Conclusion

If our experience is any guide, those willing to take up an HTPC case will not only find a wealth of compatible computer components from which to choose, they will also run into hardly any problems during installation. This second article is intended to demonstrate what's available now and how easy it is to put a home theatre PC together. Nor need you make too many compromises during this process to achieve a good design and excellent functionality.

The cases are elegant, attractive and well-suited for use in your living or family room. Within the vast pool of hardware available for HTPC use, you won't have to look too long or hard either to find compatible components. The choice of CPU leads naturally to a compatible motherboard, as well as a graphics card. But in this latter case, HTPC needs will dictate choosing less graphics power in exchange for quiet 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.

To make HTPCs easy to use, many vendors offer IR or RF remote controls as part of their products. These provide control over the TV tuner as well as the user interface while you remain comfortably glued to your sofa.

The next instalment in our DIY HTPC series will deal with Pay-TV. 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. Suggestions and requests from our readers are always welcome.