Need Advice in Home Theatre-PC Linking

[Bubbaman]

Hi all. I've been using this fantastic newsgroup (and doom's web site) to rip DVDs for a while now. Now, I'm finally ready to plunk down the $$ for a home theatre system (I can finally HEAR my AC3 divx's with 5.1 <grin>).

I'm underwhelmed by the constaint of DVD hardware however (computers are so wonder aren't they?)...and I've got a stack full 'o' AC3 coded SBC DivX AVI's I'd like to see on the Wega/5.1 system. Any advice for how I should accomplish this. Oh yeah..an added wrinkle...I'd have to drop a wire down from the 2nd floor to the first (Yes, I'm insane...hehe).

I'm looking what DVD player/TV (I'm still planing on renting/playing DVDs) I should buy that would allow this, and what PC setup....

[Bubbaman]

I had another crazy question...if I had the graphics card outputting to the TV down below, is there a nice remove mouse anyone has heard of that could hook-up to the computer above? (without getting some mega-long mouse cord...)?

[nimbus]

if you are wanting to play avi with a dvd player the only option that 'might' work is the xbox unless you want to convert your avi to svcd but then i think you lose the ac3 sound. (i am no expert in svcd) also there are cordless mice you can get but an even better option would be the new cards out from ati and nvidia.. i believe the 8500 has a remote option although I am unsure as to which card in the 8500 lineup has this.. I think its only the top card which is basically an 'all in wonder' 8500, or you could get the new geforce 3 Ti series and get the cinema package that also has a remote... this would be ideal.. you could skip on the new dvd player all together and run a long svideo cable or otherwise down to the tv.

just a side note.. i havent looked into this fully its just ideas.. i may be mistaken somewhat :) go to www.atitech.com or www.nvidia.com

http://www.ati.com/na/pages/products/pc/aiw_radeon_8500/index.html

check the above link.. if you can afford it this card does it all.. even ac3 decoding.

[Emp3r0r]

Best Quality Video:
Radeon with Component Video Output
**requires 3 RCA Cables

Best Sound:
Any sound card with Digital Pass-through
** requires 1 RCA Cable or
1 expensive optical cable

Control Option:
Build a IR Receiver like on http://winlirc.sourceforge.net
** requires any 3 conductor cable

For me I have a crappy TV so I just hook up using one RCA cable for a composite connection. I have a digital processor so I only need one RCA cable for sound also. I use Turtle Beach Santa Cruz and BSPlayer when I want to use my remote to control AVI's. Playback of my 2 CD AC3 AVI's using this method rivals DVD quality using same equipment. I made my own 50 foot RCA cables and they work great. Good luck and have fun!

Oh, tips for buying HT equipment...
1) watts aren't near as important as THD(!), look for very low 0.00X range. Avoid 0.0X THD equipment.
2) make sure it has Dolby Digital decoding

3) check http://www.partsexpress.com for cables and interconnects

[prr]

> Best Quality Video:
> Radeon with Component Video Output
>
Matrox G-series DualHead is even betten.

[Bubbaman]

Great info! I'll be checking this stuff out for a couple of days...so far I've found my "Sony Dreamsystem (DAVC500)" doesn't have component output!!! (Have to go to a higher model), although my Wega 27 inch has component video input. Well..ditch that model...

All the Sony series has great THD and DD, DTS, Logic decoding (but not Logic II..oh well). As for ATI...I love their stuff (I've had the AIW 128 Rage Pro since it came out). I'll check out the Radeon and perhaps the Matrox... The Hollywood Plus card looks good...but why get such a specialized card?...

This wire stuff has got me down though - drilling, aesthetics, etc...then I checked out Smart Home (www.smarthome.com)...WOW. I was thinking of extending my dream of DivX watching to including wireless speakers (MP3's) in other rooms. Ok...not the best sound but hey! They video wireless transfer is not the best (S-Video is as high as their 2.4 Ghz supports I guess), but not too shabby either...

Re: Yer post...I'm thinking of an IR device...but I though Rf was the safe way to go (through walls, etc). Also..I'm guessing (will check) that digital pass-through means I can listen both at my computer and downstairs?

Looks like we're having some great discussion on this (I'll be sure to report back to the group once I buy/install all this stuff in a few weeks)...