Htpc

[Euphoria]

Was just in the shower and a thought popped into my head about the old Time computer my parents are planning to bin. I could turn it into an HTPC. The spec isn't fantastic (Athlon 1.1GHz, 386Mb SDRAM, ATI Radeon 9200), but should be capable of running/playing movies etc.

I know for sure I will need to put a new hard drive in there so I propose to use a 200Gb Western Digital drive. As for connection the PC to my TV (28" JVC) what will I need? A TV card I'm guessing! Also software wise what is best to use? I have an iPaq with NEVO on, so hopefully I can teach that to change channels and DVD controls.

Thanks :)

[Big Adam]

That spec is perfect for a basic HTPC providing you can root out a decent Socket A quiet cooler.

If the 9200 has an S-video output, I'd use that to link up to the telly. Cheap and easy and about as good a picture as you will get unless the TV has component (RGB) inputs.

[Euphoria]

It hasn't got RGB inputs. What will the picture quality be like? If it's not going to be as good as say watching a DVD on my PS2 then I don't think there is much point... I'll need to check on the graphics card also to make sure I can link it up. As for the cooler, I'm sure I can dig up something somewhere. Any particular software required?

[Fireblade]

I can say in all honestly, that I don't really think of anything whilst I'm in the shower - certainly nothing important anyway... and there's you thinkin' about computer gear :eek:

You've got the bug fer sure :p

[Euphoria]

I know it's very sad! I wasn't thinking really, just randomly popped into my head and I thought ahhhhhhh!

[Euphoria]

Nobody have any advice software wise then? And other hardware?

[Modfather]

if the card has got s-video output then it will look good when u are playing dvds and xvid stuff but it will look kinda crappy for zooming around the desktop. u r better to enable large fonts and icons for that ;)
what os u gonna stick on the badboy?

[Euphoria]

Not sure tbh. I have a spare copy (legit) of XP Home, but could purchase XP Media?

[stdRaichu]

I've used TV-Out on ATI and nVidia GFX cards before, and I have to say that my scanline convertor doohickey looks the absolute dogs danglies. This little doohickey (http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=117&products_id=1014) takes a VGA input straight from your GFX card and outputs in PAL or NTSC via S-Video or composite. No more mucking about with TV overscan or any other similar baldercrap. Just set the res to 1024*768@60Hz or thereabouts and you have a great quality image. Not quite as good as component, but more than acceptable.

Since the motherboard I used (onboard GFX on an Asus A8N VM CSM) doesn't have S-Video output, the convertor seemed the best idea and I'm very pleased with it. If your current GFX card doesn't have S-Video out, you might want to consider it.

[Euphoria]

I need to go over the PC properly and see what exactly I have and haven't. That convertor looks ideal though. What software are you running? All controlled with a remote?

[jacobzcoool]

XP MCE is probably a good idea for a htpc

http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_6609.html
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_5498.html

[Euphoria]

I was thinking that also.

[stdRaichu]

What software are you running? All controlled with a remote?

Software is MythTV on Linux, and yeah it's all controlled with a remote. You might find MCE easier to set up if you're not familiar with Linux though.

[Euphoria]

I'm not too confident on Linux. Only used once or twice in the past.