Too many options, not enough knowledge

[Bormin]

First post so please bare with me.

Due to my Onkyo amp dying (sadly it's not just a blown fuse) and the lack of Blu Ray or the ability to record TV I'm looking into my options.

Firstly I'll state my aims.
1. The ability to play Blue Ray and record HD TV
2. Need a new amp/receiver
3. To run all my backed up DVD's, MP3's DivX's etc from 'a component/s' in my lounge room.
4. Whatever the scenario, it MUST be solid and quiet. I'll forgo a little (but not much ) A/V quality for those two things.

Pref's
1. The least amount of clutter as possible.
2. Solid and quiet as previously mentioned
3. Would like to get away with a budget of $1500 max
4. Don't care about brand names so long as pref #2 is good
5. Would be nice if it all looks like it goes together
6. If a HTPC is part of the solution it doesn't need to be a game machine as it won't ever be running games.

At this point I should say that I don't have a DVD player, amp, PS3/XBox360 or a HD set top box. I will however be getting a 42" Toshiba HD LCD with built in HD tuner (42XV500A) soon.

My Options

From what I have learned on boards such as this and this is the best I've found so far, it seems I have 4 options.

Option 1
All in one HTPC + Amp/Receiver

Option 2
Blu Ray player or PS3 + Amp/Receiver + Mediagate MG 1000

Option 3
Blu Ray player or PS3 + Amp/Receiver + a simplified HTPC to pretty much do the same job as the Mediagate MG 1000

Option 4
Blu Ray player or PS3 + all in one prefab HTPC/AMP such as the Delani Edition Media Centre by Niveus (I have no idea how much these things cost as I haven't found the Aussie distributor but I'm guessing lots so probably out of the question anyway)

Questions

1. Are there any other options?

2. If option #1 is the go and i go with the general consensus config of the following
CPU - Athlon x2 4850e
M/B - Gigabyte GA-MA78GM 780G
Case - Antec Fusion with PSU
HDD - Samsung 500 gig
Mem - OCZ 2x1 gig DDRII 800 reaper ???
Optical Drive - LG GGC H20N/L 16x Blu Ray
Video - Hauppauge HVR-2200 Hybrid Dual Tuner
I can get these components for a total of $954
2.1 Is this config ok? Am I forgetting something?
2.2 If it's ok, what AMP/reciever would go well with it?
2.3 Would I need a better heatsink/fan than the standard AMD?
2.4 Would the onboard video be good enough considering I won't be playing games?

3. If option #3 is the go, what HTPC config would be good enough?

4. Is there such a thing as k/b mouse terminators as I'd like to do everything from whatever remote I get. Any HTPC solution will be connected to the hard wired cat5 port in the lounge room so all file admin stuff can be done from my PC in the study. Plus I don't think I'll be doing any surfing from the HTPC.

Well that'll do for now, sorry for the long post but I thought I may as well get it all out of the way first up.

Please don't be afraid of offending me with simple questions as I am a compete novice in this area and i need all the help I can get.

Thanks in advance

B

[vlad]

Look at my config, I do achieve everything you want with Yamaha Rx-V1800, PS3 and HTPS.
Your components are good, get them and build HTPC.

[Bormin]

Thanks mate but after buying the components i need for the HTPC I'll only have about $600 to spend on the amp. Yours costs around $1500. Is there a cheaper option or am i kidding myself?

Also I would appreciate it if I could answers to the questions in the original post.

Cheers,

B

[vlad]

Originally Posted by Bormin

I'll only have about $600 to spend on the amp. Yours costs around $1500. Is there a cheaper option or am i kidding myself?

B

Not really, you can get something like this:
http://www.yamahamusic.com.au/produc...rs/RX-V663.asp

[ExtremePC]

Note too, that NO computer/HTPC is capable of HD audio for BD playback regardless of software,brand or money, so if HD audio IS a requrement then at a minimum you'll need and AMP + BD player/PS3 + whaterver else.

The whaterever else part may even change when the PlayTV addon is released for the PS3, the PlayTV addon is a dual DVB-T tuner that will turn a PS3 into a PVR and yes it will record in the background while playing games if you wish.

[Bormin]

Thanks again vlad

B

[vlad]

Originally Posted by Bormin

Also I would appreciate it if I could answers to the questions in the original post.

Cheers,

B

I just don't see the point, in my view AMP+HTPC+PS3 is all you need.
Ask some specific questions, will be happy to answer.

[vlad]

As ExtremePC say, at the moment PS3 is far better for BD playback than HTPC.

[ExtremePC]

Originally Posted by Bormin

Thanks mate but after buying the components i need for the HTPC I'll only have about $600 to spend on the amp. Yours costs around $1500. Is there a cheaper option or am i kidding myself?

Also I would appreciate it if I could answers to the questions in the original post.

Cheers,

B

DON"T scrimp on the AMP! Go cheaper on the HTPC if you must, but for gods sake don't scrimp on the AMP! It doesn't have to be loud but at a minimum it should have 3 HDMI in and be able to convert/upconvert ANY of the other inputs to HDMI and be able to decode HD audio (DTS-MA, TrueHD etc etc)

PS. I just looked at the MG-1000 ..... nice bit of gear!

[krypto]

Agree with vlad. Also get a 1tb hdd (samsung ecogreen is a nice drive) and get the latest version of the mobo, GA-MA78GPM-DS2H.

[Bormin]

Originally Posted by vlad

I just don't see the point, in my view AMP+HTPC+PS3 is all you need.
Ask some specific questions, will be happy to answer.

No worries was just after a second opinion really.

In your config you have 2 tuners. Why?

Is there such a thing as k/b - mouse terminator? I'd rather not have to deal with having to find a place for them in the ent unit. My son has enough crap in there as it is.

Can you shut down from a remote control?

My apologies for the dumb questions.

B

[vlad]

Originally Posted by ExtremePC

DON"T scrimp on the AMP! Go cheaper on the HTPC if you must, but for gods sake don't scrimp on the AMP!

I agree. It makes a difference. If you care about sound.