Just got a new A/V computer!

[Geoffcin]

This thing really smokes. It's been 5 years since I've changed my computer, (bought 2 others since then) and I felt it was time for me to get one this time. Here's what I got;

Dell 510e;

24" Dell Ultrasharp Monitor 1920X1200
Radeon X600 256m HyperMemory Videocard
SB Audigy Advanced Soundcard
1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
DataSafe 160GB Hard drive (raid1)
16x DVD+/-RW
16x DVD ROM

Right out of the box it's easy to hear that the Audigy Soundcard is better by far than my SB Live-24. Makes me wonder if it makes sense to see what a even better card might sound like. I like it so much I'm going to upgrade my speakers too.

The videocard also has a TV tuner with record capabilty (TV out too). I'm going to pop the 160gb drive out of my old computer and use it as a dedicated TIVO.

[kexodusc]

Sounds like a cool new toy...My wife just got a new laptop...stupid thing smokes my 3 year old P4 setup. Even has a DVD burner.
Think I'll have to upgrade in a few months. Time to integrate it with my HT system.

I have a few power amps around...anyway to turn a PC into a pre-amp? Optical or RCA cables out from a modern soundcard maybe?

[Geoffcin]

Think I'll have to upgrade in a few months. Time to integrate it with my HT system.

I have a few power amps around...anyway to turn a PC into a pre-amp? Optical or RCA cables out from a modern soundcard maybe?

I think I can finally achieve intergration (to some extent) with my HT using this new computer. Right now I'm just having fun with it though. ;)

[IVB]

You have no idea :D

I have total integration & control over my home theater [which i extended to do whole house automation-HVAC/irrigation, soon lighting/security/drape control] at the whopping cost of $10 each for some RS232 cables to plug into devices I needed anyway]

For HT purposes, I'd strongly recommend looking into how to integrate your receiver into your PC, so you can truly integrate. Nothing better than pushing a menu icon on the screen, having it automatically turn receiver on/set to the right sound processing mode/etc.

For use as a pre/pro - there's a TON of issues currently with that.However, fome folks are having luck with the X-Fi Elite Pro in this area. Here's a link discussing some of that. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=591103)

Here's some screenshots of some freely distributable skins i'm working on. Note the receiver control integrated into the screens. They're not totally done - i'm still mucking with buttons, fonts/sizes, and colors. I'm torn between an "art-based" approach and a "functional" approach.

http://www.myhometheaterpc.com/Main-startupV3.jpg

http://www.myhometheaterpc.com/screenshots/Woodpanel/Woodpanel_Main.jpg

http://www.myhometheaterpc.com/screenshots/Woodpanel/Woodpanel_Music_1.jpg

http://www.myhometheaterpc.com/screenshots/Woodpanel/Woodpanel_Denon.jpg

http://www.myhometheaterpc.com/screenshots/Woodpanel/Woodpanel_Source_Overview.JPG

[GMichael]

Hmmm... toy collaboration or consolidation huh?

[Geoffcin]

You have no idea :D

I have total integration & control over my home theater [which i extended to do whole house automation-HVAC/irrigation, soon lighting/security/drape control] at the whopping cost of $10 each for some RS232 cables to plug into devices I needed anyway]


But I am hoping to use the computer as a TIVO, and stream both video, and audio to the HT.

Total intergration scares me a little....ever see the movie "Demon Seed"? ;)

[IVB]

But I am hoping to use the computer as a TIVO, and stream both video, and audio to the HT.

The beautiful thing about the HTPC [home theater pc] approach is that you don't have to go any further than you want to.

For example, you could get SageTV [PVR-software], a tuner card, and start the PVR stuff. For music, get something like JRivers Media Center that can handle a gazillion lossless formats and start playback.

When you're ready for multizone/multisource, it's an easy step up. I didn't do *any* programming at all in my system; literally nothing more than point&click/drag&drop.

[Geoffcin]

All day loading up music, and it's still not done. Forget about swiching out the 160gb drive from my old computer, I'm going to get one that's at least 320gb.

[Geoffcin]

Just came today;

http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/images/gold/full/c1m50zzzz.jpg

Cambridge SoundWorks
Newton Series M50

[Florian]

Cool new Toy Geof.!

Now all ya need is a scsi320 ultra controller and add a level 50 raid for ultimate loading speed, capacity and security :p

[Geoffcin]

Cool new Toy Geof.!

Now all ya need is a scsi320 ultra controller and add a level 50 raid for ultimate loading speed, capacity and security :p

Thanks, but I'm doing fine with what I got.

[Florian]

Thanks, but I'm doing fine with what I got.Well it was not meant seriously anyways. You would have a hard time fitting the 10 drives in there anyway, not to mention the mounting of the drives and the configuration in a locked interface.

Have fun with it

-Flo

[bacchanal]

Cool new Toy Geof.!

Now all ya need is a scsi320 ultra controller and add a level 50 raid for ultimate loading speed, capacity and security :p

and a bigger air conditioner

[HAVIC]

Geoffcin, check out a NAS (network attached storage) Device. I just got an Infrant ReadyNas NV and it's awesome. It allows you to have up to 2 TeraBytes of storage (1.5 with RAID 5, for data integrity/redundancy). It will also work with a slimbox. The thing is about the size of standard dvd case (height and width) and not too much longer.

I work with Dell computers becuase of my job, that is all we pretty much buy. They are good machines with good reliability. Have Fun.

[Modernaire]

IVB, I'm sorry, but just horrendous.

[swicken]

Why did people start talking about raid arrays...... I thought this was about a guy with his new dell PC, like, not a person looking to set up a complicated raid array. Nor a person who would really notice its benefits (I set up a raid 0 to test how much faster my access time got, which yes it did, but only on access heavy programs, which he probably isn't going to use....) Seems like a lot of people on this forum like to throw knowledge around at every opportunity.

But anyway, if you're looking towards home theatre integration of your PC, send me a message, I deal with the stuff every day :P