This is a special episode dedicated to the Home Theater and Home Theater PC (HTPC) discussion.

Below is a list of all the links we compiled while researching the HTPC topic.
• Check out the Wikia page.
• 25 reasons to use the HTPC.
• Why not use a PC? The PC vs HTPC solution.
• What Operating System and Software should you use? We discuss Marc’s Linux setup.

Below are links to all of the physical hardware we’ve talked about.
• The Tower/Case that can easily fit into your entertainment centre.
• A micro-ATX Motherboard to use in the HTPC. Plus some extra information about motherboard formfactors.
• Marc is shopping for this TV.
• The HTPC Marc is building will include the following parts: Cable, Capture Card, Chasis, Cooling Product (Chassis), Cooling Product (CPU), Hard Drive, Keyboard / Mice / Input, Memory / RAM, Motherboard, Motherboards & CPU, Network Card, Optical Device, Power Protection, Power Supply, Processor, Sound Card, Speakers and a Video Card. The grand total on this PC build is just $714.00… very affordable considering it can handle BluRay, HDTV, Tvio functions and much more, plus it’s being run on a Linux OS which is free. In the end you save money on extra hardware and monthly subscriptions to services like HD services, Tivo and others.

Here are some great websites you need to know about.
• Monoprice.com is the best website in the world for audio and video accessories. Need wires? Cables? Camera’s? plus endless other things for extremely cheap? visit monoprice.com and save yourself a shit load of money.
• The AVS Forums are a fantastic place to ask questions and get expert answers… Check these guys out if you need your questions answered fast.
• Newegg.com (or Newegg.ca) is one of the largest PC hardware suppliers on the internet, USE THEM FOR EVERYTHING!
• 2 Great codec packs (K-Lite & GStreamer)… You’ll need 1 of these free packages to drive all the video and audio coming from your HTPC.
• Digital Video Essentials sells a physical DVD or BluRay disc that will help you calibrate your TV as far as colours and the way it should look.
• The Home Theater Network website is where you can find many answers and suggestions for lots of different things regarding the HTPC…. and many other things.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE:
Episode #53 MP3 File Download (click to listen)