Want to build a shuttle type media centre pc

CliffyG · 04-11-2007, 09:30

Anyone have any suggestions on internals / case. I want it to be a small case with an IR receiver on the front. Looking for as good performance as possible with passively cooled CPU and GPU. My main worry about this is the graphics card as i've seen a few systems where it looks shocking on the TV with the lines etc and have been unable to read any text. What i'd really like is a scart option for it which auto switches when the box gets turned on. I'll be sticking Vista Ultimate on it so needs to be fairly beefy. I won't be doing any recording from TV as i have Sky+ so just playback required.

As cheap as possible too would be nice, if it can be done for the price of a second hand xbox 360 + games then even better

.

Mark · 04-11-2007, 10:58

TV output from most graphics cards is notoriously bad. If you have a flat panel TV when there's the VGA/DVI route. If not, then unless you have component inputs or you're willing to give the ATI/SCART hack a try (posted in a thread somewhere on here and not guaranteed to work), then you risk being disappointed.

LeperousDust · 04-11-2007, 14:05

Why would you want vista ultimate? Right now i'd actually suggest playing around with Ubuntu, with MythTV and SageTV and/or maybe even LinuxMCE (or whatever but im not so impressed with that) installed. You won't need anything beefy then either, just whatever you can lay your hands on if your just out for playback. Look on the MM or ebay for second hand parts that fit the bill. Try and stick intel and nVidia i think it may be easier in the long run... Doesn't need to be a shuttle either loads of boxes out there that will fit gubbines inside and still look decent under the TV too

Del Lardo · 04-11-2007, 14:25

What do you actually want to use the pc for? Is it just to watch TV shows you have lying around on your network

or do you want to use it for internet etc?

CliffyG · 04-11-2007, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

TV output from most graphics cards is notoriously bad. If you have a flat panel TV when there's the VGA/DVI route. If not, then unless you have component inputs or you're willing to give the ATI/SCART hack a try (posted in a thread somewhere on here and not guaranteed to work), then you risk being disappointed.

Aye i know it can be bad, i was using TV out on my main pc before i got my laptop and i could barely read anything in windows regardless of the resolution, luckily videos played back ok. It's just a standard CRT type TV.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeperousDust

Why would you want vista ultimate? Right now i'd actually suggest playing around with Ubuntu, with MythTV and SageTV and/or maybe even LinuxMCE (or whatever but im not so impressed with that) installed. You won't need anything beefy then either, just whatever you can lay your hands on if your just out for playback. Look on the MM or ebay for second hand parts that fit the bill. Try and stick intel and nVidia i think it may be easier in the long run... Doesn't need to be a shuttle either loads of boxes out there that will fit gubbines inside and still look decent under the TV too

Because i have it

and have been quite pleased with it so far. I really CBA messing around with OS's i don't know and have no trouble shooting experience with. I was just using Shuttle as an example, any small form factor case would be considered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Del Lardo

What do you actually want to use the pc for? Is it just to watch TV shows you have lying around on your network

or do you want to use it for internet etc?

Primarily for playing back video and music really, might do a spot of gaming if i can get it running quick enough.

Mark · 04-11-2007, 16:35

OK, let's put this another way. Besides PC gaming, is there anything you want to do that you can't use the XBox360's media capabilities for? If it's just for media then the TVersity route is definitely worth looking at.

If you absolutely must have a PC, then by all means. I'll be watching this thread too as it looks like I'll need to replace my shuttle-type media PC at some point. It's a few years old now and sadly it looks like the heat in that confined space has got to it, with the first signs of instability.

CliffyG · 04-11-2007, 16:44

I just don't like using the xbox, it's so noisy and transcode 360 appears to have no more devs working on it. Some fims have no picture and the skipping forward and rewinding is a complete pain in it too.

Mark · 04-11-2007, 16:55

Ha! I suspect my media PC manages to be louder than an Xbox, but fortunately it doesn't take much volume for me to be able to ignore it.

Anyway, a C2D-based system should be more than capable of what you need (don't get a Quad - they're great for bigger systems but in a confined space a Duo will run cooler and quieter). As for graphics, I got a passive Gigabyte 7300GS for my Linux system which was more than enough for that. Gigabyte actually do a fair few decent passive cards though the higher spec ones need two bays which can start to cause issues where space is at a premium.

