Living room PC/Want to cancel my cable.

Wanted to see if you guys had any suggestions, directions to point me in to go about this.

I'm tired of paying $150 a month for cable/internet. I will keep my internet connection, but am ready to ditch cable. The only reason we've kept it this long is so I can watch WRC/F1 and a few other select shows (any ideas where I can get racing stuff on the cheap )

Basically I need suggestions on buying a PC to use in the living room, what features you'd want, how powerful it needs to be, etc. I've got a PS3 for Blu-Ray, so I don't need a Blu-Ray drive.

Basically want access to Netflix streaming, Amazon on Demand, and normal internet use......will be used on a 50" 1080p DLP TV.

Care to point me in the right direction?

The recent tests I've seen show that the low power boards from Intel (Celeron), and AMD (45nm Athlon II) are able to give better performance than the Atom based boards and don't pull that much more power.

Add in a passively cooled ATI 5450 based card for graphics / HDMI out and you'll have a good starting place.

There are even PC cases specifically designed to fit into entertainment systems (look for HTPC cases)

With more input on budget / needs we could help narrow down the component list.

If you have a ps3, why not use that? Get a bluetooth keyboard and mouse... you could even install ubuntu.

Your PS3 will already stream Netflix. I've got an AppleTV hacked to run Boxee and XBMC - the tv and movIe worlds are now a torrent away (not that I do that...) If you prefer to stay legit purchasing movies and TV trough iTunes is easy and not that pricey. That said, I still pay for a full cable package because the wife and kids can't handle the ATV as the only tv source.

I realized that earlier that the PS3 will do NetFlix, but how is it's browser? I've read mixed reviews on it.

One reason for this is also to get rid of the "computer room," that has a big desk and computer taking up space. Then get a secondary laptop and put WiFi in the house so a laptop could be used anywhere in the house, outside, etc without having it take up a chunk of a room.

Budget? We don't really have a budget per se. But basically as little as will get the job done properly (not including the laptop or Netbook, etc).

RossD wrote: If you have a ps3, why not use that? Get a bluetooth keyboard and mouse... you could even install ubuntu.

Not with the new firmware update you can't, no longer allowed to use "Other OS" on the machine.

Plus I'm not looking to do a bunch of tweaking with stuff (let's please prevent this from turning into a discussion about how easy it is to run this or that, or change this, mod that.)

I just want straight forward and to work.

I do this. Not very well, especially lately, because my internet sux though AT&T 3G (TERRIBLE). But when teh n3t is up, y0, it works fine. I use a XP machine I got for free (needed a PS) and a cheap video card a friend gave me. The main thing is to get a computer or a video card that has the output plug that will easily go to HDMI, or a HDMI jack on it to start with. I managed to find a cord for my card online at monoprice, and had to fiddle with the drivers a lot to get it to the flatscreen's native resolution. I use a wireless keyboard/mouse set with the desktop next to the flat screen and the mouse on the coffee table. Works great as a DiVX viewer too, which is what I mostly use it for because AT&T 3G SUX BIG TIME.

You could stick this board and processor into just about any case you like:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5317375&CatId=4297

All you have to do is figure out what size/style case you want and go from there.

The board has HDMI/DVI/VGA out, so whatever input your TV has open should work. The onboard graphics aren't great for gaming, but should work well for HD content.

If you already have a spare PC you can probably grab the DVD, RAM and hard drive from that.

... unless you weren't looking for specific components and wanted a recommendation on a pre-built system....

z31maniac wrote: I realized that earlier that the PS3 will do NetFlix, but how is it's browser? I've read mixed reviews on it. One reason for this is also to get rid of the "computer room," that has a big desk and computer taking up space. Then get a secondary laptop and put WiFi in the house so a laptop could be used anywhere in the house, outside, etc without having it take up a chunk of a room.

I use a PS3 for what you describe. It works great with NetFlix, and the browser is fine for browsing. Get yourself a a little netbook if you do a lot of web work and email.

I never replaced my desktop PC when the power supply died a couple years back. I've got a wireless router and a PS3, Wii, a netbook, and a laptop. I could easily live with just the PS3 and netbook.

I've got a buddy who has a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and he feels that the PS3 is OK as a browser, but not quite wonderful; they often plug their laptop in to the TV and use that instead.

In my experience, PS3 is solid as a Netflix streamer, but you can't yet search through that interface, so the browser/PC idea is superior in that regard as well.

