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Hello,
I'm looking to build my parents an HTPC for a New Year present. They have a lot of inputs for their TV that they want to manage using a single piece of hardware, and they really enjoyed it when I hooked up my gaming PC to the TV. I'd like input on the build. Here are the FAQs:
) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Mainly video playback. It needs to accept input feeds via coaxial cable from:
a: the comcast digital HD cable box
b: the old VCR
c: the satellite dish
It also needs to be adequate for web browsing (easy), blu ray playback, and maybe some light video editing
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
I'm hoping to keep it under $600 with tax and shipping
3) Where do you live?
Central Indiana
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
CPU, RAM, Motherboard, case, blu ray drive, TV tuner(s?), hard drive, possibly fans, power supply
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I have a 2.2 gHz Athlon X2 that I can reuse if necessary. I think I want a more modern build though.
6) Will you be overclocking?
Probably not
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Sony 1080p TV
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within a week or so.
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc.
Might need three PCI-E slots? I looked at the Hauppage TV tuners and they seem to only have two coax inputs. I have three coax sources that need to run through the PC. That takes two PCI-E slots (is it even possible to run two of these simultaneously?). If I add a small graphics card for blu ray playback, that makes three PCI-E slots. This seems hard to come by in uATX boards, although the TV tuners only use the small X4 slot.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
No, but that doesn't need to come from the budget. My brother can get it.
Any ideas for the build, or if it's even possible? Another thing I would like to do is use the PC to output sound to the big column speakers on the other side of the room. We can't stretch a wire across the living room, so I'd like to do it wirelessly. Is this possible?
I'm looking to build my parents an HTPC for a New Year present. They have a lot of inputs for their TV that they want to manage using a single piece of hardware, and they really enjoyed it when I hooked up my gaming PC to the TV. I'd like input on the build. Here are the FAQs:
) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Mainly video playback. It needs to accept input feeds via coaxial cable from:
a: the comcast digital HD cable box
b: the old VCR
c: the satellite dish
It also needs to be adequate for web browsing (easy), blu ray playback, and maybe some light video editing
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
I'm hoping to keep it under $600 with tax and shipping
3) Where do you live?
Central Indiana
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
CPU, RAM, Motherboard, case, blu ray drive, TV tuner(s?), hard drive, possibly fans, power supply
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
I have a 2.2 gHz Athlon X2 that I can reuse if necessary. I think I want a more modern build though.
6) Will you be overclocking?
Probably not
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Sony 1080p TV
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Within a week or so.
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc.
Might need three PCI-E slots? I looked at the Hauppage TV tuners and they seem to only have two coax inputs. I have three coax sources that need to run through the PC. That takes two PCI-E slots (is it even possible to run two of these simultaneously?). If I add a small graphics card for blu ray playback, that makes three PCI-E slots. This seems hard to come by in uATX boards, although the TV tuners only use the small X4 slot.
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
No, but that doesn't need to come from the budget. My brother can get it.
Any ideas for the build, or if it's even possible? Another thing I would like to do is use the PC to output sound to the big column speakers on the other side of the room. We can't stretch a wire across the living room, so I'd like to do it wirelessly. Is this possible?
