Hey folks,
I stumbled across this site last week, and thought, "Thank you, blessed internet".
I've just assembled my first MCE PC using old mobo+CPU and some new parts:
Thermaltake Tenor Black HTPC Case with 430W PSU
Pentium 4 (Northwood) 1.8GHz @ 2.4GHz (133MHz FSB)
ASUS P4B533-E Deluxe Motherboard (533 FSB)
512MB PC2700 RAM (2 x 256MB)
Western Digital 160GB IDE HDD
MSI 6600GT 128MB AGP (running at 4X - old mobo) ViVo
LG DVD 16x +/- DL Burner (Black)
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS 7.1 Sound Card
DVICO Fusion Dual Digital HDTV Card
Windows XP MCE
Logitech Harmony 880 universal remote
I've also got a 200GB Maxtor IDE HDD (to use for recording/storage) and a floppy/5 in 1 card reader on the way. (floppy for mobo BIOS updates, card reader for "why not?")
This machine is connected to broadband internet and my primary PC via a wired router at 10/100 Mbs.
This plugs into: [via digital coax for 5.1 sound, composite for video (crap picture)]
Yamaha RX-V800 Receiver (5.1 100W x 5 channels)
Polk Audio Speakers (Centre 250W, L&R 120W ea, Surround L&R, 100W ea)
Yamaha Subwoofer (200W I've forgotten the model number)
Black Sony Trinitron 68cm TV (Pre-VEGA days, the weakest link, no SVHS, no component, just yellow, white, and red plugs!)
The plan is to get a ~$2-3K projector sometime next year as I want 1280x720 native resolution for 720p. I'm not decided either way on LCD or DLP though. but damn, I can't take much more of this composite video! I still use 19" CRT to watch MCE for better quality but that's the same as a 48cm TV... oh so small.
Problems encountered so far:
DVICO Fusion HDTV Dual Digital
- Jack-style plug for IR receiver will not go all the way in (therefore, remote won't work) because expansion card slot on Thermaltake Tenor case is not wide enough (because IR jack is not on central axis of expansion slot - dumb idea). If only the dual digital card came with the USB style IR receiver like the Plus model (that I have in my primary PC) there would be no problem.
Probable Solution:
Going to buy MCE remote and remote keyboard shortly, so will have Microsoft IR receiver to use. (Taking total AV remote controls to 11!)
- Can't get Picture in picture working for dual digital card yet. Anyone else have any ideas or tips for me? (Yes, USB cable is plugged in from tuner to USB port on mobo, and it is detected in Device Manager) Do I need to run the channel auto-scan on the second tuner as well? I haven't spent much time on it yet)
Future projects:
- Get a working EPG happening for Mackay free-to-air digital
- catalog my 500+ DVD collection into MCE
- Rip entire 200+ CD collection into MCE
- Get projector + screen (screen from ebay probably) which will be dedicated to MCE
I look forward to picking your collective brains and sharing what I learn along the way. I've been building and upgrading PCs on and off for about 16 years, and I am a general technology and gadget geek (like many of you, I'm sure) which is sure to come in handy.
Oh yeah, and I am married (only 2 months), so the WAF is present, but not at full strength yet!
Thanks
Pacey
