Super Noob htpc Question

[BoyWonder]

I've just been given an Asus P4SC mini motherboard with 1.4ghz P4 CPU and 512Mb ram, I want to build myself a 'glorified' dvd player.

The motherboard comes with an on board graphics card, and has 2 PCI slots, I need to know what to purchase to connect this to my bog standard Sony TV.

Do i need to buy a pci graphics card and some cables? if so ... which ones?

any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

[Danny Boy]

You'll need to get a graphics card with a tv output. I'd opt for the phono type. You'll need a graphics card with at least 64Mb of ram for windows MCE (if thats what ur gonna run), then you'll want one of these (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_3576.html) to connect the video to your tv's scart socket and this (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_4520.html) cable. You can connect audio too if you get a 3.5 jack to 2 phono cable like this (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_3573.html) , or you can just use speakers. You may well be able to use the onboard graphics if it has a phono output for the video (some do some dont) but if your gonna run MCE then you'll want a bit beefier graphics.

All the cards here (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/PCI.html) look like they use s-video outputs, in which case any of those would do but you would need to use this (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_3557.html) cable for the video instead of the standard phono one.

Hope that helps :)

[BoyWonder]

Thanks Danny Boy ...

Just to confirm ....

If i purchase the XFX GeForce FX5200 PCI Graphics Card from Kustom with the TV out function as seen here:

http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_5301.html

Then all that i would need is the

Belkin Scart to SVHS / Composite Adapter
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_3576.html

Belkin PureAV Blue Series 3.5mm to RCA Cable http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_3573.html

and for the audio i would need one of these

Belkin PureAV Blue Series S-Video Cable
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_3557.html

I appologise if i sound a bit simple, i know a lot about PC's and servers but when it comes to HTPC side of things i know bugger all ...

Your help is very much appreciated ... i just want to get this right!!! Oh and i do intend to use Windows MCE

[Danny Boy]

That looks perfect to me. The only issue is that the description of the video card doesnt say the type of tv output (s-video or composite) and I can't quite tell from the picture. If you send a quick email to sales@kustompcs.co.uk then someone will be able to let you know pretty quick. If its an s-video socket then you want everything you just said, if its a composite then you want the other cable I mentioned in my first post, the phono to phono one.

[BoyWonder]

thanks danny boy, you're a star!

i'll do as you suggested and ask about that card.

If we ever cross paths i'll buy you a beer! ;)

[Essay @ Kustom]

I believe it's S-Video.

Tne box contains:
"Geforce FX5200 Graphic Card, S-Video Cable, DVI to DSub connection, manuals "

*it's S-video. I've just checked.