Media Center PC Questions:

ukulele_ninja · 11-18-2007, 11:18 PM

My brother is looking to build a media center pc. Im going to hep him do this but had some questions I hoped you could answer. The main goal of this is to be able to catalog the 300+ dvds that he owns so he can call them up and have them all stored on his computer and play them off of his computer on his TV. We have the DVD decryptor program which will copy dvds as an iso file, but is there a good program that will play iso's or will Vista media center play iso files? Or better yet is there a version of Linux that will work best for this situation?

Next, what hardware would be best to use. He wants an HDMI output and at least a 500gig HDD possibly bigger for storing movies on. So let me know if you can come up with a system that meets at least those requirements or any comments or answers that you have. Thanks!

**oscaryu1** · 11-18-2007, 11:20 PM

300+ movies calls up more than 500GB for sure.

I can only help you on the hardware part...

I'd recommend an SATAII 1TB Hard drive, as with a good processor and lots of RAM. I'd also recommend a 8800 for high resolution stuff.

ukulele_ninja · 11-18-2007, 11:25 PM

I was under the impression that as long as the card had HDMI out it would be high def. He doesnt want to spend a lot on just the video card, no more than $300. I figured a 1 TB would be the better route too.

**oscaryu1** · 11-18-2007, 11:46 PM

Sure! A 8800GT would do fine

ukulele_ninja · 11-18-2007, 11:59 PM

whats the price on that?

**oscaryu1** · 11-19-2007, 12:28 AM

$269.99 +

ukulele_ninja · 11-19-2007, 04:23 AM

Anyone know about the software issues?

**mep916** · 11-19-2007, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukulele_ninja

Anyone know about the software issues?

You'd be better off using Windows as opposed to Linux. Personally, I like Media Center.

EDIT: You can get a DVI to HDMI adapter and run the video off your (his) GPU. Click here for an article that discusses that technology.

ukulele_ninja · 11-19-2007, 04:54 AM

Well the 8800GT has HDMI on it which is true HDMI so I think we're gonna go with that. If you have any other suggestions let me know.

Here is the build I toyed around with:

Media Center PC

Main Hardware:
1.Geforce 8800GT with HDMI out> $280
2.ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard> $175
3.AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA5600CZBOX Processor>$140.00
4.Spec-Research 01024 Black 0.55~0.65mm SECC ATX Mid HTPC Computer Case 400W Power Supply> $95 (May need bigger power supply)
5.2gig Corsair RAM> $110
6.HDD's 500gig($110) 750($200) 1TB ($300)
7.Heatsink and Fan for processor> $30
8.Wireless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse> $80
9.DVD-RW> $60

These are just kinda toying around and using newegg prices. When I built mine i bought a lot from ebay and saved nearly $400 for a very very similar build. Lemme know any suggestions!

ukulele_ninja · 11-19-2007, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mep916

You'd be better off using Windows as opposed to Linux. Personally, I like Media Center.

EDIT: You can get a DVI to HDMI adapter and run the video off your (his) GPU. Click here for an article that discusses that technology.

I like media center too, will it read ISO files?

11-18-2007, 11:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
ukulele_ninja Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,360	Media Center PC Questions: My brother is looking to build a media center pc. Im going to hep him do this but had some questions I hoped you could answer. The main goal of this is to be able to catalog the 300+ dvds that he owns so he can call them up and have them all stored on his computer and play them off of his computer on his TV. We have the DVD decryptor program which will copy dvds as an iso file, but is there a good program that will play iso's or will Vista media center play iso files? Or better yet is there a version of Linux that will work best for this situation? Next, what hardware would be best to use. He wants an HDMI output and at least a 500gig HDD possibly bigger for storing movies on. So let me know if you can come up with a system that meets at least those requirements or any comments or answers that you have. Thanks! __________________ Do you remember when the tigers broke free? CF COD4: CF\|UkuleleNinja

11-18-2007, 11:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
oscaryu1 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 13 Posts: 10,154	300+ movies calls up more than 500GB for sure. I can only help you on the hardware part... I'd recommend an SATAII 1TB Hard drive, as with a good processor and lots of RAM. I'd also recommend a 8800 for high resolution stuff. __________________ Core 2 Duo E2140 1.6GHz @ 3.04GHz GA-P31-DS3L pqi Turbo CL4 DDR2-800 2GB Sapphire HD3850 256MB Sony Writemaster DVD Burner EIDE Seagate Barracuda 80GB 7200.9 8MB SATII

11-18-2007, 11:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
ukulele_ninja Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,360	I was under the impression that as long as the card had HDMI out it would be high def. He doesnt want to spend a lot on just the video card, no more than $300. I figured a 1 TB would be the better route too. __________________ Do you remember when the tigers broke free? CF COD4: CF\|UkuleleNinja

11-18-2007, 11:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
oscaryu1 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 13 Posts: 10,154	Sure! A 8800GT would do fine __________________ Core 2 Duo E2140 1.6GHz @ 3.04GHz GA-P31-DS3L pqi Turbo CL4 DDR2-800 2GB Sapphire HD3850 256MB Sony Writemaster DVD Burner EIDE Seagate Barracuda 80GB 7200.9 8MB SATII

11-18-2007, 11:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
ukulele_ninja Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,360	whats the price on that? __________________ Do you remember when the tigers broke free? CF COD4: CF\|UkuleleNinja

11-19-2007, 12:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
oscaryu1 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Age: 13 Posts: 10,154	$269.99 + __________________ Core 2 Duo E2140 1.6GHz @ 3.04GHz GA-P31-DS3L pqi Turbo CL4 DDR2-800 2GB Sapphire HD3850 256MB Sony Writemaster DVD Burner EIDE Seagate Barracuda 80GB 7200.9 8MB SATII

11-19-2007, 04:23 AM	#7 (permalink)
ukulele_ninja Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,360	Anyone know about the software issues? __________________ Do you remember when the tigers broke free? CF COD4: CF\|UkuleleNinja

11-19-2007, 04:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
ukulele_ninja Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,360	Well the 8800GT has HDMI on it which is true HDMI so I think we're gonna go with that. If you have any other suggestions let me know. Here is the build I toyed around with: Media Center PC Main Hardware: 1.Geforce 8800GT with HDMI out> $280 2.ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard> $175 3.AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Windsor 2.8GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA5600CZBOX Processor>$140.00 4.Spec-Research 01024 Black 0.55~0.65mm SECC ATX Mid HTPC Computer Case 400W Power Supply> $95 (May need bigger power supply) 5.2gig Corsair RAM> $110 6.HDD's 500gig($110) 750($200) 1TB ($300) 7.Heatsink and Fan for processor> $30 8.Wireless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse> $80 9.DVD-RW> $60 These are just kinda toying around and using newegg prices. When I built mine i bought a lot from ebay and saved nearly $400 for a very very similar build. Lemme know any suggestions! __________________ Do you remember when the tigers broke free? CF COD4: CF\|UkuleleNinja

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