http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.htpcforums.com/This was a pretty cool article. I've been thinking about making an HTPC to replace my DVD Player and to allow more functionality. I've been getting a lot of help from the folks over at http://www.htpcforums.com/ ]]>Feb 15th 2006 10:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
- cpu cooler
- a second optical drive [for copying dvds, unprotected of course]
- audio card [!!!] what good is a HTPC without premium sound?
- keyboard/mouse
- remote control
- operating system
- dvd playback software
- PVR software


all these components combined will probably top this system off at around $1500, much more than the grand price point originally set. good tutorial however, and a great place to start if you happen to be new to the HTPC scene, or even the new DIY'er. the truth is, there isn't going to be a decent HTPC for under $1000.

...and the truth hurts.]]>Feb 17th 2006 2:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/]]>Feb 21st 2006 3:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/^.- Though, still useful. =]]]>Jul 25th 2008 7:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
I have to use a cable box since we have digital cable. Can I still record 2 shows or record 1 and watch another one using two tv tuners? Or would I be better going with the Hauppauge WinTV PVR 350 since it comes with a remote and is just a single tv tuner?]]>May 23rd 2006 11:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.laptopbatteryclub.com/]]>Dec 3rd 2009 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 1:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
(2) Why not do what I did...I bought a Dell machine, one of the ones that go on special every now and then...and I took the central components (ram, cpu, drives etc...) and dumped them into a mobo / case combo of my choice (sonata)...add two tv tuners, a copy of Windows XP MCE OEM + a remote...good to go.]]>Jan 24th 2006 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 1:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 1:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Although I am bit puzzled. "We only expect to use this drive to rip DVDs, not actually watch them,...."
You don't plan on watching DVDs on a home theater PC?]]>Jan 24th 2006 1:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 1:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 1:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 1:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
Just seems like a lot of running around connecting stuff, components, reconfiguring, purchasing, ripping DVDs to…

…watch a DVD?

What am I missing?

Sincerely,
io

...]]>Jan 24th 2006 1:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Feb 10th 2009 7:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_editions.asp]]>Jan 24th 2006 1:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 1:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
You mention using the 360 to watch a DVD, but if you are running MCE on your HTPC, you could always use the xbox as a media extender in another room to stream your files across your network. Now you have multiple room access to your movies.

Plus, there is the sheer geek joy involved in all this. Why just pop a DVD into the player, when you can have fun building and tweaking a cool system.]]>Jan 24th 2006 2:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 2:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/The point of ripping a dvd to your htc is that you don't actually have to mess with the disk anymore. If you copied your entire dvd library onto the computer, then hooked it up to your entertainment center, you wouldn't need to find the dvd and put it in your 360 to play it, you'd simply start up the computer and have instant access to every movie in your library.
You could also just use this as a backup if you're worried about damaging the discs through everyday use.]]>Jan 24th 2006 2:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
MY base system cost $330... to which I added MCE, the Hauppauge 500, an nVidia with 256ram, a gig of DDR, a second 250-gig data drive, along with a Remote...AND an original xBox Media Extender!

Total additional: $570--for a finished price of $900!

And that is for a machine that is driving 2 different TVs (1 directly and 1 via xbox extender) and has 2 tuners!

Tivo is toast...]]>Jan 24th 2006 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 2:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
#8 - If you have a high definition capable TV, there's every reason not to just use an XBox 360. An HTPC can imrpove the quality of the video tremendously. If you're watching on a 50+ inch TV with 1080 lines of resolution, the 480 lines from the DVD are going to look kinda crappy. HTPCs can sharpen, remove noise, perform complex video transforms, etc.

And yeah, most people also use them as a DVR. If you've ever had a TiVo in your house for a couple weeks, you'd realize how amazing it is, even for people who "don't watch much TV". Do you pay for cable? Then chances are you watch enough TV to enjoy a DVR.]]>Jan 24th 2006 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
I am only posting because I don't think the other posts covered everything that an HTPC can do. Just a small list of the things you can do (all using a remote from your couch):

Watch Divx, Xvid Movies on Demand (downloaded or converted), neatly organized and categorized by genre.

Listen to your mp3 collection, also neatly organized into genres

View your digital pictures as slideshows (with music if you want)

Get the latest weather for your area and animated satellite maps

Listen to the radio (fm or internet)

Use as a dvr/tivo, but with infinitely more options... burn recorded shows to dvd, automatically remove commercials, share recorded shows with friends, etc.

Under MCE 2005 you can go to the online spotlight section and rent movies on demand, watch thousands music videos on demand from MTV (for free).