CliffyG · 04-11-2007, 17:34

I generally stick with AMD although i haven't looked into CPU's for a long time, if they are still cheaper and heat isnt and issue i'll prob stick with them. I shouldnt have space issues as it won't have much in it so will prob go for a a better graphics card, obviously depending on how it looks in windows on a TV.

Del Lardo · 04-11-2007, 18:25

Unless gaming is a real must personally I would avoid the cost and hassle of a media PC.

Options I would consider.
1. Hacked Apple TV
2. Media Center Extenders as MS has announced that they will support DivX and Xvid
3. Use an existing media player that will work with uPnP shares

04-11-2007, 09:30	#1
CliffyG Vodka Martini Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lower Cambourne Posts: 576	Want to build a shuttle type media centre pc Anyone have any suggestions on internals / case. I want it to be a small case with an IR receiver on the front. Looking for as good performance as possible with passively cooled CPU and GPU. My main worry about this is the graphics card as i've seen a few systems where it looks shocking on the TV with the lines etc and have been unable to read any text. What i'd really like is a scart option for it which auto switches when the box gets turned on. I'll be sticking Vista Ultimate on it so needs to be fairly beefy. I won't be doing any recording from TV as i have Sky+ so just playback required. As cheap as possible too would be nice, if it can be done for the price of a second hand xbox 360 + games then even better . __________________ Last edited by CliffyG; 04-11-2007 at 09:32.

04-11-2007, 14:05	#3
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Why would you want vista ultimate? Right now i'd actually suggest playing around with Ubuntu, with MythTV and SageTV and/or maybe even LinuxMCE (or whatever but im not so impressed with that) installed. You won't need anything beefy then either, just whatever you can lay your hands on if your just out for playback. Look on the MM or ebay for second hand parts that fit the bill. Try and stick intel and nVidia i think it may be easier in the long run... Doesn't need to be a shuttle either loads of boxes out there that will fit gubbines inside and still look decent under the TV too __________________

04-11-2007, 16:44	#7
CliffyG Vodka Martini Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lower Cambourne Posts: 576	I just don't like using the xbox, it's so noisy and transcode 360 appears to have no more devs working on it. Some fims have no picture and the skipping forward and rewinding is a complete pain in it too. __________________

04-11-2007, 17:34	#9
CliffyG Vodka Martini Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lower Cambourne Posts: 576	I generally stick with AMD although i haven't looked into CPU's for a long time, if they are still cheaper and heat isnt and issue i'll prob stick with them. I shouldnt have space issues as it won't have much in it so will prob go for a a better graphics card, obviously depending on how it looks in windows on a TV. __________________

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04-11-2007, 10:58	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	TV output from most graphics cards is notoriously bad. If you have a flat panel TV when there's the VGA/DVI route. If not, then unless you have component inputs or you're willing to give the ATI/SCART hack a try (posted in a thread somewhere on here and not guaranteed to work), then you risk being disappointed.

04-11-2007, 14:25	#4
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	What do you actually want to use the pc for? Is it just to watch TV shows you have lying around on your network or do you want to use it for internet etc?

04-11-2007, 16:35	#6
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	OK, let's put this another way. Besides PC gaming, is there anything you want to do that you can't use the XBox360's media capabilities for? If it's just for media then the TVersity route is definitely worth looking at. If you absolutely must have a PC, then by all means. I'll be watching this thread too as it looks like I'll need to replace my shuttle-type media PC at some point. It's a few years old now and sadly it looks like the heat in that confined space has got to it, with the first signs of instability.

04-11-2007, 16:55	#8
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Ha! I suspect my media PC manages to be louder than an Xbox, but fortunately it doesn't take much volume for me to be able to ignore it. Anyway, a C2D-based system should be more than capable of what you need (don't get a Quad - they're great for bigger systems but in a confined space a Duo will run cooler and quieter). As for graphics, I got a passive Gigabyte 7300GS for my Linux system which was more than enough for that. Gigabyte actually do a fair few decent passive cards though the higher spec ones need two bays which can start to cause issues where space is at a premium.

04-11-2007, 18:25	#10
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	Unless gaming is a real must personally I would avoid the cost and hassle of a media PC. Options I would consider. 1. Hacked Apple TV 2. Media Center Extenders as MS has announced that they will support DivX and Xvid 3. Use an existing media player that will work with uPnP shares