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edge
29-12-07, 18:24
Got a dvi to hdmi cable today along with new wireless keyboard etc and wow its a super sharp picture.
Now i have a 42inch lcd monitor and media center under the tv all looking smart. All done pretty cheap too.
Amd 64 athlon due core 4000+
Asus board
Xfx gforce 8800 512 graphics
2 gig ram
Sata 2 hdd
All in a nice black and silver case
Will get a new cooler and more ram when i put vista on.
Its not going to set any records but i almost doubled the spec for what you could buy already built for the same money.
All went together really well as its been a few years since i last built one.
JustGav
29-12-07, 18:25
Noooo. not vista.... trust me on this one, the GUI sucks so many resources I found it suffering, XP is far better.

Check out mediaportal as far as software goes. That is my current fav.
edge
29-12-07, 18:27
Noooo. not vista.... trust me on this one, the GUI sucks so many resources I found it suffering, XP is far better.

Check out mediaportal as far as software goes. That is my current fav.

Oh right. May stay with xp then as a few have mentioned not to change just yet and will have a look at that one
JustGav
29-12-07, 18:28
Have a look here http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=134427&highlight=htpc
imi
29-12-07, 18:42
nice one edge....pics???
edge
29-12-07, 18:45
Am i right in thinking its a free program?
edge
29-12-07, 18:51
Bottom silver section is pull down with floppy drive sized space which i will put my card reader in and has front usb's.
Case is not too bad for under £40 and is full size atx but they dont come with any instructions and fitting the dvd drive is a nightmare unless you know to take the front cover off first. Only has space for one hdd but not bad looking for the money and will suit my needs.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k91/southwestcanines/PB060031.jpg
JustGav
29-12-07, 18:52
Am i right in thinking its a free program?

You are indeed correct....
edge
29-12-07, 18:52
You are indeed correct....

Looks like a nice tool. Thanks
JustGav
29-12-07, 18:56
Looks like a nice tool. Thanks

Why thank you, quite impressed with yours as well :p (snigger, sorry had a fun day out so full of .....)
MrHanky
29-12-07, 19:19
OK, excuse my ignorance, but what do you do with these media centres??? I am starting to feel old now as I am no longer in touch with the latest technology :(

Thanks

Mark
edge
29-12-07, 19:35
OK, excuse my ignorance, but what do you do with these media centres??? I am starting to feel old now as I am no longer in touch with the latest technology :(

Thanks

Mark

Pc in a case that sits under the tv. Mine is quite large :eyebrows: (full atx) but you can get smaller ones if you want but then you are limited what you can put in as the parts are basicly small versions etc if you get that? Saves me going into another room or waiting for the other half to finish with the laptop and i can put my HD to use on my tv now.

Sure someone will offer a better answer
AlanM
29-12-07, 19:36
Thought I was the only one Mark, wireless radio in one corner and gramophone in the other
edge
29-12-07, 19:36
For example a quick search showed this http://www.pcw.co.uk/personal-computer-world/hardware/2153446/philips-showline-mcp9350i
MrHanky
29-12-07, 19:59
Pc in a case that sits under the tv. Mine is quite large :eyebrows: (full atx) but you can get smaller ones if you want but then you are limited what you can put in as the parts are basicly small versions etc if you get that? Saves me going into another room or waiting for the other half to finish with the laptop and i can put my HD to use on my tv now.

Sure someone will offer a better answer

Ok, thanks. Im still not sure of the advantages to this over standalone units. Do you just use it for everything such as DVD player, Blu ray, HD DVD, torrents etc? Do you use it as well as the Sky box?

Thought I was the only one Mark, wireless radio in one corner and gramophone in the other

lol, its starting to feel a little like that :)


I have my pc setup in mine and Toms games room, and it is handy to play things like BF2 and watch all of the programs I download etc. If I ever get my ariel sorted I will be able to use the freeview built in to the TV's. I guess I am on the right track here, but could take it further by using it as a live tv recorder etc. Or am I way off? :)

My room by the way (PC in the middle)
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z140/MrHankyXmasP00/DSC00001.jpg

Mark
Alex
29-12-07, 20:05
Yep don't go near Vista if you want to watch HiDef material even from a legitimate source (bought HD-DVD disc on an HD-DVD player). MS at a whim turn off your ability to watch the content even though it's legit.

I've now tested out the full blown LinuxMCE Media Centre software on a VM and I don't like the interface you're left with.

MediaPortal on XP will work well for 95%...
JustGav
31-12-07, 12:29
Yep don't go near Vista if you want to watch HiDef material even from a legitimate source (bought HD-DVD disc on an HD-DVD player). MS at a whim turn off your ability to watch the content even though it's legit.

I've now tested out the full blown LinuxMCE Media Centre software on a VM and I don't like the interface you're left with.

MediaPortal on XP will work well for 95%...

You obviously ended up with the same view of LinuxMCE that I did... cracking package, crappy UI..
Alex
31-12-07, 12:59
You obviously ended up with the same view of LinuxMCE that I did... cracking package, crappy UI..

Indeed I want to iPhone of Media Centres. I need it to be slick and sexy to use...with not necessarily the last word in features.

LinuxMCE is a system that can control the kettle if it was networked and that's not what I need!!