What kind of 'net connection will you use? Still cable?

Most video cards these days are HDMI out, so that'll be easy.

You'll want a sound card that can do digital out (some X-fi cards have optical out) if you're going to be attaching it to a proper receiver/surround sound setup. These are easy to install on your own.

I've got this setup at home. I have a 5-6 year old P4-class Dell Dimension, 768MB RAM, Radeon 9250 hooked up to the TV via VGA, couple of big hard drives. Runs Windows XP okay. Netflix on Demand and Hulu are great, and it's just enough to watch 720p content at an acceptable framerate.

If you've got an acceptable video card on your desktop in the "computer room", you could use that and all you'd need would be a VGA cable with male connectors at both ends, keyboard, mouse, wifi card and job done. However, the wifi has seemed to cause me a bit of heartache - I have not yet found an acceptable wifi card, which baffles me because my apartment isn't all that big.

RossD wrote: If you have a ps3, why not use that? Get a bluetooth keyboard and mouse... you could even install ubuntu.

Not anymore. Sony disabled the ability to install a different operating system in the latest update. Some sort of an attempt to prevent pirating.

I did this 3 years ago. I have a Mac Mini sitting on a shelf next to my projector. You would never notice either of them unless they are on. Bluetooth keyboard and mouse make it easy, but just as easily I could have just run a USB cable extender. I'll never go back to normal television. The Mac ran me $600 refurb'd, kick in another $100 for the mouse and keyboard cause I'm a Mac fanboi. We pay $8 a month for Netflix and $60 for the internet connection. I have a digital TV tuner box for local stations (hooked to the composite video port on the projector). The Mac Mini is just connected to the projector with a VGA cable. I don't have an HD projector, so VGA is fine. All sound is run through my stereo.

You can build a rig cheaply that will scream as a home theater PC, or if you are just wanting to plug it in and go I would grab a used or refurb Mac Mini.

Excellent, I knew this group would give me a lot of good feedback and quickly when it comes to saving money!

As far as using any components from our current computer, not worth it. It's 9 years old and SLOW. Part of the reason we are looking to replace it, and figured we might as well get the most out of it we can, hence the HTPC idea.

Scott Lear wrote: I've got a buddy who has a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and he feels that the PS3 is OK as a browser, but not quite wonderful; they often plug their laptop in to the TV and use that instead. In my experience, PS3 is solid as a Netflix streamer, but you can't yet search through that interface, so the browser/PC idea is superior in that regard as well. What kind of 'net connection will you use? Still cable? Most video cards these days are HDMI out, so that'll be easy. You'll want a sound card that can do digital out (some X-fi cards have optical out) if you're going to be attaching it to a proper receiver/surround sound setup. These are easy to install on your own.

Yes, we will still have a cable internet connection. I believe it's 12mb down, although if we are going to ditch cable TV and depend more on NetFlix/Amazon/etc, we may jump up to the 20mb down.

HDMI (for vid) and Digital Optical or Digital Coax for sound are a must.

Any suggestions on HTPC cases? I've read lots of reviews with ones that don't have much room inside.

I'll have a fairly big spot for one, so one that's as big as typical 7.2 Home Theater receiver isn't a problem.

Any suggestions on how I can still see F1/WRC etc? Are Netflix and Amazon vid on demand in HD? I love HD. One reason I've put off doing this for so long.

You want an Ion2 equipped nettop box, like this one -

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/09/shuttles-ion-2-equipped-xs35-shows-off-its-slimline-nettop-cred/

I'm thinking about doing the same thing but need to get more comfortable with my streaming/internet options for cable shows (specifically Food Network stuff for the wife and kids).

The on-demand services from netflix do claim an "HD" mode on some streaming movies, but they're not true HD, they're about as good as a quality DVD transfer. One major letdown with Netflix streaming is the sound; Dolby Pro Logic II at best, no discrete 5.1 digital (let alone DTS or Dolby HD). Something to consider.

Using the existing PS3 looks like the best option. I was looking at getting a used one myself, until Sony removed the OtherOS option.

I have a MAC G4 hooked up to my TV. Solid and nothing fancy. Won't run Flash though

In reply to z31maniac:

Silverstone makes a variety of HTPC cases that should fit your needs. Most will be smaller than your average mid-tower, but will fit into a entertainment center better.

If you can go larger, just find a mid-tower that you like and flip it on it's side. I've had great luck with Cooler-Master cases lately; a good balance of price and quality.

