[{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/001/161/original/20240902_160358_2.jpg?1725488734","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eAs an avid personal computer (PC) enthusiast, I was quick to adopt the idea of using a computer to serve multimedia content to a large TV for family use over 12 years ago. There were no Apple TV or Mac Mini boxes back then. The idea was to have a PC with multimedia hardware and emulate what a smart TV might provide you now.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompanies had hoped consumers would adopt multimedia PCs for their entertainment centers for awhile. Back in 1998, Gateway introduced the Destination, combining a 27\" (tube) television with a Celeron PC for $2000. A higher end unit had a 36\" TV with a Pentium II for $4999.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith Windows XP in 2002, Microsoft decided to embrace the multimedia aspects of their operating system. Extensions called the \u003ca href=\"https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/getting-started-with-windows-media-center-ef3fea63-6064-a710-255a-ec506626ea32\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWindows Media Center\u003c/a\u003e provided a \"10-foot interface\" common to today's smart TV users. This worked best with a TV capture card and a computer outputting decent graphics and sound. It had limited success, available for Windows 7 and 8 also, but not popular enough to be kept in Windows 10.\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003ch2\u003eConcepts\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere were ideas for a good multimedia PC of the era (12 to 14 years ago):\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA decent CPU (dual core or better) but one that ran cool so noisy fans could be mimimized.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA good amount of RAM for Windows Media Center\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA motherboard with several PCI slots\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA mid to middle high end graphics card. Too slow it wouldn't output fast enough, too fast and the heat would require lots of fans. Passively cooled is optimal. Output in HDMI was high end, VGA and DVI was ok.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA TV capture and tuining card\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA DVD player. A DVD recorder is better, Blu-Ray is a bonus\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePremium sound card\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast storage. SSDs were kind of new but one at least for boot and short term storage is great.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirewire for video camera capture is a bonus\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast networking to a home server for long term storage. Alternatively a fast hard drive.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn infrared or RF keyboard with integrated trackpad or trackball\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Windows Media Center remote control\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA front display, LCD or VFD, is a bonus\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSD card reader\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA horizontal cabinet to blend in to the home theater\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eYou'll notice that a fair amount of the content was coming over the television line as online streaming services were limited (Netflix came as DVDs in red envelopes in the mail).\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/001/164/original/20240904_190031.jpg?1725491053","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n        \u003ch2\u003eMy Final Configuration\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI pieced together, between 2012 and 2014 the following system:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAthlon X2 Dual Core BE2150 power conserving CPU\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 GB (2 2GB sticks, 2 extra slots)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGigabyte Motherboard with PCI slots\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePassively cooled video card with HDMI, VGA and DVI connections\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHauppauge WinTV-HDR-2250 capture card\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLG BluRap/HD-DVD/DVD/CD combo drive\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card with 5.25\" front control panel\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCorsair 240GB SSD drive partitioned 67GB boot (C) and 173GB storage (D)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirewire front and back\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRealtek Gigabit Ethernet\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIOGEAR RF keyboard and trackpad\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWindows Media Center infrared remote control\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFront VFD display with LCD Smartie software\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/computer-chassis/?filter=HTPC_Desktop\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSilverStone\u003c/a\u003e Technology HTPC cabinet\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCombination 3.5\" floppy drive and CF/SM/Memory Stick/SD card reader\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWindows 7 Home Premium with Windows Media Center\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n      \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/001/167/original/20240904_191008a.jpg?1725491510","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/001/165/original/20240904_190525.jpg?1725491350","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/001/166/original/20240904_190604.jpg?1725491362","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"user_image","content":"https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/user_assets/assets/000/001/163/original/vfd.gif?1725489556","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"text","content":"\n  \n  \n  \n        \u003cp\u003eHere is my appearance on Adafruit Show and Tell September 5, 2024 with the HTPC:\u003c/p\u003e\n      \n\n\n","metadata":{}},{"element_type":"embed","content":"https://www.youtube.com/live/_A3h_5YYbNk?t=286s"},{"element_type":"alert","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis PC was sold at VCF Midwest, summer 2025.\u003c/p\u003e","metadata":{"markdown":"This PC was sold at VCF Midwest, summer 2025.","alert_type":"primary","icon":"heart"}}]