Hi guys!

This is my virgin post after since i signed up. I think ive only ever posted once or twice before this? So a big hello to everyone!

I will be moving into my new home very shortly and am in the midst of preparing my home theatre system now.

I would actually like to seek some help with the media centre PC's.

The items i've purchased/already own so far is as follows

1. Panasonic 50' S series plasma tv (it seems the X is not capable of Full HD and the S is?)
2. Bose Lifestyle 48 home theatre system
3. PS3

As i have close to 2TB of files in music, family photos, videos etc, i previously used a Mac Mini that i used as a media centre with the Front Row.

Ive previously had abit of fun with the Windows Media Centre Edition and i must say, even in its first edition, it was quite fun and i enjoyed using it alot.

Ive heard that the latest version that comes with Windows 7 is much much better.

Ive surfed Dell and HP's website but not much items come up.

Now my options are 1. to buy a dell XPS Studio 9000 and load it up with everything available including the Dell Remote for Media Centre

2. To build one myself.

The dell XPS 9000 will cost close to 9k with everything inside.

Or should i customize one myself?

What kind of TV tuner card would be ideal to connect to Astro, regular TV?

What sound card to use to connect to the bose and what graphics card can output in HDMI etc etc.

Thanks so much for all your help in advance. I have approx RM10k to work on this project but of course, where i can save, i would like very much to save.

Thanks once again for ALL HELP! Greatly appreciated.

Really don't understand why you want to invest in a TV tuner card when your Panny already has that feature. Also since you havea PS3, what you really need is a NAS as you can then store your pix and movies in it for streaming through the PS3 for playback on your 50" TV

Alas if you have the moolah, you still don't need to go with an XPS. With the budget you have, you can get an i7 with the latest GFX card which you can then hook up directly to your amp (if it has HDMI input)

I use MediaPortal... wonderful piece of software. IMO, way better than MCE or XBMC.

Works fine on my Rm1K PC.

This post has been edited by cosmicmeadow: Nov 10 2009, 09:26 AM

Get HP media centre...affordable

Richard912: Thanks so much for your response and feedback bro!

I know the Panasonic has a TV tuner already but what i really wanted out of the Media Centre was to connect my Astro so i can pause Live TV.

I understand the only way to connect a external video source to a PC to display thru Media Centre in Windows 7 or Vista is through a TV Tuner Card with an input? Is there any other way?

I am also trying to figure out if there is way i can use the media centre to control my Astro so it can watch multiple channels or record one and view another or at least download the EPG.


Hitmanz: I went to the HP website. Are you referring to the Pavillion series PC? Because i have the OLD HP Media Centre which was built on "Windows XP Media Centre Edition"

Is there a new HP PC specially built to be a media centre PC?

Thanks to everyone for your response. Has been a great help. My mistake for not providing more information about what i intend to achieve out of this of course.

1. I would like to consolidate all my devices into 1

- Meaning, if i view stored files, i can do it thru my media centre, same with if i watch a dvd, or if i watch Astro. All through my media centre.
- I will also have the ability to record, pause and rewind Live TV(Astro) with the media centre as it will keep i think 10 minutes back/forward for you to move up and down? Tht also means my viewing times will be delayed by 10 minutes.


I am contemplating going down the route of a custom built clone PC but im not sure ideally what components should be inside.

Im thinking now that besides the regular Motherboard,processor etc

a good GFX card with HDMI output
Soundblaster X-FI
TV Tuner card with FM tuner too and external video inputs

Is there anything else i should include?

Or a better way to achieve what i want to achieve of course.

Thanks so much once again!

hi k3nny,

a bit out of topic here... i m also considering a HTPC or u called it media PC... I was about to buy the latest mac mini for this...

Since you have experienced the mac mini... can you share with me how was it? and why are you moving away from the mac mini as HTPC?...

Appreciate yr feedback...