Cheap media center PC

[nvening]

What is the cheapest capable media centre you could build?

My parents are bugging me for something to replace the VHS and i feel this could be better than a dvd HDD recorder (cause thay we would have to get a lovely sony one )

[Dav0s]

you could get away with a P3 machine if you have hardware encoding.

[mofo's]

I'm running a Barton 2500, 512mb PC3200, 128mb FX5200 (will upgrade soon) as my HTPC, runs very nicely indeed.

[GDVS]

Based on extensive experience with both MCE 2005 and MythTV I'd say "Don't do it yet".

MCE 2007 will be the one to watch, until then I honestly don't think the software is there yet.

[chilled]

Based on extensive experience with both MCE 2005 and MythTV I'd say "Don't do it yet".

MCE 2007 will be the one to watch, until then I honestly don't think the software is there yet.

QFT.

It's getting there. Expect teething problems though. Remember you'll need a decent TV tuner, and a DX9 graphics card, as well as a media centre remote and wireless keyboard mouse.