Difference between revisions of "DIY Media Center PC"

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* fill in the blanks
 
* fill in the blanks
  
−
Actually this page is being co-opted to use for the parts list for Stephanie's MythTV box.  Besides, once I finalize this and build it, I have all the info I need to build my own!!
+
Actually this page is being co-opted to use for the parts list for Stephanie's MythTV box.  Besides, once I finalize this and build it, I have all the info I need to build my own!!  Bwahahahahahaha!!!
  
 
(Note: All prices are rounded up for simplicity's sake, i.e. $49.99 becomes $50)
 
(Note: All prices are rounded up for simplicity's sake, i.e. $49.99 becomes $50)
  
−
Motherboard choices:
+
== Requirements ==
  
−
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157154 ASrock (AMD), $70
+
* output to TV Composite output (i.e. old school RCA plug)
−
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121341 Intel, $60
+
** or SVideo - it is trivial to convert SVideo to composite, just needs a like $3 adapter at Rat Shack
 +
* be able to play DVD Videos and burn DVD videos of recorded content
 +
* HD *NOT* necessary
 +
** but you might end up getting it anyway - pretty much all the tuner cards these days do both HD and SD
 +
* must be able to (at first) sneaker-net the program guide data onto the box - it *won't* be networked
 +
** this MAY be a problem - I'm not sure that the myth software can handle accepting program data via sneaker-net
 +
** well, "problem" may be too strong a word. We can probably hack together some sort of script that takes the channel data (presumably some sort of XML or HTML), parse it, and shove it into the MythTV backend.
 +
** at the very least you can operate it in "dumb VCR" mode (i.e. set the channel and start/end times yourself)
 +
** wifi a possible later add on
 +
*** no problems here, I know of several good PCI and/or USB wifi cards that work in Linux
 +
* <s>control a Comcast cable box using IR Blaster</s>
 +
** <s>this means the TV tuner must accept input from the Comcast (either SVideo or composite)</s>
 +
** this is no longer an issue - they will only be watching unencrypted analog or ClearQAM channels, which the TV decoder card can decode natively
 +
* Do you guys want a Remote Control (ie to be able to control myth box using a remote?)
 +
** well you're getting one whether you like it or not - the tuner card comes with one and it is supported
  
−
CPU choices:
+
== The Official Parts List ==
  
−
Video card:
+
=== Motherboard and CPU ===
  
−
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129129 VisionTek Radeon 3850, $60
+
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157154 ASrock (AMD), $70
 +
** has both PCI and PCIe slots
 +
** requires DDR2 1066 memory
 +
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103255 AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz $56
  
−
HD:
+
=== RAM ===
 +
 
 +
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227419 OCZ Blade Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) $56
 +
 
 +
=== Video card ===
 +
 
 +
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131142 POWERCOLOR HD2400PRO 512MB SCS Radeon HD 2400PRO 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail $30
 +
** passively cooled so no fan to fail or be noisy
 +
 
 +
=== Tuner card ===
 +
 
 +
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116033 Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 $85
 +
** This is a PCI card - make sure the mobo has PCI slots
 +
** it does, chill out
 +
 
 +
=== <s>IR blaster</s> ===
 +
 
 +
* <s>insert link here</s>
 +
 
 +
=== HD ===
  
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152101 Samsung SpinPoint 1TB drive, $90
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152101 Samsung SpinPoint 1TB drive, $90
  
−
Case/PSU:
+
=== Optical drive ===
 +
 
 +
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129040 Pioneer DVR-117DBK (DVD Burner) $25
 +
 
 +
=== WiFi adapter ===
 +
 
 +
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833315075 EDIMAX EW-7318USG IEEE 802.11b/g USB 2.0 Wireless LAN Hi-Gain Adapter Up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128/256-bit WEP Encryption, WPA ( TKIP, IEEE 802.1x) and AES - Retail $23
 +
* not in the specification, but this is a recommended upgrade path if you desire to add WiFi
 +
 
 +
=== Case/PSU ===
  
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144231 Apevia HTPC case, $65
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144231 Apevia HTPC case, $65
  
