Advice/thoughts/suggestions on building a CHEAP gamebox

[noiseredux]

I've been thinking again (like I do every year or so) about how I'd love to build a set-top box. The problem is, I'm very cheap when it comes to these kind of DIY projects. If anything, it's more the interest in tinkering. But I don't really like spending a lot of $ to tinker.

Anyway... my wants:

Size - I'd prefer a smaller PC, like a HTPC if possible so that it fits snug under my entertainment system and has a smaller "console" feel.

Output - This might be tricky. I plan to use this on a CRT. Do they even still make video cards for current PC's (especially ones that will fit in a HTPC) that can output composite or component?

Optical Media - Yup. This is important to me. I'd really like to use this quite a bit as a single box that plays Sega CD, Saturn, PS1, Turbo CD, NGCD, 3DO, CD-i, PS2 (if it has the muscle to do so), and so on.

So Basically - I like the idea of this game-box that plays a bunch of disc-based stuff via emulator, and then has the ability to also play Steam/GOG stuff as well as some old PC games (I just found my big-box Dragon's Lair in a closet over the weekend!) and newer indie stuff.

Oh And Most Importantly - I'm cheap. Like I said above, I don't want to pay a lot for this project. If need be, I'd prob slowly build it buying one part at a time as I had the extra $.

So with everything I've said, anyone have suggestions to help me accomplish such a feat?

[fastbilly1]

So something the size of a VCR that outputs Composite and can run PS2 games from the disc for cheap... It is doable (well all but PS2), but it is going to be alot of work in both research and configuring. How confident are you in your skills in computer hardware and software? And can you ballpark a pricepoint you are shooting for?

[noiseredux]

I'm sure I'd be fine w/ setting up emulators and all. I mean, I've dabbled with that enough in the past.

Hardware-wise... I don't know. I've replaced HDD's and video cards. Basic stuff like that.

I guess the stuff I don't really know about is the HTPC hardware. Meaning, I'd like a small case of course, but does that use the same components as a standard PC? Or is it laptop parts? I mean, I think I have spare HDD's laying around the house somewhere (both IDE and a laptop one...)

And of course, I'm still unclear on how I'd display this via composite, or component successfully.

(*I should note that it would be nice if it still also had VGA, DVI or HDMI output as well, so I could use it on CRT or a monitor or HDTV as needed.)

Price-range = the cheapest I can do it for.

[fastbilly1]

Let me see what I can price out.

I had an article about this for the main page at one point but we decided that we didnt want to get into the tech support side of posting up an article like that. But who knows I might have to dust that off for this.

[CRTGAMER]

If you or a friend has a Laptop, maybe do a test run to see the video quality if it has the outpuits built in? I think composite would be horrendous coming from a PC, component would be your best shot for the CRT TV.

I use a Laptop that luckily has SVideo output and works reasonably well with my HD CRT. Smaller text is readable, but a little blurry compared to a VGA signal. I really need to get a VGA to Component scaler to get max use out of it.

The laptop versus desktop would cost a little more, but might be handy with the extra screen when you need a duel display. For instance I keep the hard drive explorer open on the Laptop screen with the game displayed on the TV. This really helps in the case of Mame which keeps its Menu on the smaller screen with Pacman running on the big screen.

[noiseredux]

The laptop versus desktop would cost a little more, but might be handy with the extra screen when you need a duel display. For instance I keep the hard drive explorer open on the Laptop screen with the game displayed on the TV. This really helps in the case of Mame which keeps its Menu on the smaller screen with Pacman running on the big screen.

my spare laptop is way too F'ing ancient. I actually dicked around with it last year in an attempt to do something like this. At that stage, I had no way to get it on a CRT, so was just using it connected to my HDTV for testing purposes. But the thing is just brutally old and couldn't run most emulators I attempted.

If I'm going to start from scratch, I do not want to use a laptop. As stated, I want a small PC so that it has a bit of a console look/feel to it.

[CRTGAMER]

If I'm going to start from scratch, I do not want to use a laptop. As stated, I want a small PC so that it has a bit of a console look/feel to it.

At least be sure to get that Component capability, I think Composite will be disappointing. If your TV is a non HD or ED and ony 480i SD, even the Component connection may not be clear enough depending on what game you want to play. That is why I was suggesting on findng a Laptop thru a friend that has that Composite output, just for testing before investing.

As for the older Laptop just as a stand alone machine, maybe try some DOS EMUs? Not DOS Box, but DOS 6.22. I think you'll be surprised how much faster the DOS version run on older PCs.

[noiseredux]

At least be sure to get that Component capability, I think Composite will be disappointing. If your TV is a non HD or ED and ony 480i SD, even the Component connection may not be clear enough depending on what game you want to play. That is why I was suggesting on findng a Laptop thru a friend that has that Composite output, just for testing before investing.

unfortunately I don't know anyone that has a laptop with composite or component output. Heck, I'm still not clear on how I'd get an HTPC with composite or component output. (Obviously, if I have a choice between the two I'd prefer component).

[fastbilly1]

Depending on the case you like, you are looking at $500ish to get what you want. A couple of the emulators are very CPU intensive - 3do, CDi, and PS2, and need more than what you can get in the sub $300 range. I can easily price out a system that would run up to Saturn/PSX/N64 mostly fine for $350ish.

Now this is all without factoring in the OS. If you need to, that adds 100-130 to the price for Windows 8 or 7.

I do not know of a modern card that will output Composite, so you will have to use a composite scan converter. Granted those are only $20 for a good one. Or $40ish for a component scan converter.

[CRTGAMER]

At least be sure to get that Component capability, I think Composite will be disappointing. If your TV is a non HD or ED and ony 480i SD, even the Component connection may not be clear enough depending on what game you want to play. That is why I was suggesting on findng a Laptop thru a friend that has that Composite output, just for testing before investing.

unfortunately I don't know anyone that has a laptop with composite or component output. Heck, I'm still not clear on how I'd get an HTPC with composite or component output. (Obviously, if I have a choice between the two I'd prefer component).

I just added something above concerning your older Laptop as a stand alone. I would definitely go Component, some video cards have them.

What is the make and model of your TV? There are some CRTs that have component input but only have 480i capability. The video quality can be a big factor before investing in the new dedicated console PC.