I've been lurking here for a bit but finally signed up. The crowd here seems a lot more knowledgeable than thegreenbutton.com.
I've been toying with the idea of building an HTPC for the past couple of months and would like some advice on hardware selection. I'd like to be able to watch/record HDTV (Clear QAM), watch DVDs and Blu-Rays, and access my music/photos (stored on another machine).
I've built lots of systems for myself and family/friends over the years, but don't know much when it comes to HTPCs. I do know that hardware MPEG2, VC-1, and h.264 decoding is a must, but everything else is up in the air.
Here's what I've speced out so far. The key idea is saving money. Ideally, I'd like to keep it under $400 before shipping.
Case: InWin IW-BT553T.300L with included 300W power supply
Mobo: Intel BOXDG45ID, uATX, has HDMI and optical audio out
CPU: Intel E5200
RAM: 2x1GB DDR2 800
TV: Hauppauge HVR-1250
Optical: Lite-On BD-ROM w/ included PowerDVD
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium (will be RC until at least October)
Storage: 1 or 2 500GB SATA2 drives, which I already own
Input: Logitech RF wireless keyboard/mouse
Right now this prices out to around $375 on Newegg.
My main questions are
1. Will the remote included with the Hauppauge tuner work with media center?
2. Do I really need the E5200, or could I drop down to the Celeron E1500?
3. Do I need a keyboard/mouse after the initial setup?
I've been toying with the idea of building an HTPC for the past couple of months and would like some advice on hardware selection. I'd like to be able to watch/record HDTV (Clear QAM), watch DVDs and Blu-Rays, and access my music/photos (stored on another machine).
I've built lots of systems for myself and family/friends over the years, but don't know much when it comes to HTPCs. I do know that hardware MPEG2, VC-1, and h.264 decoding is a must, but everything else is up in the air.
Here's what I've speced out so far. The key idea is saving money. Ideally, I'd like to keep it under $400 before shipping.
Case: InWin IW-BT553T.300L with included 300W power supply
Mobo: Intel BOXDG45ID, uATX, has HDMI and optical audio out
CPU: Intel E5200
RAM: 2x1GB DDR2 800
TV: Hauppauge HVR-1250
Optical: Lite-On BD-ROM w/ included PowerDVD
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium (will be RC until at least October)
Storage: 1 or 2 500GB SATA2 drives, which I already own
Input: Logitech RF wireless keyboard/mouse
Right now this prices out to around $375 on Newegg.
My main questions are
1. Will the remote included with the Hauppauge tuner work with media center?
2. Do I really need the E5200, or could I drop down to the Celeron E1500?
3. Do I need a keyboard/mouse after the initial setup?