An old PC is fine, but one that's too elderly will leave you with a laggy interface and inconsistent video streaming. In the end, what really matters are the guts of your computer. Alternatively, you can use a roving laptop that gets put into HTPC mode when you plunk down onto the couch after work. An out-of-use laptop or desktop is the ideal candidate for your HTPC, since it can be stationed in your media center along with the rest of your home theater equipment. A basic setup lets you stream the occasional Web video, while a more advanced rig lets you access movie and music files from computers across your home network.īut the most brag-worthy home theater PCs (HTPCs) include all the right elements: carefully chosen hardware, proper display settings, ergonomic accessories, and software that turns your PC into a set-top box. Hooking up your computer to your TV can be as simple or as complex as you want.

Maybe you even purchased a video cable, only to realize that being hunched over your computer and tethered to the TV is far from the awesome setup you had in mind.

At some point, you've probably considered hooking your computer up to your TV.

Linux media center pc with plex