wdonovan
Auditioning
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2010
- Messages
- 4
- Real Name
- Walter
Hi all. My first post here. I'm trying to build a budget HTPC system to complement my Roku / Netflix system. This is my war against $103/mo cable + $15/mo Blockbuster. So far the Roku (phase 1) is in place and we're very happy with it. I now want to assemble an HTPC system for the things not available on Roku.
My plans after a lot of research are:
Sony rear projection 53" TV (own it). It displays 1080i through component input.
ATI HD 4350 HDMI vid board
HDMI to component converter
PC with big and quiet enough fan(s) and adequate power supply (probably Acer w/ aftermkt fans)
The CPU will fit in the corner behind the TV so it's not seen.
Wireless kybd / mouse
Plans are for a wireless system and no hardware visible in the room except the portable kybd/mouse (no monitor)
I have ordered the HDMI/component converter (reviews say it works) and before ordering all the rest of the system I will hook my wife's laptop (HDMI) and try the video quality, etc.
In the mean time I hooked my laptop (no HDMI) through s-video just to see what I could see. Picture quality was acceptable for the 480 stuff I tried but here is my problem.
My planned system is based on using the TV as a monitor also for the purpose of navigating the net to get to streamed video. Using the s-video conn. I could barely read the text on the 53" monitor. It was tedious to navigate sites that I was semi familiar with because the text was impossible to read.
When I hook up using the HDMI Dell (Studio 1735) or the proposed tower system (through HDMI), will it improve the vid quality enough that I can navigate? I am not trying to read news reports or any other things online, just get to streams.
If not, what do others do in this case? I really don't want a separate, hard-wired computer monitor in the room.
Once other constriction... I have a budget of only a few hundred bucks to make this whole thing fly.
Thanks,
Walt Donovan
My plans after a lot of research are:
Sony rear projection 53" TV (own it). It displays 1080i through component input.
ATI HD 4350 HDMI vid board
HDMI to component converter
PC with big and quiet enough fan(s) and adequate power supply (probably Acer w/ aftermkt fans)
The CPU will fit in the corner behind the TV so it's not seen.
Wireless kybd / mouse
Plans are for a wireless system and no hardware visible in the room except the portable kybd/mouse (no monitor)
I have ordered the HDMI/component converter (reviews say it works) and before ordering all the rest of the system I will hook my wife's laptop (HDMI) and try the video quality, etc.
In the mean time I hooked my laptop (no HDMI) through s-video just to see what I could see. Picture quality was acceptable for the 480 stuff I tried but here is my problem.
My planned system is based on using the TV as a monitor also for the purpose of navigating the net to get to streamed video. Using the s-video conn. I could barely read the text on the 53" monitor. It was tedious to navigate sites that I was semi familiar with because the text was impossible to read.
When I hook up using the HDMI Dell (Studio 1735) or the proposed tower system (through HDMI), will it improve the vid quality enough that I can navigate? I am not trying to read news reports or any other things online, just get to streams.
If not, what do others do in this case? I really don't want a separate, hard-wired computer monitor in the room.
Once other constriction... I have a budget of only a few hundred bucks to make this whole thing fly.
Thanks,
Walt Donovan