This will be my first time building a HTPC. I'm a total noob when it comes to it. I haven't followed technology since I built my gaming rig 3 years ago so I don't know what's out there. I've read a few threads though and I kinda know what I want.
I wanna build a quiet HTPC which I will also use for some gaming. I'm mostly gonna use it for watching 720/1080 mkv movies/tv shows. I would also like to record TV shows and stuff. I live in Cyprus and I don't have HDTV broadcasting yet.One of the local stations will start testing it come next year though so I might wanna look into that. I have ipTV and the box only has S-video and SPDIF outputs. Are there any TV cards RCA inputs or S-video inputs? I plan to get a good sound system for it once I built it. I don't know whether I need a special soundcard or something for that.
I would also like to have some expandability - I'd rather have a full ATX case but a microATX would do. One thing about the case is that I'm gonna lay it on its side so I'm looking for a case which will let me install a dvd drive sideways so it looks like a "normal" dvd player. Aesthetics is kinda important but not crucial.
Games that I will play include FIFA, Pro Evolution Soccer, WoW, Race Driver GRID, L4D. Pretty much not the latest in 3D.
I'm willing to spend close to €1000 although I'm quite flexible on that. I plan to build within 4-6 weeks.
I have an old computer which I plan to turn into a file/media server for my home network which will serve the HTPC. Here's the link so you have the whole picture of what I'm trying to do.
I wanna build a quiet HTPC which I will also use for some gaming. I'm mostly gonna use it for watching 720/1080 mkv movies/tv shows. I would also like to record TV shows and stuff. I live in Cyprus and I don't have HDTV broadcasting yet.One of the local stations will start testing it come next year though so I might wanna look into that. I have ipTV and the box only has S-video and SPDIF outputs. Are there any TV cards RCA inputs or S-video inputs? I plan to get a good sound system for it once I built it. I don't know whether I need a special soundcard or something for that.
I would also like to have some expandability - I'd rather have a full ATX case but a microATX would do. One thing about the case is that I'm gonna lay it on its side so I'm looking for a case which will let me install a dvd drive sideways so it looks like a "normal" dvd player. Aesthetics is kinda important but not crucial.
Games that I will play include FIFA, Pro Evolution Soccer, WoW, Race Driver GRID, L4D. Pretty much not the latest in 3D.
I'm willing to spend close to €1000 although I'm quite flexible on that. I plan to build within 4-6 weeks.
I have an old computer which I plan to turn into a file/media server for my home network which will serve the HTPC. Here's the link so you have the whole picture of what I'm trying to do.
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