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Old Dell to HTPC

  • 11-01-2010 6:33pm
    #1
    xbmc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭


    Have an old Core 2 Duo Dell E510 with 3GB of RAM and want to connect to large HD TV.

    What graphics card, TV card, remotes etc do you recommend to convert to HTPC ?

    TIA :)


Comments

  • #2
    Nelbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,343 ✭✭✭Nelbert


    Not sure of your budget but it's probably a case of the cheaper the better with the recession and all that jazz.
    http://www.dabs.ie/products/asus-1gb-radeon-hd-4350-silent-pcie-6CZ8.html?refs=43280000
    Thats a good Graphics card for a very good price (will decode hd for you by itself) and silent which is important for a HTPC.

    Depending on your budget either the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR4000 or HVR3000 should be a good all round choice. If your willing to wait the BGT3595 by blackgold.tv looks to be the best choice (I'll be getting one to replace my HVR4000)

    You get a remote with most* tv cards but I would recommend the official microsoft media center one. Long term you just need the usb infra-red reciever from it to combine with a Logitech Harmony remote (seriously those things are amazing, don't know how I ever put up with not having one for so long) like this http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=316376 -> quite a good price but you need the infrared reciever to use it otherwise you'll be firing commands at the pc blindly.

    This is remarkably similar to my setup.
    If you have loads of movies and tv shows ripped onto your hard drive, from your own dvds and such of course, I would recommend MediaBrowser as when you use it you will ask yourself why your media wasn't presented to you like that from the start! Post is way longer than originally intended!


  • #3
    xbmc
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33 ✭xbmc


    what media center software on what OS are you running?
    ye most of my content in local files
    I'm used to xbmc on the old xbox, so was thinking xbmc on windows..thanks

    also
    but you need the infrared reciever to use it otherwise you'll be firing commands at the pc blindly.

    what IR receiver do you recommend ? I have an xbox 360 remote for the 360 ..

    thanks


  • #4
    Nelbert
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,343 ✭✭✭Nelbert


    The one that comes with the Microsoft Media Center Remote is the only one I've used, haven't had any problems with it so I would recommend that one. Unfortunately I don't know whether you can get the ir reciever seperately.
    Windows 7 and Media Center for live tv with Media Browser for navigating my movies and tv shows. mediabrowser.tv is the website, pretty sure they have screenshots and stuff up.


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