HTPC Build

[Wossi]

After faffing around with tversity and the likes to be able to watch hd content on my tv and even using a monitor cable to connect my laptop to my tv and getting annoyed at the lakc of resolutions, I've finally decided to build a budget spec htpc. Only problem is, I have no idea what to buy

The budget is around £300/350 ish, and that is for everything bar the tv. I would like to be able to connect to the tv using hdmi, oh and I'll need a wireless card to connect to the net. It won't be used for gaming at all just media use but some storage would be nice.

Oh, and what OS would be best to use for it? I'm feeling flexible with that one.

Thanks

Dave

[BillytheImpaler]

This should give you a start. I don't know what's good as far as wlan cards and capture card these days so I left space for them.

As usual in my HTPC specs I include this processor as a placeholder for an X2 3800+ "Energy Efficient" 35 W CPU. It is more than powerful enough for decoding 1080p with aggressive codecs and it will put out significantly less heat. I've got one in my HTPC and I love it. OcUK doesn't sell them and I don't really pay enough attention to the UK marketplace to know who else might sell them. The AMD part number for it is ADD3800CUBOX.

As for the OS, I run Linux on mine with great success. I actually have it split into a frontend/backend so the head unit that plays the media is entirely diskless. If that's not your bag, XP MCE or one of the Vistas might do. I hear good things about mediaportal.

[Wossi]

Thanks Billy, does that case come with fans already installed or will I need to buy them separately? Also, stupid question time, will there be cables included in with the DVD and HDD, or again will I have to buy them. It's been a few years since I built a PC.

Last question, what version of Linux are you using and how friendly is it to use for someone who has never used Linux before? Oh and if I decided to go down the Vista route, what difference is there between home premium 32bit and 64 bit?

Thanks

[Stan_Lite]

The HDD and optical drive are both OEM so will just come "as is". The cables you need should come with the motherboard. Can't help regarding the case though.

[Daz]

Originally Posted by Wossi

Last question, what version of Linux are you using and how friendly is it to use for someone who has never used Linux before?

You could try LinuxMCE: http://linuxmce.com/

It's maturing quite well by all accounts - the video is worth a watch if you get chance. Gained some geek press recently after some ex-MS guy ditched Windows MCE for it after it just wouldn't worth with his HD cable service over in the states.

Dont know about that but it does look pretty swish. And free of course.

[Wossi]

Linuxmce looks interesting, I take it from having a quick look, that I would need to install Ubuntu first then d/l and install linuxmce on top of that?

[Daz]

Nope, the linuxmce installer disc(s?) does it all for you I believe. Watched the video a couple of months ago and I think that's right.

[Zirax]

Thats actually a pretty good setup for the price! I would up the memory for 2gb though as 2gb packs are really cheap now.

I am very surprised that hdds are that cheap now, I may have to invest in some more for myself.

[Wossi]

Bugger, just thought. Does that cpu come with a fan or am I going to have to buy 1? I can't seem to see if it does or not.

If I was going to go for 2gb, what would you recommend?

[Feek]

As a retail pack, I'd be surprised if there's no fan included.