[Homerboy]

I've been thinking about piecing up a new machine to replace the pathetic laptop I am using right now to run XBMC on my main TV in my living room.

However, I realized that my storage server (WHS) in my basement is techincally only about 15-20ft linearly away from the living room TV (1 floor down of course).

Rather than buying a whole new PC, and have yet another machine running 24x7 in my house, I'm wondering if it would make sense, and technically work, if I bought a HDMI equipment video card for the WHS machine, and ran longer runs of HDMI and USB to the living room. HDMI could carry video and sound and USB would be needed for IR pickup for the remote.

This way I save on having to piece up a whole new machine. Save on wasting power and as an added bonus I can free up some space in the living room with no PC sitting in there.

Comments/suggestions?

(the one trick here is the WHS is a frankestein of a computer, running on a AMD 3000+ and has no PCIE slot... so Id have to find a AGP w/ HDMI if possible, if not get a cheap replacement MB/CPU combo for the WHS and then pick up a NV enabled HDMI video card)

[Homerboy]

ah crap I just realized... vdpau is just for Linux isn't it?

[Flomaster]

yes it should work that run of HDMI isn't to long where you would experience problems the USB however might be an issue, you can looking into getting an RF to IR repeater so your remote would send the signal to the RF box sitting next to the tv the RF would send another signal to the other RF box down in the basement which in turn sends and IR signal to the computer...

for you HDMI cable buy from http://www.monoprice.com great cables that don't break the bank. 20 foot cable for $15 http://www.monoprice.com/products/produc...1&format=2


or just get an RF remote and receiver and be done with it.

I was in the same boat. had an old LOUD Desktop I was using, but video was AGP and no HDMI,

I ended up building a new HTPC...

-=Jason=-

[Homerboy]

yes it should work that run of HDMI isn't to long where you would experience problems the USB however might be an issue, you can looking into getting an RF to IR repeater so your remote would send the signal to the RF box sitting next to the tv the RF would send another signal to the other RF box down in the basement which in turn sends and IR signal to the computer...

for you HDMI cable buy from http://www.monoprice.com great cables that don't break the bank. 20 foot cable for $15 http://www.monoprice.com/products/produc...1&format=2


or just get an RF remote and receiver and be done with it.

I was in the same boat. had an old LOUD Desktop I was using, but video was AGP and no HDMI,

I ended up building a new HTPC...

-=Jason=-

interesting.
I think if you put a hub in the middle of the USB run it will allow a longer run. I have to do some research on this.

Anyone see any other probs?