Home Cinema malarkey

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caLLous

Guest
Ok. Right. Before I begin, I'd like to say I know absolutely nothing about audio equipment. I've never owned a seperates system (never had the need), but I now need some information about such stuff. Read on. :)

To make it easier I've numbered and bolded the important bits (ie questions). :)

I'm going to say that budget isn't really limited just to see what kind of suggestions I get. :)

I would like (please call me a fool if this is a stupidly complex idea) to have a system whereby I turn on a PC which is connected to a nice big TV, select a movie to play (vobs, SVCD's, DivX/XviD, etc) sit back and watch. I have none of the required components yet. It would also be used for ripping DVD's (probably). The idea is basically to have a massive archive of films (on top of my DVD collection) and I really like the notion of it being computer-based. Call it a project for the year, or something. :)

Components:

I was thinking a nice Lian-Li PC-9300 /PC-9400 case (would fit nicely in a hifi rack or on a TV stand) with a DVD-R drive (perhaps, unless I choose to send stuff to the box over a network) and 3 or 4 120Gb Maxtor hard drives (the 8mb cache ones). The problem with this case is it's need for a MicroATX mobo ([1] anybody know where I can get these in the UK? I can find none on any of my known hardware sites).

Okay, VGA-wise I was thinking a Geforce 4 MX something with TV-out (64Mb ABIT Siluro GeForce 4 Ti4200 TV Out/DVI/Dual for example). [2] This would connect to a TV how, exactly? [3] Would it be "ok" (presuming I don't go for a plasma TV) to use the TV as a full-time display, or would a monitor be needed as well and just use the TV for actual movie viewing? (I've also never experimented with TV-out before).

In the sound department, I was thinking of something like a Creative Audigy 2. I have a SBLive Player 5.1 in my comp at the moment, and I glanced at the manual and saw that it had a SPDIF out connector (next to which it said output for 6 channels or compressed AC3 or something) [4] What does this connect to (on an external 5.1 amp, not a PC speaker setup) and [5] is it the best way of outputting the audio? [6] Would it be better to go for something like a Cambridge Soundworks setup or a "proper" speaker system (I genuinely have no clue in this area) [7] If I were to go for an amp, what would you recommend for my needs?

Anyway, [8] would it be better to route everything (video and audio) through the computer (I'm half considering getting a projector, where I assume this is more of an issue as they don't have speakers) for when I wanted to just watch TV or just use the TV's speakers for watching telly? [9] Would something like an ATi ALL-IN-WONDER 9700 PRO be more appropriate with it's TV goodness? (it also has a funky remote control thing)

As you can probably see, the whole connectivity thang is where I'm completely baffled.

Sorry if I've asked the same question 6 times in different guises or something, i'm completely confused about this. :)

Right, I really do think that's it, apart from speakers... [10] any suggestions for a good home cinema 5.1 setup?

No, no that really is it. Thanks if you bothered to read all of this, I'd really like these questions answered to see how feasible this little pipe-dream of mine is. :)
 
W

Will

Guest
1. Dabs has some MicroATX mobos. Look at (for example) the Asustek site to get the model numbers and go from there. I think the most likely board you'll get is something on the nForce chipset.

Though have you considered one of those cute ickle Shuttle boxes?

2. You get a TV out on the card and instructions and stuff. I've never used one, but I don't think its rocket science.

3. I guess you could, but I've never seen anyone who does, so there may well be a reason (including the fact that small text is on the fuzzy side).

4-8, 10. I hate audio questions.

9. See the Shuttle comment. It'd be a damn site cheaper. If you wanted a more impressive card, I'd aim a bit lower down the ladder of graphics cards, though I'd still go ATi all-in-wonder.
 
A

Ash!

Guest
Microdirect.co.uk Also stock MicroATX mobo's as well. If you can hang on for a week or 2 they will be getting in stock one with the Nvidia nForce 2 chipset. This has the 6.1 surround card integrated along with a GeForce 4 MX440. AGP 8x as well
 
K

kameleon

Guest
why not, and i am being a bit controversial here, Just buy a drv/r drive and a dvd player? if money is no object get an amp/receiver then you can also output your pc through it too?
 
