Building a Media Center PC *Update w/pics+vid*
 

Nothing too fancy here. I am going to be using it for streaming movies, etc. from my other computer to my living room tv, and also to play emulators on. It needs to be fast enough to play h.264 HD video files as well as run an N64 emulator at a good speed. I've never actually built a computer from scratch before but I've replaced about every piece there is, so that's not an issue really.

Can anybody recommend a nice case/motherboard/processor to start with? Cost is a big factor.

EDIT:

I got everything together and set up. It is all working perfectly now except the case that I have is a bit too small and only accepts slim PCI cards, so I can't use the HDTV tuner on it to watch/record TV and do Tivo-like stuff. I'm returning this one and have a new, slightly larger case on the way to make it complete.

It works beautifully and just how I imagined. Playing HD movies, N64 emulator, MAME, and a lot more. The N64 emulation is awesome; with the hardware acceleration the games look even better than they do playing off an actual N64. I ordered a receiver so I can use my xbox 360 wireless controllers with it for games which is awesome. I'm using Vista Media Center to do most of the action except for emulators. It's controlled with a remote, or I can VNC into it to do whatever. Right now I just put a DVD drive in it until BluRay prices come down (currently about $150) so all the HD movies are downloaded right now.

Very short vid showing Goldeneye running smooth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydo-cBFL_84

Here's some pics

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/9208/dscf0357le5.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/6849/dscf0354tt7.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5568/dscf0356xt1.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4349/dscf0353mg8.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/2660/dscf0355zy9.jpg

Re: Building a Media Center PC
 

Yes, can you lay out your budget/goal? any other features you want to have in the future? there are some awesome barebones combo's on tiger direct right now, just depends on where you want to go i guess.

Re: Building a Media Center PC
 

Needs 5.1 audio support, wireless networking, and be able to emulate N64 games well O0

Re: Building a Media Center PC
 

Reeeaaallly depends on bitrate of the h264 files. My amd 2400 (old as ---- i know) can handle some 720p fine, but not others. Like signorelli said, it helps to know what your budget is. I know the last time I planned on building a budget pc, the intel core duo e6420 was a very good value for the money. Comes stock clocked at 2.2ghz i think, and easily overclocked to 3ghz, and was stable.

If you're trying to keep it on the cheap and you aren't worried about playing the newest games, look for a motherboard with this new AMD chipset:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/03/..._780g_chipset/

Says it handles HD just fine (uses hardware decoding so the CPU doesn't have to work hardly as hard), low power (meaning one less fan in the case, good for a quiet pc), and I'm almost positive it'll handle an n64 emulator just fine. My ati 9600 plays n64 games fine... Also, it's an on-board chip, but if you want to add another card later it'll use the new crossfirex ---- so it'll utilize both cards for better performance. You might be able to get away with a motherboard with this chipset, that has built in 5.1 audio support (a lot has 6.1 or higher now), and integrated wifi...along with a moderately priced amd CPU.

Here's a list of add-on video cards that'll tell you your best value:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2008/03/...ming_graphics/

Tomshardware.com is a good site for deciding what parts are best for your money.

Re: Building a Media Center PC
 

I'd think any thing made in the last 15 years can handle that.
I have a few emulators/ROM's on my old lap tops.

Re: Building a Media Center PC
 

soundblaster audigy 3 i think is the newest, capable of 7.1. i have a audigy 2zs and its pretty awesome on 5.1, you can actually set up a 3-d sound setup, speaker placement, tune each channel, etc.

Re: Building a Media Center PC
 

I've been doing some research and it looks like all the newer micro atx boards have at least 5.1 built in, just gotta choose which one now.

Re: Building a Media Center PC
 

it wont have the quality of an add-on soundcard though

Re: Building a Media Center PC
 

Actually do a little research on that. In the past day I've learned a ton. The 780G chipset is what I'm going with (thanks for the suggestion Jorsher, others have recommended it too).

Now I just have to choose a processor.

Re: Building a Media Center PC
 

newegg.com has for sale computer package with a intel qx6600 (core 2 quad, 2.6ghzX4)
4gb of ddr2 533 ram (i belive it is corsair value)
and a mother board for $300 that's a good deal