HTPC Build
 

I'd like to have an HTPC, split between the idea of a mediabox or an HTPC. If done, it'll be built from an extra PC I have sitting around. I need it to be able to play blu ray rips at 1080p on the bigscreen.

Current specs.
Pentium D 3ghz
2GB 533 ram (2x1GB)
250GB Seagate drive (would obviously add a 1.5tb or two)
7600GT (insufficient probably, looking at a cheap ati card with hdmi - Asus 4670 - 52$?)
Some intel mobo with 1 pci-e slot and 2 PCI slots
DVD RW
300W Sparkle PSU

I would need to buy the USB remote for this as well as a video card, basically trying to weigh my options and see what's best. Would upgrading the video card on this PC suffice for a 1080p HTPC?

With the 4670 I think you'll be just fine. I use a 4670 myself and it's nice. My HTPC uses a E3110 but with that vid card my CPU usage during BD playback is only like 10% so I think your CPU won't limit you.

CPU may be a bottleneck for v-card

Ok, well the card is cheap enough I'll give it a shot. Hopefully it isn't a bottleneck, if not I can always upgrade.

If you get video and sound non-sync on large HD file (4Gb and up), PC is too slow...

Yeah, my laptop (dual 1.83) with onboard does that on some 1080 videos. This is only displaying at half the res, so it might be ok. If not, a cheap E5200 or something should suffice.

I know I have a E5200 along with a 8800GT and that plays anything I throw at it. Before the E5200 I had a Celeron 347 OC'd to 4GHz and it could play everything too, well sort of. I had to have nothing running in the background and it would still have the odd issue with some of my more demanding 10+Mbps rips.

As for a remote, I ended up purchasing a Pcusa remote. It works great with Windows 7, although I only used the remote portion for about 5 minutes. I now use my Logitech Harmony remote for it.

Looks good, gonna go with that or the mediagate. I assume if your celeron could run it for the most part mine should. If not I'll do a budget upgrade.

Oh yea, I forgot to mention it was all running it through mediaportal.

That Celeron did pretty good considering, but the $60ish I paid for the E5200 was worth it for the upgrade. Plus now I can play NFS: Shift on it, so much nicer on the big screen.

I'll have to take a look at my mobo when I get a chance. Hopefully it supports the E5200 if I do need to upgrade.