Difference between revisions of "DIY Media Center PC"

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** it does, chill out
 
** it does, chill out
  
IR blaster:
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<s>IR blaster:</s>
  
* insert link here
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* <s>insert link here</s>
  
 
HD:
 
HD:

Revision as of 22:02, 29 April 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)
  • 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
    • 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 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?)

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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=N82E16814121250 ASUS EAH3450/HTP/512M Radeon HD 3450 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 $37

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

Case/PSU:

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

GRAND TOTAL (excluding tax and shipping): $484

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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: