It's been 3 years and it's time to build a new rig...
The primary purpose of the rig is for flight simulation. But... I'd like to incorporate elements of HTPC into this build to "break the ice" and give me an understanding of the HTPC basics and improve the usefulness of the machine. To that end, I'm looking for some general comments on how I can improve the functionality, etc...
The rig will be set up in a "Media Room"; more specifically the closet of this room. This is a sizable closet (42" wide x 9 ft long). At one end of the closet, the stereo Rx, HD DVD player, and Comcast DVR and HDMI switcher are set up on a glass rack hanging on the wall. There is 1 HDMI cable that goes into the wall and up into the attic where it runs to a PJ in the center of the media room. The PJ shines its image on a 102" screen. The room is plumbed for 5.1 surround, though currently only the center and stereo speakers are hooked up.
At the other end of the closet is a home cockpit with rudder pedals, throttle, stick, Buttkicker Gamer, Track IR, 20" LCD, etc... This is where the new PC will reside. I plan to output video and sound via HDMI to the switcher on the other side of the closet to take care of my sight/sound needs from the PC. Aside from using the PC as a vault for Movies and music, I hope to be able to watch someone on the 102" screen while they sit in the cockpit flying on the 20" monitor. I'd like to export flight sim video/sound locally and on the "big screen" and stereo. Local sound at the flight sim will probably be headphones.
In general, rig will be along the following lines:
W7 OS (dual boot XP)
ATCS 840 Case
Watercoooled I7 920 to 4+GHz
4 to 8Gigs of high qual RAM
5850 Vid card
2, 60 GB SSDs in RAID 0
1, 1.5 TB HDD for storing music/video
In the end, I plan to use the new PC to store files and provide an easy way to do "media sorts of things". I'm thinking of using the PC to play Blue Ray DVDs instead of buying a dedicated Blue Ray player. I assume this is why people incorporate a BR DVD player into their PCs... I'm also assuming I can use the broadband connection on the PC to stream NetFlix movies to the PC and then send signal out of 5850 to HDMI PJ input. There is a hardware drop to the new PC and a long range Buffalo Wireless Router a few feet away that currently broadcasts to other laptops int he house downstairs.
What other things should I add to this system? Is there software folks recommend for HTPC applications? Please help. Any suggestion welcome.
The primary purpose of the rig is for flight simulation. But... I'd like to incorporate elements of HTPC into this build to "break the ice" and give me an understanding of the HTPC basics and improve the usefulness of the machine. To that end, I'm looking for some general comments on how I can improve the functionality, etc...
The rig will be set up in a "Media Room"; more specifically the closet of this room. This is a sizable closet (42" wide x 9 ft long). At one end of the closet, the stereo Rx, HD DVD player, and Comcast DVR and HDMI switcher are set up on a glass rack hanging on the wall. There is 1 HDMI cable that goes into the wall and up into the attic where it runs to a PJ in the center of the media room. The PJ shines its image on a 102" screen. The room is plumbed for 5.1 surround, though currently only the center and stereo speakers are hooked up.
At the other end of the closet is a home cockpit with rudder pedals, throttle, stick, Buttkicker Gamer, Track IR, 20" LCD, etc... This is where the new PC will reside. I plan to output video and sound via HDMI to the switcher on the other side of the closet to take care of my sight/sound needs from the PC. Aside from using the PC as a vault for Movies and music, I hope to be able to watch someone on the 102" screen while they sit in the cockpit flying on the 20" monitor. I'd like to export flight sim video/sound locally and on the "big screen" and stereo. Local sound at the flight sim will probably be headphones.
In general, rig will be along the following lines:
W7 OS (dual boot XP)
ATCS 840 Case
Watercoooled I7 920 to 4+GHz
4 to 8Gigs of high qual RAM
5850 Vid card
2, 60 GB SSDs in RAID 0
1, 1.5 TB HDD for storing music/video
In the end, I plan to use the new PC to store files and provide an easy way to do "media sorts of things". I'm thinking of using the PC to play Blue Ray DVDs instead of buying a dedicated Blue Ray player. I assume this is why people incorporate a BR DVD player into their PCs... I'm also assuming I can use the broadband connection on the PC to stream NetFlix movies to the PC and then send signal out of 5850 to HDMI PJ input. There is a hardware drop to the new PC and a long range Buffalo Wireless Router a few feet away that currently broadcasts to other laptops int he house downstairs.
What other things should I add to this system? Is there software folks recommend for HTPC applications? Please help. Any suggestion welcome.
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