Converting a PC to be a music server??

[Mark W.]

I have a Gateway Essential PC I bought in 2000 I'm on it right now. I also have a Smoken PC I built to use with Photo's. I have then both setup on my desk side by side monitors etc.

I have been thinking about building a rack mounted (I my case Shrine mounted) PC based server.

And the little Gateway at 4" tall X 12.5" wide X 13" deep would work out real well physically.

I can run IDE type HD's in it It currently has a 80 Gig I could swap this out for a much bigger drive. I could up grade the CDR drive for a DVD/CD RW drive I could Get software that would allow me to record to the HD through my Philips Extenal Sound processor. Heck the Case even lends itself to being Silverfaced OH and it's a Horizontal format machine.

Now I would need a Keyboard (I could buy a Mini as long as it's USB) and a little Mouse unless I could find a Mini key board with a track ball setup) And then if I used the TV as my monitor I guess I would need one of those PC to TV monitor things. That could be stashed somewhere out of sight.

Anyone that has done something like this know of any tips I should know about before I try this?

[Valsimot]

before you read, be warned: i have yet to build my own htpc. everything i say comes from conclusions i have come to during my "planing phase".

i'm not familiar with Gateway Essential PCs, or any brand name pcs for that matter. no-name stuff is more represented around here. from what i've seen of vga to component/s-video, it would be cheaper to change the graphics card for one with s-video out. if you're gonna change it you should grab a cheap one with passive cooling.

if any cooling fans are giving you trouble (buzzing) swap them for zalman, papst or GlacialTech. just like cooling fans, not all hard drives make the same noise. i personally like seagate, i have a 120gb barracuda and it's unbelievably quiet compared to the 40gb ibm it replaced. if all else fails, you can always just shove some insulation in there...

as far as keyboards go, i know sharkoon made a small wireless (rf) keyboard with a trackball. i think it was about €60 but i'm sure there are cheaper ones. imho you really don't need a keyboard for music servers, you could get by with using just a mouse or even a normal remote. i'm sure you have some old one laying around. just need to map the buttons (takes 5 min). if you need to type you can use on screen keyboard. it's a bit slower, but then you don't have an ugly keyboard in the middle of your shrine.

[JimmyNeutron]

Mark, wireless keyboards are available at most computer outlets for about $20.00 - check mine out: Dell wireless keyboard and mouse $19.99 all day long. Hard drives are cheap, video cards with s-video outs are also cheap. Computer cases are cheap, but you may want to build a "Pioneer Spec" vintage look case to match your equipment ( building a case is not all that hard). You've already got a computer so your mostly there already. Download my favorite GUI - Meedio - and you've got an awesome media center.

If you need help in your music servers you know where to look :thmbsp: www.jimmyneutron.org. Good luck.

jimmy

[Mark W.]

Not sure how aggressively I'll be going after this idea I really like my little gateway just as it is a loud (really needs the power supply fan changed LOL) glorified internet telephone with pictures.

BUT I might take this idea on if I get some free time.

[sleddogman]

Perhaps consider one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856110057 Click on the Specs tab too.

Small footprint, IDE and SATA controllers, nVidia GeForce 6150 built-in graphics which includes direct DVI output to HDTV, Reatek sound, built-in gigabit ethernet, Q-Fan automatic variable speed CPU fan. Practically silent. Built-in S-Video and RCA composite too.

Add an AMD Athlon X2 CPU, 1GB of Ram, a 300 or 400 SATA seiral drive, a DVD-ROM (or Lite-On DVD combo burner) and you're cooking.

I have the slightly older Socket 939 model with an AMD X2 4400+ that I use with a Microsoft wireless mouse/keyboard for watching anime on a Sharp Aquos 42" LCD TV at 1080 x 720 Hi-def. The resolution of the nVidia chipset via the DVI output is stunning and completely color and resolution tweakable.

Rock solid little unit... :thmbsp:

[similost]

I've come up with a somewhat clever PC music server, and man does it work and sound really good...

I had an old IBM T23 laptop laying around, so I loaded Jetaudio on it to play the music with. I even got a cool skin for it that kinda matches the PA system I'm running it on ;)

Then.. I have a Dell XPS laptop that stays on the coffee table in front of me all the time.. I couldn't deal with the cable running to the entertainment center from it, so I loaded SimpleDesktop onto both laptops, and I can control the server laptop from my daily driver while in my favorite seat. I tried using RDP, but when you start a session, it kills the audio to the headphone jack.. all audio for that matter. The simpledesktop is free ware, and works really well for remotely controlling your jukebox :)