PC components for DVD playback on projector.

[balachai]

I'm going to buy a new PC that has to do recent games and office stuff OK, which will just be displayed on the normal monitor and computer speakers. Decent, but not too bleeding edge hopefully. However I also want to use it to play retail DVDs and CDs, which will be displayed on the native 1024x768 projector in the living room next door (long VGA cable already in place) and use the 5.1 speakers via the living room receiver - SPDIF optical input.

Can you guys recommend components that will give me good results and minimum headaches? I guess I'll need a video card and DVD player software that support dual monitors "dual view". Would I need two sound cards, or maybe a sound card for the living room SPDIF passthrough, and use the motherboard sound for the PC speakers? Also, a remote control for the DVD player would be nice, maybe something like Streamzap?
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/streamzap_pc_remote_review

I guess if I'm using the PC at the same time someone's watching a DVD in the living room, both users will not be able give input to the PC at the same time successfully, but that's OK.

Any tips appreciated!

Note - the projector has a crappy upscaler, so I really want to feed it 1024x768. This has all worked very successfully using a momitsu DVD player outputting 1024x768 and optical SPDIF, but it died and I can't find a reasonable non-PC option.

[Krispy Kritter]

The power of the pc will be decided by your gaming requirements. Normal everyday "office stuff" and dvd playback work quite well on generations old cpu's/hardware.

With that said, if you are wanting to multi-task, you will need a bit more cpu power, but still not as much as gaming itself. The biggest drawback with multi-tasking, is that there isn't an easy way of keep audio seperate. Normal pc sounds, dvd playback, games, all use the same audio path.

Your best option would be to track down a cheap standalone for your movie watching. Your new pc will work as a HTPC, but multi-tasking isn't an option.