Yes that is what I meant. 10GB per hour. Right now on my one external hard drive I have 10 shows I recorded. 6 started as 1hr each an 2 started at 2hrs each. After editing out the commercials they run 40-50 mins for the 1 hr shows and about 1 hr 40 mins for the 2 hr shows. After in coding them in M2T format, they are using 79.9GB. Fortunately HDD space is relatively cheap.
I have been holding off on a HDDVD or BluRay burner, but since the Warner announcement this week, I may go ahead and get a Sony Blu Ray burner. Just wish the price would come down.

 

1. A tower
2. CPU
3. Heat sink <-- usually comes w/ the CPU if you buy OEM unless you WANT an aftermarket CPU cooler
4. Hard drive for OS
5. Hard drive for storage
6. Memory
7. Very nice graphics card
8. Very nice sound card
9. Player for HD-DVD and Blue Ray - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...3&Tpk=hd%2bdvd
10. Faster DVD/CD burner <-- the one above will also burn, just not HD/Blu-Ray. If you aren't doing disc to disc copy, you can cache on your hard drive, then burn.
11. OS for computer (probably just XP)
12. Software for DVD, HD-DVD, and Blue Ray ripping

 

Cool, I'll start looking for these parts and pricing this out. I'm thinking a power supply should be added too.

Can I also use this build to use as a regular PC?

Duke

 

Also keep an eye out on slickdeals.net for daily deals on computer componets. Seems like there is a power supply and/or memory on there at any given time.

As little a life these fellows may have looking for deals day in and day out, I've saved a few nickels by spotting deals on there.

 

Sure. Take a look at this:Guide to building a HD HTPC - ATX System . The first system referenced would be a great system for general PC'ing use or as a HTPC. In fact, what the author refers to as "High-End" (same post) uses the same processor as my current PC, and also lists my MoBo as the alternate. I built my machine as a general use machine w/ an emphasis for video editing. But it would probably do just as well being a HTPC as is.

 

Yeah I'll probably try to do the high end but end up somewhere inbetween due to cost.

Computing would just be basic stuff and internet browsing.

The major thing is playing and storing dvds. I'll post a list once I have it put together for a group review.

 

What would you say if I just went with this to keep the cost down? Keep in mind I only will be doing normal computing and playing/ripping dvds and cds.

Though I might try and find a better looking box. My main concern would be the noise of the system though being that it will be by the TV.

Low-End

System

CPU: Pentium Dual-Core E2200 2.2GHz Socket 775, $96.
CPU Cooler: ZEROtherm BTF90, $30 (after rebate at Newegg.com).
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 chipset ATX, $97. An alternative is abit IP35-E, $90.
Memory: Crucial Ballistix BL2KIT12864AA804 DDR2-800 2 x 1GB Kit, $50 (after rebate at Newegg.com).
Graphics Card: XFX GeForce 8500 GT PV-T86J-UAHG, $75. An alternative is Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 128-bit GDDR2 256MB 100206L, $80.
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint T166 500GB HD501LJ 500GB SATA, $110.
PSU: Antec EarthWatts EA 430, $50.
Case: SilverStone Lascala SST-LC17B, $105.
Total Cost: $613

 

I would stay away from the Antec PSU, and get at least a 500watt PSU. I would also get a tower case rather than the regular desktop you selected for cooling if nothing else. Also much easier to do upgrades.

 

Noted on the PSU. However, the tower would be harder to hide or get to blend with the other home entertainment equipment. The box is going to need to be within 6 feet because the optical cable for sound is only 6 feet long. They make longer ones but they are crazy expensive.

How would the cooling noise be with this setup?

 

I have a tower running a front and rear 120mm fan plus the CPU cooler and the PSU fan. I sit within 2' of it and it is very quiet. Do I hear it, yes, but not enough to bother me. The better cooling you have, the quieter it will run as nothing needs to run a full speed to keep things cool. It is when the fans have to run a full spped to keep things cool that it gets noisy. Mine cools well enough that the CPU fan hardly ever gets above the minimum speed (about 400RPM). Only time it goes higher is when I really stress it. Do something like encode some video and run a full virus scan at the same time.
That box really only handles 80 or 92mm fans. More likely they will be running full speed to keep things cool.

 

CPU: Pentium Dual-Core E2200 2.2GHz Socket 775, $96.
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L Intel P35 chipset ATX, $97.
Memory: Crucial Ballistix BL2KIT12864AA804 DDR2-800 2 x 1GB Kit, $50
Graphics Card: An alternative is Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro 128-bit GDDR2 256MB 100206L, $80.
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint T166 500GB HD501LJ 500GB SATA, $110.


Is that CPU, motherboard, memory, graphics card, HDD a good combination for playing and ripping DVDs, recording TV, using as a TIVO and normal computing?

Or what parts should I interchange?


Thanks again for all the help!

PS. I should probably specify the TV that I'll be using. This will be connected to a Pioneer Plasma 1080P 50 inch+

 

I kind of like this case and have the ability to dock the iPod.

Mozart IP Black VF3000BNS - True Musical Life Integration


http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...tCode=10006291


oh geese this was is sweet! Maybe I should wait a couple months until I really need it and prices will come down a bit.



http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=373524

 

I personally would get at least a 512mb that is DirectX 10 ready.
Something like these.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Force+8+series

Also as far as dealing with different companies online, you can check them out at
http://www.resellerratings.com/

For a PSU, take a look at this one. Corsair makes some good PSUs, and this one is modular so you only have to use the feeds you need and not have the rest clutter the inside of the box.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139001


You are showing Zipzoomfly on your links. Had trouble with them in the past and stopped dealing with them. Compare their rating with a company like Newegg. Big difference.

 

Windows Media Center Edition is what you need with one of it's specific tuner cards

 

Cool, thanks for the advise, I'll revamp the list.

How strong of a CPU, motherboard, and graphics card should I go for if I want to do the following:

1. Play DVD, HDDVD, Blueray, CD, and normal computing
2. Burn/rip CD, DVD, and HDDVD
3. Record 1080p TV