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Tom's Hardware takes a closer look at Building The Ultimate Home Theater PC. "Hype aside, is it really possible to build a PC that is quiet and does everything that a high-end remote-controlled set-top box can do? And don't forget it's got to look good in your living room, too." I say YES! It was kind of refreshing to see them mangle some hardware forcing it into a small/slim form factor HTPC case, although it was less than refreshing to see them choose Windows MCE 2005 as their OS/PVR software. See also recent Ask SlashDot on MythTV extras and my favorite DIY PVR Resource

Yeah, I did it. World's First MAME cockpit.

Here's a hint SMALLER IS BETTER! Which explains the Final Pictures.

Yeah, I did it. World's First MAME cockpit.

Here's a hint SMALLER IS BETTER! Which explains the Final Pictures.

Hauppauge PVR-250 is what I used on mine.

Hauppauge PVR-250 is what I used on mine.

There's more than one way to skin the homebrew PVR cat... keep the PC out of the living room. Use a MediaMVP (or other network streaming device that is quiet/small/sexy) or a Mod'ed Xbox as a client, keep the noisey uber-server in the basement/closet/other room.

Although a Tivo can be cheaper, even considering lifetime subscription... it's more about control/creativity than anything financial.

BTW, don't like a computer case looks? Mod it! A buddy of mine modded a satellite case to be his PVR viva la dremel! c'mon this is /. we don't buy our gaming PC's from Alienware, we build them custom (right?)

It can't be *THAT* hard to shlop knoppmyth and a pvr250 into a spare PC to get going, but the devil is certainly in the details/tweaks, that I can atest too =)

e.