5. Components For The Ideal Media PC, Continued

Dell Ultrasharp 2407WFP

Sony KDL-46XBR3 46" Bravia LCD HDTV

Picture quality is key to making the most of high-definition video, with HDMI and HDCP support likewise necessary to fully appreciate HD-DVD and Blu-ray sources. We could have used any 1080p capable HDTV set for our test viewing, but we decided to use a Dell Ultrasharp 2407WFP monitor because its high resolution (1920x1200), built-in HDMI support and relatively compact size fit our testing situation best. We did try our set-up using a real HDMI-equipped HDTV, the Sony KDL-46XBR3 46" Bravia LCD set. It produced a great picture, albeit with only two-channel simulated surround sound from its built-in speakers.

Given the need for various dongles and wireless interfaces - we needed one connection for our wireless keyboard/mouse combination, another for 802.11g wireless networking, and would use one or two more for additional hard disks in a production situation, not to mention another one for the Xbox 360 HD-DVD player for those who choose that route to HD-DVD playback - an ample supply of USB ports is a must-have for a media PC. If your motherboard and case together don't offer at least six USB ports, consider adding a compact USB hub to your setup. Well-known vendors such as Belkin, Linksys and D-Link all offer seven-port hubs for under $40, with four-port models available for under $15.

To summarize: when we put a media PC together, we want one that's as compact and quiet as possible, preferably in a good-looking horizontal case with a built-in IR receiver to make working with the remote as easy as possible. Given the preceding list of desiderata, you're probably wondering where our HDMI-equipped high-definition media PC builds ran afoul of them. Please read the next section to understand where our desires conflicted with the current realities.