Shona's Retro-Themed HTPC : Complete. All pics added to post #1

Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by airchie, 24 Jul 2006.

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  1. airchie

    airchie What's a Dremel?

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    Decided 'what the hell' tonight and just spunked £400 on parts for this. :D

    Nice quiet Seasonic PSU, Hauppauge WinTV-Nova-t PCI, Seagate 250GB HDD and of course the 20" LCD screen.

    Should be here on Friday giving me all weekend to get it going. :)

    Updates to come...
     
    airchie, 3 Aug 2006
    #41
  2. Sunny-D

    Sunny-D What's a Dremel?

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    definately keeping an eye on this one, ive been eyeing up my sister's tv for quite some time. it just won't die...
     
    Sunny-D, 3 Aug 2006
    #42
  3. airchie

    airchie What's a Dremel?

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    LMAO!! :D

    Nothing a glass of water won't fix Sunny... ;)
     
    airchie, 5 Aug 2006
    #43
  4. airchie

    airchie What's a Dremel?

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    UPDATE : Mon 7th August 06

    OK, got some updates on the progress.

    I have decided against the Epia 13000 as I said previously.
    I bought a P4 2.4 and matching mobo from Ebay.
    Just typical, the mobo is b0rked so I went out to the local PC place and bought a bundle deal they had.
    Sempron 3300+, foxconn m-atx mobo (SiS chipset) and CPU cooler for £90.

    Threw it all together and got it all working nicely.
    Installed GBPVR and had nothig but issues with voice sync, and viewing TV and crap like that.

    So I have tried out mediaportal and it seems much better.
    Unfortunately, I think the on-board gfx is killing me and cusing the NB to overheat causing instabilities.

    So I think an AGP X1300 may be on the cards.

    On the plus side, it seems the screen I bought is almost the exactly right size for the hole in the old case.
    Should be easy to get it fitted in and stealthed as soon as I can work out how to get into the screen's casing and relocate and cover over the buttons on the front.

    Concentrating on getting the PC working the way it should first though, before chopping up and modding the lcd and old telly box etc.

    Will post some more pics soon.

    <Edit>
    OK, pics up.
    They show the complete dump that is my girlfriend's flat, she loves it like this, honest! :rolleyes:

    They also show the monitor placed in front of the old case.
    Hard to hold it there and take a pic at the same time though so sorry for the poor pics. :)

    Thinking that one of those cheap-ass stormcool III watercooling things may be an idea... :D

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 7 Aug 2006
    airchie, 7 Aug 2006
    #44
  5. Lovah

    Lovah Apple and Canon fanboy

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    Looking great. Gread idea aswell! Screens seems to be a good match!

    Good luck,
    L
     
    Lovah, 7 Aug 2006
    #45
  6. airchie

    airchie What's a Dremel?

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    Just bought a passive 9550 gfx card to go with it as the onboard gfx sucked ass.

    Seems MUCH more responsive now.
    If only I could get mediaportal running right I could get started mounting it all into the case... :)
     
    airchie, 7 Aug 2006
    #46
  7. simon_C

    simon_C Minimodder

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    hmm looking good. make a bracket that mounts to the TV case and to the monitor using the 4 hole VESA mount. paint the bezel of the LCD black and fit it flush behind the tube crt on the TV case.

    though perhaps that was already your plan.....



    either way looking like a neat project.
     
    simon_C, 7 Aug 2006
    #47
  8. airchie

    airchie What's a Dremel?

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    More progress, got MediaPortal working a bit better now.
    Next step get the EPG working right and updating itself.
    Maybe get a wireless card in there too.

    Once I get it a bit more stable, I'll be able to look into getting it all mounted in place.
    That's where the fun begins... :D
     
    airchie, 8 Aug 2006
    #48
  9. oasked

    oasked Stuck in (better) mud

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    Looking good, keep the updates coming! :D
     
    oasked, 13 Aug 2006
    #49
  10. amish_p0rnst4r

    amish_p0rnst4r What's a Dremel?

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    very original idea I can't wait to see the finished product
     
    amish_p0rnst4r, 13 Aug 2006
    #50
  11. olly_lewis

    olly_lewis What's a Dremel?

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    It looks like this project is really starting to develop and become a great one... can't wait to see it sitting in the living room whyne its done, but if you and your GF break up, who gets custody? Thats the hardest part of a break up you know, the kids... er I mean computers...
     
    olly_lewis, 13 Aug 2006
    #51
  12. yahooadam

    yahooadam <span style="color:#f00;font-weight:bold">Ultra cs

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    cool idea :)

    leaving stuff with your GF is risky though, she may take it hostage :rolleyes: :p
     
    yahooadam, 13 Aug 2006
    #52
  13. LuitvD

    LuitvD What's a Dremel?

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    very nice idea. Wanted to do the same to a 15" portable CRT TV/Radio combi, unfortunately, it still works :wallbash:

    good luck mate
     
    LuitvD, 13 Aug 2006
    #53
  14. airchie

    airchie What's a Dremel?

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    lol, thanks guys.

    Been delayed by decorating my bathroom atm but the mrs is away for hols for a couple weeks so should manage to get some work done... :D

    Scared to bust open a brand-new and perfectly working monitor but hey-ho, its gotta be done...

    Anyone got any tips for breaking into a Samsung 203B monitor (without breaking too much)? :D
     
    airchie, 16 Aug 2006
    #54
  15. hydro_electric_655

    hydro_electric_655 Dremelly Dude

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    Careful. And don't press into the seams you will just end up curshing the monitor. Im eyeing my SyncMaster and I looks like it shouldn't be to hard.
     
    hydro_electric_655, 16 Aug 2006
    #55
  16. airchie

    airchie What's a Dremel?

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    OK, managed to break open the new monitor without busting it (I think, not tested it again yet...) and the front has been sanded down ready for priming and painting.

    Also decided to treat myself to a shiney new cordless dremel.
    And bought some P38 and P40 filler for getting the screen secured into place.

    Will hopefully do more later and get some pics... :)
     
    airchie, 21 Aug 2006
    #56
  17. scq

    scq What's a Dremel?

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    Great mod!
     
    scq, 21 Aug 2006
    #57
  18. airchie

    airchie What's a Dremel?

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    OK, more pics... :)

    Progress so far is that I managed to get the new monitor opened safely, I tested it and it still works!! :)

    So I have sanded down the edges of the screen now ready to be stuck in place with some P38 filler.

    Did first batch of filling last night and remembered to take more pics, so here they are! :)

    Oh, and I finally bought a Dremel!
    Cutting disks rule!!!! :dremel:

    You can see how well the new screen fits in the old hole here.
    [​IMG]

    The holes where the buttons were, will relocate them somewhere else.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Here's the naked screen.
    [​IMG]

    Damn stanley knives are dangerous! :D
    [​IMG]

    And my ghetto plaster...
    [​IMG]

    And my new pride & joy!
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    airchie, 24 Aug 2006
    #58
  19. yahooadam

    yahooadam <span style="color:#f00;font-weight:bold">Ultra cs

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    yahooadam, 24 Aug 2006
    #59
  20. lnr

    lnr What's a Dremel?

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    heh, this mod has everything, good idea, cool equipment, violence and nudity!

    well blood and a naked screen anyway :D

    Seriously though, looking good :thumb:
     
    lnr, 24 Aug 2006
    #60
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