DIY Windows Home Theatre PC

[Filip Norrgard]

http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/htpc-guide.ars

"Windows (MCE) 2005 offers an attractive, easy-to-use interface combined with hardware support that makes it easier to build an HTPC that is a true media box: TV recording with time shifting and channel guide, streaming audio, DVD-recording and DVD-playback, radio, web browsing, along with all the functions of a standard PC. Truly functional channel guides and intelligent recording are things that TiVo and ReplayTV users are long familiar with. Today's cheap hard drive space mean many hours of video can be recorded, which makes the replacement of the VCR both practical and extremely attractive."



ArsTechnica have compiled a list of the components you need to build a pimpin' "Hot Rod" and a low-end "Budget Box" depending on how much money you've got in your pocket for building your own HTPC. Left for you to do, is printing out the shopping list, buying the components and building the PC.

[Filip Norrgard]

http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/htpc-guide.ars

"Windows (MCE) 2005 offers an attractive, easy-to-use interface combined with hardware support that makes it easier to build an HTPC that is a true media box: TV recording with time shifting and channel guide, streaming audio, DVD-recording and DVD-playback, radio, web browsing, along with all the functions of a standard PC. Truly functional channel guides and intelligent recording are things that TiVo and ReplayTV users are long familiar with. Today's cheap hard drive space mean many hours of video can be recorded, which makes the replacement of the VCR both practical and extremely attractive."



ArsTechnica have compiled a list of the components you need to build a pimpin' "Hot Rod" and a low-end "Budget Box" depending on how much money you've got in your pocket for building your own HTPC. Left for you to do, is printing out the shopping list, buying the components and building the PC.

[g0099]

I am such a fool...I did not know that you could buy MCE retail for your pc. I thought you had to get a MCE pc in order to get it. So...since you can buy it retail...would it make sense to get. I've piecemealed a MCE pc together kind of...I have a TV Turner attached and upgraded my RAM to 1GB and my video card among other things. I am wondering if it would be worth it to go out and buy MCE for my pc. I think newegg is selling it for about 129 dollars. I can just install it over win xp right?

[Darius Wey]

I don't think you can buy MCE retail on its own (unless it's region-specific). Where I'm located, you can purchase it OEM at a computer shop, but I don't think you can head down to a department store and purchase it off the shelf. Anyway, with regard to your question of whether it's worth buying MCE. Well, it depends what you're going to use it for. If it's a PC to complement your home theatre system, then it may be worth it. However, you can replicate most of the same features with your current version of XP and a bunch of software add-ons. The question is - can you be bothered? MCE is really a great all-in-one package and probably more user-friendly with its flash interface, so it certainly shouldn't be disregarded. I was thinking of doing the same as we just purchased a new plasma TV, but I may sit on it for a while to see how things shape out over the next few months. Also, I'd do a clean installation as opposed to an upgrade over your pre-existing version of XP - you'll encounter less problems that way.

[davedeal]

DIY is not quite as easy as it sounds. The biggest problem is Codec dll h#ll. I have a brand new Dell 400sc 2.8 ht/1gb pc3200/200gb/geforce 5700 and have been trying to get MCE to stabilize for over 3 months. Not only is MCE buggy (reminds me of Win95) so it seems is every other program "designed" to run on it.

It works ok as a music/photo server as long as the music library isn't too large. I am currently getting pretty good menu speeds with about 3 gb of locally store mp3/wma. Photos are stored on a server at about 5gb and they seem to not be affected by size (no raw support however). One of the biggest issues is trying to play "backedup" dvds, xvid, and divx files. Some work, some don't. I have been living on xpmce.com and greenbutton (must use IE to access GB ) and have tried all sorts of remeidies. The problem lies in just that, most "fixes" seem to be remedies and not solutions.

These are just some of my issues, the boards are full of other's troubles with trying to get MCE to accomplish what it was designed to do.
IMO I can see good reason why MS released this OEM only, it is definately not ready for prime time, the average user would be returning this before they could get through the install routine, which ask for disc that are not labeled.

If you are a technogeek (since you are here you probably are) MCE is a sometimes fun project as long as the family has something else to use (tivo) until you get the bugs worked out.

