How To: Crafting A Media Center PC

While combining computing with entertainment is a natural progression, most system builders, with the exception of a handful of large builders, have not had access to Media Center Edition. That should change this month, when Microsoft plans to offer the general release version of the OS. That's good news, since there are several advantages to building custom Media Center PCs. Foremost, integrators can leverage current technology to create feature sets that don't exist in most major vendor offerings. Custom systems also allow integrators to provide close customer service and incremental sales of high-end products.

Integrators can select from a host of products to build a Media Center PC that will outperform the typical system. That becomes a key element when building a system that serves multiple purposes, considering the added load of video recording and advanced gaming. But when choosing components and software, integrators must understand that media-centric systems differ from the typical white box.

Arguably, the most important component is the video/TV card subsystem, which enables the functionality associated with a Media Center-style PC. The subsystem should include an integrated TV tuner, bundled media software (TV, DVD, VCD, video capture, PVR), multiple video connections (VGA, NSTC, S-video), remote control, high-performance video capabilities, FM radio tuner, and localized TV directory listings. Combining those elements promises the most functionality for a dual-purpose system. With that said, Digital Connect Lab engineers chose ATI's All-In-Wonder 9600 XT (MSRP $299).

The 9600 XT is an 8X AGP card with a bevy of features that helps the system surpass typical Media Center PCs. The bundled software includes the Gemstar guide, plus a free Internet-based localized television directory for TV program recording. The 9600 also includes MPEG-4 capture and editing capabilities, dual VGA monitor support, TV or component output (HDTV, TV, projector support) and dual tuner picture-in-picture support. The software also supports DVD and CD creation, as well as ATI's Eazyshare product, which allows multiple users to share TV and video over a home network.

The next item is a motherboard and processor. System builders won't want to skimp when it comes to processing power since a media-based system is faced with the heavy burden of capturing and encoding video. The motherboard should incorporate USB 2.0 ports and Serial ATA drive support, all riding on the latest processor technology. Integrators should also select a motherboard that offers health-monitoring features and one that does not have onboard video and sound.

Engineers selected an Intel D875PBZ (street price $150) system board and a 3.4GHz Pentium 4 processor. The D875PBZ offers eight USB 2.0 ports, a serial port and parallel port, two Serial ATA IDE interfaces with RAID 0 and RAID 1 support, two parallel ATA IDE interfaces with UDMA 33, ATA-66/100 support, one diskette drive interface, a PS/2 keyboard port and a PS/2 mouse port. The D875PBZ lacks onboard video and audio, which will be handled by high-end add-on cards. Engineers also added 512 Mbytes of DDR400 RAM from Kingston Technology and a CPU Cooler from Spire.

Now let's focus on sound. Key features to look for include surround-sound capabilities, DVD audio, Dolby Digital compatibility and a multitude of audio input and output connectors. Engineers selected the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound subsystem. The Audigy 2 series offers high-end sound capabilities that enhance the DVD and gaming experience. Audigy 2 supports 7.1, 6.1 and 5.1 surround- sound capabilities. The card also adds IEEE 1394 FireWire capabilities, an important element for capturing information from a DV camera.

Pay particular attention to the case, since a typical white-box case lacks the necessary media-centric options. The case should be quiet and attractive, offer FireWire and should be easy to assemble and upgrade. Look for ones that have speed screws, motherboard trays and open bays for additional storage and optical devices. Engineers selected Cooler Master's Cavalier (MSRP $149). Its slim, horizontal case comes in gunmetal or black finishes and looks like it belongs in an entertainment center. It includes a front-mounted analog "sound pressure" gauge, which provides a visual representation of sound decibels. The unit also includes front-mounted USB 2.0 ports, IEEE 1394 FireWire ports and sound connector jacks. The Cavalier uses quiet low-velocity fans. It can house any ATX-sized motherboard and offers two externally accessible 5.25-inch drive bays, hidden behind a flip-top panel. A 300-watt power supply provides ample wattage. Integrators will find installing components, which follow a tool-less design, straightforward, with all of the cables labeled and a minimum number of screws to fuss with.

Storage is playing an increasingly important role in media-centric PCs. With each hour of recorded video taking up about 2 Gbytes of space, ample storage becomes a priority. Engineers chose Maxtor's 250-Gbyte MaxLine Plus II Serial ATA hard drive (MSRP $350), which offers a Serial ATA interface, 8-Mbyte cache and 7,200-rpm rotation speed.

For the full media experience, a DVD-compatible optical drive is a must. What's more, users should be able to burn both DVDs and CDs. Those requirements led us to Teac's DVW58G 8X DVDRW dual drive (MSRP $129). The Teac drive writes at 8X speeds to DVD+R and at 4X speeds to DVD-R. The Teac 8X DVD-Recorder utilizes an IDE/ATAPI interface for easy integration and upgrades.

Luckily, between Windows XP and the applications bundled with the ATI All-In-Wonder 9600, most of the system's software requirements are well met. But for added functionality, system builders should consider a media control suite. Engineers chose Roxio's Easy Media Creator 7 (MSRP $99). Its advanced media creation capabilities include CD copying, creation of DVDs, management of digital photos, and data backup.

With that road map, integrators can build a PC that offers customization options for a multipurpose machine that can run the latest business applications and high-end games.

For more insight on components for building top-notch multimedia PCs and systems, check out this article by Digital Connect Lab's John Yacono.