PC > Ext HDD < Smart TV

[liamesque]

Hi there, I'm trying to set up a system where I can download a film/series episode onto a HDD attached by USB to my PC. And then, I'd like to access the files directly from my smart TV. In other words, rather than setting up an always-on media server (which would mean leaving the pc on all the time...), I'd like to be able to download to the HDD when the pc is on and watch the films from the HDD directly on the smart tv whether the pc is on or off.
Is such a setup possible?
Or if I plug the HDD into the smart TV is there a way to find it on the home network so the pc coukd download to it, even if it's not plugged into the pc?
I just want to save myself from unplugging and replugging over and over between pc and tv...
Thanks for you help and sorry if I wasn't very clear..

 

[kanewolf]

Rather than an always-on PC, you really want a network attached storage (NAS). These are low power devices that are always accessible. They have built-in media players so that your TV would access the files over your network. Look at the Synology, Thecus, QNAP and Asustor brands.

 

[grimfox]

You'll also want to set your NAS budget in the ballpark of a complete PC system.

If you get something cheap, you'll end up with problems. I bought a cheap WD system. It's fine for system back-ups and file/media storage. But that's it. Trying to run PLEX off that NAS is a disaster. Media playback will work but it starts slow and glitchy and doesn't like to fast forward or rewind.

Be prepared to spend a at least 300USD (probably closer to 600) on the body and then add on to that for your drives. It sounds expensive but is usually going to be cheaper and less hassle than building from scratch. Plus it'll be more efficient than what you would build from scratch.

That's probably not what you wanted to hear, but that has been my experience.

 

[jsmithepa]

Problem #1: TV

A directly-attached drive to TV (not all TV allows) is VERY LIMITED. Often times u cannot play large files, and files must be encoded with very specific codecs. This method is really for vendor to sell u TV, and "look you can play" but in real life, many road blocks, not useful, hard to use etc. Have to plug/unplug

A NETWORK-ATTACHED drive (IF your TV can access it directly) is better but still not very nice, if u end up with a large library, there is very little organization, u almost have to browse scroll through pages and pages to find your video, and search speed, fast forward, rewind etc, abysmally slow because TV processors tend to be low powered.

Now with those warnings, go ahead, wet your appetite.

The big boys use a dedicated PC attached to TV with the PC running "front end" app, proving much more capability and fast search, organized library etc. PC doesn't need to be high powered.