P
philsparks
Guest
We currently have a SonyHS10 and a very dodgy ancient 15" portable TV. There's a cheapo Cyberhome DVD and a JVC s-VHS vid too.
The plan is to get a smallish LCD tv and a HTPC that can live in a cupboard under the telly. This PC will be networked to the main one in our office meaning that we can check emails and so on from the lounge. Therefore it's important that the LCD telly had a VGA or DVI plug. the HTPC will take over DVD duties and with a Nebula card TV recording duties too. I'll prob keep the existing DVD and vid for kiddie use though. The current front runners for the TV are either the Phillips 23" or the JVC 22" - both seem to be around £1200 - £1300 - just waiting for the JVC to be released.
Where I start to get lost is with the PC. The cupboard under the TV is quite small, and in particular is only just over 40cm deep - almost all the full size ATX cases I've seen are 45cm deep or more - even the smart HTPC cases that look like a big amp are similarly deep. I don't really care what the pc case looks like as it'll be in the cupboard. Therefore I think I may have to go for a micro-atx based machine. There are some nice small cases around such as the Casetek CK-1007-2B (see: http://tcs24.co.uk/tcs/product_info.php/cPath/21_89/products_id/74 ) but I'm a bit worried that it's only got a 230W PSU. If I want to get a reasonable spec machine (P4 2.4 or 2.6 GHz will this be up to the job?). I can't really go for a shuttle or similar as they only have max 2 expansion slots and I need 3 - (video card, M-audio card and nebula).
i) can anyone recommend a small full ATX case (it's the 40cm depth that's critical) so I don't have to compromise
ii) if I go the micro ATX route can anyone recommend a decent P4 mobo. I've had hassles with Athlons, esp with digi vid editing, and P4s seem to more stable and also run a bit cooler which will help if it's stuffed in a cupboard. If it's micro ATX with only limited expansion slots having onboard LAN and firewire would help.
iii) if I go micro ATX do I have to be careful with the size of expansion cards? My intention was to get a non-pro9600 video card, Nebula for freeview and a decent sound card for surround duties (M-Audio or similar). I've heard about half height cards.
Now onto details:
A. output, if I want to be able to watch DVDs and freeview on either the HS10 or the LCD telly, then presumably I need a video card with a DVI out for the projector AND a VGA for the LCD TV. I then need to buy theatretec or power DVD and also powerstrip. Does this sound right? Anyone recommend a decent but not hugely expensive suitable video card. Once I've got this all set up will it be easy to simply swich between the 2 displays?
B. For audio out I (and more importantly the missus) really don't want speakers all over our nice Victorian lounge. My main hi-fi is pretty decent (Naim 82, naxo, 2 x 250 & kans) and the speakers are at the bottom corners of the projector screen. My intention was to simply route the front speakers output to the main hi-fi. and set the audio to a phantom centre. then I was going to just get two very small rear speakers (Anthony Gallio (although HiFi guys I've spoken to say these are pretty crummy for the money, but they are small) or maybe the smallest B&W ones). To be honest at the mo the audio isn't my priority, I know for the full effect I should be buying another Linn Kan for centre duties, getting a big sub, and getting something proper for rears - but it ain't gonna happen!) Now if I buy something like the M-Audio £70 card, will this do passable DTS/DD/whatever it's all called decoding? I could then just buy a small integrated amp (old Creek 4040 or similar) to power the 2 rear speakers. Can I tell the decoding software that I want a front phantom centre? the cupboard where the PC will live isn't really big enough to buy a big decoder/amp - no matter how cheap I could find it for. If I've got the audio card doing this will it 'suck' resource from the video processing?
Thanks in advance for any help
Phil
The plan is to get a smallish LCD tv and a HTPC that can live in a cupboard under the telly. This PC will be networked to the main one in our office meaning that we can check emails and so on from the lounge. Therefore it's important that the LCD telly had a VGA or DVI plug. the HTPC will take over DVD duties and with a Nebula card TV recording duties too. I'll prob keep the existing DVD and vid for kiddie use though. The current front runners for the TV are either the Phillips 23" or the JVC 22" - both seem to be around £1200 - £1300 - just waiting for the JVC to be released.
Where I start to get lost is with the PC. The cupboard under the TV is quite small, and in particular is only just over 40cm deep - almost all the full size ATX cases I've seen are 45cm deep or more - even the smart HTPC cases that look like a big amp are similarly deep. I don't really care what the pc case looks like as it'll be in the cupboard. Therefore I think I may have to go for a micro-atx based machine. There are some nice small cases around such as the Casetek CK-1007-2B (see: http://tcs24.co.uk/tcs/product_info.php/cPath/21_89/products_id/74 ) but I'm a bit worried that it's only got a 230W PSU. If I want to get a reasonable spec machine (P4 2.4 or 2.6 GHz will this be up to the job?). I can't really go for a shuttle or similar as they only have max 2 expansion slots and I need 3 - (video card, M-audio card and nebula).
i) can anyone recommend a small full ATX case (it's the 40cm depth that's critical) so I don't have to compromise
ii) if I go the micro ATX route can anyone recommend a decent P4 mobo. I've had hassles with Athlons, esp with digi vid editing, and P4s seem to more stable and also run a bit cooler which will help if it's stuffed in a cupboard. If it's micro ATX with only limited expansion slots having onboard LAN and firewire would help.
iii) if I go micro ATX do I have to be careful with the size of expansion cards? My intention was to get a non-pro9600 video card, Nebula for freeview and a decent sound card for surround duties (M-Audio or similar). I've heard about half height cards.
Now onto details:
A. output, if I want to be able to watch DVDs and freeview on either the HS10 or the LCD telly, then presumably I need a video card with a DVI out for the projector AND a VGA for the LCD TV. I then need to buy theatretec or power DVD and also powerstrip. Does this sound right? Anyone recommend a decent but not hugely expensive suitable video card. Once I've got this all set up will it be easy to simply swich between the 2 displays?
B. For audio out I (and more importantly the missus) really don't want speakers all over our nice Victorian lounge. My main hi-fi is pretty decent (Naim 82, naxo, 2 x 250 & kans) and the speakers are at the bottom corners of the projector screen. My intention was to simply route the front speakers output to the main hi-fi. and set the audio to a phantom centre. then I was going to just get two very small rear speakers (Anthony Gallio (although HiFi guys I've spoken to say these are pretty crummy for the money, but they are small) or maybe the smallest B&W ones). To be honest at the mo the audio isn't my priority, I know for the full effect I should be buying another Linn Kan for centre duties, getting a big sub, and getting something proper for rears - but it ain't gonna happen!) Now if I buy something like the M-Audio £70 card, will this do passable DTS/DD/whatever it's all called decoding? I could then just buy a small integrated amp (old Creek 4040 or similar) to power the 2 rear speakers. Can I tell the decoding software that I want a front phantom centre? the cupboard where the PC will live isn't really big enough to buy a big decoder/amp - no matter how cheap I could find it for. If I've got the audio card doing this will it 'suck' resource from the video processing?
Thanks in advance for any help
Phil