Difference between revisions of "DIY Media Center PC"
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(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) | ||
| − | Requirements | + | == Requirements == |
* output to TV Composite output (i.e. old school RCA plug) | * output to TV Composite output (i.e. old school RCA plug) | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
* must be able to (at first) sneaker-net the program guide data onto the box - it *won't* be networked | * 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 | ** 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) | ** 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 | ** wifi a possible later add on | ||
| − | *** no problems here, I know of several good PCI wifi cards that work in Linux | + | *** 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>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> | ** <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 | ** 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?) | * 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 | + | === Motherboard and CPU === |
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157154 ASrock (AMD), $70 | * http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157154 ASrock (AMD), $70 | ||
| Line 33: | Line 35: | ||
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103255 AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz $56 | * http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103255 AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz $56 | ||
| − | RAM | + | === 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 | 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 | + | === Video card === |
| − | http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item= | + | 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 | + | === Tuner card === |
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116033 Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 $85 | * http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116033 Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 $85 | ||
| Line 47: | Line 50: | ||
** it does, chill out | ** it does, chill out | ||
| − | <s>IR blaster | + | === <s>IR blaster</s> === |
* <s>insert link here</s> | * <s>insert link here</s> | ||
| − | HD | + | === 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 | ||
| − | Optical drive | + | === Optical drive === |
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129040 Pioneer DVR-117DBK (DVD Burner) $25 | http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129040 Pioneer DVR-117DBK (DVD Burner) $25 | ||
| − | Case/PSU | + | === 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): $ | + | === GRAND TOTAL === |
| + | |||
| + | (excluding tax and shipping): $494 | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Linux distribution to be used == | ||
| − | + | Mythbuntu http://www.mythbuntu.org/downloads | |
| − | The Junk Pile | + | == The Junk Pile == |
(earlier parts that I ended up rejecting for various reasons or another - kept here for historical reference and "Just in case") | (earlier parts that I ended up rejecting for various reasons or another - kept here for historical reference and "Just in case") | ||
| − | Mobo/CPU | + | === Mobo/CPU === |
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121341 Intel, $60 | * http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121341 Intel, $60 | ||
| Line 78: | Line 90: | ||
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072 Core 2 Duo E5200 Wolfdale 2.5 GHz $70 | * http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072 Core 2 Duo E5200 Wolfdale 2.5 GHz $70 | ||
| − | Video card | + | === Video card === |
* http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129129 VisionTek Radeon 3850, $60 | * http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129129 VisionTek Radeon 3850, $60 | ||
** rejected because it does not have SVideo/composite tv-out | ** 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)
Contents
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 Blasterthis 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
- 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
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
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
- 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
