| A home theater PC, or a media-center PC, is a | | | | through the web. |
| home computer and A/V receiver combined for | | | | When shopping, we can find that there are |
| entertainment, similar to traditional home theater | | | | complete systems already in place for those who |
| systems. Available are entertainment related | | | | are looking for a well put-together system |
| upgrades that will make it into a home theater | | | | ready-to-go. Two options are available for |
| system, with progressive scan DVD playback, | | | | interested consumers: add the upgrades to an |
| over the air HDTV support, and surround sound | | | | already existing PC set-up, or buy a prebuilt one. |
| inputs with less fan noise. Also are the same | | | | If the computer is five years or less, simply |
| computing functions, video abilities, and media | | | | getting different mother board will work, but |
| storage. | | | | otherwise - get the prebuilt home theater PC |
| If the home theater is already hooked up in the | | | | system. The purchase of a pc for your home |
| home, the addition of the right PC to it can add | | | | theater system does not have to be overly |
| even more benefits to this investment. If not, | | | | expensive. The prebuilt PC set-up will work better |
| then adding a PC to the home theater system will | | | | for quality and high results but cost a whole lot |
| add benefits to an already existing set up. An | | | | more, but the rebuilt one will cost lots less, so it |
| example is that if we were an advanced gamer, | | | | depends on what the priorities are. |
| we certainly will enjoy the gaming abilities that we | | | | The top selling media-center PCs are Dell in the |
| have when it comes to the new addition. | | | | top three positions: top #1 position at $649 is the |
| Other advantages of the added home theater PC | | | | Dell Dimension? E510 (DE510SAP) PC Desktop |
| are enjoying the highly capable home theater's | | | | with an Intel Pentium D 2.8 GHz, Microsoft |
| ability of providing excellent quality sound. With the | | | | Windows XP Media Center 2005 Edition, 512 MB, |
| addition of the PC, it can even act as a tuner for | | | | 80 GB hard drive, CD-RW/DVD-ROM. Second |
| the music to provide an even better final result. If | | | | position is the Dell XPS? 410 (DXPS410F1) with |
| we were considering the addition of a TIVO or | | | | third position being the Dell Dimension? E310 |
| DVR style-recording device with the home | | | | (DE310F#). |
| theater system, then we will want to consider the | | | | With medica center PCs merging entertainment |
| use of the pc as well. | | | | and computing into one big machine, the question |
| It can help you to record, view, and allow us to | | | | being asked online is whether the TV tuner or the |
| store needed files. There are many different | | | | radio receiver is the most important. What do |
| products that are available when we have the | | | | you think? |
| ability to access the home theater project | | | | |