Cheap HTPC Setup (Can replace DVD drive and PVR) - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

waqasahmed · 17-07-11, 12:12 AM

I've had a look on ebuyer and they have this amazingly cheap PC. Ill be buying two of these in the January sales, along with a TV to make a mini lab(With MS 7 Ultimate on one and MS 2008/2011 server on the other) but these do make awesome HTPC's and they tend to be smaller than netbooks when you actually have a look a them.

It's this emachines PC:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/267867

You can then replace your DVD drive with one of these small things:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/180608

A wireless keyboard/mouse can be bought pretty cheaply as well:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135103

And for recording from say your receiver to the PC, then you can simply use one of these Easycap devices:
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?rt=nc&...=p3286.c0.m283

For any one that uses linux, they all work within linux. If I were to get one I'd probably have Kubuntu on it

All this for under £180!

Essentially, you can do away with your PVR or with your current DVD player, and if you really want you can even get USB freesat receivers! (Windows support only at the moment I think)

You can do away with a freeview box by watching it online (almost live), and you've got yourself a pretty damn good system pretty cheaply

You can also attach DVB-S(C/T) tuners to it, and c/s with it if you wish

50pounds · 18-07-11, 02:23 PM

good idea mate think i will be getting one of these

thanks.

waqasahmed · 18-07-11, 08:15 PM

It is pretty cheap. I went in to currys and they had a DVD/HDD recorder for £199! Granted, it had freeview and you could use Sky+ like functions with it, but it costs £20 more for largely less functionality.

Also, for roughly £10 more, then you can get a keyboard that feels like a laptop keyboard, so it may be easier to get used to:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/104608

You could also attach USB hubs to get more functionality from eBay:
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?rt=nc&...=p3286.c0.m283

I've got one of these 7 port hubs on a spare XP PC (£15), as they look better and are better value for money than the other ones (roughly £3 from China)

17-07-11, 12:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
waqasahmed Cost efficient muppet Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: W. Yorkshire TW area Posts: 4,547 Thanks: 2,387 Thanked 938 Times in 693 Posts	Cheap HTPC Setup (Can replace DVD drive and PVR) I've had a look on ebuyer and they have this amazingly cheap PC. Ill be buying two of these in the January sales, along with a TV to make a mini lab(With MS 7 Ultimate on one and MS 2008/2011 server on the other) but these do make awesome HTPC's and they tend to be smaller than netbooks when you actually have a look a them. It's this emachines PC: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/267867 You can then replace your DVD drive with one of these small things: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/180608 A wireless keyboard/mouse can be bought pretty cheaply as well: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135103 And for recording from say your receiver to the PC, then you can simply use one of these Easycap devices: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?rt=nc&...=p3286.c0.m283 For any one that uses linux, they all work within linux. If I were to get one I'd probably have Kubuntu on it All this for under £180! Essentially, you can do away with your PVR or with your current DVD player, and if you really want you can even get USB freesat receivers! (Windows support only at the moment I think) You can do away with a freeview box by watching it online (almost live), and you've got yourself a pretty damn good system pretty cheaply You can also attach DVB-S(C/T) tuners to it, and c/s with it if you wish __________________ Sat set up: Openmedia 500CS Sky mini dish 1m orbital+dodgy Motek motor TG585 v7 bridged modem DIR-615 D2 DD-WRT router

18-07-11, 02:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
50pounds Stella Artois Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Teesside Posts: 960 Thanks: 106 Thanked 151 Times in 116 Posts	Re: Cheap HTPC Setup (Can replace DVD drive and PVR) good idea mate think i will be getting one of these thanks. __________________ Use the "Search" Button

18-07-11, 08:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
waqasahmed Cost efficient muppet Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: W. Yorkshire TW area Posts: 4,547 Thanks: 2,387 Thanked 938 Times in 693 Posts	Re: Cheap HTPC Setup (Can replace DVD drive and PVR) It is pretty cheap. I went in to currys and they had a DVD/HDD recorder for £199! Granted, it had freeview and you could use Sky+ like functions with it, but it costs £20 more for largely less functionality. Also, for roughly £10 more, then you can get a keyboard that feels like a laptop keyboard, so it may be easier to get used to: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/104608 You could also attach USB hubs to get more functionality from eBay: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?rt=nc&...=p3286.c0.m283 I've got one of these 7 port hubs on a spare XP PC (£15), as they look better and are better value for money than the other ones (roughly £3 from China) __________________ Sat set up: Openmedia 500CS Sky mini dish 1m orbital+dodgy Motek motor TG585 v7 bridged modem DIR-615 D2 DD-WRT router Last edited by waqasahmed; 18-07-11 at 08:20 PM.