What sort of price are you looking at to make a PC/Media Centre with the following attributes:

HD Output
Look like a regular AV device
Quiet
Blu-ray drive (optional as not required immediatley)

I'm looking to purchase something AV related soon. Was considering a PS3 for the the BR drive and ability to surf the net and watch media files. But its just to big and bulky at the moment. I've not once considered the PS3 for gaming, as I am not a big gamer at all.

 

I have been looking in to this as well recently, Linux MCE looks better than windows but I have yet to find a kit! (only just started looking)

 

I'll be selling mine soon, only a few months old but hardly use it. It's in a Thermaltake Mozart SX case if you want to google it.

Will do HD from the OB gfx over vga otherwise you'll need a different gfx card.

Can provide full specs etc if you're interested..

 

I'm not to fussed about the OS, as I may even just use XP home, so I still have all the functionality of a PC.
Bartop, did you DIY yours? Post up the costs involved if you can, and also the full specs of what you are selling. Ta.

 

Yes mate - costs tbh are as much as you want to spend but I guess you could get a decent HTPC up and running for £400 maybe less..

will dig out the specs and let you know..

 

cheers

 

was reading your original post again and a bit confused tbh - an HTPC is gonna be bigger and bulkier than a ps3 ?
Do you really want to browse the web on your TV ? If not and you just want to play media files you might want to consider one of those media hard drive units instead - smaller and cheaper..

post a few more details on what you want to use it for and maybe can help

 

I have seen slimmer cases that look close to a regular dvd player size.
Ok, the PS3 is not as big as I made out, perhaps its just its ugly shape that put me off. I already have a usb media player that I put a 2.5" HDD, but the only output is through RCA and its not very good resolution on my HDTV.

I'll still have my main PC for various things, so thought I could get the net on the main TV for my girl (I already have a laptop).

I have thought long an hard about a media pc , and seems the right choice, as its constantly upgradeable in terms of optical drives and updated formats.
So yes, I definately want one.

 

Agree, getting a HTPC smaller than a PS3 is going to cost and trade off features.

Most stuff is based around a mATX platform, and to use a decent graphics card would need to have full height bays. Same with a TV/DVB card. But as you can guess, a mATX based HTPC will be the size of a mATX PC (i.e bigger than a PS3)


Aopen mini PC and mCubed HFX micro are two very small cases that spring to mind. Both use a mini-ITX platform, but due to the small size you will have to make do with the onboard intel GFX (also I think the Aopen mini has no rear expansion bay - so will have to use an external DVB tuner).

 

Not wanting to push the point but have you seen these jobbies for example ?

LaCie LACINEMA PREMIER 500 GB USB 2.0 MULTIMEDIA HARD DRIVE review cheap prices LACINEMA PREMIER 500 GB USB 2.0 MULTIMEDIA HARD DRIVE LaCie best buy discount online uk shop

Will play HD through composite and a quarter of the price of an HTPC..

If you deffo want HTPC could also look at the shuttle which is a good example of SFF but looks more PC than AV

 

DVB TV wouldn't be a requirement.
I've already got a mATX board, dual core processor and ram.
Some of the slimmer cases have riser cards for the use of decent GFX cards.
Am I better off with a PS3?

 

The whole reason behind me wanting HTPC is because I want to play media files and have an optical drive for actual discs. I didn't consider another standalone media player, but then I am still not in the Blu ray market, so another cost.

 

Buy a PS3, it'll do everything you want and won't cause the inevitable headaches of running and updating a PC in your living room.

 

joey - by way of cost comparison, i have a philips lounge pc on vista with mce. bought it with a 32" philips lcd from pc world for £950 about a year ago.

(i use it with my networked mce server for music and tv distribution over the cat5e cable i installed in my house)

 

Yes you are.

Not only will you be able to stream your pics, videos and music via Media Centre or third party media servers such as TVersity or TwonkyVision, you'll also have a decent blu-ray player and something that looks like it belongs in your living room.

Also, on 19th September Sony are releasing a DVB Tuner which will plug into your PS3 turning it into a DVR. I think the price of this will be £69.99

 

If SilverStone isnt the answer, then youre asking the wrong question...

 

think it only upscales, it doesnt say that it will play any HD formates, x264 or blueray etc.