Entertainment Center Help

[Liquidbullets]

I was wondering if any tech savvy person could help me out with these questions/situation. Please PM if you would rather speak privately but let me know in this thread to check my PM box as I might not see it.


I'm trying to set up an "entertainment center" in my bedroom.


I want to get a Dell 32" W3207c, Xbox 360, Logitech Z-2300 2.1 Speakers, and my PC and have those all connected.


What I mean is I want the Dell TV to serve as my TV and my computer monitor, and for those speakers to work as my Computer, TV, and Xbox speakers. I want to be able to surf the net while watching television on the same screen also. Can I also be on my Xbox and be able to also surf the net? Such as a picture in picture or half screen.

Could this all be possible? What do I need besides the items I already listed?

Thanks. :beer:

[David]

I was wondering if any tech savvy person could help me out with these questions/situation. Please PM if you would rather speak privately but let me know in this thread to check my PM box as I might not see it.


I'm trying to set up an "entertainment center" in my bedroom.


I want to get a Dell 32" W3207c, Xbox 360, Logitech Z-2300 2.1 Speakers, and my PC and have those all connected.


What I mean is I want the Dell TV to serve as my TV and my computer monitor, and for those speakers to work as my Computer, TV, and Xbox speakers. I want to be able to surf the net while watching television on the same screen also. Can I also be on my Xbox and be able to also surf the net? Such as a picture in picture or half screen.

Could this all be possible? What do I need besides the items I already listed?

Thanks. :beer:

You first need to find out if this TV supports picture in picture - if so then you should be able to have the TV in one half of the tv/in a small box/whatever and have another activity using the rest of the screen.

[Liquidbullets]

If the tv does support PiP, what else would I need? Just an HDTV tuner or will a normal tuner box work? Will I need a comcast box in my room also for cable or will the tuner card connected to the cable suffice for HD?

I'm a bit lost as I have never tried anything like this.

[Elif Tymes]

What kind of inputs does the Dell TV Support?

[deception``]

1. Do not buy that Dell TV; Dell overcharges for their HDTV's. Ypu'll want to research TV's as you can get more for your money elsewhere (from guys like Samsung or Sony).

2. Do not expect to surf the net and play 360 on the same TV and get the same convenience as the PC. Sure, it could be done with the right P-I-P TV, but it probably will not be the type of experience you are looking for.

3. In order to truly link the Xbox 360 with your PC, you'll need a Media Center-ready PC and a connection between the PC & Xbox 360 via router (wired or wireless). Media Center PC's can seamlessly stream video and audio to the Xbox 360 (which will display on the TV, obviously). However, know that you'll need to use Transcode 360 if you want to stream anime, divx, or xvid video files.

4. Outside of what's listed, you'll need to have a router, more research on HDTV's, and a realistic approach of what your entertainment center will/will not do well.

deception``

[OC Noob]

If the tv does support PiP, what else would I need? Just an HDTV tuner or will a normal tuner box work? Will I need a comcast box in my room also for cable or will the tuner card connected to the cable suffice for HD?

I'm a bit lost as I have never tried anything like this.

You can use a standard TV card for all the analog channels (usually 1-99) and the comcast cable will screw right into it. You will need a standard TV card, an HDTV card and a comcast box to get those digital channels and HDTV from your PC.

What you might want to do is buy a reciever to make hooking sound up easier and it might make hooking video up easier too if you get a nice one.

Atleast with a reciever you can have 1 set of speakers for several devices that switch with the push of a button. Unless your TV has enough audio inputs.

You can run the PC through DVI, the 360 through component and the cable through S-video/comcast cable if you have no box and hope the TV has 3 audio inputs and run the audio output to your speakers.

I would get a reciever with Dolby Digital so you can enjoy 5.1 from your DVDs, PC and 360.

[Liquidbullets]

To achieve split screen is it an option on the PC or is that on the TV side. I was wondering in order to not have to get a tuner card for now, would the following be possible?

Connect the TV as you normally would for HD through the Comcast box. Then connect the PC to the TV to be used as a monitor. The TV would then to have an option for split screen, correct? This if the television supports it.

Am I right to think that the other way is that I'd have to wire everything through the PC to achieve the split screen surfing/watching HD? For this option what I'm understanding is I'd then have to purchase an HD tuner card for the PC and this would also grant me the option to copy TV onto my hard drives.

Am I starting to understand this?

Sorry, and Thanks.