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Media-center PCs are designed for home theater use, offering advanced audio and video support, while preserving all the typical functionalities of a regular PC. Explore more images of computers.Not long ago, digital homes were split into two categories: computing and entertainment. In the computing zone, we'd browse the internet, send emails, tackle work tasks, write papers, download music and movies, burn CDs, and edit photos and videos. In the entertainment area, we'd watch TV and movies, record them, and enjoy our music collections. Can you spot the overlap? Tech companies have been working to bridge this gap with products like WebTV, AccessDTV, digital-media servers, and early media-center PCs like the Sony Vaio.
The latest innovations in digital integration skip over the minor details and aim for full convergence. Media-center PCs are specifically built for home theater compatibility with high-quality audio and video support, all while keeping the essential functions of a home computer intact. In this article, we’ll explore what makes a PC a "media center," how it fits within a home theater, and the possibilities it offers.
What Is a Media-Center PC?
HP Pavilion Media Center PC
Image courtesy of HPAt its core, a media-center PC combines a home computer with an A/V receiver. It boasts entertainment-enhancing features that make it an ideal hub for any home theater setup. Most media-center PCs support progressive-scan DVD playback, over-the-air HDTV reception, surround-sound inputs, and quiet operation, with some using fanless cooling systems. In one compact unit, it covers almost all digital media functions, including the following:
Computing Capabilities
- Web Browsing
- Email Communication
- Document Editing
Video
- Stream online videos directly to your large-screen TV
- Create, watch, and burn DVDs
- Watch and record TV programs (acts as a DVR)
- Edit, view, and email digital photos
Audio
- AM/FM radio (record up to 30 minutes, just like recording TV shows)
- Download MP3s and play them through your home-theater sound system
- Create, rip, and burn CDs
Media storage (typically, a unit may offer 500 GB to 1 TB of space for storing music, movies, and photos)
With a media-center PC hooked up to your TV and speakers, you can access all these functions through easy-to-navigate onscreen menus. The system is designed to be controlled remotely, but you can also use a keyboard or mouse, just like on a regular PC.
There are two ways to create a media-center PC. You can either upgrade a standard PC for home-theater functionality or purchase a preassembled home-theater PC. If your PC is relatively new (let's say within the last five years), and you're comfortable working with the motherboard, you can transform it into a media center. While it may not offer the same results as a system designed specifically for home theater, it will be a more budget-friendly option. Let’s explore how you can build a media center with your existing computer.
Microsoft isn’t alone in the world of home-theater computers. For some intriguing innovations, check out the XboxMediaCenter Project and the Macintosh Media Center Project. If you're searching for a home-theater receiver with built-in media storage, several media servers with impressive features (such as 2 terabytes of storage) are available. For example, check out the Denzel Home Theater Media Server and the ViewVox 1000.
Building Your Own Media-Center PC
Upgrading your own media-center typically costs less than purchasing a pre-built system. You can make a solid upgrade for under $1,000. This is a great option if you're looking for a functional unit with essential home-theater features.
In terms of hardware, the upgrades are minimal. If you already have a display and a quality speaker system, all you need is to improve your PC’s sound card and expand storage capacity (since a video library can take up significant space, an external hard drive will suffice).
- The sound card must be compatible with the speakers you plan to use, whether they're stereo, digital surround, or multichannel analog surround. For top-tier home-theater audio, a surround-sound system paired with a 24-bit card will deliver outstanding sound quality. If you're connecting to a receiver, make sure to choose a card that offers coaxial or optical digital outputs for optimal performance.
- For storage space, aim for a capacity between 400 and 500 gigabytes. If you plan to record HDTV, you may require more storage. On the other hand, if you're not a heavy audio/video user and are okay with using higher compression formats, you might get by with less storage.
