Hey guys,

What's the best Media Center PC to use in a Home Theater. I was thinking of something with a nice case that looks like a piece of AV equipment instead of a tower. Something with a 250 Gig hard drive, high end video card, high end audio card, firewire on the front for camera, Tivo like operations, remote control, and tons of memory. 800FSB motherboard...

Thanks,
Mark

Last one I did I used this one as a starting point.

[Link: digitalconnection.com]

Among other things, I used a Gyration mouse and keyboard, a Slink-e for CD changer control, and a Fusion HDTV tuner card. Pretty sweet when switched into the system via a Key Digital component video switcher (w/vga converter).

Client mainly uses it for surfing the web on his 50" plasma as there are plenty of other ways to record and watch HDTV.

I've got the Gyration Kbd & mouse on my current HT computer. That's where I am right now. I just want a computer that fits better in my cabinet, and has some better capabilities for handling video and cable feed. I'll check out your link now. Thanks.

Mark

Jazz,

That is one cool looking case! I'll have to see what I can get from them. Thanks.

Mark

niveusmedia.com

[Link: alienware.com]

[Link: hp.com]

Marky, I had Mid-Atlantic make a rack faceplate for it so it's in their database as a Kanam HT400.

Thanks Julie. The HP looks good for the money, I just wonder about the quality with HP's track record lately. Alien thinks a lot of their product. It isn't that amazing looking, and small hard drive standard compared to hp. I like the case from the post above best, but I don't know about building my own system from scratch. I could, I just don't know if I want to work that hard...

Mark

also try:

www.ricavision.com

You should also try a local system builder. Many of these guys are getting into this business, and they can offer you local support. I don't know any in your area, but if you call any of these distributors, they can recommend one: techdata, ingram micro, D&H.

I've sent this link to a couple system-builder friends, and they may chime in.

I have seen a customer use one of these. They also look pretty cool.

[Link: www1.us.dell.com]

Mike

Marky_Mark896 - I am a local reseller and Media Center Designer in the Pittsburgh Area. We have worked with people up and down the east coast. If your looking for a certian something, we can design and support something just for you. Or more recent designs run Windows Media Center 2005 and run on the Intel 925 Platform. We have tested and out performed all for the Large Box Builders media center systems time and time again. Our newest designed system has not been uploaded to our website yet today, however it should be there by tonight. (to busy playing with the new toys). Let us know if there is something we can help you out with.

Friend of julie's

www.localsupport.com

[Link: cyberpowersystem.com]

GG/AV,

Have you ever used this system? It looks good, and they are amazingly low priced for what they are selling. Anyone else ever used this system?

Thanks,
Mark

Julie,

That plix system is cool looking. How do I find a price on it though? I will check out my local guys too. BTW, does anyone know whether it would be worth my time to have one of these systems with WinXP Media Center, when I have to run my cable through my HD box? How well would the guide work and the recorder also? I just want to get rid of my big Dell tower that I have in my HT right now, and move it to the desk in the kitchen. I have an old HP computer in the kitchen, and it is slow. I would like one of these "component looking" systems that would fit in my rack better, and give me accessability to IEEE1394 and USB ports without having to pull the computer out to get to the back all the time. I will stick with the gyration kbd and mouse, I love them. I have an extra battery for the mouse sitting on the charger at all times, so when my mouse dies, I just swap out and keep going. I hardly ever watch TV on this HD any more, just surf and listen to music.

Thanks for all the responses,

Mark

Mark:

Spec'd it a couple times, never used it. They get good reviews overall on PCWorld for performance & value.

[Link: pcworld.com]

I'm partial to the Silverstone LC-03V. I also use their ultra-quiet power supply.
[Link: silverstonetek.com]

I have one for my MythTV disk-less frontend. The other frontend is a modded X-box. Backend is a run-of-the-mill server tower in the equipment room with a noisy, heat belching disk array.

As for MS MCE pc's, I stay away from them because I don't have the resources to support PC-based solutions for my customers. They're on their own to select and support a HT- or media-PC. I'll integrate them up to and including remote programming but that's it.

Escient Fireball and the like are certainly in my lineup though.