I want to build a HTPC with a difference!

[Yucca]

Hi all...

I want my pc, which i will be taking with me to uni in 5 months time to do everything! I want it to do everything a HTPC would do and all the normal stuff. I have the spec in sig below. So what do i need?

Need a new gcard because the old one is to old now.

Need to buy a nice sould card so i can get good quality sound.

Need a good set of speakers like the logitec z550's.

Need a freeview card, or two.

Need a big hard drive so that i can record freeview.

Need a dvd drive, which i have anway as i have a dvd writer.

Need (well, would be nice) to have a remote.

Need a wireless keyboard and mouse so that i can sit on bed far away and still browse net ect.

I also need a nice tft, maybe a wide screen one.

What else do i need to get my pc to be a pc that plays games and all the things a media pc can do to?

 

[Yucca]

Well i have case, psu, big hd, cpu, ram, dvd writer that i am happy with. And the rest can be done one or two at a time.

Have i missed anything out?

 

[Yucca]

You're too vague. What exact parts do you have and type?
ie if we recommend a MATX case and you have a ATX mobo it'll be a bit difficult for you to fit it. Do you need a tuner? radio? A few PCI slots free?

I have the parts in my sig bellow. I dont need a matx case because i have a full atx stacker case. Im need a new mobo as i will be upgrading graphics card to pci e soon and so i will need one that a good clocker and has a few spare pci ports ect so that i can do do all the extra stuff that most people wouldnt be doing like adding 2 freeview cards.

What do you mean by tuner? A radio tuner? It would nice to have the radio on the pc too. Do i need a tuner then or can i just use the internet or somthing?

The radio idea is a good one, never thought of that myself. Thats all im asking for, ideas.

Would i be a good idea to get a vivo card becuse i am thinking of watching video's accasionally and changing them to dvd too? If i cant get a vivo version of the gcard i want (want a £200 card, like a 7900GT but a lot of them are not vivo), what do i use instead? Is there a card i can buy to do this?

 

[Yucca]

Sorry mate i think i didnt explain myself properly. I want a normal pc to do all the extra stuff that a media centre does, ie tv cards, recoring ect. Maybe i shouldnt have used the HTPC title! I have no need for it to be small quiet ect as i dont want a under the tv setup box, i just want a pc that does evything under the sun!

I was thinking of getting a freeview card, as although we have sky downstars at home i wont have it at uni and also i dont think my dad will want to spend extra £10 a month for me to watch sky on my pc! Can i get a freeview card with a radio tuner built in?

What is all this scaling that eveyone is going on about? Can someone explain it to me and tell me if i should bother and why, and what i need to do it?

 

[Yucca]

I wouldnt need a copy of windows MCE would i? As i can use windows for eveything anyway and its not a under the tv setup, ill have keyboard and mouse.

 

[Yucca]

The noise doesnt bother me as long as its not stupid! And the signal in the halls im going to be in should be quite good, i asked!