New Computer: To HT or not HT?

[DavidY]

In response to Lex's request for more posts.....

Within the next month, I would like to get a new computer to replace my 3.5 year old AMD K6-166 system. Currently, I am eyeing a computer with the following:

AMD Athlon T-bird 1100 or 1200 MHz
256MB PC133 SDRAM
Abit KT7A-RAID or Asus A7V133 mobo
40-45GB 7200rpm HD IBM Deskstar or Quantum AS
32MB GeForce2 MX video card (with Video in/out?)
56K fax/data/voice external modem
12X/10X/32X Aopen/Acer or Ricoh CD-writer with 4MB buffer
16X DVD drive Pioneer
Soundblaster Live Value or MP3 with 5.1 (?)
18 inch ATX case with 300W Power Supply
MS Win98SE

Originally, I was planning to keep my computer and HT/music systems separate.....now I don't know. What is needed to combine the two together (besides the video in/out on the video card and 5.1 from soundcard)? Are all DVD drives all region compatible?

Any comments to my system?...I would to like to keep it under US$1300-$1400 before taxes. To save on costs, I will be using my existing 17 inch Optiquest monitor, keyboard and mouse. Thanks.

Dave

**** Moderators, please feel free to move this post to the correct forum -- just let me know where since I usually just check one or two. ****

[ThomasW]

I'd certainly suggest a dedicated HTPC. You can build one for $750 or less and it will have the abilitites of a $2000+ progressive scan stand alone DVD player. Also you don't need tons of high speed computing power. I'm using a hand-me-down HTPC from JonMarsh. Celeron 300 overclocked to 450Mhz with 128megs of RAM. This low buck setup plays everything well.

It's bets to limit the hardware and software in a HTPC to avoid any potential internal conflicts.

Using a software DVD player (like WinDVD) keeps the hardware costs down and allows for easy upgrading. Usually the DVD-ROMs are region free, but the software players must be set to a region. WinDVD must be reinstalled after a set number of region changes.

Also unlike a stand alone DVD "appliance", if something dies like the DVD-ROM for instance, it's just a quick trip to the computer store for a fix, as opposed to hauling the player into the local repair shop and waiting for weeks for it to be fixed




theAudioWorx
Klone-Audio

[John Holmes]

Under $750 eh...




"I came here, to chew bubble gum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubble gum!!!" My DVD's

[ThomasW]

Under $750 eh...

Sure, probably more like $500 with smart shopping. The firesale pricing on AMD 750-800Mhz processors and RAM make this pretty much a no brainer.




theAudioWorx
Klone-Audio

[John Holmes]

Up till now I always thought that an HTPC was out of my financial grasp. This does shed a whole new light on things. Uhmmmm, looks as though I am going to do some research Thanks for the info Thomas!




"I came here, to chew bubble gum and kickass. And I'm all out of bubble gum!!!" My DVD's

[gil]

I'm not an expert by any means on this but David's TV has S-video input only. So I gather there is little benefit to gaining progressive capability for him right now.

Assuming you had something like a Celeron 400MHz PC with 64Meg SRAM and a few Gbytes hard disk available. What hardware would be required to upgrade this to an HTPC.

What are all of the features I am gaining with an HTPC? And is this something the wife and kids are going to be able to run easily.

[DavidY]

Gil is right....progressive capability does me no good. I do have component video and S-video on my TV. Since I have my DVD player connected to my TV via component video, I would like to connect via S-video (through video card).

Pros and cons of hardware decoder vs. software decoding? Hollywood Plus? Others?

I think that most of my movie watching will be through my HT system with the HT computer providing access to DVD-ROM. My screen will be primarily the JVC TV, not the computer monitor (17 inches is too small and computer chair is uncomfortable for movie watching). To summarize, I will be using the new HT computer to supplement my existing HT system. In addition, I will be using the HT computer mostly for web surfing, some games, general home applications (taxes, spreadsheets, word processing).

Am I correct to assume that all I need on my computer is: a DVD drive, hardware or software decoder, sound card which supports 5.1 and a video card with S-video?

Dave

[ThomasW]

I'm really not an expert on HTPC's, Jon just gave me his old one already setup and running.

It did make a difference with my old NTSC FPTV and an even bigger difference when I got a Sony 400Q

The main benefit from software ecoding is that theres nothing to wearout or become outdated.

I think 450Mhz is the slowest processor speed. And 128megs of RAM is best. Only a very small harddrive is needed.

If your family can load a program they can run a HTPC. It simply boots up into Win98se. There is an icon on the desktop for WinDVD. Double click on the icon with the DVD in the DVD-ROM drive and the movie starts. Double click on the top of the frame to fill the screen and thats it.

Surf HERE for more info




theAudioWorx
Klone-Audio