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Media Center Options

  • 20-11-2006 3:58pm
    #1
    gosplan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,828 ✭✭✭


    Hi All,
    Have been looking around the various threads on media centers and was wondering about ready built ones.

    I know that this stuff hasn't taken off in the same way it has in the states but the only one I could find available here is:

    http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/shop/db.cgi?view=1&id=9298&type=6&sid=1526854x10

    Do Samsung or Toshiba not do a similar model? I know Dell just sell the pc's and give you an option on the microsoft media center stuff.

    Is that all the Sony model is, a high spec pc with FP and correct software?

    Also do microsoft include the remote with their software or is it seperate?

    If I was to build my own would I just need a monster of a pc, a good graphics card, a tv tuner card and the software?


Comments

  • #2
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,946 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    You dont need a monster PC at all. Unless you plan watching HD content.

    A P4 1.7 with 512Mb RAM is fine, 768MB is a little better. After that, just get whatever size hard drive you want depending on how much TV you plan storing at any given time.


  • #3
    gosplan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,828 ✭✭✭gosplan


    Thanks,

    I basically want to integrate everything into one. I've only got a laptop, it's good spec but not sure if the video would cut it.

    2 more questions:

    Anyone know how I'd get connect a video player to a media center, I've got lots of old videos that I'd like to transfer? Monitor has DVI and HD15 but thats it.

    Also what about running two monitor off a system?
    Basically if everything is going through one screen there's gonna be arguments.
    If I've got this card:
    ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X700 with HyperMemory™ supporting 256MB & TV Tuner Function,
    is that possible to do????


  • #4
    SouperComputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,946 ✭✭✭SouperComputer


    If you plan converting your VHS to digital format, then ideally you want an older, raw TV card that cannot be used by MCE for TV. You can use the likes of the PVR150 etc for video capture, but then the source is compressed before you even edit or process it.

    If you just plan watching yor VCR through MCE, there is a hack out there that adds the composite input to the MCE interface.

    I wouldnt reccomend using the laptop TBH. If you plan having a media centre, make it a dedicated one. You could pickup a more than capeabale system on adverts.ie for 150-200e. Graphics card wise, you just need a card that supports direct X9. The X700 is fine. Again, video is not intensive, its actually the pretty interface that MCE provides that needs this.


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