Next Build...Media PC

[Preston]

After having great sucess with my first build back in March, I am ready for another project....

I would like to build a PC that I can connect to my TV and Home theater system. I have a few goals in mind.

1. I would like a wireless keyboard/mouse, so I can sit back on the couch and surf the net.

2. I would like to use the PC as a TIVO type device.

3. I would like to be able to play play audio/video from the PC's hard drive.

I am considering a barebones type system to keep the box small. Also condiering an ATI AIW card.

First, and most important, question...How will the quality of display be on my TV? I know that a monitor's resolution is much greater than a TV, and I wonder if it would even be feasable to surf the net on a TV. BTW, the TV I will be using is a 36 inch non-HDTV...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Preston]

Bump.

Anyone use a TV out from an ATI AIW card to surf the net on a TV?

[Skygtrlemon]

an all-in-wonder would be great, but theirs a wide variety, how much do you plan on spending, for audio.. i would reccomend a 1/8 inch to a rca female (http://www.americanmusical.com/item-...0HAMS0000.html )adapter and then get a good enough length rca cable to hook up to that y adapter and then hook it up to your system. or you can just get a long 1/8" to a rca male y adapter

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by Preston Anyone use a TV out from an ATI AIW card to surf the net on a TV?

You would only have a 640x480 resolution on the TV. Text from a 800x600 computer resolution but onto a TV with 640x480 makes it hard to read.

[edit]: Just noticed you said an HDTV. In that case, it should be fine.

[Skygtrlemon]

Originally Posted by Preston Bump. Anyone use a TV out from an ATI AIW card to surf the net on a TV?

i used a tv out on a comp, but not an aiw, but it was similar. I personally thought it was kinda hard to read, but i guess it depends on how close you are to the tv when surving, you might have to make the size of the font larger if your farther back, i remeber when i was reading something on the tv from the computer i had to put my head close up to the tv because i didnt know how to adjust the font, but what i was thinking is getting a big lcd widescreen computer monitor and using that as your main screen instead of using a tv and do everything through your monitor out or vidi card,and use your AIW as the tv tuner but i know thats pretty expensive, lol (wow!)

[roomwithamoose]

Most HDTVs can handle resolutions up to 1024x720, or around there. The resolutions tend to be nicer than normal analog tvs, but the refresh rates still stink, unless it's a plasma montior or lcd flat panel. Surfing and other stuff is fine on the slower tvs, but gaming gets blurry.

[Spartan]

He did say it was a non HDTV. I have used the S vid out on my laptop to play games on my 41 inch TV but the resolution (as noted above) was not very good. I have a 9800 AIW and I like it. I do PIP and surf the net while watching TV from time to time.

As for wireless k/b & mouse I like Logitech and others here prefer Microsoft.

The AIW will function as a Tivo and allow you to record and playback at your convienence. It has a free built in TV Guide that is quick and easy to use also.

The AIW will handle all of your video playback needs but for good audio I would say get a Audigy card. I like mine alot and many others here are similarly happy.

I would probably advise against a small form factor machine for several reasons. I recently built a Shuttle box and the power supply would only handle up to a 9800 Pro, you would have to check and see if it would be OK with an AIW. Space is also a concern. As a multi media system you may find yourself wanting more than one HDD and more than one optical drive. Most SFF systems don't have (much) room for expansion and that pesky power problem comes to mind again.

Other than that...go for it.

-Spartan

[i486]

suggestions for parts:

antec media center case
asus a7v333-x
AMD athlon XP 2500+ mobile
Thermaltake volcano HSF with artic silver 3
ASUS tv/fm card with remote
ASUS radeon 9600se
western digital 250gb OR hitachi deathstar 400gb
LG 8x dvd+/- rw
LG 52x cdrom
crystalfontz serial VFD
mitsumi 7-in-1 card reader/floppy drive combo
windows XP professionnal
creative sound blaster live 5.1 value edition
firewire card
monster brand cables to connect the PC to tv.

[i486]

Or get a couple of seagate cheetah 18gb 15000rpm SCSI drives and a SCSI controller card.

[Preston]

I was kind of worried that the resoultion might not be all theat great....I have an older Dell laptop with a TV out on it, and the resolution is pretty bad. I was hoping that the newer vid cards might do a better job, but I think it might be more the TV than the card that would make the difference in resoulution....

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Preston but I think it might be more the TV than the card that would make the difference in resoulution....

Yep...it's the TV, not the video card. If you sit back far enough, it's not that bad though.

Cricket