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<blockquote data-quote="boma23" data-source="post: 110048" data-attributes="member: 30089"><p>Hello All</p><p></p><p>I've been thinking building a media pc through ever since i first stumbled across MediaPortal about a year back. Despite being a techy by trade, i've rarely ever delved into the media side of things, so i'm pretty much green as far as this is all concerned. I have been lurking for a while though <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> </p><p></p><p>Please bear in mind, I'm hoping this whole unit is going to be a reasonable budget (say no more than £350 total, exc TV, including bits i have lying around)</p><p></p><p>So, I'm hoping this thread will live as my build up tale...</p><p></p><p></p><p>The first point that stuck was "what are you going to use it for mainly?"</p><p></p><p></p><p>so, in no order:</p><p></p><p>* TV playback, and occasional recording. Digital AND analogue, as digital cannot be relied upon in my area, yet. </p><p></p><p>* Music & video playback (meaning any PC or DVD based media, i.e. MP3, WMA, MPEG1-4, AVI, WMV, MOV etc.)</p><p></p><p>* MAME32 - this unit will also be home to all ye olde arcade games of olde <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> </p><p></p><p></p><p>so far, i've amassed/assembled some of the hardware:</p><p></p><p>- Antec case & PSU: NSK 2400 (couldn't afford the fusion!):</p><p><a href="http://www.antec.com/uk/support_productInfo_details.php?ProdID=00241" target="_blank">http://www.antec.com/uk/support_productInfo_details.php?ProdID=00241</a></p><p></p><p>-Western Digital 250 GB HD (16mb cache, 300mb write spd, very "cool 'n' quiet" lol</p><p></p><p>-recent Asrock MB (can't remember details, 5.1 onboard sound, VGA, LAN, 2 PCI expansion ports, 1 x PCI express/AGP, 1x IDE +1x SATA II) - EDIT: ASRock Alive NF6G-DVI</p><p></p><p>- Sempron 3000 (cool running CPU, should cope with most stuff)</p><p></p><p>- 2x DDR2 512mb PC2-4200 553mhz DIMM CL4 240pin Non-ECC (1GB total)</p><p></p><p>*********************</p><p></p><p>so, onto my first question:</p><p></p><p>1. does anyone have the link to that blog/site which used to be listed on the main mediaportal site, detailing one IT bloke's trial and errors, ending in using a macmini? really useful site with lots of guides, but can't find it now.</p><p></p><p>2. the eternal "which TV card" question - the above bloke recommended a Haupage USB unit; for a dual analogue/dvd hybrid, a Haupage 1300MCE is recomendded. </p><p>At home my situation is different - digital freeview is fine 60% of the time using my Pacific set top box, but i often have to resort to analogue with BBC channels. Is there a card similar to the Haupage 1300 MCE hybrid available which can watch AND record at the same time??</p><p>NB - please bear in mind that my reception isn't always great, so a sensitive tuner unit is pref.</p><p></p><p>3. Graphics Cards - I've alwaye read (and sometimes experienced) that Nvidia are sh1t compared to ATI when playing back PC format encoded video. Is this still true, or can I use the Nvidia GeFoce I have spare??</p><p></p><p>4. not got there yet, but is there a "codecs for beginners" guide out there that will ensure i only stall the bare minimum of codecs in the right order to leave me problem free <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big Grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> </p><p></p><p></p><p>I have already searched on these topics, but not come up with conclusive answers. The TV card is the main one currently standing in the way of the build <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> </p><p></p><p>Thank you in advance for any input offered.</p><p></p><p>Dom</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="boma23, post: 110048, member: 30089"] Hello All I've been thinking building a media pc through ever since i first stumbled across MediaPortal about a year back. Despite being a techy by trade, i've rarely ever delved into the media side of things, so i'm pretty much green as far as this is all concerned. I have been lurking for a while though ;) Please bear in mind, I'm hoping this whole unit is going to be a reasonable budget (say no more than £350 total, exc TV, including bits i have lying around) So, I'm hoping this thread will live as my build up tale... The first point that stuck was "what are you going to use it for mainly?" so, in no order: * TV playback, and occasional recording. Digital AND analogue, as digital cannot be relied upon in my area, yet. * Music & video playback (meaning any PC or DVD based media, i.e. MP3, WMA, MPEG1-4, AVI, WMV, MOV etc.) * MAME32 - this unit will also be home to all ye olde arcade games of olde :) so far, i've amassed/assembled some of the hardware: - Antec case & PSU: NSK 2400 (couldn't afford the fusion!): [url]http://www.antec.com/uk/support_productInfo_details.php?ProdID=00241[/url] -Western Digital 250 GB HD (16mb cache, 300mb write spd, very "cool 'n' quiet" lol -recent Asrock MB (can't remember details, 5.1 onboard sound, VGA, LAN, 2 PCI expansion ports, 1 x PCI express/AGP, 1x IDE +1x SATA II) - EDIT: ASRock Alive NF6G-DVI - Sempron 3000 (cool running CPU, should cope with most stuff) - 2x DDR2 512mb PC2-4200 553mhz DIMM CL4 240pin Non-ECC (1GB total) ********************* so, onto my first question: 1. does anyone have the link to that blog/site which used to be listed on the main mediaportal site, detailing one IT bloke's trial and errors, ending in using a macmini? really useful site with lots of guides, but can't find it now. 2. the eternal "which TV card" question - the above bloke recommended a Haupage USB unit; for a dual analogue/dvd hybrid, a Haupage 1300MCE is recomendded. At home my situation is different - digital freeview is fine 60% of the time using my Pacific set top box, but i often have to resort to analogue with BBC channels. Is there a card similar to the Haupage 1300 MCE hybrid available which can watch AND record at the same time?? NB - please bear in mind that my reception isn't always great, so a sensitive tuner unit is pref. 3. Graphics Cards - I've alwaye read (and sometimes experienced) that Nvidia are sh1t compared to ATI when playing back PC format encoded video. Is this still true, or can I use the Nvidia GeFoce I have spare?? 4. not got there yet, but is there a "codecs for beginners" guide out there that will ensure i only stall the bare minimum of codecs in the right order to leave me problem free :D I have already searched on these topics, but not come up with conclusive answers. The TV card is the main one currently standing in the way of the build ;) Thank you in advance for any input offered. Dom [/QUOTE]
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