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How to Build a Media Center PC
Check all your media from a PC. Mix all together in one system: TV, games, movies, music can be monitored and stored in one place.
A Media Center PC or Home Theater PC or HTPC for short is a personal computer connected to a TV. It is often used as a digital photo, music and video player, or as a computer and video game device. Add a TV tuner card You can record TV programs and a HTPC. You can also call the general objective of media systems in a HTPC is usually to combine many or all components Home Theater in a box.
A Media Center PC is a device of convergence that combines the functions of a personal computer and a digital video recorder. Media PC can buy pre-configured with hardware and software needed to add television programming to the computer, as is commonly done with Windows Media Center Edition (MCE), or can be tailor-made from discrete components.
Media Center PC – What you should know.
This is not normal personal computer that you build. Live in your living room (or wherever you have your TV and spend most of their time). This means in addition to a PC, you have to look good and run very slowly.
These are the most important components in Media Center PC
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE)
Case
TV or (y) Card HDTV
Sound card
CPU Cooler
Power Supply
Wireless Keyboard
Remote control
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition (code-named Symphony) is a version of Windows XP designed to serve Home> Entertainment Center. The latest version, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, was released on October 12th, 2004.
Windows XP Media Center Edition (XP MCE) is distinguished from other versions of Windows XP preinstalled by a proprietary application, Media Center, which provides a large bowl, remotely accessible interface to watch TV on the computer and the recording and playback, DVD playback, video playback, photo viewing and reading music.
Although MCE is based on Windows XP Professional, Microsoft has disabled the ability to reach a post install Active Directory domain. This effectively prevents the use of Media Center in an environment corporate. Windows XP Media Center has retained most of the other pro-specific as Remote Desktop and Encrypting File System.
Due to strict hardware requirements, Microsoft has chosen not to supply Media Center as an independent retail version. Microsoft distributed only to subscribers of MSDN and Builders OEM of the system in some countries. Consumers generally purchase Media Center preinstalled on a new computer, or a dealer selling OEM versions of Microsoft software.
Windows XP Media Center Edition (2005) Update Rollup 2 (codenamed Emerald), published in late 2005, was a collection updates including support for the role of DVD changers to connect to the Xbox 360.
Windows Media Center in Windows Vista (2006) (Code-named "Diamond"): generally available to the public on January 30, 2007.
Media Center PC Case
The first material you need to consider the case. Technically, any type of housing is acceptable, but since we are building a media center here, the appearance is important because it must look presentable when placed in the room. More importantly, the ventilation system used in housing should not be too noisy – I do not want to sound like a vacuum cleaner to watch a DVD, and you?
Venues Media PCs were in the market for some time. In general, called a case of office instead of home theater PC cases. Design each is approximately the same – is the defining characteristics of a Media Center PC without a desktop case.
Some of these features include hardware as simple as a low-power or less fans in the power supply. Many cases are smaller than desktop chassis half of the tower, if the material should be used small. Other features that perform functions a Media Center PC as a text display integrated IR receiver, are some of the things that have a Media Center PC just that, a Media Center PC.
TV tuner card
In deciding how to use the Media Center PC to watch TV, you should ask yourself some questions:
Do I need a single cable box? Or do I hire multiple cable, satellite or cable + box?
"I can more air HDTV reception where I live?
First, you really need to get a TV tuner card, regardless of the answer to one of the above questions. The only question is real whether or not to obtain a card that has a tuner, or both.
If you have more of a regular source of television (from Question 1), only need a single TV tuner. If you need or two sources, or even considering getting a cable box or the source from second to second place, you should get a card that has two tuners in it.
HDTV and Media Center PC card
When you connect a high definition TV (HDTV) antenna to a Media Center PC is equipped with a tuner card HDTV, you will discover:
Quality digital video with support widescreen: The emissions of local TV Watch HDTV quality up to 10 times the quality of standard TV signal.
Theater-quality audio: Enjoy low booming 5.1 surround sound and crystal is available with many programs in primetime.
HD Personal Video Recorder: Pause, rewind, and record the local, terrestrial TV in high definition, as you would for television programs standard.
Digital TV Program Guide: Find listings for local HDTV channels to be integrated in standard TV programs on your PC Guide Media Center.
signal strength of the antenna: The high power signal, you can adjust the antenna for maximum number of channels.
Connect your Media Center PC to your surround sound system
No home theater PC is complete without good audio.
