Need to build an HTPC and Media Center from an old PC

[kiran1103]

Hi All,

Have an old pc - quad core with 4gb ram. I am thinking of converting into a media center PC where I will be able to play HD movies from the PC to my TV. I also have a marrantz AVR and a blu ray player. Now here are my requirements. Will need to have some inputs where I can be able to use it as a DVR recording as well. For example I have a program every week, I will need it to record it automatically and I should be able to see play my movies at the same time.

I dont have much idea but please suggest me the hardware that I need to upgrade. I am thinking of taking the following :

1. Change the case to a bigger one to accommodate a CPU cooler.
2. Upgrade the RAM to 8GB (curently at 4GB)
3. Take a good sound card to process the audio (Need suggestions)
4. Take a decent graphic card (Not much into gaming but will need good video processing. Need suggestions here)

Let me know if I am missing something.

 

[vaibhavyagnik]

1. Why? is the default one too noisy?
2. 4 GB is enough
3. Use on board SPDIF/Optical output. Your motherboard must have the header
4. if you buy a decent graphics card then it will be able to bitstream audio to your AVR. This will be useful if your AVR has HDMI inputs.

Tell us your complete configuration. which should include the following
1. Which processor
2. Which motherboard
3. Which power supply
4. Any PCI cards curently installed or not?
5. AVR model

 

[sam9s]

Hi All,

Have an old pc - quad core with 4gb ram. I am thinking of converting into a media center PC where I will be able to play HD movies from the PC to my TV. I also have a marrantz AVR and a blu ray player. Now here are my requirements. Will need to have some inputs where I can be able to use it as a DVR recording as well. For example I have a program every week, I will need it to record it automatically and I should be able to see play my movies at the same time.

I dont have much idea but please suggest me the hardware that I need to upgrade. I am thinking of taking the following :

1. Change the case to a bigger one to accommodate a CPU cooler.
2. Upgrade the RAM to 8GB (curently at 4GB)
3. Take a good sound card to process the audio (Need suggestions)
4. Take a decent graphic card (Not much into gaming but will need good video processing. Need suggestions here)

Let me know if I am missing something.

can you provide full config details of your old PC. 4GB ram is more than sufficient for an Media/HT PC. All you need is a low end GPU like GT430,440,450 etc (which can play vudio in full 1080p res and provide HD audio as well.) and a media application like XBMC. Check out my HTPC thread in my sig for all the details.

For recording you need to have a capture card that can take cable TV/satellite as input. If if wanna record in HD then give this awsome product a look ..

HD PVR Product Description

 

[kiran1103]

Great, getting to know more now. This is for my friend, so am yet to rip the PC to check the full config. So as bare minimum I think it would be a 500W PSU. I am thinking to put better cooling as the intel stock one would not keep the temps down. Thats the reason I was advocating change of case.

So if I can upgrade to a GPU which has a HDMI out, will it suffice. I mean will it be capable of sending all the audio or video formats to the AVR.

AVR I guess its marrantz (forgot the model) will update later.

Also had one question. If I choose to pick up a nvidia card and the 3D kit and connect to a receiver which has 3D processing or conenct it directly to a TV. Will I be able to play 3D movies. Also if the TV is not 3D ready or anything of that sort but has 120hz which is minimum or 3D playback will it work. Basically will any TV with 120hz be used as 3D display. Of course it will need the 3D kit of nvidia which as an IR emitter and glasses.

More to follow

 

[madhavk8]

Dude just buy a good Graphics card and you are good to go Everything else is enough. If you are very obsessed about sound then get a sound card also. Nothing else necessary.

Also for 3D you dont even need 3d kit. Most new nvidia cards support 3d out of the box and has hdmi 1.4a output. So just connect the 3dtv with a hdmi cable and you can play 3d games and movies( to play 3d games you need to also purchase the 35$ nvidia 3dtv play software along with the graphics card).

 

[sam9s]

Great, getting to know more now. This is for my friend, so am yet to rip the PC to check the full config. So as bare minimum I think it would be a 500W PSU. I am thinking to put better cooling as the intel stock one would not keep the temps down. Thats the reason I was advocating change of case.

So if I can upgrade to a GPU which has a HDMI out, will it suffice. I mean will it be capable of sending all the audio or video formats to the AVR.

AVR I guess its marrantz (forgot the model) will update later.

Also had one question. If I choose to pick up a nvidia card and the 3D kit and connect to a receiver which has 3D processing or conenct it directly to a TV. Will I be able to play 3D movies. Also if the TV is not 3D ready or anything of that sort but has 120hz which is minimum or 3D playback will it work. Basically will any TV with 120hz be used as 3D display. Of course it will need the 3D kit of nvidia which as an IR emitter and glasses.

More to follow

No need for cooling, the stock cooler is more than sufficient .....
and yes getting a GPU like GT 430/440/450 will passthrough HD audio and video to the AVR, which then will process and send the video to the display and audio to the 5.1 spk setup.

For 3D you got to have a 3D display (TV or Monitor). Not any TV or monitor with 120Hz will do 3D!, . My TV has 200Hz refresh rate and it is a 2D TV. So dont get confused in this, you need a proper 3D TV for 3D to work. It can be used via 3D BD player, or Media player or a computer.

Instead of getting a 3D nvidia kit get a 3D TV and use your computer (with GT440) to watch 3D movies. GT4xx series has HDMI 1.4a needed to play 3D BD ISOs. This would be far better in terms of ease and quality of 3D as well.


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[Thad E Ginathom]

Stock cooling is sufficient for almost anything other than overclocking --- but it might be noisy, which, depending on the setup, might matter and might not.

Best try it, though, before yet more money on a big heatsink with a large fan.

 

[prankey]

My TV has 200Hz refresh rate and it is a 2D TV.

Dude thats not refresh rate, thats video processing at 200Hz! Your TV will still have a refresh rate of 60Hz only! Only 3D TVs have refresh rate of 120Hz or 240Hz (again, only for FS 3D).

 

[sam9s]

Though you stand correct that True Motion (by LG) is not exactly refresh rate rather motion interpolation, you are wrong on the part that only 3D TVs have refresh rate of 120Hz. New LCDs manufacturers are coming up with LCDs that have a native refresh rate of 120Hz as well.

Six things you need to know about 120Hz LCD TVs - Fully Equipped - CNET Reviews

JVC LT-47X898 Review - Flat-panel TVs - CNET Reviews