Its time to replace/upgrade my original media box. (1 Viewer)

[simon169]

Hi

I have been running my Asus Pundit for about 3 1/2 years and its capabilities have steadily increased, with the continued improvements within THE GREAT Mediaportal. However recently I have been looking into HD content and found that it is lacking on this front and so I am beginning to plan its replacement. I have begun to select the basic components of my new build.

Current Budget £200 more components to be upgraded over the coming year

Case Antec Fusion I like the look and size of the case not to big like some of the Silverstone cases and a price that fits any alternatives I should consider ?

Motherboard either

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=657883 gigabyte

or

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=657883 intel

The gigabyte has HDMI on the motherboard and the intel supports VIIV ?? I thought about getting the Intel and then adding a good graphics card with HDMI later would this be the best option ? Or any better options.

Components to be transferred or aquired free

pentium 4 3.0ghz cpu can also get 1.8ghz dual-core if MB needs it
512mb ram I think I will buy a 1gb of ram for the new board giving me 1.5 gb for now
Nebula Digitv Card Im thinking of adding a Happauge td500 dual tuner later
80gb HDD Yes will be upgraded later to 500gb or more drive. Oh My God its so small lol
DVD burner Not used often but there if needed.
IR Kyb and Mouse works very well better than a few of the wireless keyboards ive seen.
PCI wireless NIC


A couple more questions. Does the Antec Fusion case IR support the MS MCE Remote Directly and would it support this MS MCE copy http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=627096

And finally I havent looked into the server/client side of Mediportal would I be able to run this box as a server and a client and then have potentially 2 other clients running from it ?

All suggestions and info welcome.

Thanks

Simon

PS. special thanks to everyone involved with MP.

 

[Spragleknas]

A couple more questions. Does the Antec Fusion case IR support the MS MCE Remote Directly and would it support this MS MCE copy

The IR-sensor in the Fusion supports MCE remotes, but in a "strange" way (convert them to key-strokes). I recommend the Antec case, even so. For reference: I have built a HTPC based on Fusion and one on NSK2400 - and just bought myself a NSK2480 (the latest versions are the "non fancy" and cheap siblings of the Fusion - read review @ SPCR).

However: Consider getting a MCE remote WITH IR-receiver.

(Oh, and in my mind, VFD is pointless - we do connect our HTPC's to a LCD, don't we?)

@ HW: I bought myself a cheap system w/AMD X2 4000+ and a Gigabyte 690G mobo. Since I prefer AMD, take this with a pinch of salt, but using P4 for HTPC is not what I would recommend anybody, as most/many are very power hungry.

 

[simon169]

A couple more questions. Does the Antec Fusion case IR support the MS MCE Remote Directly and would it support this MS MCE copy

The IR-sensor in the Fusion supports MCE remotes, but in a "strange" way (convert them to key-strokes). I recommend the Antec case, even so. For reference: I have built a HTPC based on Fusion and one on NSK2400 - and just bought myself a NSK2480 (the latest versions are the "non fancy" and cheap siblings of the Fusion - read review @ SPCR).

Do you mean I would have to program the remote to key-strokes to get it working I would rather do this than have an IR receiver sat ontop of my HTPC

However: Consider getting a MCE remote WITH IR-receiver.

(Oh, and in my mind, VFD is pointless - we do connect our HTPC's to a LCD, don't we?)

Yes but the LCD is not always switched on and Im sure I read somewhere the VFD can cycle through displaying Time, Weather and RSS news feads etc

@ HW: I bought myself a cheap system w/AMD X2 4000+ and a Gigabyte 690G mobo. Since I prefer AMD, take this with a pinch of salt, but using P4 for HTPC is not what I would recommend anybody, as most/many are very power hungry.

I will be getting the processor for free and future Intel upgrades free so I think I will stick with them.

I have had a good idea though I will sell my old machine and donate the money to MP.

 

[Spragleknas]

I have had a good idea though I will sell my old machine and donate the money to MP.

Great idea

Do you mean I would have to program the remote to key-strokes to get it working I would rather do this than have an IR receiver sat ontop of my HTPC

It requires a bit fiddling and head-to-wall-bashing, yes, but it is "doable". I think the receiver in the Antec is poorer than the e-home. But yes; it looks better