Depending on the sound, you need to connect the Media Center PC to the speakers using a single digital connection or a set of multichannel analog connections.
You may need connect analog or digital multichannel surround sound
Ultimately, both types of connections to drive a surround sound from a DVD or TV you play high definition. The main difference between them is that the decoding of surround sound signal is carried out.
When using a single digital connection, the sound card in the Media Center PC passes the signal directly to your surround receiver to decode the audio and read through the speakers.
With a multichannel analog connection, the card decodes surround sound signal, then transmits the decoded signal receiver. The receiver generates the sound of the appropriate forum for the surround effect.
Quiet CPU cooling
Equally important is the CPU fan. Ideally, you want a CPU cooler is very quiet, but it a good job of keeping the processor cool.
Fan labor that comes with the original processor was like a vacuum cleaner is running the mode of maximum speed (controlled by the motherboard depending on the workload of the processor) and the noise is unbearable if you sit near your computer. This is certainly not an ideal situation for PC Media Center.
Quiet CPU coolers are designed with the use of highly conductive copper heat and a larger design efficiency, the heater surface to spread the heat much more efficient than standard radiators. These coolers move heat from a CPU with maximum efficiency, so can be combined with slower moving fans. Really quiet CPU coolers has the following salient features:
sinks large size that can emit more heat from the CPU
Using high performance Copper, either on base or in the radiator, while
The large fans that move more air relative to the speed with which in turn
Smooth fan bearings
Efficient fan design smooth
sink loud, soft, quality
The inclusion of heatpipes to facilitate heat transfer
Food Media Center
As the digital world seeps into the living room, quiet operation becomes the key. More and more investment and building home theater PC.
The quality of energy supplied to the components of your system is more important than most users are given account. A poor diet can cause many problems of energy and, in some cases can destroy the hardware of the system. A power supply (power supply) that either sub-volt 3.3, 5 or 12 volt line may cause data corruption, system crashes and the program crashes. In the most serious cases of over-voltage components Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Often, one of the largest manufacturers of noise in a PC, the regulated power supply provides voltage components continuous. PSU team is changing the way types, which provide a relatively high yield at low cost. Using forced air cooling, usually 80 mm fan, and sometimes form a second fan. The fan is the main source of noise in a power supply. Coils in a power zoom, especially when is pushed under high loads, but more often masks the noise of the fan noise of the coil. In general, the fan is a capacity exceeding the maximum flow air necessary to maintain the freshness of the power supply.
The quietest PSUs have absolutely not a fan or a fan running at low speed in most conditions. Note that the components tend to run a little warmer than usual due to the reduced airflow. This may be a concern if the ambient temperature is high or normal if the components used are very hot. The best models are the low-speed fan cooling fan with normal and field fan at full speed only when really necessary.
Fan-less Power Supply sets the bar high when it comes to power, efficiency and quiet operation.
Remote control
Integrating a Media PC in the lounge means you need a way to control your computer from the couch. Although it is possible to use a wireless mouse and keyboard devices are generally intended to be used very close to a hard surface like a table.
Many TV tuner capture cards are the remote control for use with the applications included with the card, but to integrate Windows MCE in your living room, you need a certified Windows MCE remote control.
Wireless Keyboard
For most things you need to do with your HTPC, the use of Windows Media Remote Control is sufficient. However, There are some activities that are much more comfortable when using a keyboard.
You need a wireless keyboard (preferably RF instead of IR so that you do not has constraint line of sight transmission ND), who has built a mouse. Why? While you can sit on the couch and type away. You really appreciate a decent keyboard when trying to correct spelling of an artist's CD, or labeling a folder where you download all those photos you took on your last vacation your memory card into the PC.
About the Author
We are BuyDirectPC Computer Corporation, e-tailer of custom desktop and gaming systems, as well as cube PC’s, Shuttle XPC’s and custom-tailored laptops. Founded in 2000, we have experienced ongoing growth and while many other upstart companies were going out of business following the dot-com crash, we have successfully maintained our position of first-echelon custom PC provider. Today, many individuals and businesses trust our expertise to deliver a machine built to their specs from the finest off-the-shelf components, rigorously tested and carefully shipped for the best out-of-the-box experience. With so many cases of retailers taking advantage of their customers’ trust and either jacking up the price, selling terribly misconfigured and untested systems or even using refurbished parts, our company has always made sure we maintained our top-tier retailer status by adhering to a strict ethical code, as well as employing only skilled individuals. http://buydirectpc.com/web/online/about-us
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