Media Center PC

[Duff]

I want to setup a computer as my media center.. I've got rogers digital cable and also FTA satellite that I want to run through the computer and then onto the TV.

I'd like to have PVR and be able to play movies...

Anyone have a setup like this to give me some pointers?

 

[tboy]

I did something similar.

I bought a duo core intell processor. 2.13 ghz
Good quality Geforce GT something video card with 500 mb memory. It should have HDMI or DVI out.
Mobo with 2 mb cache
Mobo with 6 channel onboard sound (will update to a sound blaster sometime)
LG blu ray HDDVD DVD CD ROM (BR HD player not burner).
500 gb hd
I play all my dvds through it and the sound is great, video is awesome.

As for using it as a PVR hauppage and others have various gadgets that allow you to store HD cable signals but I haven't tried them out yet.

No matter what, if you want to play FTA signals through the PC you'll need some sort of input. Hauppage makes HD FTA cards for under $100.00 but HD ones are around $200 - $300.

I also have a wireless keyboard and mouse. One drawback is you need the keyboard relatively handy.

 

[Anynym]

...As for using it as a PVR hauppage and others have various gadgets that allow you to store HD cable signals but I haven't tried them out yet.

No matter what, if you want to play FTA signals through the PC you'll need some sort of input. Hauppage makes HD FTA cards for under $100.00 but HD ones are around $200 - $300...

You're probably looking to get a HVR-1600 (if you have a spare PCI slot, $113 for the Media Centre Kit in Ottawa), or an HVR-1800 (if you have a spare PCIExpress slot instead, $128 for the Media Centre Kit in Ottawa).

 

[tboy]

You're probably looking to get a HVR-1600 (if you have a spare PCI slot, $113 for the Media Centre Kit in Ottawa), or an HVR-1800 (if you have a spare PCIExpress slot instead, $128 for the Media Centre Kit in Ottawa).

Now, make sure they are HD Cable compatible. Last time I checked on the hauppage equipment they were all over $200.00.

The SD cable ones were around what you stated as well as the HD FTA ones....

 

[Duff]

Awesome... Thanks for the info guys!

 

[tboy]

Awesome... Thanks for the info guys!

Just one more thing:
Don't get sucked into the hype about having to buy a quad core. You can get away with a duo core no problem.

Same as the video card. You don't need a 3 gb card, mine is only 512mb and it does just fine.

You can build a pretty kick ass machine now for under $300.00 if you have a case, if you want a nice case, that could run another hundred.

 

[enyaw]

tboy, how much ram would compliment what you just wrote, to complete the kickass machine. Because I'm interested, and should everything be sata and pcie?

 

[tboy]

Yes, PCIe is the norm for video these days and yes, I've installed sata drives. Although, a typical IDE drive works fine (I have one installed also).

I have 2 gb installed. I got a great deal on fast OCZ memory chips and now the going rate is about $50.00 for fast memory 2 gb.

 

[WoodPeckr]

You can never have too much memory

RAM is cheap. Max out your RAM, you won't be disappointed.