HTPC Power Supply Blown - What to Get??

shertiger on 18/03/2015 - 19:48

Hi

The power supply on my HTPC looks like its blown. Heard a pop and smelt something burning. PC doesn't switch on any more and hard wiring the switch on the mother board does not do anything. So I reckon it has gone belly up. I've had a look at a replacement online for a 300W PSU and prices with postage are around $40. My HTPC is old and cannot play .mp4 well just .avi so I'm not keen on spending alot to bring it back to life. I only use it to play movies which I stream from a hard disk connected to my router over wifi.

I've heard of people using Raspberry pi for htpc and also streaming devices like Roku to play movies. At this stage I'm not looking to play anything else i.e. stream stuff from internet.

So my question is should I try and repair or pay a bit more to get a modern device that can play .mp4, avi etc from my central hard disk? I have a optical connection to my amp so would prefer something that can support that to play 5.1 DTS etc. My TV is old as well with just VGA or DVI connection. I used xbmc/kodi on my htpc to play movies.

Thanks

Computing

Comments

  • kingmw on 18/03/2015 - 20:45

    Would recommend getting a new tv with hdmi input and something easy like a chromecast.

  • scrimshaw on 18/03/2015 - 21:15

    How old is your PC anyway? what are it's specs?

  • shertiger on 18/03/2015 - 21:46

    PC is about 7 plus years old and self built. So I'm only looking to do a cheap repair or get a new device to play movies. The TV is 152cm so not looking to replace that even though it is rear projection.

    • scrimshaw on 18/03/2015 - 22:27
      +1

      Do you want something like this then? it's a cheap Android box running 4.2.2 and comes with a remote, and old-skool VGA output for video (since your TV does not have HDMI, you are restricted to using VGA) and also AV/out and SPDIF.

      • shertiger on 19/03/2015 - 07:55

        Yeah something like that would work. Will read up on it. Thanks

  • Davo1111 on 19/03/2015 - 03:05
    +1

    You dont have an old laptop you can just plug into your tv?

    • shertiger on 19/03/2015 - 07:57

      Good point. I do have a old Mac with optical out so can plug that in for those big movie nights :)

      Just a small hassle connecting it up etc but not a biggie.

      • Davo1111 on 19/03/2015 - 11:37

        optical?

        • shertiger on 19/03/2015 - 12:00

          The built in audio out also doubles as digital out which I use via an adaptor on an optical cable.

        • Davo1111 on 19/03/2015 - 14:50

          @shertiger:

          But HDMI will take 5.1 sound too?

        • shertiger on 19/03/2015 - 17:19

          @Davo1111: Prob with that is my tv nor amp have hdmi :(

        • Davo1111 on 19/03/2015 - 17:31

          @shertiger:

          so its got dvi input, what does the computer have as outputs?

        • shertiger on 19/03/2015 - 18:27

          @Davo1111: The laptop has got DVI as video out and the analogue/digital audio out.

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