Media Centre PC

Lolcb · 16 Apr 2007 at 00:34

Hi, new to this media centre pc thingy. want to ask a few questions...

- what are the main components needed in a media centre pc?
- what is considered a good media centre pc?
- i have taken a look at those small cases, but i'm not sure what cpu cooler will actually fits into those type of cases. im particularly interested in the silverstone sugo/lascala series case.

hope you guys can help out, thanks.

Lolcb · 16 Apr 2007 at 16:34

anyone?

[-Stash-] · 16 Apr 2007 at 17:10

Good HTPC? Don't know, but I'm managing alright on a crappy integrated graphics mobo from ATI, S939 single core 3000+ A64 and a gig of RAM

The DVD-ROM was scavenged from somewhere, the HD is a 120GB Maxtor +9 I think and hate PSU is a no-name 350watt job that probably isn't electrically safe.

It's running Vista, I have the IR MS keyboard and DVD Remote and it runs like a dream and plays all the DVDs and Xvid stuff I throw at it.

Lolcb · 16 Apr 2007 at 18:37

Im thinking of putting a gpu that can output hdmi via dvi.

RJC · 16 Apr 2007 at 20:15

Hi,

I built my media centre pc in the new year and used the following items:
Core 2 duo 6300
2 gig of ram (crucial memory)
80gig HD (a bit low)
MSI 7600 GT with HDMI out and also DVI (fan noisy)
Antec NSK 2400 case, can just about fit Thermalright S1 128 cpu cooler in.
Asus P5B-VM Matx board.
Output to Philips 26" LCD Tv can show 720p films without any problems.

Hope the above helps

Rob

oweneades · 16 Apr 2007 at 20:17

There is a motherboard available (for core 2 duos) that has a HDMI out port nstead of a DVI port if thats what you are after.

Its this one:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-125-AB&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=326

This is the one I have been looking at myself (as my tv has twin HDMI ports yet no DVI). The onboard graphics for that board are similar to the X700 do roughly 9600XT performance (or enough for some older games).

Also its meant to be a very good overclockier considering its a small form factor board as well. (there is a thread on xtremesystems about it although pushing the fsb to high whilst running the onboard graphics can knacker the board beyod repair).

Sorry for the long post lol.

Lolcb · 16 Apr 2007 at 21:41

I was on guru3d and saw this galaxy 7600gs with hdmi output socket. very interesting and definitely what im looking for, just looking around for this card now.

monkeysmith · 17 Apr 2007 at 12:05

My HTPC is a lot more basic, built it a few years ago but still going strong:

Shuttle SN85G4V3
AMD Sempron 2800
512MB PC3200 Ram
128MB ATi 9250
Haupauge 500-T Nova - Dual Freeview Receiver Card

The Shuttle case has its own CPU cooler, very cool one too. Built in PSU, keeps the system running very quietly.

I'm running MCE 2005 on there with no problems at all. Only exporting to standard telly though, nothing hi def.

Andre · 17 Apr 2007 at 12:15

monkeysmith said:
My HTPC is a lot more basic, built it a few years ago but still going strong:

Shuttle SN85G4V3
AMD Sempron 2800
512MB PC3200 Ram
128MB ATi 9250
Haupauge 500-T Nova - Dual Freeview Receiver Card

The Shuttle case has its own CPU cooler, very cool one too. Built in PSU, keeps the system running very quietly.

I'm running MCE 2005 on there with no problems at all. Only exporting to standard telly though, nothing hi def.

Almost exactly the same as myself, for the undertelly(TM) machine - just an XP 2500+ (Socket A mobo in it) and a K-World generic USB dongle for timeshifting freeview and allowing the Mrs to record any programs she wants to watch whilst I'm out (main machine records and re-codes to DivX.) Wireless dongle with a network map onto the main machine to allow watching of previously recorded shows and converted DVDs