Build a PC for TV

[Phantasm66]

Reader How Tos: Build a PC for TV

How To Build a PC for TV

My girlfriend and I recently purchased a larger place, which means we now have a living room spacious enough for a large television and surround sound system for audio and video. Now, the question is, what do I buy? The market is flooded with audio video receivers of every kind for nearly every budget. But they are also limited as to the type of sound they can produce: film/ video sound and music/ audio.

I could purchase an AudioTron to play MP3s, but that would mean I would need to spend another $270. (THG took an in-depth look at the Turtle Beach AudioTron in their article entitled Music Across Your Home Network? - AudioTron. And it would only play MP3s. Or, I could shell out another $299 for a Tivo player so that I could also get a digital VCR. But then, what about web surfing and games? For another $300, I could get a Web-enabled X-box, GameCube or PS2. These compact boxes would look great in my stereo rack, but after spending my money on all of these neat toys, I probably wouldn't be able to afford a television.

So, I set out looking for an affordable, compact, quiet and good looking PC case that would fit into the configuration of my living room. My favorite retailer had a large selection of cases, many of which were good looking, including the Cooler Master ATC-201 and the Globalwin GAT001. However, these wonderful boxes were much too large. I wanted something in the Micro-ATX form factor, which quickly limited my options. But there are a few...

READ ON: http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/02q4/021109/index.html

 

[poertner_1274]

That is awesome I think I am going to look into that once I get my house. I'm not actually even worried about building one that is small though, I will just mod my walls/cabinets to hide or enclose the pc. That is acutally one reason I got my first pc in the frist place. So I could use my ATI AIW to play video on my tv.

One thing I have often wondered, is how a show like The Screen Savers, or Call for Help (on TechTV) get their picture such good quality on their televisions. When I put my pc out to a tv the desktop and words are all blurry. Theirs looks very crisp and clear, anyone know why or how?

 

[Phantasm66]

my home system has the big TV right next to the main server tower, and it outputs to the TV. I use the PC as a video recorder / player and its all linked to the cable TV and surround sound. I have long supposed that eventually the PC will hit the living room.

 

[poertner_1274]

Yes but does your desktop look crips? Mine is VERY blurry, I have tried it on multiple TV's

 

[Vehementi]

Same problem with me poert. I try using TV-out but the quality is terrible. No idea as to why, though. I would play videos from my PC with my TV, but It's just terribly blurry!

 

[poertner_1274]

The videos I play look very good, Even if I play a game like CS (I tried a long time ago) it looks decent. Just the text in the start bar, background, etc. If I were to open an IE window, I would have to strain my eyes to read what it said.

 

[LNCPapa]

Mine are crisp Poert - and I don't do anything special - I can just run an SVHS cable out to the television and it's very pretty - even my games look good as long as I drop res to 800x600.

LNCPapa

 

[poertner_1274]

yes I knew you had to drop to 800x600, but it just bothers me that I can't get it to work well. I am thinking of getting the new AIW 8500, I found it for pretty cheap online, I wonder if that will help.

I wonder if it would help me in game play as well?

 

[Phantasm66]

I just watch the dvds, divx, etc, on the tv. Everything else is on monitors...