I don't know if the X2300 is compatible though. Apparently it's just a rebadged X1350, which leads me to believe that it might not. Worth a try though.
Have a look through your TV manual though. You might be able to use DVI together with an analog audio connection. You can almost definitely do that with VGA.
Are you sure your TV can't take DVI + audio? We have a Panasonic plasma that can use the VGA audio inputs together with the HDMI1 input for video (if you fiddle around in the menus).
As for which looks better, that really depends on your TV.
If your TV is 1080p, HDMI will almost definitely look better.
For other TV's, it's a bit of a tossup. VGA usually allows you to drive the TV at its native resolution (1366x768, 1024*768, or whatever it happens to be) whereas HDMI will limit you to 720p or 1080p only.
On the other hand HDMI is a higher quality signal, and in addition your TV will probably do more post-processing on an HDMI signal than it would on a VGA signal.
DVI + analog audio should look the same as HDMI, but you'll lose some audio quality. VGA + analog audio should (obviously) give you the same audio quality as DVI + analog audio.
Deev8: My prime concern would be about the elderly person's technical understanding and abilities. No matter how much we want them to be HTPCs are not a set up and forget type of solution.
Goodness me, I'm sure we can let Trunks2 be the judge here!
Of course we can, but ultimately it's the particular elderly recipient of the HTPC who will either be able to keep it running or not. It's very easy to underestimate the level of knowledge required to run a PC of any kind - I know that I have done that in the past.
I just wanted to raise the issue so that Trunks2 could consider the point before he puts time, effort and hard-earned cash into the project.
Ok guys, I've setup my laptop and it can watch 1080P and freeview HD fine (borrowed a USB tuner to test). So far it's only cost around $50 for a remote and some cables/adaptors.
The TV had a HDMI port and a 3.5mm jack for sound so I plugged it in that way :).
Now all I need is a USB tuner and I'm set, I want to be able to watch and record at the same time so a dual USB tuner is a must, I like this one http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=382521 but there's no mention of it supporting MHEG-5? otherwise 2 of these look like the go http://www.elive.co.nz/avermedia-usb-avertv-volar-hd-ac1555.php?ref=pricespy
Would there be any problems using 2 separate tuners in Media Centre? Just plug and play?
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I only have DVB-S reception (although I really need to get a UHF aerial installed), so haven't really played around with DVB-T
My understanding is that MHEG-5 support is in software, and that any DVB-T tuner is capable of receiving it, regardless of whether it's mentioned in the marketing material. I may be wrong about this however.
Windows Media Centre should be able to use two separate tuners, but people have been known to have problems with cheap and nasty USB tuners. AverMedia's quite a good brand though so you shouldn't have any problems.
I've used Microsoft's Media Center basically since first release. It was only since the release of the TV Pack add-on for Vista that Media Center supported DVB-S tuners natively and in turn the EIT schedule that is broadcast via satellite.
My understanding too is that the current release of Media Center does not support MHEG-5 formatted EPG which is broadcast as part of Freeview DTT Service. It seems frustrating, as to me going back to scalping the EPG for your HD shows seems like a backward step.
In the past month I have migrated to MediaPortal, which I also understand doesn't support MHEG-5 formatted EPG. I have both DVB-S and DVB-T tunders in my HTPC so to solve this issue I have combined the EPG from the satellite to the DTT HD channel which seems to work well.
I'm actually surprised that MediaPortal doesn't support MHEG-5 - or am I completely wrong and missing something?
My HTPC - Case Antec Fusion Remote, MOBO Intel DH67BLB3, CPU Intel Core i5-2400S 2.5 GHz, RAM 8GB DDR3 1333, HDD 120Gig Corsair Force Series 3 SSD system | WD Caviar Black 2TB data, Tuners Black Gold BGT3595 dual DVB-S/S2, dual DVB-T, Video nVIDIA GeForce GT 520, 1024MB, Sound Intel® High Definition Audio (onboard), OS Windows 7 x64
You can get a cheap Intel H61 motherboard for under $100, and a Pentium G620 CPU for about $100 as well. DDR3 RAM is also pretty cheap. The Sandy Bridge integrated graphics (even on the bottom of the barrel G620) are more than sufficient for 1080p H.264 and the CPU performance will blow the P4 out of the water. It'll also use one quarter the power.
You can get a cheap Intel H61 motherboard for under $100, and a Pentium G620 CPU for about $100 as well. DDR3 RAM is also pretty cheap. The Sandy Bridge integrated graphics (even on the bottom of the barrel G620) are more than sufficient for 1080p H.264 and the CPU performance will blow the P4 out of the water. It'll also use one quarter the power.
michael, did you go any further with this?
Yes.
Bought an MSI H61M-E33 motherboard, Pentium G620 CPU, a 2TB HD and 4GB of second-hand DDR3. Using an old case and my existing TV tuners with it. The hardware seems to work fine (except for one of the TV tuners), and video playback over HDMI seems flawless. The connected TV is only 1366*768 though, not 1080p, although 1080p should work fine as well.
Still having a bit of trouble with Mediaportal, but I think that's due to one of my TV tuners not locking properly.
Bought an MSI H61M-E33 motherboard, Pentium G620 CPU, a 2TB HD and 4GB of second-hand DDR3. Using an old case and my existing TV tuners with it. The hardware seems to work fine (except for one of the TV tuners), and video playback over HDMI seems flawless. The connected TV is only 1366*768 though, not 1080p, although 1080p should work fine as well.
Still having a bit of trouble with Mediaportal, but I think that's due to one of my TV tuners not locking properly.
Hi there
I've had a quick look at on-line stores for the hardware you mention and it is all there, and quite cheap too. I'm using what might be considered older hardware now so I'm quite curious about this thread.
Are you using a seperate graphics card, or are you using the on-board HDMI or VGA on the motherboard?
My HTPC - Case Antec Fusion Remote, MOBO Intel DH67BLB3, CPU Intel Core i5-2400S 2.5 GHz, RAM 8GB DDR3 1333, HDD 120Gig Corsair Force Series 3 SSD system | WD Caviar Black 2TB data, Tuners Black Gold BGT3595 dual DVB-S/S2, dual DVB-T, Video nVIDIA GeForce GT 520, 1024MB, Sound Intel® High Definition Audio (onboard), OS Windows 7 x64
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