Hey There & HTPC build help

[herjan666]

Hi All,
Just joined coz i am going to be building a HTPC.

I will be using a Thermaltake Case. From here i do need a bit of help. I have an older Amp that takes a TOSLINK connector. What i am after is some info on building the HTPC. Here is what i am after

Motherboard with at least 2 HDMI inputs & 1 TOSLINK input. USB, firewire also required
HD DTV card, dual HD as i dont really watch analogue. Also want to be able to record 1 channel while watching another.
2GB ram
500Mb HDD
Looking for a Blu Ray/DVD Combo (Would like to be able to burn Blu ray as well as DVD - if possible)
Sound card - unsure
Video card - unsure
Anything else that i might need.
I will be running Vista Pofessional as i already have the license from another machine.
Already have a Vista remote with IR

Your help would be greatly appreciated

[CordlezToaster]

it might be best posting this in the vista hardware section.

[Dia01]

Originally Posted by herjan666

Hi All,
Just joined coz i am going to be building a HTPC.

I will be using a Thermaltake Case. From here i do need a bit of help. I have an older Amp that takes a TOSLINK connector. What i am after is some info on building the HTPC. Here is what i am after

Motherboard with at least 2 HDMI inputs & 1 TOSLINK input. USB, firewire also required
HD DTV card, dual HD as i dont really watch analogue. Also want to be able to record 1 channel while watching another.
2GB ram
500Mb HDD
Looking for a Blu Ray/DVD Combo (Would like to be able to burn Blu ray as well as DVD - if possible)
Sound card - unsure
Video card - unsure
Anything else that i might need.
I will be running Vista Pofessional as i already have the license from another machine.
Already have a Vista remote with IR

Your help would be greatly appreciated

OK. I'll see if I can add any value, although I'm fairly new to HTPC's myself.

Motherboard - http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...29&modelmenu=1

TV Tuner - FusionHDTV DVB-T Dual Express (Using this one myself very clear picture, PIP control, dual tuner, time shifting etc.http://www.fusionhdtv.co.kr/ENG/Products/#dvbt

HDD - Samsung 500GB (also consider larger for more file storage, maybe a smaller drive for the OS soley or partition the existing. Have currently odrered an
OCZ 64GB SSD for the OS for around $320.00 a little extravagant though i know

Blu Ray combo - Pioneer Blu Ray Writer http://pcmaniacs.com.au/pioneer-bdr2...il-p-4214.html

Sound Card - ASUS Xonor or consider cheaper option as onboard sound - http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...53b76f64bba4b8

Video Card - Fanless SAPPHIRE RADEON HD3850 ULTIMATE 512MB DDR3 PCI-E X16

RAM - Easy enough choice

PSU - Corsair 620W http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...b609e77d0fea52 Very good PSU's using one myself

CPU - E6550 http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...b609e77d0fea52

Not the cheapest gear, but a very decent system, shop around.

[tipstir]

Originally Posted by herjan666

Hi All,
Just joined coz i am going to be building a HTPC.

I will be using a Thermaltake Case. From here i do need a bit of help. I have an older Amp that takes a TOSLINK connector. What i am after is some info on building the HTPC. Here is what i am after

Motherboard with at least 2 HDMI inputs & 1 TOSLINK input. USB, firewire also required
HD DTV card, dual HD as i dont really watch analogue. Also want to be able to record 1 channel while watching another.
2GB ram
500Mb HDD
Looking for a Blu Ray/DVD Combo (Would like to be able to burn Blu ray as well as DVD - if possible)
Sound card - unsure
Video card - unsure
Anything else that i might need.
I will be running Vista Pofessional as i already have the license from another machine.
Already have a Vista remote with IR

Your help would be greatly appreciated

If you start with HD recordings you'll need to beef the HDD to TB. Don't use root of C to record that should be done on another HDD in your system. SATAII or higher for smooth operation. 2GB or RAM if you can use another stick of RAM or max it to 4GB. Other than you should be all set, but make sure you case and tuner cards are kept cool along with the HDDs will get very hot.

Currently System I I've built in 2006, this is what my internals look like in my present system... It's on 24/7 Migrating it to Windows Server 2008, which it is currently running Windows Server 2003. Prior was Windows XP Media Center Edition SP2, prior XP Pro SP2.


System II is used for digital recordings and video editing...