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Thanks in advance for all your help. I've read several hundred pages of Renex's Guide to building an HTPC thread, but I wanted to check with you all first before I go completely changing my home theater setup.
I have a desktop that I built this February for gaming, and I'm frankly not using it much other than checking my bank account, fooling around on the web, etc. I have a laptop with Win7 which I can easily dust off and repurpose as my main computer.
I want to be able to watch NetFlix (which I currently subscribe to with Blu-Rays delivered), watch Blu-Rays and DVDs and maybe poke around on the internet or play games occasionally. I own about ~100 DVDs and maybe 12 Blu-Rays, but I'd like to load them on my HTPC once, so I never have to get up and fool with finding/loading the physical disc ever again. I guess that's ripping them? And is that legal? I assume it would be since it's for personal use. I'm also going to order the SiliconDust HD HomeRun PRIME so I can do the whole Cable-Card shennanigans so my son can watch his Mickey Mouse shows in HD and Daddy can watch ESPN HD and Mommy can watch TLC/HGTV/Blahblahblah in HD, too (the encrypted HD channels through ComCast).
The PC to be cannibalized has:
Case - Cooler Master Elite 335 ATX (mid-tower)
Mobo - ASUS M4A77TD AMD
CPU - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4Ghz 125W
RAM - 4GB (2 x 2GB) G.Skill DDR3 1600
GPU - XFX Radeon HD 5770 1GB w/HDMI out
PSU - 650W Antec EarthWatts
HDD - 750GB Western Digital Caviar Black - 7200rpm
DVD - Samsung DVD Burner
FANS - Lots (CPU, RAM fans, 2x 120mm case, GFX exhaust)
My home theater setup is this:
TV - 46" LED Samsung 6000 series w/120Hz
AV - Samsung Receiver with 5.1ch speakers
BD - Samsung BD3600 Blu-Ray w/WiFi and NetFlix/Blockbuster/Pandora/YouTube
CBL - Cisco RNG-200 HD DVR provided by ComCast cable in VA
REM - Logitech Harmony 880 that I simply LOVE
I really want to replace my cable box for two reasons:
1) I discovered Windows Media Center
2) My HD DVR box sucks - search is broken, the interface is 1980's-ish and limited storage space - and I pay $20/mo for it!!!
I ran a 25' HDMI from my desktop to my TV to test it out and it is BEAUTIFUL. Audio/video work fine, and I've measured to make sure that my tower will fit in my entertainment center. I know the components work, but I'm having trouble figuring out the logistics of being able to replace my HD DVR box with my tower.
Thanks in advance for your replies! - Mitchell
I have a desktop that I built this February for gaming, and I'm frankly not using it much other than checking my bank account, fooling around on the web, etc. I have a laptop with Win7 which I can easily dust off and repurpose as my main computer.
I want to be able to watch NetFlix (which I currently subscribe to with Blu-Rays delivered), watch Blu-Rays and DVDs and maybe poke around on the internet or play games occasionally. I own about ~100 DVDs and maybe 12 Blu-Rays, but I'd like to load them on my HTPC once, so I never have to get up and fool with finding/loading the physical disc ever again. I guess that's ripping them? And is that legal? I assume it would be since it's for personal use. I'm also going to order the SiliconDust HD HomeRun PRIME so I can do the whole Cable-Card shennanigans so my son can watch his Mickey Mouse shows in HD and Daddy can watch ESPN HD and Mommy can watch TLC/HGTV/Blahblahblah in HD, too (the encrypted HD channels through ComCast).
The PC to be cannibalized has:
Case - Cooler Master Elite 335 ATX (mid-tower)
Mobo - ASUS M4A77TD AMD
CPU - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4Ghz 125W
RAM - 4GB (2 x 2GB) G.Skill DDR3 1600
GPU - XFX Radeon HD 5770 1GB w/HDMI out
PSU - 650W Antec EarthWatts
HDD - 750GB Western Digital Caviar Black - 7200rpm
DVD - Samsung DVD Burner
FANS - Lots (CPU, RAM fans, 2x 120mm case, GFX exhaust)
My home theater setup is this:
TV - 46" LED Samsung 6000 series w/120Hz
AV - Samsung Receiver with 5.1ch speakers
BD - Samsung BD3600 Blu-Ray w/WiFi and NetFlix/Blockbuster/Pandora/YouTube
CBL - Cisco RNG-200 HD DVR provided by ComCast cable in VA
REM - Logitech Harmony 880 that I simply LOVE
I really want to replace my cable box for two reasons:
1) I discovered Windows Media Center
2) My HD DVR box sucks - search is broken, the interface is 1980's-ish and limited storage space - and I pay $20/mo for it!!!
I ran a 25' HDMI from my desktop to my TV to test it out and it is BEAUTIFUL. Audio/video work fine, and I've measured to make sure that my tower will fit in my entertainment center. I know the components work, but I'm having trouble figuring out the logistics of being able to replace my HD DVR box with my tower.
- Is there something special about an HTPC case? Any reasons I should not use my current case?
- Can a Blu-Ray disc play sideways? Or is that reason alone to buy an HTPC-specific case?
- Can I purchase JUST an IR receiver? I can't find any on NewEgg that don't come bundled with a remote, but I already have a Logitech Harmony 880 which works flawlessly.
- Is there anything I need besides a Blu-Ray drive, a TV tuner, and an IR receiver??? I have an iPhone with the TouchMouse app which can serve as keyboard/mouse if need be.
- I'm putting this HTPC in to get rid of my Comcast HD DVR, but can I also sell my Samsung Blu-Ray player? I figure I won't need it anymore
- Saving money isn't my priority here - a better GUI and functionality is, but is cannibalizing my tower a smart idea??
Thanks in advance for your replies! - Mitchell