Started while I was a Junior at University of Missouri - Rolla, this box has evolved from a simple mp3 player to a full blown integrated part of the entertainment system. This was enabled with the installation of Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and a Hauppage PVR-150 TV tuner/capture card.
While also performing entertainment duties, the Home Theatre PC (HTPC) also runs a small Apache web server with PHP enabled. In addition to the web server, a MySQL server also runs providing many uses for various projects. Click on "Books" above to see one project utilizing PHP and MySQL. For ease of file administration both at home as well as on trips, an FTP server has also been installed. Needless to say, this is a busy little machine.
- The guts:
- Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
With MCE, you have all the functionalities of XP Pro, but with the ability to control all entertainment functions with a single remote control. - AMD 32bit 2500+ Barton processor
This processor was my previous gaming computer's processor that could handle speeds up to 2.4GHz. It is now regulated down to 1.8GHz due to heat as well as the lack of need for such processing power. - DFI NFII Ultra Infinity motherboard
Like the processor, this was the gaming motherboard. An extremely flexible Socket A motherboard with BIOS options out the wazhoo. The onboard sound is crystal clear. nVidia was paying attention to its customers with the NFII motherboard. - 2 x 512MB Kingston HyperX PC3000 DDR memory
Still old gaming system parts, This is the infamous BH-5 memory chips. Defaulting at 183MHz at CAS 2-2-2-11, this was some excellent memory. The ceiling was only 195 at 2.9 volts, but the super low timings on the NF2 chipset was wonderful. - Maxtor 40GB 8MB cache
Used for audio files - Samsung 30GB 2MB cache
Used for the OS and applications - Seagate 200GB 8MB cache
Used for video files - Hawking 54Mbit/s G wireless NIC
This is one of the most stable wireless G NICs I've ever used. I love it.