Here's what else you'll need:
- a TV tuner, ideally with DVR functionality so you can record shows and skip commercials (you can purchase a standalone TV tuner or upgrade your video card to one that has a built-in tuner)
- a PC AM/FM radio receiver
- a remote control setup, which includes a transmitter, receiver, and, if you're using an external receiver for your speakers, a control cable to connect your PC to the receiver
Technically, that's all you need (and perhaps a bit more than necessary) to integrate your PC into your home theater. Since your PC comes with a built-in CD and DVD player, you simply need to connect it to your TV and speaker system via the available outputs. However, if you want to make your setup a fully integrated media center, you'll need a piece of media-center software. The advantage of including software in your upgrade is that it adds an onscreen menu and remote control functionality, allowing you to manage everything from a single interface.
There’s a wide range of media-center software available, each offering different features. Software options like Meedio Pro, Sage TV, InterVideo Home Theater, or Beyond TV with Beyond Media let you connect various home theater devices to your PC and control everything through one interface. You can stream music to other computers, transfer files to portable devices, and view your digital photos on your large-screen TV. Additionally, many of these software packages can switch your regular monitor into a 'theater view' mode, making it easier to see from across the room.
The most comprehensive media-center software package you'll encounter is Windows XP Media Center Edition (xpMCE) operating system. Until 2005, this OS was only available to PC manufacturers, but now you can purchase it and use it as the core of your media-center upgrade. The catch with xpMCE is that it requires specific hardware support, which can make a DIY upgrade more challenging. However, it is still possible. There are complete upgrade kits available that include all the necessary hardware, software, and instructions to help you build your own Windows Media Center PC from scratch, such as the D.Vine D2 Quiet Media Center kit. This kit includes a chassis, fanless cooling system, motherboard, processor, and xpMCE operating system, priced similarly to one of the more affordable pre-built systems.
Here’s the thing with serious upgrades: Once you start adding the extra features that turn a media-center PC into a true centerpiece for your home theater, DIY becomes less cost-effective. If you're aiming for seamless integration, ultra-quiet operation, and a unit that truly enhances your home theater setup rather than just working with it, you’ll likely need a media-center PC built by the manufacturer.
If you're looking for some useful "build your own media center" guides, check out PCMagazine's Build a Home Entertainment PC, ExtremeTech's Build Your Own Windows Media Center PC, and Macworld's Do-it-yourself multimedia.
Pre-built Media-center PCs
HP Pavilion Media Center PC
Photo courtesy HPComputer manufacturers design media-center PCs from the ground up to seamlessly integrate into your home theater setup. You can relax on the couch in your den, send an email to a friend, write up a work proposal, and create a playlist of MP3s to play through your surround sound system – all using a single display, one remote, and one CPU. The key advantage is simplicity. The only extra items you might need to buy are a TV tuner and a remote, although many systems come with those included. Setup is straightforward: just connect your TV and speakers. Some models offer additional connections, allowing you to hook up an external DVD or CD player, but these PCs are designed to be your all-in-one media hub – combining your stereo, DVD player, home computer, photo viewer, 500-GB hard drive, gaming system, and A/V receiver into one unit.
Most media-center systems run on Windows XP Media Center Edition (xpMCE), though many devices use different operating systems and home-theater software, such as Sage TV or Meedio Pro. Nearly every computer manufacturer offers home-theater PCs, and most of them resemble regular desktop PCs, complete with a CPU tower, monitor, and keyboard.
Some manufacturers have adopted a more living-room-friendly design, with a CPU that resembles an A/V receiver rather than a traditional tower:
Niveus Denali Edition Media Center PC
Photo courtesy Niveus MediaThen, there are the real visionaries. The Elonex Lumina takes it a step further by integrating the CPU directly into the display, so what you see in your living room appears to be just a large flat-panel TV. Inside, however, there's a full computer, with PC and home-theater inputs and outputs neatly placed along the sides and back of the device.
Elonex Lumina Media Center PC
Photo courtesy ElonexTypically, you'll be looking at spending anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000 for a high-end media-center system, with the higher end closer to $7,000 if you're pairing your new setup with a premium flat-panel display. For instance, one of Gateway's "ultimate" Media Center PCs priced around $3,000 includes an Intel® Pentium® D 930 with a dual-core processor, a 500-GB hard drive, an NVIDIA® GeForce® 7800 graphics card, 24-bit DVD-Audio playback, and full surround-sound support. A TV tuner is sold separately. Meanwhile, for about $6,000, the Niveus Denali Limited Edition comes equipped with four TV tuners, a 1-terabyte hard disk, and fanless cooling, though the external 200-disc CD changer is an additional cost.
