My HTPC

[Uli321]

Hi,

I recently completed my HTPC project and I like to present it. Maybe you get some ideas from this.

Luckily, at the time when I build up my home media entertainment, I totally renewed my living-room, so I was able to design it to my requirements and to hide most cables.

Here's my Home Media Entertainment system:

www.living-media-box.de/myhtpc/IMG_1722.JPG


Components:

1. HTPC:
total price: around 1.000€ + hundreds of hours of reading, setup-ing, testing, headaching, bugfixing,...

MP Version: RC3, CVS 25.03.06
Skin: blue2
Windows Version: XP SP 2
CPU Type: AMD Athlon XP 2400+
Memory: 512 MB
Motherboard Chipset: Biostar Nvidia 2
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9250n 128Bit Memory Interface
Video Card Resolution: 1360*768 TFT
TV-card:Technotrend DVB-S budget
HDD: 240GB
Copper Silent 2 CPU cooler
300W power supply (very silent)
60mm Papst 612 case fan (speed selectable via self-made switch)
Universal card-reader
Firewire
USB connectors in front panel (hidden)
DVD-writer
Infraread keyboard (see below)
Thrustmaster USB infrared remote device (configurable for MP, Showshifter,...)
Sony Universal Remote Control (one device for all components)

Main Software:
- Win XP SP2
- MP RC3
- Skype 2.0


2. HarmanKardon AVR 330 surround receiver
Best design ever seen, connected via digital coax to HTPC.

price: 540€

3. Benq DV3250 32" TFT
I really like this TFT. After checking some magazines, I realized that only this model is able to natively display 1360*768 via DVI-link. Other models won't accept this resolution via DVI or interpolate the last 6 pixels which reduces picture quality a lot.. TV is excellent and MP as well as the desktop are really superb.
After you've seen real HDTV channels on these kind of TFT displays, you get really hurt when watching traditional PAL TV...

Connected via DVI to HTPC, S-Video to PS2 and Receiver.
price: around 1.000€

The panel is attached to a wooden board (self-made) which has several functions:
- hide cables
- virtually increase TFT dimensions (it works!)
- more style..


4. Canton speakers:
- Center: Canton AV700
- main: Canton Ergo 900
- no subwoofer
- rear: Canton Plus X

I never missed a subwoofer, the ergo speakers are able to produce more than enough bass power to fulfil my needs (tested with Star Wars Episode 2 asteroids battle scene - my favorite!)
And the ergo speakers are excellent for music playback!

5. Playstation 2 (needed only for GT4 :wink: )
connected via S-Video to TFT, via Optical Link to Receiver (enables surround-sound)

Well, here some more pictures (click on the link for full resolution):

















Live TV (HDTV) (digital camera pic, 2 Megapixels)

www.living-media-box.de/myhtpc/IMG_1731.JPG




Future upgrades:
HDTV DVB-S2 compatibility:
- Technotrend DVB-S2 budget (as soon as available and supported by MP), second DVB-S(1) card for multituner purposes.
- AMD Athlon 64X2
- Nvidia 6600 (purevideo driver)
- 500 GB HDD (2 Samsung 250 GB 5400)
- 1GB RAM
- new mainboard (micro ATX, not selected yet)
- bigger and slower case fan (80/100mm), maybe 2 fans...

I hope you like my Home Theatre and maybe I gave you some inspirations.

Uli

[Paranoid Delusion]

Nice Work Uli

8)

[Brocklander]

Very tidy! Completely agree about the PS2 8)

[Jay_74]

Great work
I have the same pc case ... but your living room looks much better !