Home theatre project

[JoeDaStudd]

I've been looking at creating a home theatre PC for a while now.

 

I've finally decided to give it a go.

 

Current build;

 

Case

 

DVD/CD

 

TV card - HD and compatible with MythTV

 

CPU

 

Ram

 

HDD 1TB for £90 can't go wrong.

 

Mobo

 

 

 

The plan is to install MythTV/Ubuntu on it to keep costs low. Ripping the vast amounts of DVD's I own onto it allowing me to reduce the space I need for the DVD (that way I can keep them in the loft).

 

Partitioning the hard drive so that I can use it as a file server to my other machines.

 

 

 

Anyone got any ideas, recommended replacement parts or any feedback?

 

 

 

I'm not 100% on what case to get or DVD drive.

[thrash-boy]

Im not really that knowledgeable about building computers, but sounds like a good idea.

 

 

 

you dont need to add " to links when using the url tag.

[JoeDaStudd]

I just copied it from another forum. I got a lot of useful info from there about the Linux size and a few recommendations (bigger HD, ect).

 

I thought I would see what you guys thought.

 

As I said I've been toying with the idea for a while now. I was waiting for HDD's to hit a sweet price and as it happens the mobo I was looking at before dropped to a nice price too.

 

 

 

ps. I've corrected the links.

[ClareJonsson]

I built my own PVR and decided to go with XP and GBPVR. Awesome software, free, lots of features, easy to use :)

 

 

 

I have two capture cards atm, one is a Digital freeview card, and the other is an analogue capture card so I can record from inputs such as my SKY box.

 

 

 

When I get home I will list the exact hardware that's in it if you like?

[JoeDaStudd]

I built my own PVR and decided to go with XP and GBPVR. Awesome software, free, lots of features, easy to use :)

 

 

 

I have two capture cards atm, one is a Digital freeview card, and the other is an analogue capture card so I can record from inputs such as my SKY box.

 

 

 

When I get home I will list the exact hardware that's in it if you like?

 

That would be great.

 

 

 

I'm most worried about the case and TV card to tell you the truth.

 

The motherboard I've been looking at since the 780G got great reviews for HTPC use, the CPU I have a lower spec one, the DVD/CD I have the IDE version, RAM again I own a few sticks of the same make/model. HDD is a bit flaky too, I know WD are great performance wise, but noise wise...

[ClareJonsson]

I have just been looking at MythTV and I might just give it a go on my PVR soon as I have a spare drive laying around that I can build it on :).

 

 

 

Anyway, here's what in my present PVR:

 

Motherboard: Not sure exact model, but it's a Via VT8751(A) Chipset.

 

CPU: Celeron 2.4Hgz

 

Mem: 1Gb DDR

 

Audio: M-Audio Audiophile 2496

 

Graphics: Radeon 9250 (128mb)

 

Freeview Card: Hauppauge HVR-1300

 

Analogue Capture Card: Hauppauge PVR150MCE

 

 

 

The case is a stock case we had at work that is known for being very quiet, It's a mini tower and hides by the side of the TV, I have disconnected the LED for the hard drives and power as I don't want flashing lights when I am watching and recording or when the PC is in standby. GBPVR wakes the PC from standby to record programs :). The DVD Drive is behind a little flap that hides the LED from that too.

 

 

 

I'm now dying to find out how MythTV compares to GBPVR!