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<blockquote data-quote="kiwijunglist" data-source="post: 527262" data-attributes="member: 76888">1. Western Digital Green HDD seem to get a good reviews.&nbsp; If you have 2x HDD, then 7200rpm for system drive (you don't need much space for system files 50GB is plenty), and media drive can be slower (5400rpm).&nbsp; If you have 1x HDD then get WDD 7200rpm green drive.&nbsp; 1.5TB size seems to be best price per gb data in New Zealand.&nbsp; A bluray rip is about 5gb - 25gb each depending on how you rip/compress it, altho i don't know why you would bother ripping all your movies it could take a long time and it's probably easier to just insert the disc.&nbsp; Downloaded bluray rips typically are 4-8GB each in size.&nbsp; If your movies are stored on the same computer that is playing them you don't need fast network.&nbsp; Wireless G is a bit slow for streaming live TV/bluray rips to other computers in your house, wireless N i'm not sure, maybe fast enough.&nbsp; Ethernet (wired network) cable is safest option.2. I don't run MP with two displays, it would possible be possible to have the remote interact directly with MP while you are doing excel however i think you are better having the HTPC do one task only and connect to one display only.&nbsp; Setting it up with 2 displays will be more complicated and you may have a lot more issues.&nbsp; You can ask others for advice, they are lots of people who run with two displays, just bare in mind that setting up mediaportal can be tricky and you are adding another layer of potential issues, so be prepared to spend a lot of time getting it setup correctly.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="kiwijunglist, post: 527262, member: 76888"] 1. Western Digital Green HDD seem to get a good reviews. If you have 2x HDD, then 7200rpm for system drive (you don't need much space for system files 50GB is plenty), and media drive can be slower (5400rpm). If you have 1x HDD then get WDD 7200rpm green drive. 1.5TB size seems to be best price per gb data in New Zealand. A bluray rip is about 5gb - 25gb each depending on how you rip/compress it, altho i don't know why you would bother ripping all your movies it could take a long time and it's probably easier to just insert the disc. Downloaded bluray rips typically are 4-8GB each in size. If your movies are stored on the same computer that is playing them you don't need fast network. Wireless G is a bit slow for streaming live TV/bluray rips to other computers in your house, wireless N i'm not sure, maybe fast enough. Ethernet (wired network) cable is safest option. 2. I don't run MP with two displays, it would possible be possible to have the remote interact directly with MP while you are doing excel however i think you are better having the HTPC do one task only and connect to one display only. Setting it up with 2 displays will be more complicated and you may have a lot more issues. You can ask others for advice, they are lots of people who run with two displays, just bare in mind that setting up mediaportal can be tricky and you are adding another layer of potential issues, so be prepared to spend a lot of time getting it setup correctly. [/QUOTE]

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