Help regarding adding a PC to my HT.

[burngwngs]

I really want to add a PC to my HT. I really don't need a CD/DVD drive but I wouldn't mind if it comes with it. Built in wireless networking, Windows Vista, Maybe a few USB 2.0 slots, 2-4 Ram and anywhere between 160GB's - 2TB's.

Can anyone recommend a rather small one maybe around the $400 or less range?

So far I have this one by Dell on my mind but it's a $100 more than I want to spend. I'll get if I can't find anything else better for the price:

http://www.dell.com/content/products...ref=dthp&s=dhs

[sinister184]

first of all what are you trying to accomplish? what will it be used for?

[burngwngs]

Mostly for movies, music and Web Browsing.

[burngwngs]

I just found this online. i don't need the screen but I can put it in my daughters room.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16883103204

[sinister184]

why not just use your PS3? it has keyboard/mouse support, web browsing, plays a decent amount of music/movie codecs, USB slots, and you have endless HDD potential with external drives, or you could get 500 GB internal for less than $100

[burngwngs]

Originally Posted by sinister184

why not just use your PS3? it has keyboard/mouse support, web browsing, plays a decent amount of music/movie codecs, USB slots, and you have endless HDD potential with external drives, or you could get 500 GB internal for less than $100

That sounds like a good idea. The only few concerns are: burning out my PS3, Codecs and how much external memory can i add to it?

As for the wirless Keyboard, I've been thinking about getting this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

[Uniquely]

If you get Vista.... I'd recommend also getting a TV tuner card in the PC. The you can have free DVR recording that is accessible and controllable from any PC or Media Center extender device, such as an xbox 360, in your house. It's a great whole house solution for timeshifting.

[burngwngs]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

If you get Vista.... I'd recommend also getting a TV tuner card in the PC. The you can have free DVR recording that is accessible and controllable from any PC or Media Center extender device, such as an xbox 360, in your house. It's a great whole house solution for timeshifting.

A Tv tuner for the PS3 or you mean if I buy the PC?

[sinister184]

Originally Posted by burngwngs

That sounds like a good idea. The only few concerns are: burning out my PS3, Codecs and how much external memory can i add to it?

As for the wirless Keyboard, I've been thinking about getting this one:

Originally Posted by burngwngs

A Tv tuner for the PS3 or you mean if I buy the PC?

if you buy a PC

i wouldnt worry about burning your PS3 out. I have friends who literally never turn their PS3's off. When they're not using them they start folding@home which is more taxing that any normal operation. Thats a nice little keyboard and would probably work well. In terms of memory, like i said it just depends on what you want, you can get a TB external HDD, or a smaller internal. It takes more than your looking to spend to make a nice HTPC.

[burngwngs]

Originally Posted by sinister184

if you buy a PC

i wouldnt worry about burning your PS3 out. I have friends who literally never turn their PS3's off. When they're not using them they start folding@home which is more taxing that any normal operation. Thats a nice little keyboard and would probably work well. In terms of memory, like i said it just depends on what you want, you can get a TB external HDD, or a smaller internal. It takes more than your looking to spend to make a nice HTPC.

But if I add the External HD, can I download from the PS3 to it? Like photos, music and movies (Mpeg4)?

[sinister184]

Originally Posted by burngwngs

But if I add the External HD, can I download from the PS3 to it? Like photos, music and movies (Mpeg4)?

yes you can backup your entire PS3 HDD onto an external, but you can only play movies/music off of the external, not like games other things.

[burngwngs]

Are all external Hd's compatible with the PS3?

[matthewrounds]

Do you have any interest in building the PC. It is cheaper and more reliable in my opinion. I have built two PC’s, it’s a lot like HT, you just pick matching components and correct cabling and put it together. The advantage is that you can get exactly what you want. It is my opinion that about the cheapest PC you can build with parts that are from reputable brands is $200. Note that this includes, case, case fan, motherboard, memory, cpu, cpu fan, hard drive, power supply, and an optical drive. The major problem in going this route is software or the Operating System. I have not priced Vista upgrades or Complete OS, but I imagine its at least $100 if not closer to $200. Hence, you may be better off going with a lost leader from your local B&M or even online at a Dell. If you can obtain a copy of Vista OS without spending a fortune (google is your friend here) then its worthwhile to spend a little more in parts up the budget to $400 and get a really fast machine with plenty of hard disk space. For movies, music and web browsing you don’t need too fast a machine, but you want to get as fast a cpu/motherboard combo and plenty of RAM.