As the xpMCE-based system is currently the most widely used version of home-theater computers, we'll focus on this model. These xpMCE systems are often specifically labeled "Media Center PCs," though other systems might use the term generically. In this article, whenever you see the term "Media Center" capitalized, it refers to a computer running Windows XP Media Center Edition.
A Media Center PC offers all the functionality of a regular Windows XP-based computer, with the added bonus of home-theater capabilities. In the next section, we'll explore what this system can do for you and how to set it up.
Apple's latest iMac models, while not marketed specifically as "media centers," come equipped with many of the features you'd expect in a media-center PC. Every 2006 iMac includes Front Row software, allowing you to view photos, DVDs, and browse music collections in a widescreen "theater" view. You can even connect your TV as the computer's display. Plus, the Apple remote allows you to navigate from across the room. For more details, visit Apple: iMac.
A Closer Look: Windows XP Media Center Edition
Media Center A/V connections
Photo courtesy Sony Electronics and Niveus MediaThe 2005 Windows XP Media Center Edition represents the cutting edge of media-center software. This operating system seamlessly integrates with the computer's hardware to transform it into a fully functioning home-theater receiver, while also providing the media-storage, navigation, organization, and integration capabilities of a PC. A typical Media Center PC includes:
- All standard Windows XP programs
- DVR functionality with program guide
- Support for local (antenna) digital and HDTV (Note: no digital playback for DTV or HDTV from cable or satellite due to a DRM restriction)
- Progressive-scan DVD playback
- Access to MP3s stored on your personal hard drive or online
- Photo viewing and editing capabilities
- Ability to play and burn CDs and DVDs (data, audio, and video)
- Movie search features (find specific movies available through your TV service provider or across various online databases)
- Access to on-demand music and movies
- Data synchronization with a portable media center, smartphone, PDA, or MP3 player
- Control all functions via remote control, keyboard, or mouse
To complete the setup of a basic Media Center, in addition to the Media Center PC, you will need a few additional components:
- Display device (TV or monitor)
- TV signal source (such as antenna, cable, or satellite)
- Keyboard and mouse (preferably wireless)
- Speakers (PC speakers, stereo, or surround sound)
- Remote control and receiver (occasionally included)
- TV tuner (occasionally included)
- Internet connection (ideally broadband for optimal performance)
- A range of A/V cables
If you are comfortable setting up an A/V receiver, you can easily set up a Media Center PC. For a basic setup, there are five key steps to follow:
- Connecting your display It doesn't matter what type of display you use; anything from a computer monitor to an LCD flat-panel, a CRT, or even a projection screen will work. You just need the appropriate cable for the connection. Media Center PCs generally offer various input and output options such as Composite, S-video, and Component Video, along with more PC-specific ports like VGA, DVI, or HDMI. You just need to select the video quality based on your equipment and connect the cable from the TV's input to the PC's output.
- Connecting your TV signal To watch TV on your display, you need to link your TV signal to the Media Center PC. If using an antenna or standard cable, simply connect the cable jack or antenna output directly to the PC input. For digital cable or satellite TV, you will need to make two connections: one from the wall outlet to the set-top box, and another from the set-top box output to the PC input. The PC supports coaxial inputs for this. For digital and satellite signals, an additional infrared connection is required to control the set-top box using the Media Center remote. Note that Media Center PCs only support over-the-air digital or high-definition signals, so if your signal is from a set-top box, you'll be watching in standard quality.
- Connecting your speakers If you use regular PC speakers, the setup is similar to connecting speakers to a computer. Alternatively, you can connect your sound system using an audio receiver as a pass-through. For a stereo setup, link the PC audio-out to the receiver's CD input using a stereo-mini-to-stereo-RCA cable. For surround-sound setups, you need a sound card that supports multi-channel audio, such as 5.1 or 7.1 surround, in formats like DTS or Dolby Digital. Connections can be made for both digital and multichannel-analog surround sound.
