Completed My Little HTPC Baby (1 Viewer)

[takingover]

Hi Everyone,

Let me start off with saying that Media Portal is amazing, can’t wait to see what new developments there are in the future. Ok back to business, been meaning to show off (sorry tell everyone) about my new little HTPC baby. I started off a few months ago using an old machine and a few old components. Even though Media Portal ran like a dog on it I could see the potential. So I stopped eating for a few weeks and spent all my money on a new machine.

Here’s a run down of my system

Case: MSI Barebone System - Mega PC 865 Deluxe (20.2[W] 32.0[D] 15.1[H]cm)
HDD: 300GB + 200GB
Processor: Intel P4 Northwood 2.8GHz
Drive: LG 16x DVD±RW/RAM Dual Layer
Ram: 1GB + 512MB
TV Card: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR1100 Digital and Analogue TV
Graphics Card: Leadtek Winfast A360-TD128 FX5700 Blindingly fast 128MB DDR with VGA, DVI, TV-Out
OS: Windows XP Pro
Media Portal: 0.2 RC4

At the moment I’ve only got a few issues that I’m working on, mainly it’s to do with the graphics card. However I am hoping to buy a new LCD TV with VGA input so that should solve a lot of them.

I know that it’s a tiny little box but that’s what I love about it. When I was looking at which case to go for I saw two options: 1) Go for a large case so that I can upgrade and put more stuff in or 2) Go for a small case but with limited room for growth. I decided to go for the smaller option as looking on the forum it seems that media portal is going in the direction of having a server/Client configuration. This meaning I can still use my little case next to the TV but then expand into a larger server hidden away.


+++UPDATE+++

Here are a few new pic's of my set-up, have a look on my website for a few more pix's
Gallery Link

Jayson

 

[smnnekho]

well 2 things..

1) i'm looking forward to see some screenshots..

2) i don't really like your catchy signature with the advertising/referal stuff and i dont think others will. ya better remove that because i assume otherwise it'll be done by someone with the clearance to do so

nevermind though...

 

[SiLenTYL]

nice setup dude

i have a very similar setup atm


..just a small question...where did u fit the 2nd HDD ?
must be external i guess

 

[takingover]

Hi

Here's so pic of the case.

smnnekho, sorry about the referal thing was trying somthing out and forgot I left it there.

SilenTYL, I was running low on space so really wanted to fit a second HDD so decided to take out the memory card reader and put some black tape of ver the slots to hide it. Think i'll get more use from the extra HDD than the memory slots.

I've also included a picture of somthing that happened to me when I was installing everything. Just put a CD in the drive and then there was this really big bang and the front of the CD draw blew off. I had a CD explode, it's never happened to be before and scared the s**t out of me.

Jay

 

[mzemina]

I guess your "baby" had a tantrum! ...Bad baby!

 

[Deco]

Sounds like someone's been watching too much 'Mythbusters'

 

[mzemina]

Sounds like someone's been watching too much 'Mythbusters'

Don't think I have ever seen an episode.

 

[Efros]

You should check them out mzemina, very watchable and pretty good in the application of the scientific method to an investigation...most of the time.


Nice little box, do you have any overheating probs?

 

[Deco]

You should check them out mzemina, very watchable and pretty good in the application of the scientific method to an investigation...most of the time.

Yeah, to get a CD to shatter they had to basically attach it to an angle grinder. This was after they had damaged the CD's in sunlight, in a microwave and so on.

Interesting that it actually happens 'in real life'.

Deco.

 

[takingover]

It was actually really weird as only watched that episode of Mythbusters about 3 days before it actually happened to me. Never realised the about of damage a CD could cause. I now wear protective glasses when using my pc! lol