Feel free to PM me if you want more detailed help on putting together your own machine.

[burngwngs]

Originally Posted by matthewrounds

Do you have any interest in building the PC. It is cheaper and more reliable in my opinion. I have built two PC’s, it’s a lot like HT, you just pick matching components and correct cabling and put it together. The advantage is that you can get exactly what you want. It is my opinion that about the cheapest PC you can build with parts that are from reputable brands is $200. Note that this includes, case, case fan, motherboard, memory, cpu, cpu fan, hard drive, power supply, and an optical drive. The major problem in going this route is software or the Operating System. I have not priced Vista upgrades or Complete OS, but I imagine its at least $100 if not closer to $200. Hence, you may be better off going with a lost leader from your local B&M or even online at a Dell. If you can obtain a copy of Vista OS without spending a fortune (google is your friend here) then its worthwhile to spend a little more in parts up the budget to $400 and get a really fast machine with plenty of hard disk space. For movies, music and web browsing you don’t need too fast a machine, but you want to get as fast a cpu/motherboard combo and plenty of RAM.

Feel free to PM me if you want more detailed help on putting together your own machine.

This is actually my 2nd alternative if I can't find exactly what I'm looking for. I do have experience in building them since I worked in IT for a little more than a year. And just like you said, an Operating system is the killer here if you can't get it for free.

But yes, this is my 2nd option.

[burngwngs]

Originally Posted by sinister184

why not just use your PS3? it has keyboard/mouse support, web browsing, plays a decent amount of music/movie codecs, USB slots, and you have endless HDD potential with external drives, or you could get 500 GB internal for less than $100

Hey, I plugged a 160GB external HDD last night and the PS3 didn't pick it up. Is there something else I'm supposed to do?

[Death_Dealer]

Originally Posted by burngwngs

Hey, I plugged a 160GB external HDD last night and the PS3 didn't pick it up. Is there something else I'm supposed to do?

Must be formatted fat32.

[burngwngs]

Originally Posted by Death_Dealer

Must be formatted fat32.

I have no idea what that is. So if I want to keep whatever I had on the hard drive before, I have to back it up and then have the PS3 format the HD and then re-intall everything back on it? Or is that a special External HD that I would have to buy?

[statikcat]

Originally Posted by burngwngs

I have no idea what that is. So if I want to keep whatever I had on the hard drive before, I have to back it up and then have the PS3 format the HD and then re-intall everything back on it? Or is that a special External HD that I would have to buy?

How did you possibly do IT if you do not know what FAT32 is? But yes formatting a disk will erase all of it's contents so you need to back it up. FAT32 does not always play nice with big drives/partitions though. I believe technically FAT32 should not be larger than 120gb. Not sure if it will cause issues for you though. FAT32 is an old file system that has been since replaced by NTFS for many years. However Microsoft does not allow other operating systems to write to NTFS. Some can read though. Not sure if PS3 can do either with NTFS. That is why you have to use the out dated FAT32 file system on the drive.

[krztov]

Originally Posted by burngwngs

I have no idea what that is. So if I want to keep whatever I had on the hard drive before, I have to back it up and then have the PS3 format the HD and then re-intall everything back on it? Or is that a special External HD that I would have to buy?

i dont post much, but holy crap, if you worked in IT in my company, I'd fire you for not knowing what fat32 is...

this made for daily lolz for me, thanks man, seriously.

[burngwngs]

Originally Posted by krztov

i dont post much, but holy crap, if you worked in IT in my company, I'd fire you for not knowing what fat32 is...

this made for daily lolz for me, thanks man, seriously.

I was just helping out as a temp for an agency. That's why it was only for a bit. And the company I worked at never use external anything. Most of the stuff I did was PC and conference room set-ups.

And what the hell does working in an IT dept have to do with working on a PS3? Did you just want to look for heat?