Conclusion

This series was primarily intended to demonstrate the wide range of components suitable for building an HTPC, and how easy it is to put one together. If our experience is any guide, those willing to take on building an HTPC will find not only a wealth of compatible components from which to choose, but will also run into hardly any problems during installation. Nor need you make too many compromises during this process to achieve a good design with powerful features, including IR or RF remotes to control your creation while you remain comfortably glued to your sofa.

Many available cases are elegant, attractive and well-suited for use in your living or family room, although this is not the case for every case using the moniker "HTPC". And within the vast pool of hardware available for HTPC use, you won't have to look too long or hard to find compatible components. The choice of CPU leads naturally to a compatible motherboard, with suitable graphics cards galore.

But in the latter case, an HTPC's low noise requirement will dictate choosing less graphics power in exchange for quieter operation. You could, for example, put a 7800 or CrossFire card into an HTPC, but you probably wouldn't be happy with the results. That's because all the high-end graphics cards, whether from ATI or Nvidia, include noisy built-in coolers. Less powerful cards can be passively cooled and become silent as a consequence.

The 2006 World Cup is something we want to watch on an HTPC, and write about our experiences. What software we use for this enjoyable task will be determined over the coming months and suggestions and requests from our readers are always welcome.