W

Will

Guest
I think he is doing it because he can, rather than any other reason.;)
 
S

Scooba Da Bass

Guest
I set up something not too disimilar a few weeks before christmas. Unfortunately I hadn't heard of microatx (or miniatx) then so I went for a normal mobo in a rackmount case (it's the right size to sit above my vcr). If I were to do it again I'd prolly get a mobo from here; http://www.mini-itx.com/ put together a nice case and try to tie in some lcd display on the front, the best thing about the small form factors being that they do not require fans, nice and quiet.

I've got a gf3 in the divx box but I'm probably going to switch over to an ATI card at some point as the ATI tv out seems to have the edge over the Nvidia cards, this is set to automatically use the tv out as the main connection so whenever I switch channel it's on and waiting, not had a problem with only using the TV but that may well be more to do with the OS I've got installed (I'll come to that later).

Soundwise I've got a creative audigy outputting 5.1 via the optical to my surround amp. The main reason I got the Creative was for the remote. This is setup to allow me to navigate between the options so I don't need a keyboard or mouse plugged in. Although not necessarily being the best sounding it's a very tidy solution and means less wires running around which I like. AS for the speakers I'd be inclined to point you towards a real set of speakers and an AV amp simply because they will hold their value much much much better than a set of PC aimed speakers. I've got an Arcam amp, and it's pretty exceptional, if slightly cold. For your needs I have really no idea other than suggesting Richer Sounds and seeing what your budget can afford.

Not sure what you mean by 9, so I'll skip that.

The Radeon would probably be overkill on a project like this since you are more interested in it sitting there doing workman like stuf.

Once you've got the hardware sorted I'd encourage you to look at this; http://freevo.sourceforge.net/ This is the software that my divx box runs ontop of Redhat. The remote navigates around menus so I don't need to go near the box to get it doing stuff. It's incredibly easy to setup and even easier to use (my mother now uses it without hassle, in fact I doubt she even knows it's a PC)

Uh, that's all for now, but any more questions post away.
 
C

caLLous

Guest
Wehehe, thanks for the help guys. :)

I'm thinking I'll go for the Asus P4S533-VM or A7N266-VM (depending on whether I want AMD or Intel to be powering the box)

I like the remote that comes with the ATI 9700 Pro, it seems to have pretty much everything covered as far as functionality goes.

And Scoobs, what model is your Arcam amp? And is it aluminium/silver (to go with the case and the telleh :p ).
 
S

Scooba Da Bass

Guest
It's the AVR100, it's a nice amp but the size annoys me, it's about one and a half times larger than all my other componants so one half of the shelf is out of level.
 
C

.cage

Guest
make you use s-video with your tv out and not shit av btw
plus a rad9700 for a divx box is not overkill, it's OVER GENOCIDE.

(oh, and if you look around in naughty places you could get that winxp media center edition, dunno if thats anymore suited to media dedicated boxes, and being xp its probably shit, but might be worth a look)
 
C

caLLous

Guest
Would this receiver do all I need? It's expensive, but the receiver is the most important part of the system, right?

And maybe these speakers...
 
C

caLLous

Guest
OK, so the <what?> cable would connect from the SPDIF out on the sound card to what on the receiver? And I read somewhere that the video goes through the receiver as well? Help. :(

So I'd have:

Code: 
                   SOUND CARD               SPEAKERS
                  /          \            /
TV AERIAL/SOURCE <  [b][u]COMPUTER[/u][/b] > RECEIVER <
                  \          /            \
                   VIDEO CARD               TV
The computer would be the source for the majority of the time, but it took ages to make that in
Code: 
 and I'm fucked if i'm gonna edit it all now. :(

EDIT: And [URL=http://www.crtcinema.com/cases.html]this[/URL] is a nice one with the ickle display you were talking about Scoobs. Costs enough though  ($330). :(
 
K

Kippa.

Guest
also you would be better off with a decent MR DVD player too, its all well and good having a DTS:ES amp that costs £600, but all your sound card is going to produce is bog standard 5.1 :/

imo of course
 
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