I have been using a Xbox as a HTPC for around 4 years now, which is great for nearly everything I use if for... TV shows, the odd film ..etc! but it cant play high quality codec's that seem to be getting used quite a bit more now, so I'm stuck watching them on the PC

...So time for a upgrade!

Here are the parts I have been looking at:

Antec NSK 2480 MATX Desktop Case Black & Silver - With 380W EarthWatts PSU
Samsung SpinPoint HD501LJ 500GB SATAII Hard Drive 16MB Cache - OEM
Asus Myc P7131h/dt/p-mce/a Tuner - Pci Dvb-t/pal/phillips 7131 In
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 w/SP2b - Licence and media - 1 PC - OEM - CD - English
KeySonic 2.4Ghz Wireless Compact Keyboard with Integrated Touchpad
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H 780G Socket AM2+ onboard VGA 8 channel audio mATX Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 Energy Efficient 1MB L2 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
Kingston 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 Memory Non-ecc CL5 Unbuffered 1.8V
Plexus Premium High Quality Gold Plated HDMI Cable 2M - EMI suppressors Retail Pack
Sony DRU-190A 20X DVD±RW DL & DVD-RAM IDE internal - Retail With Multi Bezel & Nero

Total: £416.20

 I'm going AMD due to the 780G chipset and the fact I will not need to buy a graphic or sound card as the mobo does it all

 The couple of things I'm not certain about is the Asus Dvb-t card >>LINK<<, can I get better than that? a extra freeview tuner and the ability to record would really come in handy. I will be adding a Dvb-c card at a later date can you have more than 1 card in 1 machine?

Also will I be ok with just the wireless keyboard with touchpad or would I be as well getting a media center remote as well?

Cheers

If youre used to the Xbox XBMC is being ported to Linux, I use it as well as LinuxMCE.

Yep love XBMC on the Xbox It's the only software I have had on my Xbox for about 3 years now lol

I have had a play with the windows port a few times and it seems to be coming on well over the last couple of releases, but still looks like its going to be awhile before its anywhere the standard of the Xbox version IMO.

How is the Linux version?

Hmm thinking about it I might go with XP Home (I have a spare licence) instead of XP media centre, seeing I'm going for the wireless keyboard rather than a remote, I can always get a copy of media centre and a remote later if I don't like that setup

Quote from: ShaunI have been using a Xbox as a HTPC for around 4 years now, which is great for nearly everything I use if for... TV shows, the odd film ..etc! but it cant play high quality codec's that seem to be getting used quite a bit more now, so I'm stuck watching them on the PC

...So time for a upgrade!

Here are the parts I have been looking at:

Antec NSK 2480 MATX Desktop Case Black & Silver - With 380W EarthWatts PSU
Samsung SpinPoint HD501LJ 500GB SATAII Hard Drive 16MB Cache - OEM
Asus Myc P7131h/dt/p-mce/a Tuner - Pci Dvb-t/pal/phillips 7131 In
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 w/SP2b - Licence and media - 1 PC - OEM - CD - English
KeySonic 2.4Ghz Wireless Compact Keyboard with Integrated Touchpad
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H 780G Socket AM2+ onboard VGA 8 channel audio mATX Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 Energy Efficient 1MB L2 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
Kingston 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 Memory Non-ecc CL5 Unbuffered 1.8V
Plexus Premium High Quality Gold Plated HDMI Cable 2M - EMI suppressors Retail Pack
Sony DRU-190A 20X DVD±RW DL & DVD-RAM IDE internal - Retail With Multi Bezel & Nero

Total: £416.20

 I'm going AMD due to the 780G chipset and the fact I will not need to buy a graphic or sound card as the mobo does it all

 The couple of things I'm not certain about is the Asus Dvb-t card >>LINK<<, can I get better than that? a extra freeview tuner and the ability to record would really come in handy. I will be adding a Dvb-c card at a later date can you have more than 1 card in 1 machine?

Also will I be ok with just the wireless keyboard with touchpad or would I be as well getting a media center remote as well?

Cheers

Dreambox 8000 HDTV is what you want... when they get around to releasing it.
Linux based, plays anything. does PVR & has 4 tuners you can put in any combination dvb-t dvb-c & dvb-s

Thanks for that Egg but after a bit of google'ing it looks like it's going to quite a bit more than I'm looking to spend at well over 600 quid ...plus there is little idea when its coming out

Quote from: ShaunThanks for that Egg but after a bit of google'ing it looks like it's going to quite a bit more than I'm looking to spend at well over 600 quid ...plus there is little idea when its coming out

Its the mutts nuts though & buy from Germany & youll save 17.5% vat  :oD

Decided to go with the HTPC rather than a Dreambox as the Mrs wanted Iplayer and 4oD on the TV rather than watching them on her Laptop.

Went for a Antec Fusion V2 MediaCenter case rather than the one I listed above for the better PSU and the fact it is a little smaller.

Really happy with it so far The Dark Knight trailers and other HD content I have got look really stunning on it even Iplayer and 4oD look better ...guess that must be the HDMI cable?
The KeySonic 2.4Ghz Wireless Compact Keyboard works pretty well, while it's a bit big for a remote I don't think I will be rushing out to buy a copy of media centre and a remote for it anytime soon.

I didn't get the Dvb-t card as I decided I would take a punt and get a cheap Dvb-s card instead Compro VideoMate S350
We have a dish on the side of the house which was there when we moved in about 4 years ago, but not been used by us, so I had no idea if it still worked. The crap software that came with the card couldn't pick a signal up at all  
So I tried ProgDVB and with that got a pretty good signal from Astra and the satellites around that direction

I can also get BBC HD which I wasn't expecting tbh Is there anyway I can get the ITV one with this set up???

http://www.dvbviewer.info/forum/index.php?s=812d82341122c3ad8d3991ec45ff0067&showtopic=26519&st=0

I woould get a media centre remote if I was you...

As the case has a receiver already built in and you can power it on using the remote! Saves having to get up and turn it on!

Very good case, very happy with mine and very quiet   -)

I found ITV thanks just a shame there is nothing on it
bit disappointed by the lack of HD content from both the BBC and ITV would be pissed off if I had paid 150 quid for Freesat  for HD at the mo lol

Im not to bothered about getting a remote tbh (I don't bother turning it off )