OK, here's another project I'm thinking of doing:

How about using the PC as an HDTV player? The idea is to rip a DVD, re-encode and resize using TMPGenc at HDTV resolution (say, 1080i) and save it on the hard disk. Since I'm planning on keeping the PC in my home theater, I'd hook it up to the TV and use the PC to playback the HDTV movie. The hardware I'd use would probably be an ATI Radeon 8500 with the HDTV dongle (converts to component video out up to 1080i)

Has anyone tried this? I've got everything else except the ATI video card/dongle. Just wanted to see if it'll work before I buy the extra hardware (~$300)

I'm guessing that the whole movie will be about 3 times the size of a DVD which I can either delete or save it on multiple DVD+/-R/W for future viewing (as data: mpg)

I don't really play games but I guess it can also be used as a gaming machine too.

Has anybody tried this?