Ok, so I've been contemplating, a custom HTPC, but instead of being in a regular case, how about a old school VCR: the pioneer of old school home entertainment? I'm not sure if this has been done before, or even if it has, has it been done with the same thoughts I have in mind?
I would like to build a system that has HD video support, HD audio support, and of course recording support... I just need some help and ideas for how I should go about this and as I know this is by far the best place to go for help on this type of thing. So any suggestions good priced motherboards, processors, HDs, parts...etc would be great as I am just contemplating this like I said.

Some things I've considered-

Is a processing power really a issue? Could I probably get away with most of these features and play movies and record and playback pretty decent on a relatively cheap AM2 set-up or an old Socket A Micro Atx I have lying around.

Itx mother boards: great size, nice integrated features, cool running temps, lower power consumption decent support, but a little short on processing power and performance side, rather pricey..

Micro atx motherboards: Less pricey, better performance possibilities, still good integrated features, but a little harder to fit into a average VCR case, generally higher running temps and power consumption.

Harddrives: Should I run a notebook hardrive or a desktop harddrive? Probably a better question when it come to the room I have.. although I would rather have a desktop harddrive do to the higher performance and lower price..

Power Supplys: same thing as the harddrives. probably better answered when size is able to be considered.

so LMK what you guys think..

Let me suggest you go ultra-old-school and try to find a top-loading RCA VCR from back when VCRs were first out and $1000 bucks a pop.

1] Coolness factor
2] Sturdyness - the shells were built like tanks. Had to be - the internals were heavy.
3] Size - You'll be able to get everything you want in the box, no questions asked. Hide the UPS in there if you choose.

Bonus points if you can keep the top-loading mechanism intact and do something special with it.

You'll have to haunt the salvage yards and the garage sale circuit to find one of these dogs. Don't be put off if it isn't "cherry" - it's supposed to look like you've had it since '78.

Happy hunting!
-MF

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System wise I definitely advise that you go with a mini-atx motherboard. You'll save tons of money that way and to be honest you shouldn't have any problems so long as you build in some decent air vents.

For the motherboard I would suggest a an AMD 780G motherboard. Yes Intel is much more powerful but you have to spend more, and you really don't need all that much proccessing power. Plus the integrated graphics on the 780G are absolutely superb for HD video decoding and can even manage a decent bit of gaming. You can pick one up for right around $100 like this one. Pair it with a 65nm X2 and 1GB of RAM and you've got quite the nice system for under $200.

Processing power definitely won't be an issue but if you find any stuttering with your HD video check out CoreAVC. It will allow you to playback HD video on even the slowest of computers.

In terms of a hard drive you definetly want a desktop hard drive. Notebook hard drives are way more expensive, slower, and offer less capacity. The current favorite for HTPC hard drives are the Western Digital Green Power drives as they change the rotation speed depending on the application. This in turn means super quiet drives, less power, and very slightly degraded performance.


Looks like it'll be an interesting little mod. Enjoy it and hope that helps

Quote: Originally Posted by Monsignor Funkibut Let me suggest you go ultra-old-school and try to find a top-loading RCA VCR from back when VCRs were first out and $1000 bucks a pop. 1] Coolness factor 2] Sturdyness - the shells were built like tanks. Had to be - the internals were heavy. 3] Size - You'll be able to get everything you want in the box, no questions asked. Hide the UPS in there if you choose. Bonus points if you can keep the top-loading mechanism intact and do something special with it. You'll have to haunt the salvage yards and the garage sale circuit to find one of these dogs. Don't be put off if it isn't "cherry" - it's supposed to look like you've had it since '78. Happy hunting! -MF

Sounds like a good idea, any extra room helps.. I'm officially on the search for a vintage vcr now... thanks for the idea, I think it will def. make this mod a little more unique.

Quote: Originally Posted by eascarface System wise I definitely advise that you go with a mini-atx motherboard. You'll save tons of money that way and to be honest you shouldn't have any problems so long as you build in some decent air vents. For the motherboard I would suggest a an AMD 780G motherboard. Yes Intel is much more powerful but you have to spend more, and you really don't need all that much proccessing power. Plus the integrated graphics on the 780G are absolutely superb for HD video decoding and can even manage a decent bit of gaming. You can pick one up for right around $100 like this one. Pair it with a 65nm X2 and 1GB of RAM and you've got quite the nice system for under $200. Processing power definitely won't be an issue but if you find any stuttering with your HD video check out CoreAVC. It will allow you to playback HD video on even the slowest of computers. In terms of a hard drive you definetly want a desktop hard drive. Notebook hard drives are way more expensive, slower, and offer less capacity. The current favorite for HTPC hard drives are the Western Digital Green Power drives as they change the rotation speed depending on the application. This in turn means super quiet drives, less power, and very slightly degraded performance. Looks like it'll be an interesting little mod. Enjoy it and hope that helps

I had considered this and if I do go with the vintage VCR then it should fit fine..thanks for the link. And I'll look into that WD hard drive.

