How to Build Your Own Blu-ray Disc Player
The market is absolutely loaded with Blu-ray players of different stripes: high-end enthusiast players with the latest top-notch hardware, media boxes that not only play Blu-ray discs but also connect to many of the popular web video sites, and lower-end players designed for the price-conscious consumer. However, each of these players represents what a company has in mind for how you consume your Blu-ray entertainment. What about the personal touch? Create your own Blu-ray player that will cater to your own personal needs.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Blu-ray drive
- Nvidia Ion Platform with Intel Atom CPU (Mini ITX form factor)
- Mini ITX case with power supply
- 2 GB DDR2-800 RAM
- 80 GB SATA hard drive
- Microsoft Windows (XP Media Center Edition or above)
- Blu-ray playback software
- Windows Media Center-certified remote
- HDMI cable
- USB keyboard/mouse
Instructions
-
Building the Blu-ray Player
-
1
Assemble the components into the Mini ITX case. Having previous experience with building a PC is desirable, but with a little time it should be easy to piece how the devices interconnect with one another. It's difficult to plug anything in the wrong way with modern hardware designs, and this should be an easier build that a high-end computer system would demand.
-
2
Install your copy of Microsoft Windows. You will use the USB keyboard and mouse to perform this step. Once your player is running and configured properly, you'll be able to do most navigation with the remote, but for now the keyboard/mouse is essential.
While XP may be old, it will take up fewer system resources than Vista or 7. Make sure if you use XP that you have a copy of the Media Center edition. It will include more options in the operating system for configuring your homemade Blu-ray player into the media powerhouse that you want it to be. Both Vista and 7 come with the Media Center software in the Home Premium versions and higher.
-
-
3
Install the Blu-ray playback software. Windows does not come with the software to play Blu-ray discs, so you'll have to incorporate this extra purchase into your build. Make sure that you pick software that is optimized to run on the Nvidia Ion platform for the smoothest playback experience.
-
4
Install the Windows Media Center remote and any additional software that may have also come with it. Plug in the USB IR receiver into a free port on the Mini ITX box and check to make sure it is working properly with your software.
-
5
Connect the player to the television. The Nvidia Ion platform comes with an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connector. Plug the cable from the HDMI port on your Mini ITX case into the back of your television or audio receiver depending on how your home theater is set up.
-
6
Insert your favorite Blu-ray movie disc into the drive on your new player.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Make sure that your remote is certified to work with the version of Windows that you are using.
The Windows Media Center software includes far more options than just Blu-ray playback. Configure extra media content to your liking for even more home entertainment options.
Building your own Blu-ray player is essentially building a specialized PC. If this process makes you uncomfortable, then you may want to reconsider. If you happen to damage a part during the process, it will be up to you to get it replaced. Make sure that you clear yourself of any static electricity buildup, or you may damage components. Also make sure you note the correct placement of components as you assemble them, and never try to "force" anything to fit. Make sure that you never have power running to the unit as you work on it.
References
- Photo Credit Disk in the drive image by Sergey Galushko from Fotolia.com
