Media Center PC

goodguy20k · 07-01-06, 09:12 PM

Ok, so... I need tech advice.

I'm interested in creating a "Media Center" PC. Here's what I want to do:

Use a TV tuner card to record TV/composite/etc to the hard drive.
Connect to the network to access internet.
Burn recorded content to DVD EASILY.
Play streaming content over the 'net.
and more.

So, I'm finding these MicroATX cases that are awesome, and I'm sure there's DVD burners that will be great. I have a pci WiFi. My main question is software.

What would people suggest for OS? I think I can get Windows Media Center Edition. Would that be a good idea? My main goals with it are REMOTE access (you know, the IR thingy) and EASY interface. We have an ILO (Wal-Mart rebranded Lite-On) and that's as complex/easy as I want it.

So, am I dreaming, pie-in-the-sky, and/or hopeless? This would be ultimately awesomely cool!

(P.S. Off topic, but... I just tried VMware for the first time... SWEET!)

aximbigfan · 07-01-06, 09:20 PM

dual hdds in raid 0. gives you speed
amd athlon 64 gives you overhead for when windows xp vista MCE comes out
dual ATI video card in crossfire gives you more speed
dual DVD rw drives gives you....
and then if you want to make it quit then water cool it.

chris

jnev · 07-01-06, 09:35 PM

I'd use mythtv instead of media center. install some linux distro and run mythtv on it. it'll be a lot easier because you won't have to deal with windows' DRM.

goodguy20k · 07-01-06, 09:51 PM

Yeah, I'm wondering about starting with a distro like Damn Small Linux and building up. I'm looking at Mythtv now, thanks for pointing it out.

Keep up the suggestions!

windowcrank · 07-01-06, 11:16 PM

I run Media Center Edition on an HP A1140N 3.0ghz unit with 2gb ram, 750gb disk an ati TV-WONDER Premium card and love it. I do all the things you want to do and for me its been solid as a rock. This unit by the way passed ALL the Windows Vista Ultimate edition pre-tests.

silentknight · 07-02-06, 12:10 AM

You should look into gbPVR, gives you all sorts of MC capabilities and its freeware! .. simple install on XP

Zaniax · 07-02-06, 12:13 AM

Interesting - how is the PC to scart interface established ?

... and the remote control to pc interface, btw ?

®

darkdestroyer · 07-02-06, 12:24 AM

About that AMD Processor...

For ~100$ you can get one of the best processors out there at 4.1Ghz Pentium D.

Read this article... or skim it to get the gist of it.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/05/..._41_ghz_cores/
That'll last you for a while. The processor and the reading

Womblin'free · 07-02-06, 07:53 AM

When it's working MythTV is very, very good. It's notoriously picky about hardware though, make sure to research what you're buying before building.

07-02-06, 01:18 PM

SageTV is awesome as well. It is not free, but works very very well and supports tons of different tv cards and such. I also like it as the interface is close to the Tivo Interface which I am used to.

I would not recommend doing as aximbigfan said with the very fast 64bit processors and raid and such, way too much heat in that little box and way overkill for a mediacenter. I have a 2.6 P4 that runs SageTV Perfectly. You will want to grab a big hard drive though :)

Zaniax · 07-02-06, 01:40 PM

Bump ...

Any suggestions on my post #7 ?

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Rsaturn9 · 07-02-06, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Zaniax

Bump ...
Any suggestions on my post #7 ?

®

Bump... They move the No Bumping thread here?

goodguy20k · 07-03-06, 01:06 PM

Nope, sorry Rsaturn9. Bumpin' is still in the other thread. These bumps are for the purpose of getting the thread found again, that other thread is for... Upping your post count. ;-)

Lots of stuff to look into people, thanks for the info! Keep it coming. I like having options.

reese · 07-03-06, 01:21 PM

Best choice is to install winXP pro and get an all in wonder. The remote is awesome, and the suite ATi sends with it will take care of all your multimedia needs (even making DVD's!)

benots4 · 07-03-06, 01:23 PM

I worked on this for a while and here is what I found.

1) PC's especially home built a noisy, to many stupid muffin fans. I've been looking for quiet power supplies and processor fans and most of the time you just can not get a straight answer. I would definitly go water cooled, if its quiet. I've asked some design engineers why all the fans?

2) Finding a Home Entertainment style case is also a hassel, I've seen them but hey are always out of stock.

3) ATI - All in one Wonder has the worlds crappist tunner. Go with a video capture card and use a VCR or cable box as a tuner.

4) Get Dual UberGigger until it HurtZ processors. I was using a 2 Ghz P4 with 2G of ram and it took 8 hours to render a 2 hour movie. Either that or forget burning DVDs.

5) Tired Pinnacle Studio (8) which I liked but it would most likely lock up before the 8 hours of rendering were complete.

6) the ATI stuff just did not work well, It worked just not well.

Good luck. I may try again next year. I will need a new PC so I am waiting for Vista to be installed on whatever I buy. Better support for dual processors? Then I will probably get a Dell, they have the quietest boxes I've seen. eh, heard.