Rebuilding Windows Media Center HTPC

[Night Rider]

I currently have a HTPC with Windows Media Center 2005
It was a very good machine in the day, but it’s time to do an upgrade/rebuild.

I plan on using Windows 7 and media center as the preferred gui
My family was very happy with the HTPC
The HTPC must be quiet or close to silent.

The current setup that will be updated from
I built this HTPC from scratch and used the following full ATX case.

My Digitalis Vision II  HTPC
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_10_3/images/projection-systems-visioni-lgi-july-2003.JPG
Windows MCE 2005
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
Canterwood, P4/3.0 GHz 800Mhz 478P/512K HT RT
Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu
(2) 300GB Maxtor Diamond Max Plus SATA 16Mb buffer RAID0 600 Gigabytes
(2) 500GB Maxtor DiamondMax11 SATA 3.0 set to 1.5
in Vantec EZ-Swap MRK-300ST SATA hard drive racks
Corsair 1GB TWINX1024-3200LL
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
Pioneer DVR-106 Black Drive
Asus Radeon 9600XT/TVD/128M 8X
with ZALMAN VF700-CU 2 Ball VGA cooler installed
(1) Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE
(1) VBOX Cat’s Eye DTA-150 ATSC Terrestrial HDTV Receiver
Microsoft MCE Remote 2005 / Microsoft MCE Remote Keyboard / Logitech Cordless MX Duo
SeaSonic S12-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply, Vantec ThermoFlow 60mm Case Fans

[Night Rider]

I currently have a Ceton InfiniTV 4 setup with a Verizon FIOS cable card.
And plan to use this HTPC as my set top box device.

I’m interested in using an Intel CPU
and need to determine the best CPU motherboard combo
that will allow for S3 standby. The previous HTPC would wake from
Sleep and record a program, then return to sleep after recording.

It’s an ambitious project and I’m generally interested in using quality parts.
I’m less interested in cutting corners and saving dollars.

Plans include using enterprise class drives for a RAID array.
Blueray & DVD playback.
HDCP video card considerations for HDMI out to TV

 

[Night Rider]

I’m currently using an Audio Authority VGA to Component Video Transcoder
http://www.audioauthority.com/product_details/9A60
connected to my still running 36″ Sony WEGA HDTV
Yes I know a monstrous tube TV still in use,
But hey it’s paid for and being used until it meets is demise.

 

[Night Rider]

I use a Projection Systems Vision II Theater PC Case
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_10_3/projection-systems-theaterpc-case-7-2003.html

Current chassis front view
http://fillippa.dyndns.org/local/~u45802574/ce/reviews/pics/visionfrontopen.jpg

Digitalis Vision II case with the cover off
http://fillippa.dyndns.org/local/~u45802574/ce/reviews/pics/VIIfullback.jpg

The Vision II  cases is a full ATX unit, supporting one external 3.5,
two external 5.25 and three internal 3.5 drive bays.
The flip-up front panel hides the external bays, two USB ports, and audio jacks.
In the center of the front panel is a large display window VFD and an IR receiver and transmitter.
Matrix Orbital VFD (vacuum florescent display)

 

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