Media PC

[xibalba]

So what all would I need to have a media pc one for movies and music hooked up to a TV?

Any suggestions for OS/Sound Card/Video Card/TV Card/Case etc...

[shinigami052]

Such a difficult question. Depends on what you want to do with it (stream media from other PCs on ur network? Play off an external HDD?) Also depends on how much money you've got to spend and what you desire in the machine (does it need to look pretty? does it need to be cheap?). Also what kinda system are you hooking it up to (or plan to hook it up to). Do you need 1080p support? HDMI? Do you have a fiber sound system? What OSes are you familar with?

With all that being said, I really like the Linux MCE. I haven't gotten a chance to actually play with it myself on a media PC (saving up for the PC) but it looks great, able to handle a lot of stuff and best of all...it's free. The only drawback to using it is that you'll need to check for supported video, sound, TV tuner etc cards when building the system. Although Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate would work great too. Lots of driver support for a lot of products and it would open up a lot more possibilities.

Palit Multimedia (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048+50012156&name=Palit+Multimedia+Inc) has a great selection of cards that I highly recommend. Their build quality is superb (more so than those other cheapo brands), their cards have a lot of innovative things that many other companies don't have (or are only now copying) like HDMI ports and they're cheaper (price wise) than any other card out there with the same features.

For a TV Tuner card, I honestly don't know much about them. I do know, however, that soon (in the next year or so) the FCC is getting rid of the analog TV signal so be sure to get a card with a digital tuner.

Sound card...honestly at this point I'm a big supporter of on board sound. The on board sound cards are getting better and better and the external sound cards are becoming almost a gimic (IMO). This is, of course, not the case if you've got some kind of crazy high end system that requires special things in which case you'll need to find a sound card that'll fit your existing system.

Case is totally up to you. Depends on what you're putting into the system (microATX, ATX system). You can use an old case from an old PC if you don't mind it sticking out amongst your other components. I've fallen in love with the Antec Veris Fusion (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16811129029).

Just remember that you don't need some crazy beefy system to be a media PC. Sure a more powerful system will make certain things easier but it's not required. I think, out of all the different types of PCs one could build, a media PC is the most open and free range PC you could build.

Just my 2cents worth...hope this helped some.

[xibalba]

I was thinking of something like a jukebox for my music/movies and DVD player. maybe hook my outside cam to it. I was thinking of a good sound card to have it as a surround system as well....

I am think an all in one so I don't have to have tons of different boxes.

Linux MCE looks interesting probably end up doing something with it....

I am in no hurry to do this seeing as I am broke right now. Just getting a few ideas right now.

[minion4hire]

I approached my system much the same way that you're approaching yours - media jukebox, no TV component (durrr... that's why my TV has a tuner) - and I must say that I love my little HTPC. Spent next to nothing on it yet it is worth its weight in gold. Screw RSS feeds and burning files to disc, watching DN and TRS streaming from my couch is WAAAY more convenient. :) It was such a pain having to burn CDs and DVDs before. I have all my media readily accessible from my server, which is plenty convenient. And not only did it replace my DVD player, but now I can game and surf from the living room! Seriously wicked investment.

Back when I built mine I just threw XP on it. I figured it was a simpler solution than trying to guide people through other unfamiliar interfaces (although Linux MCE is pretty slick). I went with a basic AX2 dualcore, Asus M2A-VM HDMI, and the basis for the Veris Fusion that Shinigami mentioned, the NSK2480 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129034).

One thing I would be concerned about if I were you, especially if you're focused on sound quality, would be the noise produced by the system you build. If you're going to get a video card (and I say if because you don't really need a discrete card) you should look for something with a passive cooler (or get a passive aftermarket). I was thinking about picking up an aftermarket CPU cooler, but the stock HSF provided was whisper quiet as soon as Q-Fan kicked in. And you can't even tell the dual 120mms on the NSK2480 are on unless you see them spinning or feel the airflow.

And speaking of sound quality, as far as audio goes I would recommend the Asus Xonar DX (http://techreport.com/articles.x/14500). If only to spite Creative. :p Although it does look like a good card, and if you have a decent sound system you WILL notice the difference. On my computer speakers (and they're not bad, Logitech Z-2300 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121122)) there were very few mp3s which annoyed me quality-wise, but on my RTi8s there are few that don't. I re-ripped most of my music into FLAC soon thereafter. And I know that doesn't directly have anything to do with the sound card :D but is more an example of how your audio requirements and expectations will be much more demanding with a HTPC.

I've been toying with picking up a TV tuner, but the only thing I'd likely use it for would be as a PVR. And frankly there isn't enough good programming on television for me to get any real use out of it.

One thing I might do differently though would be the form factor. The only things that kept me from going to a smaller form factor before was fan noise (smaller fans) and the need for half-height expansion cards. With the Asus M2A-VM HDMI adapter it wasn't really an option, but with a half-height discrete card (or better integrated solution) and the right cooling solution, I would prefer the smaller footprint. The Fusion and NSK2480 fit in with other components quite well, such as an A/V Receiver, but it would be easier to fit my center channel with a smaller footprint.

Anyhow, my two cents. I hope you HTPC serves you well! :cool:

[minion4hire]

Just read about the Xonar HDAV1.3 (http://anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=3324) which would be another interesting card to consider. Depending on your home theatre requirements/expectations of course. But the Deluxe edition of this card supports 8 channel component audio if you needed it. It's another option anyway.

[broderboy]

MythTV should be mentioned in this post somewhere, check it out

[computoman]

We plan to purchase a video camera and use a myth tv box with it. The mythtv box might even be used to watch a tv show or two. There are so many choices as to which camera to get. It would be nice to know more about them, A low end camera for doing family documentaries just to get some experience is a big possibility right now,

[tokenuser]

We plan to purchase a video camera and use a myth tv box with it. The mythtv box might even be used to watch a tv show or two. There are so many choices as to which camera to get. It would be nice to know more about them, A low end camera for doing family documentaries just to get some experience is a big possibility right now,Today's Woot (7/18) might be a great option for you. (www.woot.com for the unitiated)

[computoman]

Neato......