Basic HTPC (1 Viewer)

[Mark Larson]

Hi folks.
I'm new to this HTPC lark, so i want to know what would be the full configuration of a basic HTPC, basically everything i need to start watching DVD's on my computer and TV.
I also like my games, and Quake II and III are my favorites. So i'd like a graphics card that can handle these.
Thanks!

 

[Mark Larson]

Oh, and my budget is as low as possible - in fact, i'll probably be buying through eBay.

I'll also want a 17" monitor, so feel free to throw in your suggestions.

 

[Vince Maskeeper]

I would suggest starting here:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...threadid=31877
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...threadid=33122
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=33314l
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...threadid=31225
http://www.avsforum.com/htpc/HTPC_Favorites.htm
http://faq.arstechnica.com/?s=1
These should give you some links to discussions that might help you pick your equipment and whatnot.
-V

 

[Jeff Kleist]

Pricewatch is better than Ebay IMO for finding cheap parts
http://www.pricewatch.com

 

[Daren Welsh]

Thx for the links, Vince. Now for some questions of my own:

If you "mess up" and send the HDTV a "wrong" resolution/scan rate what happens? I'm assuming it won't blow up, but can it really damage circuitry or the CRTs?

Does anyone have the scoop on the new GeForce 4's (not the MX)? From reading those links, I now see that using the S-Video out is pointless on our TVs when we can use the VGA output for higher resolutions. So, do the 4's support custom resolutions? Also, can we use a DVI -> VGA/RGBVH converter in order to have output from the HTPC to both a monitor and our HDTV?

 

[Vince Maskeeper]

Daren,

I don't know much about the GeForce cards (I'm a radeon man myself)...

If you "mess up" and send the HDTV a "wrong" resolution/scan rate what happens? I'm assuming it won't blow up, but can it really damage circuitry or the CRTs?

Not that I know of- but I have a front projector so I might be misinformed. I would assume that it would simply try to sync to whatever it got- and if it couldn't, you get a rolling or distorted picture (like you get with CRT front projectors).

-V