Media Center PC

[Mr E]

Depends what outputs you want to run to your amp and TV.

I run HDMI to the plasma, so a GFX card capable of outputting HDMI/DVI is a good thing (pretty much all modern cards will).
I run SPDIF or Coax to the amp, so I picked a motherboard that could do both on board. This meant I didn't have to bother with a sound card.
BluRay drive is obvious, although be aware that you will have to budget for software that can actually play BluRays (if you can get a package deal with the drive, it's a good plan).

I went for a basic duel core CPU and a couple of gigs of RAM, as more wasn't required. I guess you'll also need a HD of suitable size.


The thing to consider is as follows;

At current, my GFX card outputs DVI (which is pretty much HDMI without the sound), and I run that to the plasma. The sound goes seperately via SPDIF to the amp.

SPDIF cannot carry full HD sound, so shortly I will move to an amp with HDMI in/out. I will then need to replace my GFX card for one that supports HDMI fully, so the card can pipe HDMI with sound to the amp, and then the amp plugs into the teev.

If you plan to do this, it would be wise to ensure that all the bits you buy can support it.
Additionally, for blu-ray, all the bits in the chain need to be HDCP compliant (they should be, but check).

[Tyrant]

Thanks, I'll have a go at putting something together.

[juice]

I went through a similar situation as this and ended up getting a Dell, but not the Hybrid. Went for a dell mainly because I ordered it through our Corporate Account, so got another 10% off retail.

Went for the Studio Slim instead, with an ATI Radeon 4350 card instead of using the onboard HDMI, plus a Bluray burner and 6Gb of RAM.

So far its been brilliant, nice and quiet and connected through HDMI means Bluray play back is fine for my needs, nothing startling but exactly what I wanted it for (Browsing internet/Streaming football and watching Blurays).