Media Centre PC Build

J

Justin

Seriously thinking of building a Media PC to act as a server in the house
for cds, dvd recording, etc etc. Been thinking of this for a while, and now
Sony have brought out a media receiver which will decode mp3's etc which
will plug into the TV and Amp setup I have and have the same remote as my
other Sony stuff, this has spurred me onto looking into this seriously.

I'm after a really small PC that will fit in a cupbaord, along with a large
HDD (200 gb) and a high quality DVD recorder/rewriter. I'm not sure if I
would need a top end video and sound card for this type of application. I
would also fit a digital TV card , network card etc .I've already got a
spare TFT screen and wireless keyboard/mouse. The machine would not be used
for anything else so I dont't think I would need a high end processor.

I would also have the server connected to broadband permanently, although
would use a laptop to surf connected through the wireless network I already
have.

Any ideas where I can find such a PC or what components would be best for
this type of application, ie good processor/ motherboard/ dvd recorder/ hdd/
small case etc.

The Sony stuff says it intergrates with the Vaio PCs but I would have
thought the Network Media Receiver comes with software to intergrate with
other PCs so that the remote will operate the PVR etc functions on the PC.

I will probably use a wired link to my router rather than wireless for the
time being, but can always add a bridge/acces point (never sure which you
use) to the Media Receiver at a later stage. (Im 54 mbps so should be up to
the job)
 
G

Gary Tait

Seriously thinking of building a Media PC to act as a server in the house
for cds, dvd recording, etc etc. Been thinking of this for a while, and now
Sony have brought out a media receiver which will decode mp3's etc which
will plug into the TV and Amp setup I have and have the same remote as my
other Sony stuff, this has spurred me onto looking into this seriously.

I'm after a really small PC that will fit in a cupbaord, along with a large
HDD (200 gb) and a high quality DVD recorder/rewriter. I'm not sure if I
would need a top end video and sound card for this type of application. I
would also fit a digital TV card , network card etc .I've already got a
spare TFT screen and wireless keyboard/mouse. The machine would not be used
for anything else so I dont't think I would need a high end processor.

I would also have the server connected to broadband permanently, although
would use a laptop to surf connected through the wireless network I already
have.

Any ideas where I can find such a PC or what components would be best for
this type of application, ie good processor/ motherboard/ dvd recorder/ hdd/
small case etc.

The Sony stuff says it intergrates with the Vaio PCs but I would have
thought the Network Media Receiver comes with software to intergrate with
other PCs so that the remote will operate the PVR etc functions on the PC.

I will probably use a wired link to my router rather than wireless for the
time being, but can always add a bridge/acces point (never sure which you
use) to the Media Receiver at a later stage. (Im 54 mbps so should be up to
the job)

Look up PC, or core systems, based on an XPC form factor (like the
shuttle ones. Get as many PCI slots you can, and be sure to get AGP
video.
 

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