Old PC as media center?

[david4]

Hi, Have a significant opera collection on DVD's, since am updating to a new PC, thought to use the older PC with bigger HD's to transfer my collection.
The HDTV am looking into, has most everything BUT a PC input, I checked into PC to TV adapters on Newegg and it seems there is no a good alternative.
What will be the best option available?
thank you
David

 

[Shawn]

What TV? What are the computer specs?

 

[david4]

Shawn, thank you, sorry did not include the info
Emachine T2862
WinXP home sp2
Ram= 1GB (could increase it if needed
TV
Hitachi 42" Plasma HDTV (P42H401)
this TV has most all common input BUT no PC

 

[kalrith]

That TV has 3 HDMI inputs. Get a video card with a DVI port and use a DVI-to-HDMI cable for the hookup.

 

[david4]

kalrith
Great
appreciate your help
David

 

[Shawn]

That pc should work fine for just watching DVDs.

 

[Slammy1]

I don't think that PC has an option to upgrade the video card, and seems to only have VGA. Another option would be a VGA to RGB. It can cause some copyright issues in the play back of some DVDs.

 

[david4]

Well, seems the idea of using a "video card with a DVI port and use a DVI-to-HDMI cable for the hookup"as suggested by kalrith may be viable, if can get a card to use a 32 bit PCI slot (I have 3).
I did a quick check on couple of sites and there are some cards available for relative litle money.
David

 

[montypythizzle]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130289
That is a nice card for your application.
Here is a link to a place that has quality cables for cheap:
The top few have larger guage wire, meaning thicker wire, for longer runs.
http://www.monoprice.com/produ...p?c_id=102&cp_id=10231

 

[david4]

thank you montypythizzle
David

 

[WraithETC]

You better make sure that when you send the PC signal through the hdmi input that it can actually display it at its native res. My LCD is locked at 640x480 on hdmi but can do its native through the vga input.