Media Centre PC on the cheap ?

[nick heppinstall]

Toying with the idea of building a Media Centre PC to use with my Xbox 360. I could then use the Box in its media extender form and watch nice HD content.

Should be able to do this pretty cheaply I would have thought.

Anyone had a go ?

[Podie]

Yep, mine's a home build.

My advice would be, that unless you're into home building PC's anyway, steer well clear.

If you do decide to go ahead, you need to get a copy of Windows approved components...

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Can you buy XP MCE version now? Ok, us MSDN people can get it but I though it was still only bundled with hardware.

[nick heppinstall]

Podie said:

Yep, mine's a home build. My advice would be, that unless you're into home building PC's anyway, steer well clear. If you do decide to go ahead, you need to get a copy of Windows approved components...

Yup literally built hundreds over the years. 6 years 1st, 2nd and third line support so nothing 'scares' me anymore !

[Plotloss]

Yes you can, chassis are readily available, the components are too if you look hard enough (The Hauppage MCE cards are supposed to be OEM only for instance) and the rest of it is just a PC.

[flossythepig]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Can you buy XP MCE version now? Ok, us MSDN people can get it but I though it was still only bundled with hardware.

PC Pro - Feb 2006 said:

Getting hold of WMC is actually quite easy (and cheap too). ...some enterprising vendors are selling it along with the Microsoft WMC infrared remote-control

Both www.overclockers.co.uk and www.novatech.co.uk have WMC listed. I'm sure there are others.

Hugh

[malman]

www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Operating_Systems_20.html

Scroll down - they have the remote to go with it.

Oops - Flossy beat me to it


>> Edited by malman on Tuesday 13th December 13:08

[Podie]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Can you buy XP MCE version now?

Usual "OEM" (buy a mouse) rules apply...

[Podie]

nick heppinstall said:

Podie said: Yep, mine's a home build. My advice would be, that unless you're into home building PC's anyway, steer well clear. If you do decide to go ahead, you need to get a copy of Windows approved components... Yup literally built hundreds over the years. 6 years 1st, 2nd and third line support so nothing 'scares' me anymore !

Go for it then. MCE is a funny thing to install... but there are guides about. You MUST used the approved hardware (router excepted it seems) otherwise you'll have all sorts of problems.

If you get really stuck finding it, I have a list...

[catretriever]

Yep, mines a home build recycled out of an older machine. OS bought with a remote for around £90 at the time, after that it was really just the video card and TV tuner card that needed to be compliant.It looks a bit of a state, but it's hidden away in a cupboard so that's not an issue. If I were to do it again I would probably go for one of those swanky DVD style cases.
I've bought an XBOX360 for my son's xmas pressie so I tried it out with the media center a couple of weeks ago and can report that the Extender functionality is superb! It can even stream the live TV signal!

[rameshuk]

Is it true that MCE does not have dual monitor support ?

[randlemarcus]

rameshuk said:

Is it true that MCE does not have dual monitor support ?

Nope, have successfully run it on a 17" tft and a 43" plasma, at the same time. Nice way of using the EPG. Now where's that touchscreen brouchure gone?

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

randlemarcus said:

rameshuk said: Is it true that MCE does not have dual monitor support ? Nope, have successfully run it on a 17" tft and a 43" plasma, at the same time. Nice way of using the EPG. Now where's that touchscreen brouchure gone?

Er, I think you'll find that if eHome is full screen (which it has to be to get anything like a good picture) it grabs the mouse making the second display a bit pointless.

[Zod]

Podie said:

nick heppinstall said: Podie said: Yep, mine's a home build. My advice would be, that unless you're into home building PC's anyway, steer well clear. If you do decide to go ahead, you need to get a copy of Windows approved components... Yup literally built hundreds over the years. 6 years 1st, 2nd and third line support so nothing 'scares' me anymore ! Go for it then. MCE is a funny thing to install... but there are guides about. You MUST used the approved hardware (router excepted it seems) otherwise you'll have all sorts of problems. If you get really stuck finding it, I have a list...

Apart from TV cards, MCE is now far more tolerant of standard (up to date) PC hardware. It will work with any recent nvidia (and presumably ATi) card now.

[Podie]

Zod said:

Apart from TV cards, MCE is now far more tolerant of standard (up to date) PC hardware. It will work with any recent nvidia (and presumably ATi) card now.

Depends which forum you read... still plenty of people having hardware issues it seems.