Windows Media Center across multiple PC's.......
 

I'm planning the TV / PC layout in my house at the moment and have a quick query regarding media center!!

I plan to have 2 TV's downstairs and 1 up, all with which I want Media Center on. Having looked on AV Forums it seems that I need to have a PC beside each TV (well, pc's in loft and one cabled to each TV), no problem at all.

My question is that will I be able to connect all 3 PC's to my HDD (which is an external 1Tb Lacie Ethernet disk) which sits in the office? (ie - will 3 media centers syncronise ok with 1 source?

If so this seems the best way of storing my films / albums in one place, rather than having to copy all of them onto each pc etc etc....

Chris

Yes it will sync ok with it but expect increased latency during streaming especially if this is running across the same network used for internet access, if you get someone downloading or online gaming while your trying to stream a movie from your Ethernet hard disk to the media centre and tv you could end up with an experience such as high quality you tube :cry:

long pauses and everything :cry:

Are you running gigabit network cards eveywhere, what is the card and drive in the Lacie are they fast enough to supply data in your environment?

ok cool cheers :). I have a nice long roll of cat6 cable here and its only me and the missus in the house so network is primarily used by me!!!

The Lacie drive is an gigabyte one although transfer rate copying data isnt fantastic (deffo not 1gb!!!!). I currently have it setup in the office and my laptop streams wirelessly from it without a problem (laptop connected to TV in conservatory!!).

Cheers
Chris :)