HTPC-How are they built, and what do they do?

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  1. #1
    Mako Shark Abarine's Avatar
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    HTPC-How are they built, and what do they do?

    I'm planning on building an entirely new rig for myself, and will have some pieces left over from my old one when it's all said and done. I was considering building an HTPC with the pieces that were left, but then I realized that I didn't really know anything about that one way or the other.

    So, I guess my question is what is are the uses of a HTPC, and how does one go about building one? I know it sounds rudimentary, but I really don't know.
    Rig: Intel Q8300 2.5 GHz CPU, Radeon 3650 256MB, 6 GB DDR3 RAM, 750 GB SATA HDD, Vista Home Premium 64bit

    Treo 700p (Verizon)/iPod Classic (80GB)

  2. #2
    Mako Shark
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    The same way as any other computer. However, the goal is typically to keep it quite and relatively powerful. Other than that, you really need to know what you want out of the end product.
    If you really want 'em to be a single unit, duct tape your router to your modem. - Skydog 5/5/2005

    MAIN - HP - e6300, 2GB DDR2, 300GB HDD, 250GB HDD, `6x DVD-RW, ATI X800GT, 500w Rosewill PSU

    Work - eMachine T6520, A64 3400+, 1GB PC 3200, 300GB HDD, 16x DVD R/RW, CD-ROM, Via Envy Sound

    HTPC - 2500XP, 1GB PC3200, 60GB HDD, 8x DVD R/RW, Via Envy Sound, ATI 9600PRO, 380w Antec PSU

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  3. #3
    LOLWUT ImaNihilist's Avatar
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    Some things to keep in mind:
    Windows XP Media Center Edition
    Remote or wirless keyboard and mouse

  4. #4
    Master of the obvious Adisharr's Avatar
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    If your going to use it for media mainly (no games) you don't need anything powerful. I'm running Showshifter on a P3 700 / 256MB ram and saving / loading the recordings to my main PC in the basement. Anything over a 1 gig P4 will handle just about anything. There are a few software packages that will handle 2+ tuners as well. Showshifter only handles one now but they are working one a multi-tuner version.
    ...WAIT FOR IT

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