play games on. Now a days, the same effect can be achieved with a PS4 or a good blue ray player. 

You can't play PC games on a console, and you can't play games on a blu-ray player at all.

[LogicalDrm]

12 hours ago, QuantumBit said:

Couldn't someone just hook up a gaming PC and get the same experience?

Well sure. But can you honestly say your ATX tower looks nice next to 50" TV? HTPC's are usually small and sleak, there are even cases with remotes for that purpose. In the end its same thing, just in smaller format.

[MrDynamicMan]

13 hours ago, QuantumBit said:

Couldn't someone just hook up a gaming PC and get the same experience?

Yes. There is no actual difference aside from use and specs. Its basically a small pc that you put in your living room to use as a console and bluray replacement

[AshleyAshes]

15 hours ago, QuantumBit said:

Couldn't someone just hook up a gaming PC and get the same experience?

That's would then be an HTPC.  While HTPCs are typically lighter in performance and smaller, focusing more on media than games, it's not absolute.  'HTPC' is more a description of the machine's role rather than its exact build.  If you used gaming grade components to build a server, your start calling it 'The Server'.

[bgibbz]

14 hours ago, sazrocks said:

You can't play PC games on a console, and you can't play games on a blu-ray player at all.

Yes, but you can play games using a steam link or nvidia shield. 

[Mr.Meerkat]

I know what is a HTPC but not "HTCP"  

[Litargirio]

7 minutes ago, Mr.Meerkat said:

I know what is a HTPC but not "HTCP"  

Home theatre computer.

[Mr.Meerkat]

1 minute ago, Litargirio said:

Home theatre computer.

Ah, that actually kinda makes sense  

[ARikozuM]

An HTPC is a small form factor computer, usually M-ITX or M-ATX motherboards enclosed in a slim case, in an area where multiple people may be present. It is generally used for spaces where the size of objects could hinder the possible dimensions of the containers, but also when needing a large performance/storage solution isn't necessary, i.e. a home NAS being present. 

 

The good thing about the HTPC is that you can keep it compact, discreet, and quiet while making it a good all-around system for stereo system or movie consumption as it replaces many devices that would otherwise take space in the area.

 

An HTPC can be used in place of a Blu-Ray player, stereo, console (though I will always keep a Wii in the area), and a television set-top box.