HTPC, but not for DVR purposes

bobogs · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Location: United States

I'd like to build a HTPC for use as a DVD library, serving up ripped (untranscoded?) dvds to our HDTV via the video card. I'd also like to use this pc for web browsing and general computing work on the tv screen, if possible. What I do NOT want this HTPC to do is record, playback or pass-through any television signals. We have our tivo for SD programming, and we have our Comcast DVR for HD programming, and I'm not interested in the vagaries of using IR blasters to have the HTPC change channels, or other inter-box communication issues.

I figure there are several key things to consider for this pc:
- As much hard disk space as I can manage -- I'll probably start with a smallish OS drive and a separate physical 500 or 750gb drive for the ripped dvds.

- Video card with tv out -- What are my options here? My dvd player uses component out into the tv, and optical audio out into the a/v receiver. Are there video card and audio options that will let me do this? I don't want to do this if I can't get a decent quality video stream to the tv screen with digital audio. Are there video cards with component output? Would I go with a Soundblaster-type card for the optical/coax audio? Will a Windows desktop look ok on a 1080i hdtv screen through component (analog?) cables?

- Network connectivity -- Stuck with wireless here (11g), but that should be fine, since the dvds will all be on the local drives.

- Wireless keyboard -- I've seen some good ones. No worries here.

- OS and software DVD player -- No idea here. Would I NEED a media center type of OS (WMCE, Front Row, something opensource)? It would be nice if the OS was able to present the library of ripped dvds elegantly, with groupings such as genre, actor, etc, and play them seamlessly, without having to manually launch some other DVD player app. Would a mac mini suffice, maybe with a large external hd for the dvd files (does it have component video out???). Does WMCE (XP or Vista) handle the display and playing of dvds very well?

If I think of any more questions, I'll be sure to add them.

Thanks for any help.
Gary

Soopafresh · Craptastic Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Location: United States

Whoops. Wrong thread. Sorry

bobogs · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Location: United States

Ouch! I was all excited to read the first reply to my novella.

frankmaster100 · Member Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Location: Utah

I know it's been a while since the last reply on this thread, but I thought I'd give my 2 cents anyway. I'm not an expert, in fact, I'll be the first to admit I'm a pretty big noob, but I've been researching so I can set up my HTPC, and might have a little that could help.

Video Card:
In researching the best way to connect my video card to my TV, here is what I was told, from worst quality to best quality:

RF Cable (e.g. from satellite or cable box)
VGA-analog with converter dongle to s-video
S-video (if offered on card itself)
VGA-analog to component dongle
VGA-analog to external or internal transcoder card, converting to component
VGA-analog to VGA on TV (if offered)
-----analog down to here---------
DVI/HDMI (shouldn't be any real quality difference, one just adds sound pins)

So I think as long as you choose a video card with VGA, or S-video, or a DVI, you should have the options you need for your TV.

OS and software DVD player:
I think the only completely opensource OS's out there are Linux obviously, but like you mentioned, you could go the Windows MCE route with the MyMovies plugin. Or simply a windows box for the OS, and running Media Portal as your entertainment console. I have heard tons and tons of great things about Media Portal. I'm going to give it a try myself. It's completely free, and you can find out all about it here: http://www.team-mediaportal.com/

That's about all I know from what I've researched. Not sure about DVD playback quality in MCE or anything. I actually plan on using a set top DVD player for DVD playback. That is until I rip all my DVD's to my HTPC, when in that case I sure hope I can get dang good quality playback! Anyway, good luck, and let me know what you decide to do! I'm curious.
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