Saving up an building a new media PC

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:03 pm

I know my current media PC setup is rather short-lived, but I've basically hit its limitations.

1. Processor. It's only got a 500mhz P3; it won't run any sort of media center software at an acceptable speed.
2. Memory. It's at the 256 meg motherboard limit
3. Disc drive. It only has a CD-ROM, and it's a proprietary size and cable so I can't throw in a half-height DVD drive
4. Video. The external video box I have that hooks up to the TV only supports 640x480, and the only configuration options it has is an array of 5 dip switches. The computer itself isn't much better; it's just running on old, outdated integrated video.
5. Ports. In order to get front USB ports, I had to use double-sticky tape to hold a USB hub on the top of the case.

So, I think I'm going to start assembling parts in order to build a new one. Here's my plan. The case will be an old 80's style CD player. They're big enough, I can hide the optical drive behind the original drive's bezel, and it will fit in with the rest of my aincent AV equipment. I want to be able to use it as a DVR, so it will have a TV tuner card. (Basically it will be like a TiVO without the subscription fees)

This is where you guys come in. I would like some help picking out parts. There's only a few things to keep in mind:

1. It HAS to have some sort of AV output. I'm sick of using this old PC-TV box.
2. It has to be cheap, but it shouldn't be (too) oudated. I'd like this to work for quite some time.
3. This will not be a gaming PC. It will not be used for playing games on the TV. Just multimedia (videos, music, and TV). Don't pick out the top of the line gaming crap.
4. I don't need or want an operating system on it. (already got 2000, XP, 98...)
5. All parts must be available at CompUSA, Best Buy, or Tiger Direct. My folks have ordered from TigerDirect before and don't want to "go ordering from a million different places with the credit card". So no NewEgg.

What I've found so far:
<a href="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... d=1427">TV Tuner PCI card with remote</a>
<a href="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 28">nVidia card with TV out</a>

Any and all suggestions, parts, comments, whatever are appeciated. Thanks!

xelion · Post by **xelion** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:15 pm

http://revision3.com/systm/mythtv/

There ya go.

So yeah, and i woulnd't go with nVidia for this, that card with TV out won't do aynthing for you, you are going to want an ATI-all-in-one Wonder card I think, and if I was you I'd really try and get your parents to order from Newegg, tell them it's cheaper, becuase it is usually.

I'll try and find a nice card that I would use, my dad was actually wanting me to build him a computer dvr type thing, so I should look into this stuff anyways lol.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:17 pm

instead of a separate tv-in and tv-out cards, perhaps consider an AIW product.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 60&CatId=0

its not as cheap but its a quality card. im not sure if this one has a remote but some of them do.

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:20 pm

You could probobly easily overclock that 500MHz PIII by about 80-100MHz...

sam · Post by **sam** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:27 pm

atari2600a wrote:You could probobly easily overclock that 500MHz PIII by about 80-100MHz...

Cause that would prolly make a huge difference for his uses...

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:29 pm

It'd help slightly...

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:34 pm

Get a used Xbox and use XBMC.

Bay_Wolf · Post by **Bay_Wolf** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:08 pm

sam wrote:
atari2600a wrote:You could probobly easily overclock that 500MHz PIII by about 80-100MHz...
Cause that would prolly make a huge difference for his uses...

If he means overclock it to 1ghz then it would make a huge difference (eventhough that is outrageous to overclock it that much) because my Epia M10000 with a Hauppauge 350 can handle recording tv and playing it back with myth tv.

Regards

sam · Post by **sam** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:30 pm

he said overclock it to 580-600... which wouldnt really change much. Btw ocing a 500 to 1 ghz, I dont think so.

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:51 pm

(Just for the record, I was able to get a 533MHz PIII OC'd to around 610MHz w/ less than a 5F increase in tempurature. That's as high as the bus speeds available on my mobo would go!

(The multiplier was locked at 4))

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:55 pm

xelion: Thanks, but I'm going to use <a href="http://www.team-mediaportal.com/">MediaPortal</a>, basically an open source Media Center software clone. It, too, can record live TV, but I like the looks of its interface a bit better.

timmeh87: That card looks good, but can I still hook up a standard VGA monitor when needed? (problems, etc...) If it's too much of a pain I can do what I'm doing now: remote desktop.

atari2600a:

another 100mhz won't do any good, even if a Compaq DeskPro EN SFF could be overclocked. 600mhz still isn't fast enough. Besides, the machine's also hampered by its built in crappy video. This machine was designed as a workstation, or a point-of-service machine like the "Title Seluth" machines at Borders. (They run Windows 98, you know...) This particular PC was originally a DHCP server.

vb_master: I was thinking about doing that, but it wouldn't have DVR capabilities.

sam: Right. overclocking a 500mhz PC to a gig won't work.

Keep the ideas coming, guys!

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:20 pm

im pretty sure it comes with a cable that turns that big white square into a bunch of different connectors (presumably to save space on the card).

my research shows that VIVO stands for "video in/video out"

sam · Post by **sam** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 4:36 pm

all in wonders are wonderful I heard.

atari2600a · Post by **atari2600a** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 4:40 pm

For a Media PC, they are! A/V Input & Output, Ant/Cable Input, & (VGA or DVI) output, all on one card! (& trust me, they're good. I know from experience

)

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:46 pm

bicostp wrote:timmeh87: That card looks good, but can I still hook up a standard VGA monitor when needed? (problems, etc...) If it's too much of a pain I can do what I'm doing now: remote desktop.

This picture shows that threw(sp?) another connector you can.

And AIW cards are good, my 8500 dv does good for what its used for, but it hates all drivers but the originals.

EDIT: If you get it and it doesn't have a remote, I might be able to sell you mine if you need one.