Image courtesy of Microsoft- Simply connect the necessary outputs on your PC to the inputs of your receiver. For a single digital connection, you'll use either a coaxial cable or a Toslink optical cable. For multichannel analog, use stereo-mini-to-stereo-RCA cables. Don't forget to set your receiver to match the input(s) you're using.
- Connecting to the Internet To browse the Web, send emails, and access your TV program guide, an Internet connection is required. To stream media online, a broadband connection is essential. You can connect the Media Center PC to the Internet like any other computer. If you already have a cable or DSL connection, simply add the Media Center PC to your home network. A wireless connection is recommended for a media-center setup. For more on networking, refer to How WiFi Works and How Home Networking Works.
- Configuring your system You can set up your system from the start menu by clicking on "Settings," which provides access to all media setup options. The system will guide you through the configuration with helpful setup "wizards." For the basic setup, you'll need to provide the Media Center with the following information: Are you using a set-top box for your video source? Use the TV Signal Setup Wizard to specify whether you have cable, digital cable, or satellite. Are you using non-Media Center speakers? Use the Speaker Setup Wizard to set up the audio decoder, including details like whether you're connected to a receiver, and the type of audio setup (stereo, digital surround, multichannel analog), speaker size, and subwoofer presence. Which TV service do you have? The Media Center will display a program guide for your TV, which is updated daily via your Internet connection. By providing your zip code, the Setup Wizard will list available TV service providers, allowing you to select the one that services your area.
Now you're all set with a basic Media Center PC setup. However, there are several additional options and advanced features that can enhance your system. In the following section, we'll explore some of the extra additions you can make to your home theater setup.
Windows XP Media Center Edition: Extras and Advanced Functions
Once you've connected everything and configured the Media Center software, you now have a home theater powered by your PC. You can access TV programs, your sound system, the Internet, and your complete digital library of movies, music, and photos—all from one place. The possibilities for interacting with, inputting to, and outputting from these elements are virtually endless. Here are just a few options available to you:
Downloadable plug-ins
- mce Weather offers live updates on local weather conditions in real time.
- My Movies allows you to download detailed movie information and manage your collection by title, director, genre, keywords, and more.
- Media Center Karaoke transforms your home theater system into a full karaoke setup.
- MCE Caller ID Client captures caller ID data from a computer connected to your phone line, displaying the caller's information directly on your screen.
Add multiple monitors or displays to expand your workspace or viewing area.
With Media Center, you can configure two displays — like a TV and a computer monitor — to show different content at the same time. For example, you can watch a movie on your TV while browsing the web on your monitor. Most modern video cards can handle this functionality, and you can easily set it up using the xpMCE guide for dual outputs.
Using multiple TV tuners, you can enjoy more flexibility in your viewing and recording. For instance, with two tuners, you can watch a pre-recorded show while recording two live broadcasts. With three tuners, you can watch one show and record two others. If you also have two displays, you can view two live programs simultaneously while recording a third.
Having multiple tuners lets you maximize your viewing experience. With two tuners, you can watch one pre-recorded show while recording two live shows. With three tuners, you can watch one show and record three others. If you also have multiple displays, you can watch two live shows while recording a third one, all at the same time.
Media Center Extender allows you to expand your Media Center experience by outputting signals from your Media Center PC to other displays, including Xbox 360. It’s essentially a network setup built to work specifically with your Media Center PC.
With one or more Media Center Extenders, you can distribute the signals from your Media Center PC to various displays or an Xbox 360 throughout your home. This setup is designed as a specialized network system for the Media Center PC. For detailed installation and configuration, refer to the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 manual.
The Windows xpMCE system merges the capabilities of a PC and home-theater receiver into one unit. If you’re looking to centralize your digital activities, a media-center PC is a great option. However, this technology is still in its early stages. Software-based integration may be only the beginning. In the long run, hardware innovations may be what truly shape the future of home theaters. Intel’s new Viiv processor platform, developed specifically for home-theater PCs, aims to standardize the hardware side of the media-center market, providing developers and consumers a reliable foundation to build upon. PCs featuring "Viiv inside" are expected to be available by mid-2006.
