Just thinking - I have an old family PC tower, that I am pretty sure is working. It's REALLY basic (ie, 10gb HDD, Intel Celeron (old) processor, 256mb RAM (I think) and a CD-ROM.....

Anyway, I was thinking, if I can get this booted up on XP and working, would this work as a VERY basic HTPC - basically just to play mp3's (via Windows Media Player) and DivX/XviD, mpeg, wmv video files?

It would be connected to a CRT TV, so I am guessing S-Video is about the best connection I can get (don't have a spare YPrPb on the TV, DVD player occupies that). I have a (basic) PCI graphics card somewhere (64mb I think) that has S-Vid output on it. When connecting to a CRT, what aspect ratio and resolution would this be? Could I specify it to be widescreen (since the TV is widescreen, so I don't have to stretch/zoom the TV to make everything fullscreen)

Next, the audio. The PC is old so only has a stereo 3.5mm audio output, but what I am really after is a TOSlink optical output so I can pass through multichannel audio to my AV amp (a lot of my DivX rips I have done contain the 5.1 AC3 and a few have DTS) Can I get a simple PCI card to allow me to do this pass through?

Lastly, I would need the PC to be able to be controlled by remote - so I guess I could need a remote control that has an IR reciever to plug into a USB port? Whats best for this? Mainly to navigate folders and control WMP and VLC player...

Lastly, a wireless keyboard and mouse - best go for a bluetooth one that has a USB dongle?

I was thinking if all the above was possible and the PC could handle it (it would only be used literally for playing MP3 and video/films, but would have to be able to run the gfx card, audio card, usb remote and keyboard/mouse) I could fit a bigger HDD, fill it with my music and video collection, and would be able to update it by just transferring content from my main PC to the basic HTPC via one of my external HDD's (plug in via USB) - tho it might be possible to transfer via ethernet cable - would this be faster than usb 1.1 (pretty sure this old pc only has usb 1.1)

Thoughts? Advice? Idea's? Suggestions? I want it all

 

id just put a huge hard drive in your new comp seem a bit much to do to an old system

 

it would be perfect if you were running Linux and MythTV, in fact its more powerful than one of my own HTPC's (although I run a massive hard disk)

http://www.mythtv.org/

it would be terrible and slow on XP when playing media, not nice at all and as such I would not bother

 

What new PC? I don't have a "new PC" - I have my own PC, and this old family one, but I won't wanna have to bring my own PC downstairs and connect it all up everytime I wanna watch something on the TV!

 

i menat the one your using all the time (didnt mean to offend you) now there is a way you can yous your old pc basiclly as a server my pal does this ie keeps everything on his comp upstairs and has a wireless connection to the dumy comp downstairs so he gets everything off the big computer thru the rubbish one

 

I have seen those boxes to allow you to stream from the PC, but it means that pc has to be on all the time to access it. would rather have a dedicated cheap pc to use when I want to and turn off when I don't...