I'm considering taking a different route for my next home theatre upgrade, instead of the conventional 7.1 A/V receiver. I would build a Home Theatre PC instead. Has anyone build a HTPC for their home theatre?? What would be the requirements to make this a good system? I think, I could build a good HTPC for the price of a 7.1 receiver and have better flexible with it.

Any suggestoin would be much appreciated!! Many thanks in advance.

Bruce, I think you are a bit confused here my friend. A HTPC is NOT a replacement for a receiver. How do you plan on amplifying the sound? Not with a sound card. A HTPC is a replacement for a DVD player and a cache of digital files like MP3 and DiVX, not a receiver.

And there is NO WAY you could built a HTPC for the price of a 7.1 receiver, unless that receiver was a top brand.

Josh is completely correct, you still need a receiver. That's pretty much all many people have, the HTPC that can handle multiple sources and the receiver for sound amplification.

Thanks for the info guys.