Building a media center pc

[ckyskate0]

I have wanted to get a media center pc since the first time i heard about them but i don't want to have to buy a whole new computer. I read in a magazine that you can build your one media center pc using most of the parts I have now. Below is the hardware I currently have in my computer.

Intel D856PERLL Motherboard
2.8 GHz Pentium 4
2x 256MB PC3200
Gigabyte Heatsink Model Number GH-PCU21-VG
80GB, 250GB and 20GB Hard Drives
Sony DRU-510 DVD+-RW
Sony DRU-710A DVD+-RW
Nexus Fan Controller
Winfast TV Tuner
Powercolor Radeon 9600 PRO 128MB

From what I'm gathering, I'll need the OS and the Media Center remote. I was thinking of buying a media center enclosure as well just to complete the look. Below is a link to the case and remote i was considering.

Case

Remote

Could anyone help me:
a) Tell me what else I need to do
b) Tell me what I will be able to fit in that case
c) Tell me if I need to buy anything new

Thanks in advance

[thefultonhow]

Your motherboard won't fit in that case, and you will only be able to fit one optical drive. I would recommend this case instead:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...126-136&depa=0

Obviously it's more expensive (about $240 with shipping), but it will fit all of your components (except one hard drive and probably your fan controller). I'm also not sure that TV tuner card is compatible with MCE, so you might want to look at a Hauppauge, the ATI E-Home Wonder, or the Avermedia MCE card.

[ckyskate0]

The only reason i wanted that other case is because it has a card reader in it and I thought it looked cooler. Do you think it's worth buying a new motherboard for?

But if I were to buy the case you linked me to, the only other things i would need is the OS, remote and new tv tuner?

[footfikinmasta]

Is there a reason why you want to run windows media center? Theres other frontends out there that are cheaper and might have more features. I'm running SageTv and pretty impressed with it. I have the Antec Overture with a Intel Rocklake D865Perl motherboard with 2.8 chip, 1 gig of ram, a 250 gig maxtor Sata HD and a 92mm zelman cpu fan, Hauppauge pvr 150, Ati 9600 xt. For the remote I used a IR wireless keyboard and I have a Phillips prontu tsu 2000 remote that can learn the keyboards buttons. After building my system I realized that I didn't need all that ram and a 2.8 p4 is a little overkill, I"m also not happy with my case its a little too load for me. I 'm tossing up the idea of changing cases.

Link to keyboard. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...107-114&depa=0

[ckyskate0]

The only real reason I want a media center pc is because I want to do everything i can do now but in a more organized fashion. I have my computer hooked up to my tv and my PS2 and XBOX hooked up to both my tv and pc. It is one big, tangled MESS.

It just seems like an easy solution.

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by ckyskate0 The only reason i wanted that other case is because it has a card reader in it and I thought it looked cooler. Do you think it's worth buying a new motherboard for? But if I were to buy the case you linked me to, the only other things i would need is the OS, remote and new tv tuner?

If you really want the case badly, you can buy a new motherboard; obviously it's your decision, but of course you will have to give up one of your optical drives. Personally, I look the look of the Ahanix case better, but everyone here agrees that you should buy the case that you like best. But yes, those components wuld be all you would need with the Ahanix case.