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Harmon Kardon DVD-50PC

G

goldenfrog

Weaksauce
Joined
Dec 3, 2005
Messages
89
I am going to take my old HK DVD player and make a HTPC out of it. The player died on me a year back and I just couldn’t find it in me to toss it.
1zj9.jpg

It matches up nice with my receiver.
510rr5.jpg

Ok I have it all broken down, now I’ll get it measured up to see how much room I have to work with.
2qh2.jpg


I haven’t picked out my components yet. My plan is just to have it play movies off of my media server; I don’t even think I need to throw in a DVD. I just need a wireless NIC and enough power for a smooth picture and good sound. I would like to find a way to use the original display in some fashion. I’ll have to figure that one out. If anyone can help me with that please feel free.

Updates soon.
 
It's always hard to try and use the stock display, they're not "off the shelf" displays. If worst comes to worst you can always get one that will work with a PC... as well as one that works with your intended software too.
http://www.pcalchemy.com/product_in...eceiver-for-x11-hv5-h7/cName/case-accessories

I love digging through the trash for stuff like this, people just don't know what the hell they're throwing away. :)

Best thing for an all in one media system like this: 6150 mobo.
 
*tried to edit this post, and the edit showed up below it like a new post??*
 
Because
1.) The visible range for an LCD sucks compared to a VFD, thats why any decent CE device uses VFDs.

2.) You're not paying for it because it's "best for HTPCs." Hell, I don't see that written anywhere on the page, what you are paying for is a VFD that is compatible with MCE (and hence most HTPC apps), USB interface and an IR reciever. It also comes with a remote but that remote kind of sucks so we won't speak of it.

:rolleyes:
 
Here it is with an old motherboard in it. This is a regular ATX board so I do have plenty of room to work with.The case isn’t tall enough for any add in cards, without a riser card, I don’t see it doing very much gaming so a nice board with built in video should be good enough.
picture016gc1.jpg

The back of the player has these nicely labeled ports, I’m hoping to use as many as I can in the build for a nice clean look.
picture013wo0.jpg

I shouldn’t have too much trouble using the existing holes; the bracket is plastic and should be easy to mod.
picture011iv5.jpg

I’m thinking one of those all-in-one motherboards with a built-in CPU but I’m not sure if they would be powerful enough for smooth playback. If I go with a new 6150 board I’ll have to buy all new stuff, mobo/cpu/ram, and I’ll end up with a better setup then my main rig. :rolleyes: I’m still chugging along on an XP 3200+
 
looks good. whera do you plan on putting the psu, is there anough room for a standered one, or you going to use an external brick. if you could wire it up to use the standered plugs from the dvd player that would be even cooler
 
After knocking down the high spots, the power supply fits easily.
picture020fz4.jpg

I cut the MB tray out of a donor case and placed some parts in the case just to get an idea of their layout.
picture021ov9.jpg

With this setup the back will not look stock. I might just cut out a spot for the PSU and mount the MB completely internal and use short jumpers to connect to the stock ports.
 
how old is your AVR-510? It looks pretty freakin' scratched up. I have an AVR-310 that I got in 2001 and it's in almost perfect shape... physically. Stupid thing hums for a few minutes when you turn it on though...

Nice mod idea though. good luck with it
 
I think I got the 510 around christmas 2000, it still has the packing/shipping film on it. It's still scratch free. This thing hums too when I watch a dvd with 5.1 sound. No noise when the dvd has a DTS track.
 
Love the idea. You have inspired me. I have an old amp that i may use. Thanks alot man. And it looks good so far.
 
Leon2ky said:
Jesus I forgot about DVD players that big.
Click to expand...
It looks like it was a 5 cd changer which would partly explain the size.

OP - could you fit low profile cards in there? Might give you some options for using older stuff with a VGA card.
 
IanG said:
It looks like it was a 5 cd changer which would partly explain the size.

OP - could you fit low profile cards in there? Might give you some options for using older stuff with a VGA card.
Click to expand...


or one of the first gen DVD and LD players, remember seeing those laser disc's that were the size of records.. and double sided!
 
I had to prove to myself I was right... "Harman Kardon DVD50 5-Disc Progressive-Scan DVD Player"
Amazon.com link

How's the project coming along?
 
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Yes it is/was a 5disc dvd changer. I do believe I could fit low profile cards in there. I had a mobo and cpu that I was going to use in it but they both died on me after a few hours testing. They were just older stuff I already had so I'm not to disappointed. This project is kinda on hold until I get my main rig finished. I'll have some donor parts from it to put in here.
 
