home media center?

I used an old XP computer to build mine. The specs are pretty 1GB RAM and a 2GH dual processor 1GB HDMI graphics card. Depending on your OS you might be stretching your hardware. Assied from the hardware I have a couple exteran hard drives totaling 3TB. I use this to watch all my digital videos and streaming videos like netflix and others. I like it better than devices built for this pourpos because I can watch anything. You can only get so much on the Rokus and Chromcasts of the world.

The changes I made in the computer were: Installing the graphics card, which I got for about $20. This had the HDMI connection for my TV and more then enough power for simple video watching.

The tricky part has been controling. Aside from running a mouse and keyboard across the room I have tried a couple things. So for my fave is this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/400317962905

Its a IR Keyboard/Mouse. I've also used a Xbox 360 USB controller with some special software that made it act as a mouse and I could program buttons. Also, other stuff like using Teamviewer and Smartphone connection software. But if you get it going I recommend the IR keyboard.mouse.

Which computer components you need will depend on what you want to do with the system . Watch 3d, HD content, store mp3s and videos, dvr live tv?

http://www.wikihow.com/Build-a-Home-Theater-PC-(HT...

Google for how to build a htpc or how to build home media center and you will get a lot of info.

I would try a search on "old computers" at Distrowatch to see which distributions are returned as matches. The site is at

http://distrowatch.com/