What is a HTPC ?

DiscoKandy · 25 May 2006 at 20:08

Hi,
I see a lot of threads cropping up looking for hardware recommendations for HTPC setups. I've searched around google and here a bit, but am still a bit lost as to what it is that a Home Theatre PC actually does and how it differs from a standard PC.

What can HSPC's do differently to PC's ?
Do you need a high spec machine to act as HTPC ?

Cheers

DiscoKandy · 25 May 2006 at 20:18

I pressume they run using Media Centre rather than XP ? I dont really get it, do you plug it into your tv rather than a monitor and control it through a remote control ?

DiscoKandy · 25 May 2006 at 21:53

Ok, im starting to get it. I have a 32" HDTV, how is that connected to the PC? Though the graphics card, or a seperate TV out card ?

DiscoKandy · 25 May 2006 at 22:14

Snow-Munki said:
from the pc graphics card either dvi if your LCD has DVI or analogue.

on older tv most people use svideo.

I use mine to record / watch tv, watch dvd's, listen to music, surf the internet ( just to check a few things ) and download / store media.

Would conenecting the Video Card to the LCD via DVI allow me to view HD video sources?

Is that your main computer or a seperate HTPC ? What spec is it ?

DiscoKandy · 26 May 2006 at 00:15

Snow-Munki said:
yeah, if you can use DVI that is the best option. Make sure your PC res is something like 1360 * 768. Your LCD is probably 1366 * 768 ( so you technically 'loose' 6 pixels but should be fine. )

Naa my main PC is Opteron 146 @ 2.9ghz / 2 gb ram / x850xt pe.

My HTPC was athlon xp 1800 / 512 ram / ati 7000 but recently upgraded to:

MSI K8NGM2-FID
Athlon 64 3200
1gb ram
320gb hdd
all in a microatx case under my TV

Hope that helps.

I presume it all ran ok on the XP 1800 ? Thanks for your help matey