Help with a new HTPC build

[Nick79]

I'm kinda stumped, but I know what I want for an outcome, I just need a little help with a few parts.

I have well over a thousand DVD's I want to convert them into VOB files, and store them on my PC, and play them through my TV and AV Receiver.

My question is how to hook it up. Below is the pic of my PC, it's a couple yrs old, maybe 3. I was able to request XP on it through Dell, well after Vista was out.

I have a CRT TV, I seen it has S-Video, and other video hookups, and my AV receiver is a onkyo with a ton of hookups in the back.

I need a simple way to hook up my PC so the surround sound will work, and it will also play (non HD) video on my old TV.

Here is a pic of the board on my PC. If someone could tell me a cheap sound card and video card that would make it do as I described, I'd appreciate it.


(IMG:http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9613/1003859h.jpg)

[SsZERO]

Most soundcards on the market now have digital audio output. Creative Audigy, Turtle Beach or Auzentech are all options. You may need to use a 3.5mm to RCA adapter to plug the soundcard into your onkyo receiver.

[jcheers]

SsZERO don't you mean he will need a Toslink/optical to 3.5mm?

He will only get Left and Right audio using RCA's.

[SsZERO]

No, I mean 3.5mm to RCA for "coaxial" digital audio, since most cheap soundcards that support digital audio do not have an RCA connector. Toslink is optical so you wouldn't be able to do 3.5mm to Toslink without an adapter of some kind.

[MSIINOZ]

Im using a Creative Sounblaster X-Fi extreme Audio (PCI-e) which is connected to a Pioneer surround sound system via a SPDIF/Toslink digital cable

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=toslink+...iw=1120&bih=517

http://us.store.creative.com/Creative-Soun.../B000W7PNZI.htm

This will work fine for what you need, Even though it seems to have some bad reviews it works fine outputting 7.1 for the price,

If you look around on ebay you can even find them going for $1 literally>

http://www.ebay.com/dsc/i.html?_nkw=sb1040...&LH_TitleDesc=1

An upgrade to an LCD TV & a graphics card with HDMI output later on will compliment the audio upgrade too

If you look on the motherboard you should find the brand/manufacturer & the model, I think you will find it is more than 3 years old, Im just guessing but....

You can pickup some real nice motherboards with onboard 7.1 audio and onboard graphics with HDMI output that will solve all your troubles>

http://www.ebay.com/dsc/i.html?_nkw=msi+hd...&LH_TitleDesc=1

Ofcourse you may need newer RAM & CPU but you will have a much better system then

[Nick79]

Thanks guys for all your input, (and links^).
I was looking at that audio card, but when I went to swap a video card from another PC, I realized I need low profile cards. I think I'm going to go with the Turtle Beach Micro II for Audio, and I found a video card on geeks (links below)


You're right, we bought it for my father-in-law for Xmas of 2007, just a little over 4yrs old, I couldn't remeber off the top of my head.

I want to keep this fairly cheap, but still able to enjoy watching the movies. This is for our place in Northern MI. We can't justify cable/satellite. We aquired the place when my father-in-law unexpectedly passed, so I'm using exsiting hardware (TV, Surround sound, computer). He had a nice 47" LCD tv, but we brought it home to avoid the vultures from stealing it.


VIDEO
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=X1...BULK-2R&cat=VCD


AUDIO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16829118007

[MSIINOZ]

I would be spending atleast a little bit more on the graphics card as it is one of the main parts needed to play HD or Blu-Ray video, You could get a graphics card with 1GB memory, HDMII output and way better performance, You could also use it to build a new system later on, The X1300 graphics card in the link is very old stock, Basically 10 year old hardware

You would only have to spend a little bit more for way better graphics>
http://www.ebay.com/dsc/i.html?_udlo=&LH_T...udhi=40&_sop=12

Same with the audio, There is plenty of low profile audio cards including creative soundblaster cards, Also notice the Turtle Beach USB you linked is "VIRTUAL SURROUND", basically crap to put it nicely, If you wanted to upgrade later to a good surround sound system you would have to throw the USB Audio out as it just would not perform, There is plenty of options with real surround sound with SPDIF (digital) output too

http://www.ebay.com/dsc/i.html?_sop=12&LH_...vidia&_osacat=0