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Help me build my tv-out only "living room" computer.

G

ghetto buck

Senior member

I've been planning on building something to play DVD/divx/Emulators/Mp3's etc. using tv-out and my cheap 5.1 setup. I've been slowly narrowing down the possiblities and would like some feedback from anyone who has already done this.

heres the direction i'm going at this point:

MSI-6215T Link Anyone know of a better case for the job? I've considered the sv24 but this one seems to better suit the job and it's cheaper.

P3 733 - This I already have laying around.

256M PC100 memory - Already have in current system

Toshiba 12x Dvd drive - Already have in current system

Nostromo n45 usb gamepad - Just bought, hasn't come yet.


So as you can see I have most everything ironed out except the mb/case combo which is the big one. Does anyone have the 6215? If so how is the s-video out quality? Is it loud? Also will the program girder work with the built in front IR? I'm also considering buying a sound card with spdif out and selling my stand alone dvd player but would like to see the quality first.

I have a lot of stuff left to iron out but any feedback is greatly appreciated. I have had a hard time finding any reviews of this case/mobo so before I build my system around it I would like to learn more about it.
 
I've done this using ati 8500dv. Works great. Also wireless aopen mouse and wireless logitech keyboard, I just sit on my couch and play games, web surf, play dvd's. The 8500dv has spdif output but I haven't tried it. I can even use the ati software to record tv shows like a tivo. Bye bye vcr!
 
Puck, the 8500dv is a radeon right? And that has spdif 5.1 output on it, that is awesome. How much did you pay for yours?

Also i'm hoping I can opt out of using the traditional mouse keyboard for this setup. Instead i'm going to try using the above mentioned girder to do most commands from a standard universal dvd remote. I'm not sure if girder will work with a standard remote but I see no reason why it couldn't be used to capture the remote codes. Also if I ever need a mouse for something I haven't programmed the nostromo gamepad has a mouse mode which allows you to use the analog sticks to control the windows cursor. Not pretty but I should seldom need it and I bought the controller already mainly for playing snes roms.

Keep the suggestions coming, if anyone has a good review of the barebones system or even just the mb, i would love to read it.
 
i like to learn more as well since i will be doing something similar to this as well. i have a radeon vivo 64 mb video card would like to record shows and such is that possible with this card?


Jen
 
Hey ghetto,

ati has just released the ati all in wonder 7500. difference is less memory. 32mb instead of 64 and uses the old->new radeon core. Uses the analog tv tuner isntead of the digital thats on the 8500dv. difference is the analog runs cooler. Does about 10fps better then the old. the review is on tomshardware about it.

check that one out as i think thats more your speed. comes with the same remote too and stuff. Actually looks like the at all in wonder radeon... the original. doesn't have fireports.
 
xxsk8er101xx,

Thanks for the reply. That AIW definately looks sweet, unfortunately for me it's a bit out of my price range. As of now I should only be spending around $250 on the parts I need, which is mainly just the barebones system. Buying that card would almost double that 🙂 . I'm hoping to be able to just use the stock onboard video that it comes with, which is why I was hoping someone here had one and could give some feedback on the quality. It's probably the same quality video as any 815e board so i'll see if I can find a review of a different board.

The main reason i'm looking into this particular system is because it's small, desktop (better dimensions for home theatre) and has everything I need integrated (video, sound, nic, usb, the works).

I had no idea the all in wonder series had come so far since last year 🙂
 
The Radeon is all good...but it's not going to fit into the MS-6215, no AGP is a problem. 😉

I suggest using this case. It's a great small case and you can use a mATX mobo and accepts full height cards.
 
Almost forgot, Jan I know there are a few third party programs that allow tivo-like functionality for tv tuners. I don't know what they are off the top of my head or how good they are. I'm pretty sure one of them has "vcr" in the name, regardless though that should definately work.

I would be using a tuner in my box as well, but I already have a TiVo 😛
 
Thanks Splice, thats the kind of advice I was looking for. Unfortunately that case seems to lack front usb for plugging my controllers into, and it's just the case, no board, which isn't a problem. Do you know where I might be able to find better pictures of that case. It mentions front usb but I don't see them. Looking at the small thumbnail I prefer the look of the msi over that one. Plus I really don't need full height cards as I don't plan on adding anything except possibly a soundcard with spdif.