It can be picked up here
http://store.yahoo.com/directron/xpmedia.html

or http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-311&depa=0

.02

[Felix Torres]

I'm looking to start experimenting with MCE in the next couple of days but in researching the issues, I've more or less decided that build-your-own is worth doing in only three cases:
1- As a remote media server/editing station to be accessed via an MCE extender (since my media server is built around an older ATI All-in-wonder I know not to expect the MC PVR-ware to work unless I buy a new tuner card; I do want to see if I can still use the native ATI PVR software or Snapstream's package under MCE; then I could get the XBOX extender kit and be home free for under $200; $350 if I were to get the Hauppage dual-tuner card)
2- As a hot-rod gaming pc *and* HDTV-connected set-top box
3- As a pure hobby/learning experience

For all other uses (especially the ones without hod-rod gaming) there are no real savings to justify the grief; not with outfits like Micro Center and Alienware offering well-priced pre-built systems with enough customization to let you optimize your box.

And not with the new wave of connected DVD players built on the Sigma Designs "do everything" chipset that let you do most of the Extender tricks off-normal XP.

Who knows? I may get lucky. Or I might find new uses for the platform thanks to all the plug-ins.
But I'm going to be playing with a spare HD cause I fully expect I either need to totally rebuild the box or just revert to my baseline config and wait for MCE 06.

Which I might do even if I like what I see...

[treo007]

Originally Posted by davedeal

DIY is not quite as easy as it sounds. The biggest problem is Codec dll h#ll. I have a brand new Dell 400sc 2.8 ht/1gb pc3200/200gb/geforce 5700 and have been trying to get MCE to stabilize for over 3 months. Not only is MCE buggy (reminds me of Win95) so it seems is every other program "designed" to run on it.

It works ok as a music/photo server as long as the music library isn't too large. I am currently getting pretty good menu speeds with about 3 gb of locally store mp3/wma. Photos are stored on a server at about 5gb and they seem to not be affected by size (no raw support however). One of the biggest issues is trying to play "backedup" dvds, xvid, and divx files. Some work, some don't. I have been living on xpmce.com and greenbutton (must use IE to access GB ) and have tried all sorts of remeidies. The problem lies in just that, most "fixes" seem to be remedies and not solutions.

These are just some of my issues, the boards are full of other's troubles with trying to get MCE to accomplish what it was designed to do.
IMO I can see good reason why MS released this OEM only, it is definately not ready for prime time, the average user would be returning this before they could get through the install routine, which ask for disc that are not labeled.

If you are a technogeek (since you are here you probably are) MCE is a sometimes fun project as long as the family has something else to use (tivo) until you get the bugs worked out.

I think this (and maybe Tivo's slow pace of innovation) is one of the main reasons for the clamor from so many for Apple to release a media center end to end solution.

[sojourner753]

I've been keeping my ear to ground concerning PVR/Media PC solutions. I've usually thought that I would buy BeyondTV. What would be REALLY great is to see some kind of Media shoot-out between the leading competition.

Something like taking a built PC or two built PCs with the same specs and run WinMCE and BeyondTV, et al side by side.

Personally I guess I'm just waiting for the cash to drop on a nice PC like those made by Shuttle.

I feel like my time is coming.

[that_kid]

I'm a long time BTV user (since version 1) but recently I've been playing with SageTV and just tonight I went and purchased Sage. The reason was Sage worked much better on the same hardware that Beyond TV had problems with and the picture quality is much better. I have MCE and have been really thinking about installing it but it's limited tuner ability is the only thing keeping me from using that as my pvr of choice. Right now I have 6 pvr 150's running with sage and i'm using the hauppage mvp's as extenders in the bedroom and my son's room. Even with all the success that i'm having with Sage I still find myself looking at MCE. Maybe once more tuners can be used I'll go that route but until then my Sage setup is great.

[davedeal]

Originally Posted by that_kid

I'm a long time BTV user (since version 1) but recently I've been playing with SageTV and just tonight I went and purchased Sage. The reason was Sage worked much better on the same hardware that Beyond TV had problems with and the picture quality is much better. I have MCE and have been really thinking about installing it but it's limited tuner ability is the only thing keeping me from using that as my pvr of choice. Right now I have 6 pvr 150's running with sage and i'm using the hauppage mvp's as extenders in the bedroom and my son's room. Even with all the success that i'm having with Sage I still find myself looking at MCE. Maybe once more tuners can be used I'll go that route but until then my Sage setup is great.

How well does sage handle vob, xvid,divx and mp3 from a central server? I have been eyeing sage but find little info on it's streaming capabilities. Know of any good message boards.

[that_kid]

The only thing i've tried are mp3's, i have a couple of dvd files that i want to try as well. I can give that a try tonight and let you know. As far as message boards forums.freytechnologies.com/forums and i believe there's a board at htpcnews.com.