I’m back at this mod, finally. I’ve decided to go with this motherboard for the HDTV output. Still not sure of the other parts yet.

This comp will only be for watching movies/TV show from my server so I don’t need a lot of storage space. I am leaning toward using a flash compact card as opposed to a regular HDD. This will lower the heat, noise and power needed.

I’m guessing 1G of ram would be enough, but I’m not sure of the CPU speed I will need.
 
One of those energy efficient X2s would be a really good fit for you with very low heat output, or a regular x2 if you can undervolt on that mobo. edit: maybe waiting for the 65nm chips to become more common might be a good idea.

A single core 3500+ or so would be more than enough for regular video watching, but if you want to play high-def mpeg4 stuff (x264, h264, bluray etc) then having a dual core processor would be best.

1 gig is about standard for memory nowadays, especially with integrated video. I've survived on 512mb for a short time before, but it's fairly ugly.
 
I changed my mind again. I decided that it didn’t make any sense to build a comp just for movies that would be faster then my main comp.

So I just ordered me an Intel dual core setup, (MOBO, CPU, nice heat pipe cooler, RAM and video card)

I’ll use my current MOBO/CPU/RAM combo for this mod. I’m going to have to come up with a low profile AGP card with good video out.

Any AGP cards with HDTV/component level outputs?
 
goldenfrog said:
I changed my mind again. I decided that it didn’t make any sense to build a comp just for movies that would be faster then my main comp.

So I just ordered me an Intel dual core setup, (MOBO, CPU, nice heat pipe cooler, RAM and video card)

I’ll use my current MOBO/CPU/RAM combo for this mod. I’m going to have to come up with a low profile AGP card with good video out.

Any AGP cards with HDTV/component level outputs?
Click to expand...
i believe there are a few dvi - hdtv converters out there.. not sure who made/makes them

ati had them for a while, and i think nvidia did too u could just get a semi current all in wonder card from ATI those have a dedicated hdtv component cable system that swaps with the svid cable
 
Ordered me a DVI to hdtv adapter. If it works well with my xp3000+ and 9550 Radoen i'll be set. Then I'll just have to find a way to get full height cards in this case :confused:
 
goldenfrog said:
Ordered me a DVI to hdtv adapter. If it works well with my xp3000+ and 9550 Radoen i'll be set. Then I'll just have to find a way to get full height cards in this case :confused:
Click to expand...

well if you dont there are plenty of agp low profile cards with DVI out on them, did a quick search on newegg and the cheapest i saw was $32 for a fx5200 but you can get a 6200 agp low profile for as little as $38 dollars and the 6x00 has great tv-out quality.
 
Sadly I have to cancell this mod. I cant get a good picture on my tv with a comp no matter what type of input I try. My HDTV cable box looks awesome on my tv but anything from a comp is to blurry to read. I tried with the 9550 and that adapter and also with my x1950xt crossfire setup. Neither would give me a dispaly that I could clearly see icons with. You cant read any text inorder to choose the file you want to watch.
 
you can't use standard resolutions and windows with a TV, it just doesn't work. Windows MCE or SageTV or MythTV or any of the various other tv "front end" programs will solve that for you.
 
goldenfrog said:
Sadly I have to cancell this mod. I cant get a good picture on my tv with a comp no matter what type of input I try. My HDTV cable box looks awesome on my tv but anything from a comp is to blurry to read. I tried with the 9550 and that adapter and also with my x1950xt crossfire setup. Neither would give me a dispaly that I could clearly see icons with. You cant read any text inorder to choose the file you want to watch.
Click to expand...
1.) This is only a problem if you are using svideo or composite out to the TV.
2.) You need to use a frontend app since those are made to be a "ten foot UI." Look at Meedio, Xlobby, Media Portal, GB-PVR, MCE, MythTV.

Theres no reason to cancel this mod; you just need to use the right software.
 
Damn.. we may have been a bit too late. It was beginning to look good too.
 
goldenfrog said:
Sadly I have to cancell this mod. I cant get a good picture on my tv with a comp no matter what type of input I try. My HDTV cable box looks awesome on my tv but anything from a comp is to blurry to read. I tried with the 9550 and that adapter and also with my x1950xt crossfire setup. Neither would give me a dispaly that I could clearly see icons with. You cant read any text inorder to choose the file you want to watch.
Click to expand...

Cant you try HDMI? (Assuming you have it).
 
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