Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
If the Z-5500 speaker set is a bit expensive for your budget, consider the Logi-
tech X-540, which costs about $90, provides 70W RMS total power, and has
very good sound quality for the price. Or you can, of course, simply use the
speakers built into your HDTV.
Limited Choices
Several years ago, we could have
chosen from among dozens of 5.1,
6.1, 7.1, and even 8.1 PC speaker sets
from a dozen or more manufacturers.
The decline of PC gaming changed
that. Nowadays, your choices are
limited to 2.0, 2.1, and 5.1 sets, and
Logitech is the only mainstream
manufacturer that still offers a high-
power 5.1 system.
ComponentSummary
Table 6-1 summarizes our component choices for the media center system.
Table 6-1.
Bill of materials for media center system
Component
Product
Display
Sharp LC-42SB48UT 42” 1080p HDTV
Case
Antec Fusion Remote or Antec NSK-2480
Power supply
Antec EarthWatts 380
Processor
Intel Core i3-530
Motherboard
Intel DH55TC
Memory
Crucial Ballistix CT2KIT25664BN1337 4 GB Kit (2 GB
×
2)
Video adapter
Integrated or RADEON HD 4670/4850
Wireless network adapter
ASUS PCE-N13 802.11 b/g/n wireless adapter (see text)
Hard drives
Seagate Barracuda XT ST32000641AS 2TB (two)
Optical drive
LiteOn iHAS424-98 DVD writer
Backup hardware
Antec Easy SATA hard drive docking station (see text)
Seagate 3 TB FreeAgent GoFlex Desk (see text)
SYBA SD-ENC50020 Hard Drive Docking Station (see text)
Keyboard and mouse
Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000
Choosing a Work Surface
We build systems on the kitchen
table because it provides plenty of
work room, easy access from the
front and rear, and plenty of light,
all of which are important. Barbara
isn't happy about having her kitchen
table thus occupied, but when Robert
explained that the alternative was
using her antique dining room table,
she grudgingly agreed that the
kitchen table was the better choice.
Whatever location you choose to
build your system, make sure it
provides sufficient workspace, easy
access, and good lighting. Spousal
approval is optional, but highly
recommended.
Speakers
Home audio speakers or Logitech Z-5500 speaker system
HDMI cable
Nippon Labs Premium High Performance HDMI1.3-6
Remote control
Logitech 915-000132 Universal Harmony 300 Remote
Building the Media Center System
Figure 6-1 shows the core components of the media center system. At the top
left of the image, the Antec Fusion Remote media center case sits atop the
Antec NSK-2480 media center case. (When we shot this image, we still hadn't
decided which case to use.) On the left are the Crucial Ballistix 4 GB memory
kit and Nippon Labs HDMI cable, with a pair of 2 TB Seagate Barracuda XT
hard drives to their right. The LiteOn optical drive and the Intel Core i3-530
processor sit atop the Intel DH55TC motherboard, with the Logitech Universal
Harmony 300 remote in front of them. The Sharp 42” 1080p HDTV we bought
for our media center display wouldn't fit in the picture.
