MY HTGPC project

[aircommando13]

I have been busy the past couple of weeks working on this, and I dub it the HTGPC project. That's because it's a Home Theatre Gaming Personal Computer. I want everything to be in one place. Here's what I have:

Computer
Antec P182 Case
EVGA Nvidia 750i FTW mobo
E8500 cpu @ 4.0GHz
4GB Patriot DDR2 800 @ 4-4-4-12
500GB Barracuda SATA II 32MB cache
Antec 600 watt PSU
XFX 9600 GT XXX edition
Samsung 22X DVD drive
Rosewill Media Card/Floppy drive reader

Equipment
Acer 24" 2ms HDMI monitor
Sony PS3 80GB
Logitech G15 keyboard
Logitech G5 mouse
Logitech 980231-0403 Gaming Headset

And here's what I plan to get:

Planned Purchases
XFX GTX 260 Black Edition
Creative Soundblaster X-fi Titanium Fatality Champion sound card
Logitech Z-5500 5.1 speakers
AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX USB TV Tuner

I'll put up some pics later when I get home. I will be moving to a new room to really bring out the 5.1 speakers.

[skier]

so you already have the card reader? i think i have the same one, but i only use it as a floppy drive because it doesn't read my SD cards (it doesn't sense if one has been put in the slot)

got some similarities between us, except the home theatre stuff

[DaIceMan]

Why spend all the money on the Titanium Fatal1ty 7.1 sound card only to couple it with a 5.1 speaker system?

[smack323]

home theater on a 24" LCD??? seems kinda pointless to me- can you even see what poeple look like when you watch TV from across the room?... I have a 55" Sony HD DLP. not the biggest TV in the world but it gets the job done. I have hooked up the computer to it it looks awsome, as does the PS3. I say save your money from the sound card and the new GPU and get something at least in the 42" range.

I got an email from the Egg the other day - 42" LCD HD TV half off brand new.. $550.00. shipping included.. I bet on black friday you could pick one up from best buy or some place super cheap.

[bubba]

Not everyone has the room for 40"+ TV's. The TV in my living room is a 27" CRT type, dont think I could fit one over 32" in the space I have.

[Darkstar]

Not everyone has the room for 40"+ TV's. The TV in my living room is a 27" CRT type, dont think I could fit one over 32" in the space I have.

take some pictures off the wall then

[Darkstar]

home theater on a 24" LCD??? seems kinda pointless to me- can you even see what poeple look like when you watch TV from across the room?... I have a 55" Sony HD DLP. not the biggest TV in the world but it gets the job done. I have hooked up the computer to it it looks awsome, as does the PS3. I say save your money from the sound card and the new GPU and get something at least in the 42" range.

I got an email from the Egg the other day - 42" LCD HD TV half off brand new.. $550.00. shipping included.. I bet on black friday you could pick one up from best buy or some place super cheap.

I get the emails from Newegg too, didnt see anything like that, you have a link? i would pick one up at that price....
'

[smack323]

Not everyone has the room for 40"+ TV's. The TV in my living room is a 27" CRT type, dont think I could fit one over 32" in the space I have.

cmon you need to have at least 40" of wallspace someplace to hang a TV.

I am not saying a TV that big is in everyones price range, or is improtant to have even if it is.. I was just saying if you are going to have all the bells and whistles -PS3, Surrounds Sound, gaming computer ect.. and have hundreds of dollars in purchases comming. money doesnt seem to be much of an issue. Why not have the most important piece to a nice home theater a BIG HDTV.

Darkstar- it looks like it was a last weekend deal. I think I got the email last friday. This was the TV (I think).. $700 now free shipping.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889197008

I think this was the TV but couldnt confirm its not in my cart anymore and I deleted the email. I'll be sure to post any links over then next week if i get anything else.

[hnzw_rui]

I was just saying if you are going to have all the bells and whistles -PS3, Surrounds Sound, gaming computer ect.. and have hundreds of dollars in purchases comming. money doesnt seem to be much of an issue. Why not have the most important piece to a nice home theater a BIG HDTV.

Not really. If the TV/monitor/display is sitting in a small room, there's really not much sense in going for a 50" TV. I mean come on, what's the point of a 50" TV if you're sitting just 5~6' away from the TV? Yes, it looks like money isn't an issue but space seems to be. Besides, bubba didn't mention if the set-up was for his living room. It could very well be for a smaller bedroom or something.

[smack323]

I'd rather have a 50" HDTV sitting 6 feet away from me over everything else- especially when your talking going from a tiny 24" monitor... My 55" is about 6-7 feet from couch. I cant imagine trying to wach football on anything smaller. I can barley read the lips of the coaches and players as it is.

I would say sitting 2 feet in front of a 24" monitor is about the same as 6 feet from a 50" TV. You're prob are going to get more detail sitting in front of the monitor than the TV.

I guess I am asking what isnt the point of having a 50 inch TV (if you can afford it) as far as a pure enjoyment to watching TV and playing games.

I dont think this set up was for Bubba at all.

ALSO- if you will be using it more as a computer(on a desk) where you are sitting right on top of the monitor - sittin that close to your display it will be more difficult to set up your speakers for optimum sound reproduction. you would be better off with a nice head set.

[Skippman]

I think you all missed the part where he said he already HAS the 24" monitor.


