I have been using a Gateway FMC-901 as a home media center, mainly to play music from my home server (barely used the MC portion at all).

I recently did a clean install of MCE2005, added RAM, and put in a 2nd HD for ripping movies.

The only thing left is the sound. The machine has this output setup, along with a digital output as well. My main goal is to minimize the amount of 'boxes' being used, so I'd rather not get an additional home theatre system unless I have to.

What's a good setup for this output?

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Gateway FMC-901 XP Pro MCE 2005
nVidia PureVideo Platinum Decoder Pack
2 gig RAM
120 GB main HD
500 GB secondary drive w/ ripped DVDs
Samsung 46" LCD TV

if you want as few boxes as possible, then just go mini > rca cable from the Audio OUT of the HTPC, to your audio IN of your TV

If you want 5.1 surround sound, you'll need a receiver

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Mike Garcen
TGB Moderator | MissingRemote Editor/Reviewer| Microsoft MVP - Media Center
My MCE Setup

shadymg:

If you want 5.1 surround sound, you'll need a receiver

I guess that's where my confusion comes in. the MCPC 'allegedly' has the outputs for 5.1 already. Are they just for show, or some sort of 'other' surround sound?

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Gateway FMC-901 XP Pro MCE 2005
nVidia PureVideo Platinum Decoder Pack
2 gig RAM
120 GB main HD
500 GB secondary drive w/ ripped DVDs
Samsung 46" LCD TV

well....unless you go with computer speakers (which are self powered), then you would need an amplifier. The Media Center PC WILL do the audio decoding (so it will automatically decode the DTS or Dolby 5.1 sounds, and output it to your analog 5.1 connections)

But still gotta find some way to get it to your speakers. So that's either A) Computer speakers, B) Amplifier, or C) Receiver

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Mike Garcen
TGB Moderator | MissingRemote Editor/Reviewer| Microsoft MVP - Media Center
My MCE Setup

Gotcha. That makes sense now. Looks like there will be one more machine on the shelf.

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Gateway FMC-901 XP Pro MCE 2005
nVidia PureVideo Platinum Decoder Pack
2 gig RAM
120 GB main HD
500 GB secondary drive w/ ripped DVDs
Samsung 46" LCD TV

well, at least if you go the "receiver" route, you can minimize cables and use digital toslink, instead of analog 5.1 cables

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Mike Garcen
TGB Moderator | MissingRemote Editor/Reviewer| Microsoft MVP - Media Center
My MCE Setup

I am leaning towards one of the 'sound bars', since (a) it's one or two pieces, tops, and (b) there aren't any long wires to run.

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Gateway FMC-901 XP Pro MCE 2005
nVidia PureVideo Platinum Decoder Pack
2 gig RAM
120 GB main HD
500 GB secondary drive w/ ripped DVDs
Samsung 46" LCD TV