For any computer that's going to stay in one spot you should go with a wired network connection if at all possible. Wireless is getting better and better.. but for speed and reliability you'll be better off with a cable. (especially for streaming a lot of video, which seems to over work a lot of lower cost wireless routers... D-Link, I'm looking at you!)..

As others have said, you'll take a hit on image/sound quality when streaming.. they've got to fit as much down the pipeline as possible...

Oh, I forgot to add. You can pick up pretty cheap TV tuner cards which will give you whatever the local 'Over the air' broadcasts are. It can help make giving up cable a lot easier.

I had my office computer guy(aka nerd) to take an old laptop and do the same thing for my tv in the conference room. Entire office is wireless so nothing extra there. A good video card and a cheap dvd/vcr player and we were set when I found a decent flat screen from Sam's or Walmart(I forget which) for the picture.
If I were going to do it at home, I would consider getting a VZ card from Verizon as my internet connection. Cheaper than cable and you could run multiple wireless apps off of it.

The Media Center in Windows 7 is very good, allows you to do Netflix and Hulu and of course manage any TV/Radio Tuner cards you might have in the system.

There is also Boxee, which is a slightly altered version of the XBox Media Center Project (XMBC) Seems to work pretty well, not sure about tuner control as I've not played with it enough to know.

I use Media-Portal which is another derivative (of sorts) of XBMC, but leverages the ability to have a central TV Tuner and Media Server, so I'm able to have a central PC managing the TV cards, recorded media and separate lightweight PCs in several rooms, streaming content over the WiFi.

With a video card that has HDMI out (nVidia and ATI both have several cards that do this) you can watch high-def content quite well.

Many of the TV Tuner cards can be ordered as a Media Center ready product with a Media Center compatible remote and of course the capability to receive over the air HD broadcasts. Hauppauge and ATI are two big vendors there.

Soundcards, you'll want one that has surround out that matches what your receiver will accept. Typically as long as it supports the same surround level and digital out, you're good to go.

Search on eBay for Media Center remotes, find some with the USB receiver. Plug it into your computer, drivers are built in and the remote works in several of the above programs out of the box. They'll be cheap, maybe $15

If you're going to use WiFi to stream content, don't bother with 802.11g, you need at least 802.11n. The signal to noise ratio means that your actual throughput over WiFi is less than what is advertised. Ideally, hardwiring is the best, but a pain to deal with at times. I search Pricewatch and Newegg to find cheap 802.11n PCI network cards for my systems, found some on close out for $15 and they work well.

Configure the system machine to autologon at start and configure the power settings to go into hibernation or suspend when you hit the power button on the remote. Fairly straight forward and if you need help, Google is your friend.

Speaking of power on/off, buy one of these items: http://simerec.com/ Makes the system so much easier to deal with since you can now set it up to work like a regular cable box and TV. Plop on the couch, turn everything on with a remote and you're watching TV!

If you have Blu-Ray discs, or you're looking into it, I might look at adding a Blu-Ray Rom to your HTPC, but for me I'm either streaming content via WiFi, Hulu or watching DVD's I already have. So the expense isn't worth it (yet)

To build my HTPC in the living room, I found an old ATX Desktop Case, spray painted it satin black and added an older P4 3.0 board/CPU, 2GB of RAM, 400W power supply. Bought a decent HD capable video card (ATI 2400Pro), the Simerec power module, an HP Media Center remote, a DVD-Rom and a snazzy LCD status panel to the front case. I think I spent maybe $300 on it all told. It looks like a large receiver.

I even have a PS3 and I didnt know they disabled the Other OS option.

I think the first thing I need to do is hook up the PS3 to the internetz and stream some Netflix and see just how much audio/video quality I'll be losing.

I don't have a big HDTV and nice surround setup to look/listen to grainy garbage. Should have never gotten use to it. Sigh.

I'll second the Mac Mini. Wife and I use it as the main computer.
I also second using a bluetooth keyboard/mouse.

2nd bit of advice: If you have to do lots of clicking/dragging, the touchpad buttons on the Logitech DiNovo Edge don't work all that well at staying depressed. They're incredibly happy types.

BTW, if you have a iPod Touch or an iPhone. Logitech has a free app that will allow you to control your PC or Mac's keyboard and mouse from the i-device using WiFi. You just need to add their free software to the system you're controlling and make sure it is running. Very handy and easy to use.