Anybody here build their own Windoz Media Center?

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  • uflnuceng
    E30 Enthusiast
    • Apr 2005
    • 1049
    #1

    Anybody here build their own Windoz Media Center?

    Some guy at the local PC shop gave me a tour of a sample "digital home" he had built and the windows media center shit was off the hook. Looking to do that in our upstairs one floor apt.

    Found a couple of DIY articles. Look like I could get one together for about $1200. Opinions? Experiences?

    I've built my own computers before and what-not, so its just a matter of what components are best for Windows MCE.

    Thanks
    Jared
    Tags: None
    • James Crivellone
      Head Janitor
      • Oct 2003
      • 6292
      #2
      I have an MCE rig plugged into my hdtv.

      I only use it to watch downloaded shit and to play games, I have a hauppauge PVR250 in it for a TV Tuner, but as its not HD I just use my cable box for all my TV Watching and DVRing.

      Its nice though, and I find the updated Windows UI to be faster on MCE2005.

        Comment

        • uflnuceng
          E30 Enthusiast
          • Apr 2005
          • 1049
          #3
          I don't have HDTV... just a couple of Sony 27" tvs which are nice. I'm just sick and tired of missing the shows I want to watch. Plus I have this Klipsh 4.1 THX that is going to waste on my computer and I would like to be able to use it on my TV, mostly with DVDs.

          I'm sure I could get a Tivo to do the tv recording bit, but I would like to be able to rip all my DVDs and shit to it.

            Comment

            • uflnuceng
              E30 Enthusiast
              • Apr 2005
              • 1049
              #4
              Can I get everything I need at newegg.com? They seem to have a bunch of shit for it.

                Comment

                • James Crivellone
                  Head Janitor
                  • Oct 2003
                  • 6292
                  #5
                  Originally posted by uflnuceng
                  I don't have HDTV... just a couple of Sony 27" tvs which are nice. I'm just sick and tired of missing the shows I want to watch. Plus I have this Klipsh 4.1 THX that is going to waste on my computer and I would like to be able to use it on my TV, mostly with DVDs.

                  I'm sure I could get a Tivo to do the tv recording bit, but I would like to be able to rip all my DVDs and shit to it.
                  If you want to control an external cable box, then you need the MCE remote and reciever (which I think you can still get at newegg)

                  You can buy everything at newegg.

                  If you don't have a cable box, then you can get away without the remote if you want, but I find the remote handy from time to time.

                    Comment

                    • uflnuceng
                      E30 Enthusiast
                      • Apr 2005
                      • 1049
                      #6
                      Oh yeah... the other thing is I have Dish satellite tv... will MC work with that?

                        Comment

                        • James Crivellone
                          Head Janitor
                          • Oct 2003
                          • 6292
                          #7
                          Originally posted by uflnuceng
                          Oh yeah... the other thing is I have Dish satellite tv... will MC work with that?
                          what model box?

                            Comment

                            • uflnuceng
                              E30 Enthusiast
                              • Apr 2005
                              • 1049
                              #8
                              on the front it says "Echostar DV3 Mpeg-2"

                                Comment

                                • James Crivellone
                                  Head Janitor
                                  • Oct 2003
                                  • 6292
                                  #9
                                  Originally posted by uflnuceng
                                  on the front it says "Echostar DV3 Mpeg-2"
                                  I can't find my media center ir reciever, so I can't check, but I would presume it would work.

                                  It works with my cable boxes (motorola)

                                  I would google it to make sure though.

                                    Comment

                                    • uflnuceng
                                      E30 Enthusiast
                                      • Apr 2005
                                      • 1049
                                      #10
                                      Do you need another video card aside from the hauppauge?

                                      I was able to price something together for about $1500

                                        Comment

                                        • James Crivellone
                                          Head Janitor
                                          • Oct 2003
                                          • 6292
                                          #11
                                          Originally posted by uflnuceng
                                          Do you need another video card aside from the hauppauge?

                                          I was able to price something together for about $1500
                                          Most will work,

                                          I recommend the PVR150 or PVR250 as I've used them both and they work nicely.

                                            Comment

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