EDIT: after reading the description it does mention a built in mb which I didn't see in the back pic. Also I see the usb is behind the front panel.
 
Any suggestions for a PCI video card for a "livingroom" set up? My brother has an HP with no AGP, and I told him to go with the Radeon. With TV Out, he now wants to play games on his big TV. Is the Radeon as good as any?
 
Ghetto Buck -

I know of one 3rd party 'TiVo-like' software called snapstream (found @ snapstream.com). They sell their software and a Hauppage! tuner card bundle for around 70 or 80. Without the tuner, the software is like $30 or $40 bucks.

Benefits: 1)Snapsteam allows you to 'stream' recorded shows over the internet (takes a fast pipe)
2) You can load shows to a pocket PC device (no joke - and 64 megs is plenty of room for one show)

I have this running on an K6-II, 475, and the processor can't keep up with the encoding, but a decent PIII or Athlon running at 700 mhz should be fine with this.

I know the guys that started the company, so I'm kind of plugging it: it's still got some rough edges, but it's really cool.

Good luck with the build!
 
bravesfan258,

That software looks incredible, to my knowledge PVR software up to this point hadn't been all that great but snapstream seems to break that trend. I'm definately considering bringing my usb wintv out of retirement and buying that software for my box. Thanks for the link and encouragement, this project is nearing reach now.


BTW
Anyone know the 2d/tv-out video quality of the integrated 815e graphics?
 
Seems like lots of people are doing this lately, I have just built an mp3/divx box too. I used this case, in black(grey). High quality build and I am very pleased with it. Just enough room for everything I needed. It came with a mATX 160W PSU. I didn't bother with a floppy drive, just booted from CD-ROM to install XP. I used a PC Chips 810LMR motherboard (Socket A), SiS730S chipset, 64MB onboard graphics, AC97 sound, 10/100 LAN, 1xAGP, 2xPCI, 1XAMR (56k modem included 😉). I used a Duron 800Mhz and an Abit Siluro GF2 MX400 64MB with TV/Out. The quality is more than acceptable at 800x600 desktop, and it's fine for 640x480 gaming. I went the wireless keyboard route, I managed to find a small black keyboard with multimedia keys and a built in joypad/mouse.

Total cost £280 (I already had a hard drive, CD-ROM and memory).

Now all I have to do is take care of the noise, the cooler I selected for the Duron is too loud!

Have fun, hope this gives you some ideas
 
Thanks MCS, that helps a lot. It seems a lot of people who do this choose that case. Perhaps because it's one of the few which support athlons? If anyone knows a good site with pictures of these cases or reviews I would appreciate it.

Newegg has some fairly good shots of the MSI-6215T, but a lot of the other sites I go to just have standard 100x100 thumbnails and nothing more. It's hard to get a good impression of a case by just that and I'd like it to look nice.

The only case that I can find a lot of info on is the sv24, which would work except its square so it wouldn't match home theatre components.
 


<< The only case that I can find a lot of info on is the sv24, which would work except its square so it wouldn't match home theatre components. >>



Also, it only has one PCI slot and no AGP, has a rubbish graphics chip even at low resolutions and would be difficult to ever upgrade the motherboard compared to buying a standard mATX case. But it does look quite "neat". Depends on your needs I suppose.

There are some pics/comments on Directron for the CasperII, but all over the place I have read very positive comments about this case. I have not seen any website reviews...
 
I'm now also looking into the sabre 1815 case/mobo. It IMO looks nicer than the msi, but has no tv-out and is more expensive. It does however have spdif out which is very nice. So it kind of depends on feedback and the video quality of the msi, if i'm going to have to buy a replacement video card anyway the sabre becomes quite attractive.
 
The LAN case in my sig is turning into an Entertainment box. I *should* have a Radeon VIVO on the way for it, but it has been 2.5 weeks and no show🙁. I got a remote from sun818 for it.
 
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