building a PC media center.

[Wiscow]

Howdy,
I might have the option of building a PC media center.

Stuff for the thing to do:
-Play MP3
-Play Movies: DVD/DivX
-Record TV like a VCR

Requirments:
-MicroATX MB with audio/video/lan
-cheep
-stable
-High Quality TV output
-5.1 audio
-digital out
-spare ports for some sort of LCD
-spare prots for a infared remote controller
-linux compatiable
-small PSU with enough molex connectors


Any sudjestions on parts?

 

[Utterman]

I suggest the Shuttle SS51G mini PC. It does everything you described plus has an AGP slot. From the looks of it, it doesn't have intergrated TV out, so I guess you will have to get a TV tuner card or and video card.

 

[DeviousTrap]

What is your budget? For a media center PC why would you use linux.

 

[BeauJangles]

I don't think the shuttle has 5.1 sound, but I could be wrong

Edit: I stand corrected... has A-97 5.1 support.

Edit2: I would recommend the Shuttle as well. Very small, but very very powerful. I want one for college.

 

[Wiscow]

I guess I should mention I plan on building my own case for this. This is the whole reason I choose to take up a project because I had fun building my computer.
I would run it linux because the person I would make it for (my bro) wants linux if it is built. He is pro Microsoft and only preaches Linux to me. For the record I am a happy Win 2000 user.
I am thinking I would not need a P4 and that a Celeron would do well. But I don't know how well they would be for DVD play back and recording.

Budget= best bang for the buck, enough to do the job, less then 1000 if posiable.

 

[Maverick]

I'm going to do this soon...my DIGN case from the avsforum powerbuy is on its way. I'm going with an nforce motherboard and an XP1600 processor. Add this to an ATI 8500 AIW or 8500DV and you'll have a good PVR device. You can even get a component dongle to hook it up to an HDTV and have high res video. I'd recommend checking directron for their mATX desktop cases. Lian Li makes a good one as does Coolermaster. Both should suit your needs well.

Check out AVS Forum for Home Theater PCs

 

[bladephoenix]

I'm a novice at this, but I will give it a go:

5.1 audio is not a problem as you can probably get that built onboard in many of the motherboards out there today. 5.1 speakers are reasonably cheap - I haven't tried this one, but I am guessing the Altec Lansing 251, 5.1 amplified is pretty good, although its not really the best wattage, its just simply decent and affordable IMO (I've had good experience with Altec Lansing). And, obviously, the Live! 5.1 cards are now 3 generations old, so they are quite cheap.

For video, if you're willing to kill a little cash, you can get the popular Geoforce 4 Ti42000 with a Pinnicle capture system (if you really want to take advantage of software like Adobe Premiere). Its probably a little more common, however, to go with Shiva's suggestion for a AIW 8500 or 8500DV. If all you're going to do is capture TV and play DVDs, you probably can get away with even the AIW 7500 (It's way old hat right now and dirt cheap for the features). The 7500 is just a old Radeon chip with an extra rage theatre chip, so its not very good for playing newer 3D games, but for playing DVD's and capture, it should be just fine.

Another note: if you are going to be encoding DivX, you should probably get a reasonably good processor. I haven't encoded DivX before, but I have read to encode MP2, it takes 22 mins for every 1 min, using a P4 2.0 Ghz. through TMPGenc. It would also help to have at least a 2.0 Ghz to reduce the dropped frames when capturing using an ATI device.

 

[Goosemaster]

shuttle pc + Radeon All in wonder 9700

 

[psy44]

Originally posted by: bladephoenix


but I am guessing the Altec Lansing 251, 5.1 amplified is pretty good, although its not really the best wattage, its just simply decent and affordable IMO (I've had good experience with Altec Lansing). And, obviously, the Live! 5.1 cards are now 3 generations old, so they are quite cheap.

Don't buy the Altec Lansing 251's they're not worth it. Go for the 641's, there 4.1 but they deliver A LOT of Bass and good quality for about $40 more, check pricewatch. Also don't go for the live 5.1 cards, the Audigy cards are a lot better, the Audigy 2 came out, but unless you want 6.1 channels dont buy it, just get the OEM audigy for about $60-80.

 

[Wiscow]

This is great getting all this help. Still I left out some info. I will not need to purchase speakers because I want the computer audio output routed to the receiver. I am just building the box or rather the pyramid. My design concept is a pyramid of plexy glass. So a full size video card would not work to well.

I got a MSI Ti4200 with video in on my current comp. Is there software for using the input to watch TV and record like a TiVo? Other then that the V-In is just for video work.

Perhaps a USB TV tuner would work.

Shiva211 thanks for the link.

 

[kazamobah]

I just did a quick search and found this.

It might be a good idea to pick out the software first. That way you can see what hardware is most compatible and runs best.

 

[Maverick]

Originally posted by: Wiscow
This is great getting all this help. Still I left out some info. I will not need to purchase speakers because I want the computer audio output routed to the receiver. I am just building the box or rather the pyramid. My design concept is a pyramid of plexy glass. So a full size video card would not work to well.

I got a MSI Ti4200 with video in on my current comp. Is there software for using the input to watch TV and record like a TiVo? Other then that the V-In is just for video work.

Perhaps a USB TV tuner would work.

Shiva211 thanks for the link.

onboard video will probably be your best solution in that case...look at my original recommendation of the nforce chipset boards.