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Thread: Building a MEDIA Centre PC

  1. #1
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    Building a MEDIA Centre PC

    I need some advice about putting together components for a Media Centre PC.


    I want to be able to

    1. Connect to my 42" LCD TV via HDMI
    2. Connect to my PC either via cable or wireless.
    3. Watch and Record and "Live" Record Free to view TV.
    4. Steal Foxtel - is that possible?
    5. Play Blu-Ray, DVD, CD. NO BURNING,
    6. store and play my multi media collection - (1350+ movies) 2.4 TB of TV shows and 100 gig of music mp3s. i am thinking about 6TB on onboard storage. but this needs to be expandable.
    7. Play computer games (this isnt essential - I imagine i need a monster Video card to push graphics to 42" TV)
    8. I am guessing Surround sound.
    9. Cordless Keyboard, mouse, gamepad - LOGITECH.
    10. all of it accessed via Remote control that I can transfer to my Logitech 1100 Programmable Remote Control.
    11. all packaged in a "Media Centre" Case that is QUIET and visually subtle.

    I want to do it all for less then 1000 bucks

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    Exile
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    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
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    Get some help from TLH would be my advice

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    Quote Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr View Post
    Get some help from TLH would be my advice
    Now why didn't I think of that?

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    Exile
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    "Pain heels. Chicks dig scars and Glory lasts forever." Shane Falco

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    Legend Contributor blueandblack's Avatar
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    doubt you'd be able to do it all under $1000. My unit was around $2200 for the same stuff (apart from the Foxtel/games bit). Get one of these silent cases though:

    http://www.bitfenix.com/global/en/pr...is/shinobi-xl/

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    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Exile View Post
    I need some advice about putting together components for a Media Centre PC.


    I want to be able to

    1. Connect to my 42" LCD TV via HDMI
    2. Connect to my PC either via cable or wireless.
    3. Watch and Record and "Live" Record Free to view TV.
    4. Steal Foxtel - is that possible?
    5. Play Blu-Ray, DVD, CD. NO BURNING,
    6. store and play my multi media collection - (1350+ movies) 2.4 TB of TV shows and 100 gig of music mp3s. i am thinking about 6TB on onboard storage. but this needs to be expandable.
    7. Play computer games (this isnt essential - I imagine i need a monster Video card to push graphics to 42" TV)
    8. I am guessing Surround sound.
    9. Cordless Keyboard, mouse, gamepad - LOGITECH.
    10. all of it accessed via Remote control that I can transfer to my Logitech 1100 Programmable Remote Control.
    11. all packaged in a "Media Centre" Case that is QUIET and visually subtle.

    I want to do it all for less then 1000 bucks
    PM me, this might take awhile

    Windows 7 and 8 both do media center OK, I haven't played with 8 but Metro looks like it would work really well with that sort of task.

    I doubt that you will get it happening for under a grand, have you thought of doing it with an xbox?

    That will manage the games, foxtel and tv (with the right add-ons) and your logitech remote should plug straight in.

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    C'mon the

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    Immortal Contributor jono's Avatar
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    are you thinking xbox one gigs? or the current 360?

    because with the one the only thing i can think that will be a factor is storage. i haven't seen how expandable the HD on the one is going to be. or how adaptable it will be to other hard drives.
    but the way they are marketing this new console is to be able to so everything you have mentioned X

    also surround sound would be at least a grand for anything other than entry level.
    i'd be leaving that to last and then investing in a 7.2 system running through an independent amp that has the balls to make the most of your speakers.

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    Immortal Contributor jono's Avatar
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    also - when i'm in Sydney. can i bring a few hard drives and raid your collection?

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    A little bit of research and I found this

    http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2012/08...for-under-700/

    Its a little old - I would appreciate some opinions.

    Jono - of course and the offer is there for anyone else - PM me for details.

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    Exile
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    "Pain heels. Chicks dig scars and Glory lasts forever." Shane Falco

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    Legend Contributor blueandblack's Avatar
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    that could be okay. HDDs will add up the total to over a grand. maybe raid 5 3 then add progressively. make sure the mobo has enough data ports on board to hold the hdds and the bluray drive, or else you'll be adding a sata port expansion card and the cables to work with them. power supply will need to be good too, and the cooling setup.

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    SO I priced up the components as recommended in the link above.

    Found a better Case - Silverstone LC17
    and
    Western Digital Green 3TB 7200rpm 135 each.

    If I get 3 of the Hard Drives my cost is 804.20 not including postage. Nor have I included keyboard mouse game pad.

    Unless someone has better suggestions/recommendations or ideas

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    Exile
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    "Pain heels. Chicks dig scars and Glory lasts forever." Shane Falco

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    Legend Contributor blueandblack's Avatar
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    DON'T get 1.5TB or 3TB drives! They break down too easily and have to get replaced. very bad history. Use 2TB or 4TB drives. I have 6 x 2TB RAID'd which work very well.

    http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=22816

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    Legend Contributor fulvio sammut's Avatar
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    I love it when you guys descend into Geek Speak.

    Is there a dictionary?

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    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jono View Post
    are you thinking xbox one gigs? or the current 360?

    because with the one the only thing i can think that will be a factor is storage. i haven't seen how expandable the HD on the one is going to be. or how adaptable it will be to other hard drives.
    but the way they are marketing this new console is to be able to so everything you have mentioned X

    also surround sound would be at least a grand for anything other than entry level.
    i'd be leaving that to last and then investing in a 7.2 system running through an independent amp that has the balls to make the most of your speakers.
    360 it's The way to go. HDMI looks after your surround sound and the movies are stored on your pc with windows media center running them. A decent 100megabit connection is fine for mp4 as for surround sound, I have a Harmon kardon 5.1 driving JBL speakers and it does all right

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  14. #14
    Immortal Contributor jono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GIGS20 View Post
    360 it's The way to go. HDMI looks after your surround sound and the movies are stored on your pc with windows media center running them. A decent 100megabit connection is fine for mp4 as for surround sound, I have a Harmon kardon 5.1 driving JBL speakers and it does all right

    Really? I've run the HDMI through surround to TV and it's fantastic,
    But haven't tried much else. Blu-ray runs through amp as well.

    GTA V will be the last game I buy on the current console
    I'd say. I'm really excited to see what the Xbox one can do.
    Just wish things came with at least 4 HDMI ports as opposed to 2-3 as it is now!
    Posted via Mobile Device

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    Last edited by jono; 08-06-13 at 23:07.

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    Quote Originally Posted by fulvio sammut View Post
    I love it when you guys descend into Geek Speak.

    Is there a dictionary?
    Fulvio

    What I want to do is have a computer box located under my Television that not only replaces my Amplifier, DVD Player, Blu-Ray Player, CD Player, Digital Set Top Box and my Games Machine.

    Rather then have 5 or so components and about 1 mile of cabling tucked behind the TV cabinet.

    Also for me - it has eliminated the need for 2 Full Size bookshelves full of movies.

    I hope this helps

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    Exile
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    "Pain heels. Chicks dig scars and Glory lasts forever." Shane Falco

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