HTPC Build
AMD Athlon X2 4800+ 939 Processor
2GB OCZ Value RAM DDR400
EVGA NForce 4 Motherboard
EVGA NVidia GeForce 7800GT PCIe Video Card
EVGA 7Pin HDTV Cable
http://www.evga.com/products/moreinfo.asp?pn=601-EV-1024-S1&family=820
Headphone to Mono Coaxial Cable Adapter
Ahanix D.Vine 5 HTPC Case
http://www.ahanix.com/products/mce/mce_d5.php
WinTV PVR150 Tuners
http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvr150.html
SERVER Build
AMD Athlon 64 3200+
2GB DDR400 RAM
Windows Server 2008 RC0 x64
(3) Seagate 400GB SATAII HDD
(6) Seagate 500GB SATAII HDD
(2) Rosewill Silicon Image PCI 4 SATA ports Controller Card
TV Tuning
For the time being, I am using Comcast (IL) basic cable input into (2) two PVR150 tuner cards. AFAIK, there is no way for me to receive HD broadcasts into Media Center without CableCARD. So for now, I'm content. When everything settles down with HD television I will up the ante. I've been eyeing those quad CableCARD systems from Niveus Media Right now, this works sufficiently well.
Now that I have been really using this as a DVR; I've been watching hard drive space disappear. At BEST quality Media Center uses 3GB / hour of SD recording. I may need to look at conversion/storage options.
Video Setup
Using an NVidia graphics card with their 7 pin dongles you can output HD over component video. Use the latest drivers and setup. I am outputting 720p over component to receiver.
Audio Setup
Digital Output (3.5mm headphone jack) on Sound Blaster Live 5.1 Card to Coaxial IN on receiver. Must use a headphone to mono coaxial adapter (Radio Shack). Setup digital output only in Vista.
A/V Electronic Gear
Harmon Kardon AVR-247 7.1 Ch 600W HDMI Reciever
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail.aspx?cat=REC&prod=AVR 247
I am really happy with this reciever, it was an upgrade from an older Denon AVR-588S Reciever. First, it looks amazing; the blue LEDs really stand out. You can customize each input on so many levels, through an on-screen display (yes it has an OSD that comes up on your display), and then rename the titles. HDMI. Plenty of inputs/outputs. Upconverts everything up to 720p over HDMI or component. Less than $500.
Optoma HD70 720p 1000 Lumens 4000:1 Projector
http://www.optomausa.com/product_detail.asp?product_id=294
Another amazing unit. 720p DLP display with every input, including HDMI. Picture is great, and very easy to customize/tweak. Optoma had a rebate program for a little while so these could be found for about $800.
Polk CS1 Center Channel
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/individual/center/cs1/
These Polk speakers are a great value. Sound quality is wonderful and they easily fit into a $500 budget.
Polk M20 Front/Right Channel
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/individual/floorstanding/m20/
Polk M10 Surround Channels
http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/individual/floorstanding/m10/
MTX 12" 100W Powered Subwoofer
http://www.mtxhome.com/p/subs/sw2.aspx
Great value again, about $100. Powered, has line inputs, level control, auto on/off. Crank it up and you'll rumble the house.
Logitech Harmony 520 Remote
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4302606
Yes, its another great value. $75 gets you a remote that will control everything but your girlfriend. The software is so easy to use. Buy this and throw all of your 15 other remotes away.
XBOX360 Premium Edition
http://www.xbox.com/
HD gaming, XBOX Live; 'nuff said.
HTPC and SERVER Setup
Windows Vista Home Premium x64 w/ Media Center
http://www.microsoft.com/windows
No, it might not do everything that some of the other software apps do; but its too damn easy. And because its a Microsoft product, it works well with every other Microsoft product you own or will own.
DVD Library Registry Edit
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930526
Couldn't be easier, follow the directions and Media Center will recognize your VIDEO_TS folders either on your local drive or on a network drive. Others might argue the "My Movies" plugin; yes its great too. However, it has gotten kind of bulky and complicated, IMO. Right now, it is not built for x64 nor is it built for Vista Media Center (its not a native MCML application). I don't necessarily need all the extras, I just want to watch a movie.
K-Lite Codec Pack x64
http://www.codecguide.com/klcp_64bit.htm
Works perfectly, I am able to watch every downloaded/ripped/etc type of movie/show/video I own.
Lifextender
http://www.lifextender.com/
Commercial editing program. Couldn't be easier, download, install, watch TV without commercials. No other program works better or easier.
DVDxml.com
http://www.dvdxml.com/
To get a bit of data in the DVD Library section of Media Center (length, synopsis), add the movie's dvdxml file from this site into your movie's folder. There is some work to be done here, but again this is quick and easy.
DVD Library Manager
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/7/245700/ShowThread.aspx
Allows you to control/edit/fix the DVDxml data from above. Awesome. After using, I now have crisp clean meta data and good looking (locally hosted) cover art.
MP3Tag
http://www.mp3tag.de/en/
If you catalogue your own music, or you want to touch up the tags on your library from a service; get this program. Excellent.
WebGuide
http://www.asciiexpress.com/webguide/
I have only seen this in use. However, it has a lot of great features. Now that Microsoft hired the developer, its free; and I imagine we will see the features released officially in a Media Center update (Fiji anyone?). Live streaming across the internet, guide/scheduling from the web (Tivo2Go), transcoding.
DVD Storage
My DVD's are fully backed up into VIDEO_TS folders on multiple HDD's. Those HDD's are in the server being shared out across the home network. Each drive is labeled/shared as MOVIES1, MOVIES2, MOVIES3 etc. \\SERVER\MOVIES1\Bourne Identity\VIDEO_TS, \\SERVER\MOVIES2\The Godfather\VIDEO_TS, \\SERVER\MOVIES3\Superbad\VIDEO_TS etc. There is no RAID setup, just independent disks. You can fit about 50-75 DVD's on 400-500GB drives. Each of the shares are then added to Media Center's video section (\\SERVER\MOVIES1\, \\SERVER\MOVIES2\ etc).
Music Storage
Music is stored in MP3 format anally tagged with MP3Tag. All music is stored on a single hard drive (I may RAID 0 this) in an extensive folder structure. MUSIC\F\Foo Fighters\2007 - Echoes Silence Patience And Grace\ . Each album folder has a folder.jpg file (the album art is also embedded in the tag). Shared out as \\SERVER\Music\ for all PCs to access.
To Do List
HD TV Tuners (probably CableCARD; maybe IPTV if Microsoft/Comcast get to it)
HD DVD Drive (once its integrated with Media Center and Blu Ray goes away )
Rackmount server/equipment (RagE's rackmount setup is killer, I'd like it all in a closet)
Home Automation (lights, blinds, hvac, etc)