One of my off and on hobbies is to build computers. To date I’ve built somewhere around 5 or 6 full functioning PC’s. It all started when my last pre-built got old and I couldn’t afford a new one so I learned to build PC’s.

The last build was an upgrade from my trusty AMD/MSI computer that lasted me years. I posted on it before, but I’ve since learned a lot about PC’s. My newest endeavor will be a different type of PC. Fully linux and all media based. The abbreviation for it is “HTPC” or “Home Theater Personal Computer.” Here’s the gist:

The HTPC is not half media center/tv/radio and half computer, but fully Media Center/HDTV/Radio and Computer. It’s a lot like today’s video game systems like the XBOX 360, The Wii, etc. except this version is a PC. Here’s how it works (simple ver.)

You have a TV, a cable box (your TV Ant.), and a Amp + this HTPC. The HTPC is responsible for all visuals that go to the TV. So everything you see on the TV is ran by the computer. The Computer controls your TV, DVD, Radio, Music Media, Movie Media, TV Recording, DVD Burning, etc. and your cable box just plugs into the HTPC.

Advantages: The advantage with a HTPC is that it consolidates and simplifies the media experience. If you have an Amp, Radio, CD Player/DVD player, DVD-Recorder, etc etc then you end up with 15 remotes and an “turn-on” sequence that rivals NASA’s countdown to launch procedure. A HTPC does it all with one remote.. from TV and TV recording on the fly to browsing the internet with firefox or opera.

Weighing in on all the options, I’ve chosen this method over the rival methods of media management (ie XBOX, Wii, TiVo, etc.). The reason why are simply

A) Building PC’s are cool
B) Upgrades come out frequently for cheap*
C) It’s a PC that can be modded easily
D) More software options and add-on’s then stock firmware/video game OS’s

*One upgrade that will drop in the next year is a Blu-Ray DVD+/-R internal drive which I’ll be able swap out the DVD Recorder I got now and put that one in.

There’s ton’s more stuff, google HTPC for all the possibilities, but getting down to brass tacks mine is going to be unique.

The OS/Software I’m going to use will primarily be a Ubuntu version known as Mythbuntu. It’s a combo of the popular TV Software MythTV and the glorious Ubuntu Linux OS. For a second choice I might throw Windows XP Media Ed on it (or not :P).

Bottom line… It’s going to be great.. I already have case and PS (The Antec Fusion Black 430 Media Ctr with an antec 430w ps) and I got parts on the way.

I’ll post pics of the build as I get the parts in… but here’s a general spec of what will be in it.

• Case (Pictured): Antec Fusion Black 430 Media Center
• Pwr. Supply: Antec 430w Super Quiet
• Mobo: Biostar TForce TF7050-MZ NVidia GeForce 7050PV HDMI mATX AM2
• Video: On board GeForce 7050PV/NF630a Chipset Shared 256MB
• CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1 GHz Socket AM2 65w Dual Core Processor
• RAM: Kingston 1GB pair of 512MB 240pin DDR2 SDRam DDR2 800 PC2 6400
• Media: Lite-On 20x DVD +/-R DVD Burner Black IDE
• TV Card: pcHDTV HD-5500 HDTV PCI Card
• Hard Drive: Seagate 320GB 8MB Cache IDE
• LAN: Gigabit Lan + Belkin Wireless Desktop 802.11G Network Card

Then I might add a Uni-Remote and a wireless keyboard for internet browsing.

More to come on this exiting build…

~J

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