Hi,
Please give me your advice to design my new HTPC. I plan to give this to myself for Christmas.
I want it to look slick, be very quite, record TV shows, encode (to DVD and MPEG4), burn dvds, and interface to at least a 5.1 stereo.
Case: Need advice.
Mobo&Proc: Some SFF mobo with Pentium M chip
Vid Card: ATI AIW 1800XL
Sound Card: SoundBlaster something?
Interface: Wireless Keyboard with little thumb joystick.
DVD Drives: Black dual layer dvd burner
HD: one 200+ gig SATA
Mem Card reader to load shows/movies for PSP
Wireless G network (onboard or off)
Can anyone recommend a good case? I only want to mount 1 HD and 1 DVD burner, and I'd want at least 2 front or side USB ports. I heard the ATI AIW cards are really long. I'd rather it were not incredibly tall, since I have to carry this thing in my carry-on luggage.
Mobo & Processor: I was thinking of a 1.7ghz ish Pentium M and 1gig of ram, anyone have any ideas for low heat, low sound?
Vid Card: ATI AIW 1800XL this sounded pretty sweet in the anandtech review but I'm open to any ideas. Does anyone know if this will have trouble displaying on a Russian TV (SECAM)? Anyone know if this card can handle the difference between PAL, NTSC, and SECAM? 37" LCD TV- is DVI the prefered way to connect?
Keyboard: What would you guys use? It seems as though a wireless keyboard with a thumbstick is best, but I'd love to here your ideas. Is the remote on the ATI AIW's pretty good, can it act as a mouse?
Which HD's are quite with low heat? Would 1 big SATA be best or should I think about 2 Laptop HD's?
SoundCard: What's the prefered way to connect an HTPC to an amplifier? Do most people use Optical?
Any Suggestions for a DVD burner which can play all regions, Pal and NTSC without giving me any trouble?
Thanks in advance.
Please give me your advice to design my new HTPC. I plan to give this to myself for Christmas.
I want it to look slick, be very quite, record TV shows, encode (to DVD and MPEG4), burn dvds, and interface to at least a 5.1 stereo.
Case: Need advice.
Mobo&Proc: Some SFF mobo with Pentium M chip
Vid Card: ATI AIW 1800XL
Sound Card: SoundBlaster something?
Interface: Wireless Keyboard with little thumb joystick.
DVD Drives: Black dual layer dvd burner
HD: one 200+ gig SATA
Mem Card reader to load shows/movies for PSP
Wireless G network (onboard or off)
Can anyone recommend a good case? I only want to mount 1 HD and 1 DVD burner, and I'd want at least 2 front or side USB ports. I heard the ATI AIW cards are really long. I'd rather it were not incredibly tall, since I have to carry this thing in my carry-on luggage.
Mobo & Processor: I was thinking of a 1.7ghz ish Pentium M and 1gig of ram, anyone have any ideas for low heat, low sound?
Vid Card: ATI AIW 1800XL this sounded pretty sweet in the anandtech review but I'm open to any ideas. Does anyone know if this will have trouble displaying on a Russian TV (SECAM)? Anyone know if this card can handle the difference between PAL, NTSC, and SECAM? 37" LCD TV- is DVI the prefered way to connect?
Keyboard: What would you guys use? It seems as though a wireless keyboard with a thumbstick is best, but I'd love to here your ideas. Is the remote on the ATI AIW's pretty good, can it act as a mouse?
Which HD's are quite with low heat? Would 1 big SATA be best or should I think about 2 Laptop HD's?
SoundCard: What's the prefered way to connect an HTPC to an amplifier? Do most people use Optical?
Any Suggestions for a DVD burner which can play all regions, Pal and NTSC without giving me any trouble?
Thanks in advance.