That being said, how much are those Logitech speakers? I concur with the others here who are discouraging thier use. Get something purpose built for sound. I'd get a Yamaha HTIAB before I bought those Logitechs. If your purpose is to make this a HTPC, make sure your audio equipment is as upgradable as your computer is. Buy a consumer level home theater setup. That was if you decide to go enthusiast level later on you can. If you buy those Logitechs the only thing they'll be good for is your PC.

[bubba]

I was just saying that not everyone has the space (or room layout) for a 40"+ TV, I know I don't, if he wants to use a 24" let him use what he wants.

No I don't have the open wall space, not that I would put a TV on anyway, and its not do to something being there. It due to the way my place is laid out and the way I have stuff so the house flows nicely.

Untitled-1.jpg (42.08 KiB) Viewed 17185 times

I like watching my buddy Tophers big ol honk'n TV, think his is a 60", but setting less than 10 feet from it is uncomfortable to me. Hurts my eyes. Setting at his kitchen table looking at the TV is the best, and its a good 15+ feet from the TV, bigger the screen, father you set from it. This is why I set in the back of the theater, I don't want to have to turn my head to see the whole screen.


OH [/thread hijack]

[smack323]

I was thinking add a Sony Bravia 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV to the planned purchase list.. and sell the 24" monitor

when someone says HOME THEATER I think of this


or even this (though this is pushing it)


you know something you can have 5 or 6 buddies over to watch a game on. Or you and the miss can watch a new release with 2 other couples- with out all hovering around a 24 inch computer monitor.

not those pics with a tiny 24" monitor to watch on- lol.... I guess calling the setup a home theater isnt what it really is. its more of a place to watch movies/TV and play games and have a nice sound.

its a great set up dont get me wrong i guess when he said he was making a "Home Theater" my mind went to real home theater mode. thus the suggestion for a bigger LCD/HDTV.

aircommando13- I am not knockin what you have..I wish my 22inch monitor was a 24inch. I think your setup looks great for personal use.

[martini161]

wouldnt recomend fatality cards. look into the HT-omega striker 7.1 i can say from personal experience its a great card

[Skippman]

Here's a few pics of my basement theater:










I think I qualify for theater. :D

[DaIceMan]

Here's a few pics of my basement theater:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/221 ... 5eb08c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/221 ... 8ebaf4.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2397/221 ... 8867b5.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/221 ... e15a4d.jpg


I think I qualify for theater. :D

Well we all knew THESE were coming out as soon as Skip posted in the thread.

I don't actually have any pics of mine... but that is on purpose. When I bought all my stuff, I made Circuit City give me a stand, and I hate it. It was the best option they had, and it doesn't fit my stuff at all. Center channel sits behind the main cross bar, receiver is wedged in... I basically hate it, but it was free. One day (when many, many other projects are done), I'll get around to building a stand that I like and that my stuff fits into.

[smack323]

I think I qualify for theater. :D

yes sir, I'd say so.. now just imagine putting a 24" monitor where your tv is.. would you still call it a home theater? I wouldnt, it would be my TV room.

while i am here


wouldnt be calling my set up a home theater by any stretch.

[Skippman]

Actually, I'm on a 5 day weekend this week to catch up with two project. My new water cooling build and finishing up my bedroom theater.

In my bedroom I have a 46" CRT Rear-Pro Mitsubishi 480p/1080i (that WAS HD at one time) TV with a Yamaha RX-V1600, Panasonic DVD Player, and a DirecTV HR-21 DVR sitting on top of it and a 5.1 Yamaha HTIB setup. I'm moving all the components onto shelves I've built in my walk in closet. I've bought new KEF in ceiling speakers to replace the Yamaha's, and I'll be hanging up a Panasonic 50" 720p plasma I bought 3 months ago. Mostly I'm doing this to get more room in there, but who can argue that a 50" plasma in the bedroom isn't rockin? I love computers but home theater is where the bulk of my extra money goes. Hopefully, by next year I'll be in good enough shape to get the JVC RS-2U projector I want. The blacks are so dark you'll forget it's a projector!

I'm hoping I can use those Yamaha's with a Sherwood 5.1 amp I have lying around to replace these cheesy Creative speakers my PC's currently wired to. My friends done something similar with a set of Polks and the diffrence was immediate, that's why I recommended to aircommando to avoid the Logitechs and go straight for real audio equipment. He'll be much happier in the long run and he can use the equipment for something else later should he decide to upgrade. Headphones are good, but they can't match the directionality of real speakers. Real speakers, and sound for that matter, causes echo and reverb that the human ear picks up on. Head phones simply cannot reproduce that sound naturally. They sure can come close but I'll stick to real speakers.

[aircommando13]

Ok so due to the comments I think I should revise my original statement

Calling a 24" a Theater isn't really doing the word any justice, point taken. I feel I should elaborate. I live with my parents and they have a 42" tv, dvd player, 5.1 surround sound sytem, etc. Me being 16 and having a job, I can finally start forming my own entertainment room. I get about 11k a year part-time, but thankfully i dont pay bills. Still I can't afford anything over 24", which that was even a stretch. It's still huge in my opinion, enough so to call theatre only due to my restrictions and point of view.

So for everyone else ibasically it's a MHTGPC, a Mini-Home-Theatre-Gaming-PC. Sorry to have mislead so many of you.

[smack323]

lol, it not a big deal. looks like a nice set up though.