HTPC Build

[Dabbleh]

So I have taken to the idea of pimping out this crappy Dimension 8400 I have sitting behind my TV, I need some advice if any of you have built your own HTPC before.

What shall I use for a remote, I want something stylish, my phone doesn't really cut it anymore.

Are there any HTPC cases that any of you know of that will fit a full ATX and a standard PSU, the best I've come up with is the Silverstone Milo ML03B but it's ~£60. (I'm on a budget here people)

Is it worth looking into getting a HDD that I can put in the HTPC instead of streaming it over the LAN since I have noticed a few throttling problems, which is weird since both source and output are wired in. (Big files like 6GB 1080p movies, cough totally legit)

It is currently running a Pentium 4 3.00GHz with a few gigs of ram and a 5450, I haven't been getting any problems apart from Windows Media Centre being a tad slower than my PC upstairs. Was thinking about getting a 1155 dual core (some cheap £30 one), but that would mean changing the mobo and the RAM.. (guh money...)

I'm using Windows Media Centre simply because it looks the best, have any of you got any opinions on this? I loaded Shark007's codec pack onto it and it works a charm.

Opinions people. Fanx.

 

[SeymourGore]

Ah, an HTPC is something on my to-do list (which is long and keeps having builds put on hiatus. )

Personally, I'd opt for getting a mATX mobo (you can find some cheapo 1155 mATX chipsets) and going for this Silverstone MILO case. It is a silverstone, but it's about half the price of their full ATX Grandia series, fits standard PSUs (not just those low powered, smaller sized units) and looks quite slick. Not sure what the Euroanian price is, but the Canadian price is decent.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163174#top

As for remotes, don't have much experience with remotes so I won't try to pull anything out of my ass here. And for sure, the HDD is a good idea, especially if you want to experience HD content.

As for software, I've played around with XBMC and enjoyed it. Some of the skins for it are very impressive. Youtube some of the videos of XBMC user setups to get an idea what's possible with it. Here's one to get you started (which is pretty basic but looks really good nonetheless).

http://xbmc.org/

 

[Dabbleh]

Ah, an HTPC is something on my to-do list (which is long and keeps having builds put on hiatus. )

Personally, I'd opt for getting a mATX mobo (you can find some cheapo 1155 mATX chipsets) and going for this Silverstone MILO case. It is a silverstone, but it's about half the price of their full ATX Grandia series, fits standard PSUs (not just those low powered, smaller sized units) and looks quite slick. Not sure what the Euroanian price is, but the Canadian price is decent.
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163174#top

Hmm, yeah but after replacing CPU/Mobo/RAM it'd end up more expensive and I'd be left with a load of junk, so I think I might stick with the full ATX, even though pulling the mobo out of Dell's *dancing* stupid case will be tricky. Thanks for advice though, Seymour, will look into rest when I'm at home and not on a 8kbps Dixon's ISP.

 

[Dabbleh]

Fak it, leaving it for some other time, too many things came up.