So, I've recently decided to embark on a new adventure to build a nice Home Theater PC.
This thread will essentially follow the process and I'll likely come back occasionally for advice or suggestions.
Or whatever.
My overall goal is to create a sleek HTPC with a small harddrive. It will access a 1-2TB media server in a different room in order to access media such as movies, music, etc. It will also need to be rather quiet.
First thing's first, I'm going to need a case. Now, I can do the home theater thing and use one of those thin fancy cases, or I can just have a horizontal PC case.
[B][U]Fancy HTPC case[/U][/B]
Looks cool.
LED displays possibly.
Volume knob and other quick controls on the front.
[B][U]PC case[/U][/B]
Bigger.
More familiar to me.
More room to expand.
Easier to cool.
I'm going to need some help for this part. I am the worst at picking cases. I'd also like to know what your guys' opinions/ideas on this project are.
Good luck.
Haha, thanks. I'm taking a look around... The HTPC-specific cases are looking really nice. I just worry about fit.
But if I see one with the 80s-ish woodgrain style I'm going to be all over that shit.
Some cases I found on ebuyer
[url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135498[/url]
[url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/125291[/url]
[url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167870[/url]
my fav:
[url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148790[/url]
Here's what we're looking at currently.
Let me know if you see anything that could be better, or something that simply won't work.
TV Tuner: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100043[/url]
Mobo: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131397[/url]
HDD: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106[/url]
GFX card: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187037[/url]
RAM: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178213[/url]
Case: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144231[/url]
Processor: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688[/url]
Optical: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136162[/url]
[QUOTE=Boyblunder;18403636]Here's what we're looking at currently.
Let me know if you see anything that could be better, or something that simply won't work.
TV Tuner: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100043[/url]
Mobo: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131397[/url]
HDD: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822135106[/url]
GFX card: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187037[/url]
RAM: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178213[/url]
Case: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144231[/url]
Processor: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688[/url]
Optical: [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136162[/url][/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129046[/url]
I would go with a nice case.
This is perfect, I have been meaning to look into building one of these for our media room. Good luck! I will be following this.
Sweet. It's going to take a while though, due to money issues. I'm in college, you know, but I'll be able to buy one or two components a month. And a few around christmastime.
What OS is it going to run?
[editline]09:15PM[/editline]
Broke my automerge :argh:
I'm not sure yet. That's another thing I need to figure out. What do you guys think?
[QUOTE=Factory;18414834][url]http://lifehacker.com/5391308/build-a-silent-standalone-xbmc-media-center-on-the-cheap[/url][/QUOTE]
A friend linked me to this when I told him, as well. Personally, I don't like it. It doesn't handle streaming video very well and the HD handling isn't really as good as it acts. Plus, I want to be able to play blu-ray and DVD on it.
I mean, sure, I could buy external drives for that, but... eh... I don't know.
Currently this HTPC is looking to be much more powerful than my gaming rig, which is a problem... I don't know what I'm going to do, really. I'd love to do this but I can't picture myself letting a home theater be more powerful than my gaming PC.
[editline]10:06AM[/editline]
The XBMC box does look promising though...
However, what's a HTPC without a TV Tuner and DVR capabilities?
I am seriously considering getting [url]http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10520ST9014[/url]
I did this about a year ago, and its the best addition to my living room (well apart from the TV) so far.
What program would you be using for your media viewing? Personally, I love MediaPortal, and I think you should check it out! You won't be disappointed!
[QUOTE=JDream;18421597]I did this about a year ago, and its the best addition to my living room (well apart from the TV) so far.
What program would you be using for your media viewing? Personally, I love MediaPortal, and I think you should check it out! You won't be disappointed![/QUOTE]
I'm thinking XBMC or Boxee.
^
you are an idiot if you think that motherboard will fit in there
Leds look like shit in a HTPC, you are supposed to watch display in a dark room, without the blinkenlichten.
Some mini-display on the other hand would probably be nice if you must have light coming out from it.
And ^ a small motherboard would fit there, barely though.
[QUOTE=Boyblunder;18413463]Oh...my...god....[/QUOTE]
I know isn't it awesome?
Windows Media Center. :v:
[QUOTE=BmB;18427216]Windows Media Center. :v:[/QUOTE]
This is what I was originally considering...
[QUOTE='[EG] Pepper;18426610']you are an idiot if you think that motherboard will fit in there[/QUOTE]
Here is a Mini-ITX motherboard / CPU / power supply / hard drive which should fit in that case. It's for my CNC machine.
[url]http://yngndrw.hostilezone.net/uploads/cnc/17112009155.jpg[/url]
That's an Asrock A330GC.
You can also get smaller than this - Nano-ITX.
I would go with Windows Media Center if I could pick one.
[editline]11:56AM[/editline]
Or maybe Boxee.
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