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HTPC Version 2 Worklog
This is the work log for my new HTPC project. I built my first HTPC last year on a budget to see what all the fuss was about. I was happy with the end result, for the most part. I had cheeped out on the case, which was my biggest disappointment of the original build. The glossy black paint on the top and sides is very nice, but the front screams COMPUTER!!! Plus the case is too deep to fit into my entertainment center.
I also went the low road on the graphics and tuner. Instead of getting a dedicated hardware encoder, I opted for an ATI All-In Wonder X800xt. It's a great card but it has some shortcomings. The encoding is software based, which isn't good for an HTPC. Also their top notch Remote Wonder II does not play nice with Media Center. I ended up purchasing the Microsoft remote after fighting with the ATI remote for a month.
Most of the other parts comprise my original Alienware system. Here are the guts of the system:
- Case: Antec Overture
- Motherboard: Abit AV8
- Processor: Athlon 64 3500+
- Heatsink: Zalman CNPS7700CU
- Memory: 2gb Corsair ValueSelect PC-3200
- Video Card: ATI All In Wonder X800xt
- Optical Drive: Lite-On CD-RW / DVD-ROM
- Hard Drives 2x WD 250gb IDE, 1x Seagate 80gb IDE
- Floppy Drive & 8-in-1 Card Reader
- Power Supply: Shitty ass Antec PSU that came with the case
More on the PSU: The Overture has a special compartment for a proprietary PSU underneath the 3 1/4" bays. There is an exhaust vent on the side of the case. The PSU cannot be replaced, because the power cable plugs in on the same side as the Molex cables come out. The thing also puts out a ton of heat, so I can just imagine how efficient it is...
Here are some pictures of the HTPC before its imminent dismemberment.
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