I am tossing out a general topic...hopefully I can build on it as it goes. I've built a few computers, mostly for gaming or typical "home use". I am thinking about building a new PC strictly for "home entertainment" (Blue Ray, DvR, TV - Cable vs. Sat, etc). I know Vista has a media center which seems made for such a project but I don't know how realistic a final product would be. For example, would a Windows driven DvR be as nice as a TiVo? Would I need a cable card if I went the Cable route? Is there anything inherently wrong or messed up with using Windows for such an application? Would I need a special flat screen for the PC? How potent and powerful would the PC need to be to make it run really well? How big would the hard drive have to be to capture HD DvR stuff? As mentioned, I am in the "just thinking about it" phase but any input would be greatly appreciated (including thoughts about what components to use.
home theater pcs are not that hard to put together. just normal parts with a different case and a tv tuner. i dont know what your budget is so i will just guess $1000-$1500. cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115043 ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122 video http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121287 mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128347 blu ray http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136154 psu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007 tv tuner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116036 hdd http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136151 case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163055\ price - this build is about $1000. but if you dont think that will be ripping many movies or doing anything that requires alot of cpu power you could get this instead. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115052 if you can spend a little more i would suggest getting a modular power supply and a good sound card. psu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001 sound http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271001 the modular psu will help with cable management. that is important for smaller computer like this where cables can get in the way of air flow. if you have a nice speaker setup you will want a nice sound card. if you are using the built is speakers in your tv you will be fine with onboard sound. a good htpc will blow a tivo out of the water. windows media center will be fine but i have also heard good things about beyond tv. if you want to watch and record tv you will need a tv tuner. the one i listed above would be great for watching hd tv. it can watch and record two hd channels at once. not really. you just need to make sure you install codecs that arent included with windows so you can watch dvds and other movies. no. a regular tv with the right inputs is all you need. the tv should have an hdmi or component. that depends on what you want to do. if you want to rip movies and do alot of video work a quad core would be best. if you are just watching movies and recording tv and only the occasional dvd rip then a low end dual core is more than enough. i would get a tb drive. they are cheap right now and can hold alot of data. you can always get another drive later if you run out of space. i think i got all of you questions. anything else?
Thanks for the excellent response! This definitely gives me a starting point. I think what I am going to do is install the TV tuner you recommended on one of my other Vista PCs and see how I like it. If all goes well then I will move forward with the build.
