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How to Build The Perfect Home Theater PC

Posted by timothy on from the lacks-popcorn-machine-and-led-signs dept.

Ian Bell writes: "We have just updated our HTPC guide to include some new parts for building the perfect home theater PC. We scoured the net and talked with various manufacturers to find these hard to find parts and components. This includes a new component width black anodized aluminum case complete with reciever sytle legs, a fold down front door and front USB/FireWire ports. Add to this an ATi AIW Radeon 8500 DV, DVD-RW/CDR-RW drive and Dolby Digital sound and you have the perfect HTPC. Check out our guide for complete system specs pictures and links to where you can find these hard to find parts. This system replaces your DVD player complete with HDTV and progressive scan support, Tivo or Replay TV and TV guide." Update: 05/26 23:44 GMT by T : Helstein writes with another All-In-Wonder based approach, his 1U Multimedia Station.

4 of 274 comments (clear)

  1. Projectors? by Isldeur · · Score: 3, Interesting



    Hi guys. I've been wondering something for a bit. Would someone tell me why people dumb huge wads of cash on these big plasma screen displays when they could spend a coupld of grand on a decent digital XGA projector and project the picture onto a screen/wall at 9 feet by 6 or something like that?

    Just curious... That's what I'd do if I had any money. :)

    1. Re:Projectors? by Hektor_Troy · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The main problem of watching movies with a projector (in my experience) is the LOUD NOISE MADE BY THE FAN!

      The problem is that the lamp needs to be cooled by a lot of air, but the projectors enclosure only allows a very small fan, maybe 40 mm, to feed the air, so it has to run at unbelievable speeds.

      I've been considdering getting a nice XGA projector myself, ever since I tried using one to project a 135" image onto my living room wall, but I keep seeing two problems:

      1) The price; but that can be overcome by saving up for it.
      2) The noise. I've been considdering building some kind of airduct for it, using a large low/no noise fan (120 mm) to feed the airflow from outside my apartment; I just need to figure out how much air the small fan is able to move, so that I can replicate that.

      --
      We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
    2. Re:Projectors? by darekana · · Score: 3, Interesting


      Projectors win in cost and screen size.

      The NEC LT150 is down to $2500 versus the average plasma display at $5000+, that $2500 or so price difference can buy your HTPC too.

      And what's a few cables to us Nerds. :)

      --
      Interactive Visual Medical Dictionary
  2. I built one two weeks ago by Sludge · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Here's the lineup, canadian prices:
    • Celeron 900, 40x cdrom, 19" case: $200
    • Decent mobo: $120
    • 40 gig 7200 rpm Maxtor: $140
    • Liteon DVD drive: $100
    • TNT2 w/ TV out: $40
    • Realmagic Xcard for 5.1 DVD, DIVX, VCD and SVCD playback: $170
    • S-video cable from radioshack: $12
    • Creative Inspire 5.1 speakers/remotecontrol/receiver setup: $450
    • Hotrod Se for mame Street Fighter: $200
    • Two Thrustmaster USB gamepads for snes/nes/genesis emulation: $70
    • SB Live 5.1 value: $45
    • Sony Wega 27" TV (no hdtv): $900

    Time spent putting it together and tweaking the hardware: 20 or so hours.

    Am I happy/satisfied? Fuck yeah.