If you had to build an HTPC...

[scootermaster]

And I don't mean something crazy like a dual-quad core machine...just something for around $1000 or so (give or take) with a nice HTPC case (black...which is $200 of the price right there).

I'm also interested in software. I wanna put my collection of lossless audio on there (ripping my 300+ CDs). I loooove coverflow on iTunes, but it doesn't support flac and I've heard that using different (non-directsound) drivers give you better fidelity, and iTunes doesn't seem to support that. I'm obviously going to by an audiophile quality sound card and jack it into my home theater.

Also, I don't care at all about gaming, except via emulation.

Any thoughts?

 

[darkswordsman17]

What all are you wanting to do? Need to record TV? Playback movies? Games? Music?

Really, for $1000 what I would do is get either a PS3 or X360 (I would prefer the latter myself) and have it stream it from your normal computer. You can spend the rest on other components or maybe beefing up your PC or network to handle it (more hard drives, etc).

Something that I think you'd like is a Squeezebox. Very nifty little device that has very good sound quality (especially considering the price).

If you're an Apple person the iTV (or whatever its called) is due out shortly (sometime in March now I think). Or you could consider a Mini.

A Slingbox might also do what you want nicely.

I think if you bought a couple of different devices (maybe one that specializes in video and the other audio for instance) you'll get a better result. You do lose some capability versus a PC but if that extra isn't worth it then you could trim the fat so to speak.

If nothing else you could get a nice universal remote (like the Logitech Harmony series) that will allow you one remote control over all the devices.

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: darkswordsman17
What all are you wanting to do? Need to record TV? Playback movies? Games? Music?

Really, for $1000 what I would do is get either a PS3 or X360 (I would prefer the latter myself) and have it stream it from your normal computer. You can spend the rest on other components or maybe beefing up your PC or network to handle it (more hard drives, etc).

Something that I think you'd like is a Squeezebox. Very nifty little device that has very good sound quality (especially considering the price).

If you're an Apple person the iTV (or whatever its called) is due out shortly (sometime in March now I think). Or you could consider a Mini.

A Slingbox might also do what you want nicely.

I think if you bought a couple of different devices (maybe one that specializes in video and the other audio for instance) you'll get a better result. You do lose some capability versus a PC but if that extra isn't worth it then you could trim the fat so to speak.

If nothing else you could get a nice universal remote (like the Logitech Harmony series) that will allow you one remote control over all the devices.

Thanks for the reply. Guess I should have been a little more specific. There are a couple of main things I want the thing to do:

1. Play my lossless audio/mp3s on my home theater, and stream them to the computers in my house (or beyond, I guess). The idea of having my entire CD collection on random access, completely lossless makes me drool. A lot.

1. DVR functionality. The more high-tech, the better (i.e. ideally cablecard/OCUR, but I'll take analog and QAM if I have to...and it seems I do)

1. Emulation. I want to be able to play NES/SNES/n64/MAME games. I've seen some slick interfaces for that sort of thing that go right into MCE. I've already got USB dongles for n64/PS2 controllers

1. Act as a progressive/upconverting (HD?) DVD player. Like, using dscaler or whatever it is those kids use to get great DVD results

1. Perhaps serve movies in the same way as music, depending on how much room I have on the HD

I've played with a slingbox, but a PC and orb can do the same thing. The iTV is out because it doesn't actually "tune" TV. My sister has a mini and a USB tuner, and she likes that, but I'd something a bit more expandable, and as I mentioned, I don't wanna be shackled to iTunes (not that I have a problem with apple. Like I said, I love coverflow and it's pretty much the perfect large-screen jukebox interface)

I figured I could do something like this:

1. Nice HTPC case - $200

1. Motherboard and chip (who knows what...that's what I'm askin!) - $200

1. Hard drive(s) - $150

1. RAM - $100

1. Graphics card - $100

1. Sound card - $150

1. TV tuners - $150

That's $1050. I know that doesn't cover stuff like PSU/cooling, keyboard, software and some other incidentals, but that's the general idea.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Bootprint]

What software are you going to use for scheduling and recording TV ?

 

[FoBoT]

http://www.pics.bbzzdd.com/beta/users/L33731/wrongforum.jpg

 

[darkswordsman17]

Ok.

For your music the Squeezebox would be perfect, although you could definitely get the same capability out of a HTPC.

Hmm. It's too bad that Xbox360/PS3 modding isn't further along as if the original Xbox mod scene is anything to go by then we'll see some very good stuff there. That actually wouldn't be a bad choice either, a modded Xbox loaded to the gills.

If you had the space then you could get a modded Xbox, a Squeezebox (might not even be needed) and one of the I think Oppo upconverting DVD players for less than a grand easily. The only extra is the PVR/DVR capability.

Something else to consider is maybe getting a new hard drive, tuner(s) and a copy of Vista Home Premium or XP MCE 2005 (I think the latter might actually be the better for this idea at least at the moment) and then use the Media Center extension through the 360.

Really it looks like a HTPC would be your best bet at the moment as if you do the component setup like I've been throwing out there you're going to be missing some functionality somewhere.

For what you're looking for on PC I'd say this:

Antec Fusion HTPC case ~$175
500GB WD/Seagate/Samsung/etc HDD ~$150
ATi Theater 650 Pro, or Fusion5 HD cards (QAM support). ~$100
Low end dual core CPU with integrated video motherboard (there should be ones with DVI and component and before too long HDMI). ~$150-300
Bluegears sound card (don't know the model name but its on Newegg and has DTS-Connect, Dolby Digital Live capabililties) ~$100
2GB of name brand (but not performance) RAM ~$200

There's some other things I might recommend as well. Might also need to include an OS if you want (MCE or Vista for instance). The integrated card should be enough for emulators (I believe there is pretty good AMD/ATi chipset thats due out anytime now) and you'd always have the ability to put a nicer card in if you wanted it. In fact, I believe AMD/ATi is supposed to be coming out with an all new All-In-Wonder type card that should be a lot better than they were.

Also factor in other stuff (do you want it to be a quiet PC then you're gonna need some extras). Include remotes and/or software that you might want.

 

[R3MF]

for HTPC use i would rec:

C2D 6600 (high bitrate high def video decode)

ATI/nVidia budget DX10 card

2GB of DDR2

Silverstone VFD case

1x 320GB system drive
1x 500GB data drive
1x 500GB data backup drive