 +
=== GRAND TOTAL ===
 +
 +
(excluding tax and shipping): $494
 +
 +
== Linux distribution to be used ==
 +
 +
Mythbuntu http://www.mythbuntu.org/downloads
 +
 +
== The Junk Pile ==
 +
 +
(earlier parts that I ended up rejecting for various reasons or another - kept here for historical reference and "Just in case")
 +
 +
=== Mobo/CPU ===
 +
 +
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121341 Intel, $60
 +
** may not be PCI Express - check!  (it isn't...)
 +
** builtin video doesn't support output to composite/Svideo
 +
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072 Core 2 Duo E5200 Wolfdale 2.5 GHz $70
 +
 +
=== Video card ===
 +
 +
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129129 VisionTek Radeon 3850, $60
 +
** rejected because it does not have SVideo/composite tv-out
 +
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121250 ASUS EAH3450/HTP/512M Radeon HD 3450 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 $37
 +
** rejected because it's not quite as good, and has a failfan
 +
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150335 XFX HD-435X-YAH2 Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card - Retail $47
 +
** out of stock :P
  
 
[[Category:Computer-related projects]]
 
[[Category:Computer-related projects]]

Latest revision as of 01:37, 7 May 2009

I want to eventually build my own Media Center PC. The goal of this project is:

  • fill in the blanks

Actually this page is being co-opted to use for the parts list for Stephanie's MythTV box. Besides, once I finalize this and build it, I have all the info I need to build my own!! Bwahahahahahaha!!!

(Note: All prices are rounded up for simplicity's sake, i.e. $49.99 becomes $50)

Requirements

  • output to TV Composite output (i.e. old school RCA plug)
    • or SVideo - it is trivial to convert SVideo to composite, just needs a like $3 adapter at Rat Shack
  • be able to play DVD Videos and burn DVD videos of recorded content
  • HD *NOT* necessary
    • but you might end up getting it anyway - pretty much all the tuner cards these days do both HD and SD
  • must be able to (at first) sneaker-net the program guide data onto the box - it *won't* be networked
    • this MAY be a problem - I'm not sure that the myth software can handle accepting program data via sneaker-net
    • well, "problem" may be too strong a word. We can probably hack together some sort of script that takes the channel data (presumably some sort of XML or HTML), parse it, and shove it into the MythTV backend.
    • at the very least you can operate it in "dumb VCR" mode (i.e. set the channel and start/end times yourself)
    • wifi a possible later add on
      • no problems here, I know of several good PCI and/or USB wifi cards that work in Linux
  • control a Comcast cable box using IR Blaster
    • this means the TV tuner must accept input from the Comcast (either SVideo or composite)
    • this is no longer an issue - they will only be watching unencrypted analog or ClearQAM channels, which the TV decoder card can decode natively
  • Do you guys want a Remote Control (ie to be able to control myth box using a remote?)
    • well you're getting one whether you like it or not - the tuner card comes with one and it is supported

The Official Parts List

Motherboard and CPU

RAM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227419 OCZ Blade Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) $56

Video card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131142 POWERCOLOR HD2400PRO 512MB SCS Radeon HD 2400PRO 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail $30

    • passively cooled so no fan to fail or be noisy

Tuner card

IR blaster

  • insert link here

HD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152101 Samsung SpinPoint 1TB drive, $90

Optical drive

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129040 Pioneer DVR-117DBK (DVD Burner) $25

WiFi adapter

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833315075 EDIMAX EW-7318USG IEEE 802.11b/g USB 2.0 Wireless LAN Hi-Gain Adapter Up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128/256-bit WEP Encryption, WPA ( TKIP, IEEE 802.1x) and AES - Retail $23

  • not in the specification, but this is a recommended upgrade path if you desire to add WiFi

Case/PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144231 Apevia HTPC case, $65

GRAND TOTAL

(excluding tax and shipping): $494

Linux distribution to be used

Mythbuntu http://www.mythbuntu.org/downloads

The Junk Pile

(earlier parts that I ended up rejecting for various reasons or another - kept here for historical reference and "Just in case")

Mobo/CPU

Video card

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