Hi, I would like to have a dedicated HTPC connected to my 1080p LCD TV so I can browse the internet, play backed up and store bought DVDs (including HD and bluray DVDs), store and playback all my digital media (photos, family movies, music, etc). Below is my current setting, what I want to do and what I think that I will be purchasing. Please let me know if I'm on the right track or if I need to do something else. Current setting Vizio 1080p 47 lCD HDTV Sony PS3 Dishnetwork vip622 receiver Yamaha DD receiver what I would like to do - Connect my PC directly to the LCD TV via hdmi, component or vga to get 1080p support - play hd and bluray dvds - capture video from my Sony HD camcorder and play it on the TV - capture videos from my old mini DV tapes to the hard drive of my pc and play them back on the lcd tv - backup some of my dvds to the pc hard drive or external hd and play them back on the tv - somehow to be able to take the video out of my DVR and back it up to my PC (just as if I hook up a vcr to my DVR). I'm not looking to replace my DVR here, just to be able to record or back up my shows while I'm watching them. This way I will not run out of space on my DVR. - browse the internet and play youtube and other video on my tv - move the ps3 downstairs and use a smaller 1080p TV and then stream content to the ps3 to be played back on that TV I'm thinking of purchasing HP media center desktop with the following • Windows Vista Ultimate (32-bit) • Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q6600 (2.4GHz) • 4GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM (4x1024) • 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8500GT, TV-out, DVI-I, HDMI • Wireless LAN 802.11a/b/g/n & Bluetooth(R ) • 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive • Blu-ray writer / HD DVD player & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner • 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, 1394, video, audio • ATSC-NTSC TV tuner with PVR, FM tuner, remote well, am I way off here or do I need to look into another direction? any help is much appreciated. Thanks
Computer choice sounds good. I wonder what the sound card is like? A basic card will work fine but you can get better ones. I like that the video card is from Nvidia. They have really nice user friendly software especially for switching between tv-out put and computer display. One laptop can switch between output combinations with a single button that is on the remote. Your going to need to buy a router. Probably a wireless one to network the ps3 and I'm going to assume you have or will have other computers as well. You might want to consider when you buy an external hard drive one with networking capabilities (plug directly into the network rather than off a computer). You said that it has 2 usb ports you may want to look into how many you plan on using with the various devices. You many want to purchase a card to expand the number of usb ports you have.
Thanks nownthen. Yep, I already have the home network setup with wireless router and all my rooms are wired as well so there will be no issues with the PS3. I'm planning on adding a NAS in the futre for storage. The sound card will be Integrated 7.1 channel sound. There will be plenty of USB ports as well on the back.
