Home Theater PC

A home theater PC (HTPC) combines all the components of a home theater in a single device. Also called a media PC or media server, it lets you play and record videos, listen to music, watch TV, and view photos while controlling only one box. Home theater computers are connected to a TV-sized display. High-end ones have a smaller screen of their own, which allows you to control them with a mouse and keyboard just like a regular computer.

Most Canadian home theater shops carry preconfigured HTPC box systems, but many users prefer to build their own. Technically, any computer with media features can be used as an HTPC, but to get the quality of a decent Canadian home theater, you need top-of-the-line components such as high-capacity graphics cards, sound cards, and fast processors.

Home theater PCs have been around for a while, but the traditional setup remains largely popular. This is mainly because of the complex HTPC setup procedures, as well as their price—a decent model will set you back around $4,000.That’s why they are mostly found in high-end Canadian home theater systems, at least for now.

If you’re considering getting or building a home theater PC, it’s important to consider which features you need and which ones you don’t. Most of the top sellers are those with extra features such as touch-screen LCDs, which don’t really contribute to media quality. Look for one with just the features you need to save on purchase price.