Found something...Vintage RCA Selecta Vision Video Cassette Recorder - eBay (item 110238001462 end time Apr-04-08 12:05:06 PDT)
And what do you know they actually list the dimensions...lol
What do you think?

Looks good to me. I'll be interested to see what you do about getting enough airflow and whether you can keep the outside mostly the same.

Man - you can find anything on eBay! Score! I believe mine was a little taller and had fakey wood trim. But for $1-2 plus shipping this one is golden.
-MF

Do you plan on using MythTV? There are links there to hardware requirements.

I do like this idea. I remember my folks' olde tyme, "wood"-panel, top-loading VHS.

Ok so I went ahead and put a $4.00 bid down and shipping will be $24.00 I don't think anyone else will bid on it though.
I am already looking into how im going to make the dvd tray work.. I found this video
YouTube - Old VCR Playing Scarface - Has Swearing and Violence in the beginning it gives me a couple ideas to how I'm going to get this to work and it actually lets me see how these things work as I have never actually see one in action (except in Napoleon Dynamite).
I am having one problem however I put a VHS (188(W) x 25(H) x 104(D)mm) up to a dvd and the dvd itself is actually larger (12cm or 120mm) so some serious modifaction is going to be necessary. any ideas?

was the site down or something..?

Yeah - the site may have been having a 'memcache' issue of some sort - I thought it was on my end.

Anyhow.................

DVD may not be the answer in the top-tray exactly because you say - size. No matter how hard I try I can't get my Dragon's Lair Laserdisc in my DVD player

Maybe a better answer would be side by side 3.5" floppy and 72-in-1 card reader [SD, SDHC, micro SD, etc.]

Or one of those Audigy-style breakout boxes.

Webcam. Fan controller. DSL modem.

My point is that it doesn't HAVE to be DVD. Find another place for a slot-loader.

Additional bonus points are available:
1] Keep the original buttons and keep them functional. Power button should power on. Mute should mute speakers.
2] The remote should work - if you're getting a remote.
3] The clock should keep time.
Anything you can do to keep the original functionality intact and STILL get a computer inside is awesomeness where I live

This is probably a big enough project that you should use the measurements provided, cut up some cardboard and start prototyping a layout.

-MF

Looks like a good plan coming together!
Consider me subbed

Quote: Originally Posted by Monsignor Funkibut Yeah - the site may have been having a 'memcache' issue of some sort - I thought it was on my end. Anyhow................. DVD may not be the answer in the top-tray exactly because you say - size. No matter how hard I try I can't get my Dragon's Lair Laserdisc in my DVD player Maybe a better answer would be side by side 3.5" floppy and 72-in-1 card reader [SD, SDHC, micro SD, etc.] Or one of those Audigy-style breakout boxes. Webcam. Fan controller. DSL modem. My point is that it doesn't HAVE to be DVD. Find another place for a slot-loader. Additional bonus points are available: 1] Keep the original buttons and keep them functional. Power button should power on. Mute should mute speakers. 2] The remote should work - if you're getting a remote. 3] The clock should keep time. Anything you can do to keep the original functionality intact and STILL get a computer inside is awesomeness where I live This is probably a big enough project that you should use the measurements provided, cut up some cardboard and start prototyping a layout. -MF

Good point.. Thanks for the ideas.. was thinking though, I could mabe fit a slim front loading dvd rom like this one in there, depending on clearance, and then take an old vhs and cut it and mount the actual dvd-rom in it just for looks... but I will have to wait until I get the VCR to see. I also have quiet a few purchases pending on ebay so we'll see.
The part's list I have accumilated includes the following:
ASUS M3A78-EMH HDMI
A Brisbane Amd processor and going to try to get ahold of one >2 ghz
A 500gb Sata HD
A pair of 1gb ddr2 preferably 1066 since the board supports it..
A HD tuner card
A decent 500w powersupply
And I came across a sale on Directron- 4 120mm fans for like $12.99
waiting on the actual case before I make a decision on the DVD-rom (would like to get a Blu-ray but it kills the budget...)

wicked awesome idea, might have to hijack someday.

yo wicked hot chick in your sig.. anyways I'm waiting on my bids to come through..

Good news I won the VCR lol no one else bidded as expected, and I also one a Rosewell 450 watt PS to power the unit...
O and I found this commercial for the vcr. And I also found out The VBT200, the first retail SelectaVision product, was the first VHS Video Cassette Recorder marketed in the United States.

You might look at the Gigabyte 780G motherboard rather than the Asus since it has firewire and eSATA which are both fairly handy things to have.

Quote: Originally Posted by PCgEeK321 Good news I won the VCR lol no one else bidded as expected

The seller probably had a heart attack when he got the email from eBay saying someone was bidding. Win-win!

Quote: Originally Posted by Merkwurdigliebe The seller probably had a heart attack when he got the email from eBay saying someone was bidding. Win-win!

That ain't no joke. Anywho, that is a big ass vcr. The pictures on the ebay ad just didn't do it justice like that little youtube vid. Looks like you should have plenty of space.