Turning your PC into a media center...

/usr

Really, I would like to be able to output the video to my tv and audio from my PC to my surround sound speakers that are hooked up to my TV an DVD player, just using the OS I have now. (Vista Business or XP Pro)

Is this a relatively easy setup?

dynamik

What do you have for a TV, receiver, video output, and sound output?

All I had to get was a DVI-to-HDMI cable and a mini-to-RCA, cable, and I was set. You'd probably want to pick up another sound card with optical out if you're an audiophile though. On-board audio was good enough for me.

doom969

Yup, i'D say its easy to set-up. I use the S-Video from my Nvidia Card for Video output (Tv is not HD). I use the onboard optic out from my mobo to output to the home cinema. I have Vista ultimate's media center, with all sorts of tweaks and 3rd partys, and it rocks. I really love it.

Couple of good sites to start looking .:

The green button : http://thegreenbutton.com/default.aspx

The missing Remote : http://www.missingremote.com/

Digital lifestyle : http://thedigitallifestyle.com/cs/

Good luck !

/usr

I's a Polaroid HD widescreen...I don't know the model without looking. I have Dish Network with DVR.

I really have no interest in doing anything TV related with my computer. I'm fine using my existing DVD player, DVR recorder, etc.

I really would just like to be able to look at pictures, surf the internet, (primarily) listen to music through the surround sound, and (possibly) play some games.

Am I just looking at getting a sound card that supports Dolby 5.1, most likely another surround sound system (I have a bit of an older one...my parents upgraded and I got theirs), and a video card that supports video out?

Any recommendations for cheap (but decent) equipment to do this would be much appreciated!

/usr

And I really don't want to buy Vista Ultimate Edition...