Build a White-Box Windows Media Center PC
Microsoft has made Windows XP Media Center edition available to only a few large system builders, such as Hewlett Packard, Toshiba, Sony, and Viewsonic. That complicates things for system builders who want to enter the lucrative home-entertainment PC market.
Luckily, there are alternatives to Windows XP Media Center. A host of products are now on the market that system builders can choose from to integrate and build a media-centric solution that should meet the needs of any consumer who wants a Windows XP Media Center-based PC.
But before you can slap together a media-capable system, you will need to understand exactly what features and components matter for crafting a good solution. Media-based solutions differ from the typical white box in several areas that will affect what components and software to select. The most important component is the Video/TV card, which enables the functionality associated with a Media Center style PC. Here are several elements that a video subsystem should include:
- Integrated TV tuner
- Bundled media software for TV, DVD, VCD (Video CD), video capture, and PVR (Personal Video Recorder)
- Multiple video connections: VGA, NSTC, SVideo
- Bundled remote control, which uses RF radio waves and lets users control TV, PVR, and audio functions from across the room
- High-performance video capabilities, which allows video capture at a high-quality rate from a number of sources, while improving the video-viewing experience
- Free localized TV directory listings that can be used to quickly program PVR-based recordings
Combining these elements promises the most functionality for a dual-purpose system. After all, a well-built Media Centric PC should not only work with media functionality, but also offer game playing and traditional PC functionality.
To meet those requirements, we selected ATI's All-In-Wonder 9600, which has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $199. Here's what it looks like out of the box:
The 9600 is an 8X AGP card that offers a bevy of features designed to exceed what a typical media-center PC offers. The bundled software includes the Gemstar Guide Plus, a no-cost Internet-based localized television directory that can be used to schedule TV program recording. The 9600 also includes MPEG-2 capture and editing capabilities, dual VGA monitor support, TV or component output (HDTV,TV, Projector support), and dual-tuner picture-in-picture support. The following diagram gives the details:
Case
The first element to select is a suitable system case, as a typical white box case probably won't do the trick. A media center case should employ several elements. Specifically, it should:
- Be quiet. In other words, it reduces fan noise!
- Be attractive. Odds are the system will sit next to some high-end video/audio components and possibly next to a large-screen television.
- Offer Firewire, audio, and USB ports on the front panel. That lets users readily plug in digital cameras and other components.
- Offer easy assembly and expandability. Cases that use speed screws and motherboard trays are quicker to build and service. Open bays offer the ability to add storage or optical devices down the line.
With those considerations in mind, we selected a case from Antec, the Performance One P160 Anodized Aluminum Super Mid Tower, with an MSRP of $169. Here's a view from the front:
The P160 case offers many features that make it a good fit for a high-end media PC solution. For one, the unit is quite attractive; it sports vents in the front that emit a blue LED glow. For another, the top of the case offers a pivoting panel, which incorporates the audio in, audio out, Firewire, and USB connections. That panel also offers dual temperature displays, a power button, and a reset switch. Let's look inside:
Assembly is eased by the unit's easy-access side panels, removable motherboard tray, and rail-mounted hard-drive assembly. The case is designed to reduce noise: The main cooling fan runs in quiet mode, and the hard-drive mounts sport rubber grommets to reduce drive noise. Using Antec's True380 power supply (380 watts, MSRP $89.95) further reduces fan noise. It also provides adequate cooling and power. System builders will also appreciate the online documentation and support offered by Antec. The case with its power supply and fan loaded looks like this:
Motherboard and Processor
Next on the list is a motherboard and processor. Do no skimp when it comes to processing power! After all, a media-based system will be used to capture and encode video. There are few prerequisites that should be met when selecting a mother board and processor:
- The mother board should incorporate both USB 2.0 and Firewire ports, which will allow external high-speed connections to digital cameras, digital video recorders, and a host of other products.
- Serial ATA (SATA) Drive support should be considered. SATA offers increased drive performance and reliability. Also, the standard eliminates the need for thick ribbon cable associated with hard drives, making installation easier.
- Advanced Sound Capabilities should be included. Many audiophiles will expect surround-sound capabilities and the ability to use a software-based graphic equalizer to tune audio for the best acoustics.
- S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) support should be included to support external digital audio devices from those companies.
To meet those requirements, we selected the AX4SG MAX from AOpen. With an MSRP of $229, this is an ATX-sized motherboard based on the Intel 865G chipset. The AX4SG offers many features that can benefit a Media PC: eight USB Ports, 5.1 Surround Sound audio, S/PDIF support, and IEEE1394 Firewire. Take a peek:
For the processor, I selected an Intel 3.2Ghz Pentium IV, with an MSRP of $395.00. The board was populated with 1 GB of RAM provided by Kingston Technology. System builders will find that this configuration borders on the extreme, offering maximum performance. Those looking to keep costs down can scale down to fewer features, a slower processor, and less memory.
Storage
Storage plays an important role for a media-centric PC. With each hour of recorded video consuming about 2 GB of space, ample storage becomes a priority. To meet these storage needs, I chose Maxtor's MaXLine Plus II SATA (Serial ATA) hard drive. The $350 (MSRP) Maxtor drive stores 250 GB, offers high speed due to it's SATA interface, 8 MB cache, and 7200-RPM rotation speed. Here's how it looks from the top:
For the full media experience, a DVD-compatible optical drive is a must. What's more, users should have the ability to burn both DVDs and CDs. Those requirements led me to choose the GSA-4082B drive from LG Electronics. This unit supports multiple DVD formats, including DVD R, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD RW, DVD-RAM, and CDR/CDRW formats. The drive also offers 8x DVD write speed and 32X CD write speeds, and it looks like this:
Software
While hardware is vital to a media center PC, software merits mention, too. Luckily, between Windows XP and the applications bundled with the ATI All-In-Wonder 9600, most of the software requirements are well met. But for added functionality, system builders should consider adding a media control suite, which will offer the ability to organize digital content stored on the system, while adding ease-of-use with both wizards and clear management screens that should reduce support calls.
I chose Roxio's Easy Media Creator 7 (MSRP $99). Roxio's product offers advanced media-creation capabilities, including CD copying, creation of DVDs, management of digital photos, data backup, and direct support of Napster's music service. Here's a screen shot:
With the information provided in this recipe, you should be able to successfully pull off a PC that can compete against branded Windows XP Media Center PCs. You'll also be able to add options and increased functionality not found in branded systems. What's more, a white-box media-center PC offers customization options and fits the bill for a multi-purpose machine that not only offers media control, but also can run the latest business applications and high-end games.
FRANK J. OHLHORST, CNE, is Technology Editor at CRN and a frequent contributor to TechBuilder.org.
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