DIY Media Center PC

From The Book of Borg
Revision as of 21:26, 29 April 2009 by DBurr (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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!!

(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)
  • Do you guys want a Remote Control (ie to be able to control myth box using a remote?)

---

Motherboard and CPU:

RAM:

Video card:

  • NVIDIA
    • insert link here

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 $25

Case/PSU:

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