Seeking a little help regarding entertainment centre.

[T3hGr8£st]

I'm currently considering re-vamping my bedroom entirely, and as a part of that I'm going to make it a bit of a tech haven


However, I want to set up the following.

32" HDTV
Sky HD
PC
PS2 for the moment, which may change to a 360 or PS3 after Crimbo
Stereo

all together.

I want to have the sound for my PC, Console and TV all through my stereo (thats easy enough) but here is where it gets a little complicated.

I would like to set up so I can record TERRESTRIAL TV on my PC HDD, obviously I don't need to set up Sky through it as the HD box is already a digi recorder.

I wouldnt mind having my console through my PC, so I can record my playing it, but that isnt a neccesity, would just be a nice luxury.

I would like yo know if there is much difference in DVI and VGA when using the TV as a display for my PC, my PC's graphics card has Dual DVI, what can I do with that?

I may also consider investing in a surround sound system, how do I go about linking PC / TV / Console / SKY all through that?

I haven't bought the HDTV yet.
I have the SKY HD
I have this graphics card
http://uk.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1...66&modelmenu=1
And this motherboard
http://uk.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1...93&modelmenu=1

So, basically, whats the best setup I can osrt myself out with? I'm sure most of you get the idea of what I want to do. I have about £2000 to spend if needed.

/Benj


edit: just to make it even more complicated for you all, I currently have a 17" LCD tv I use for my PC monitor and TV, I wouldnt mind having that so I can use it as a PC monitor while I watch Sky on the big telly...lol.

[nvening]

I have this

http://www.samsung.com/uk/products/t...6r73bdxxeu.asp

Hooked up to my pc (as a media center) and it is brilliant. Defo a good option for your TV.

It retails for around £1000 on special even tho i got it for £720 mwahahahah

[T3hGr8£st]

Is this the R74 of that? I presume its the later model or am I wrong?

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Elec...V/Product.html

Looks canny tasty.

[nvening]

the r74 is exactly the same except it has a silver bit round the speakers instead of blue, the blue is nicer too imo

[Funkstar]

For the media center software side of things, take a look at MediaPortal (http://www.team-mediaportal.com/) a very good open source alternative to MCE.

For freeview on the PC, you will need a DVB-T card. As long as it has BDA drivers and is listed as compatible with MCE, it should work with MediaPortal. This is a good one though, supported without tinkering in MP and a decent price too.
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=288373

I'm not 100% on the details of capturing analogue. I don't think MediaPortal supports the analogue part of DVB-T cards right now, but that might be coming in their big TVEngine overhaul they are working on. Bear in mind that there will probably be a lag between the console and the output from whatever software does the capture, so you might be best to actually play with the PS2 hooked to both the PC and TV at the same time.