HTPC

[BIGSTIC]

So who's built a Home Theater PC? I want to build one on the cheap, and here are the requirements: Large Hard Drive (500+ GB) expandable to infinity, Decent video card for 1080i/1080p output, decent sound card, and a decent processor. OS suggestions, thinking it might be time to learn linux.

Wife said with the baby on the way it was time to move my computer into the office and I really don't feel like running HDMI cable 100 feet to my TV. This thing needs to be smallish and prefer it to be somewhat quiet.

So any suggestions?

[Reality]

whatever you do, make sure you get at least an ati 3850, i'd recommend a 4850. either way, those cards have true HDCP and will transfer sound via a DVI > HDMI adapter that comes packaged with the videocard, this will save you a mess since you'll need less cables coming out of the PC

newegg has a lot of options for HTPC cases, im using a silverstone but there are better ones out there. as far as processor and OS suggestions, Core2 E7200/$124.99, Vista 32bit (If you plan on using Media Center, which is really awesome in Vista. WinXP MCE isn't nearly as polished) Might want to pick up a Media Center-compatible remote if you plan on using media center. 2GB of ram (since you'd be using a 32bit OS) is ridiculously cheap right now

this system won't cost you much to build, really

[Isiolia]

I have one in the sense that I have a PC I built to put in the living room. It's not set up for DVR or anything, since I don't have cable.

Are you looking at something that does 3D for gaming, or just video?

My current system is this:
Athlon 64 x2 4850e http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103255

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128090

2 GB of RAM (G Skill) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098

380W Earthwatts PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371005

I have an older 120GB IDE HDD and an old IDE DVDRW too.

I'm using a Cooler Master HTPC case that came with a VFD/IR sensor and remote. It's an older one that holds a full size ATX board since that's what I had in it prior to the current system.


The main reason I used the CPU/mobo I did was for the integrated graphics. While not great for gaming, the chipset includes a number of features for video playback, which (at least at the time) were superior to other offerings. (http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...oc.aspx?i=3258 for one article).
The CPU is also lower power consumption than many.

Thus far I've been pleased with it, Vista quirks aside, and the upgrade (linked parts) certainly wasn't very pricey for a PC.

I'm using it on a 40" 1080P TV, and the integrated graphics have no issue with that, again, just for video.

[BIGSTIC]

thanks for the reply's.

all this will be used for is home theater so dont need 3d gaming just 1080p compatible. If it could run 2 separate tvs at the same time with separate shows would make it very desirable. DVR capable would be nice but not a must since i get a free dvr with my cable.

I know a little about a decent gaming computer but I have no clue as to what would work best for strictly home theater.