Biostar 200N + Windows media centre?

[KeyTap]

Hello folk,

I've just got myself a home theater system I've been dreaming of for years. I also have a Biostar 200N which I have used now and again, hucked up to my 32inch Sony Widescreen, S-vid connection. Picture is fine with movies, dvd, divx etc, although general windows text is poo.

I have been thinking of turning the Biostar into a proper Media centre, although I have a few questions.

Can I display a widescreen image on my crt sony, as I'm sure it just streaches the desktop at the mo? Will WMC display a widescreen desktop?

Is it as simple as just adding a digital tv turner and WMC will do the rest?

Can I run decent mp3 software through WMC? I use itunes at the mo on the telly although again the text is poo, how could I improve this, would winamp 5 have any features that could aid in my vistion issues? IE larger text listings of my music library?

My biostar has a dgital out, optical I believe, could/should that be used for all sound to my yamaha receiver? Optical plug on comp is square-ish, other on back of amp is round. Is there a cable available to overcome this?

I'm hoping thats all I'll need... What do you think?

Many thanks for your help in advance.

Joe

 

[chriscpritchard]

WMC has a build in music player and that should be it

 

[ScoobyDoo]

I use a biostar 200N with media centre, have a tv card plugged into it so I can record live tv from NTL digital.
Add a digital TV card and MC will do the rest.

Run all sorts of MP3 software on it, even use it to transfer to a Netgear MP101 digital music player in my bedroom.

Copes with everything i throw at it, ive got a Xp2500 processor, with 1gb RAM.

Optical out to optical in on your AMP should be standard, the optical cables are a standard cable so shouldnt be different on your pc and amp.