Play emulated video games from MAME, NES, SNES, SEGA, etc. using usb controllers, and since it's already hooked up to your tv, the games look smoother than on a computer monitor.

If you really want to get crazy you can control lights and other appliances in your home.

The key thing to consider is that this is all from the comfort of your couch with a remote. No need to fire up your computer and find what your need.

For other plugins and functions that I forgot to mention go here:
http://www.mcesoft.nl/]]>Jan 24th 2006 2:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
I've become intrigued by building a HTPC, for the sole purpose of having an HDTV PVR. The problem is, there are so many components, driver issues, software issues, remote control issues to sift through before you can actually sit down and watch TV. Now, I'm not afraid to do it, having built the two desktop PCs in my house, but I would rather avoid the hassle if I could. I'm not so much into the ripping of DVDs onto the hard drive, since I don't watch a lot of DVDs, period. Even though I've got 200+ DVDs in my library, I don't watch them enough to need them "on-demand."

If the Series 3 TiVo doesn't come out soon, I may have to jump in and build an HD PVR from scratch. I'm sure the wife will love it when I have to reprogram the Harmony 880 and teach her how to use it all over again.]]>Jan 24th 2006 2:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811108347
I chose this because I have yet to see a htpc case that I like and yes I have seen ahanix and silverstone cases they simply are not ready for primetime yet, thus a conventional case that fits in a rack is fine.

Motherboard/Sound/Video
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813130529
I chose because of the Onboard DVI Port, and 8 channel sound suppport and dolby digital live support.

Encoding. - MCE 500
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16815116628

CPU Athlon 64 3700+
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103539

Memory 2 Corsair 1GB sticks 4200
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145525
2 Chips for dual channel support.

Hard Drive Seagate Barracuda 300GB
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148064
300GB is the sweet spot for price/capacity and will be fine for saving all my DVD/MP3 rips.

DVD - Plextor Slot Load DVD+-DL burner
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827131352

935.99 total.]]>Jan 24th 2006 2:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 3:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 3:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://sagetv.com/linuxOEMedition.html]]>Jan 24th 2006 3:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 3:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/


]]>Jan 24th 2006 3:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Also, I don't understand why so many people put expensive cpus in. I use an AMD Sempron 3000+ with 512 MB RAM and it is fine for my 3 tuner setup with HDTV.]]>Jan 24th 2006 3:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 3:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.htpcnews.com for more detailed "how to build a htpc for < $1000" and other great articles / reviews / forums. It was a great site that helped me on my maiden htpc build.]]>Jan 24th 2006 4:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/yeah im a noob about these things]]>Jan 24th 2006 4:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 4:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
the most important thing for me when building a pc that will be the center of a home theater is reducing noise coming from the case. i'm not at a point where i'll go with water-cooling, but aftermarket cpu fans are cheap, easy to install, and a lot quieter than the fans that are shipped with the processors.

my two cents...
]]>Jan 24th 2006 4:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 24th 2006 6:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
I love hearing about system builds, but think you're misleading your readers to build something worse than the average HTPC.]]>Jan 24th 2006 8:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
John B.]]>Jan 24th 2006 9:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/ A decent computer will have its cables tied up with tie wraps at least. and routed in places where they won't obstruct airflow (behind the motherboard anyone?)
so I would suggest you open it up again, build it the right way, and publish a sequel tomorrow.]]>Jan 25th 2006 2:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/I'll have to admit it's limited but it's simply dead-easy :-)]]>Jan 25th 2006 3:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/the computer isn't going in our AV rack yet, so we are not as concerned with noise

I am sorry, but by stating that you are not concerned with noise you also state that this is a guide for building an average workstation in a black cabinet.

NOT a guide for buidling a home theatre PC. Killing the noise is _the_ most important issue with HTPCs.

Engadget, you are disappointing your readers here!]]>Jan 25th 2006 5:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 25th 2006 9:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
I use mediaportal on top of winxp as i found windows mce to be completely crappy (tooo slow, very poor tv guide, music database & movie handling) most of my stuff is accessed from my principle computer over the network and the poorly specked htpc is quite capable.

The only things i bought to make the htpc proper was a cooler master cavalier case and a shed load of the akasa noise reducing foam, which by the way works really well.]]>Jan 25th 2006 10:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/Jan 25th 2006 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/24/how-to-build-a-practical-htpc/
It's not an OS upgrade, but everybody's talking about building systems NewEgg has MCE for $129.]]>Jan 25th 2006 11:18AM