What is the advantage of having a htpc?

Can it replace your audio tuner?

See the thread linked below:

HTPC Advantages:
http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22778

The simple answer to your second question is: If you use the PCs DVD player and/or have a TV tuner card plus a good sound card capable of either 5:1 or 7:1 sound, then yes, it can replace an audio receiver.

So , If I have a 7.1 home theater speaker set up. How can I hook up the speakers directly to the 7.1 sound card without using a stereo tuner?
I want the htpc to replace the audio tuner.

What sound card and speakers are you asking about?

Remember, when asking questions it is best to give as much information as possible.

Sry, 7.1 audigy card.
not sure on the speakers they are "in wall" from hififorless dot com.(my bro bought them), he said they were $50 a pair


Just curious, Why does it matter what speakers and sound card?

thanks

Since you didn't specify, I'm guessing you have the Sound Blaster Audigy SE. The same goes for the Sound Blaster Audigy Value:

http://www.creative.com/products/speakers/...;sc=2&ssc=1

If you already have a system with an A/V receiver, most sound cards will not replace it. If youre talking about hooking it up to say a logitech PC surround sound system, where the Sub has the amp for everything, then yes, you could. These systems are OK for gaming in an office i guess, but not really much power to them for a dedicated theater/media room. Stick with a receiver. The advantage of HTPCs is the capability of doing things such as scaling for a lot cheaper than their A/V counterparts... so its basically a hot-rod DVD player... well and maybe a media server, etc.

yep I wouldn't say the HTPC would replace your surround sound system..maybe if you bought the 500 watt (and $500) computer speakers.

It could be used as a DVD Player and DVR as well as be able to play any audio and video format you wish and scale it to your screen/convert it to a format your audio receiver understands. It can be used with software such as ffdshow to be an upscaling player and also allow you to have a very large computer monitor (your tv).

I'll be using my HTPC for DVDs, CDs, movies and music ripped to the hard drive, (or maybe to a server). I'll be throwing in a TV tuner card with FM reciever, although I'll probably only be using the FM, at least initially. (Can't find an AM reciever, but that's no biggie.) It's going to be hooked to my Logitech Z5500 505W 5.1 surround sound via digital SPDIF from a Creative Labs Audigy card. It has a touch screen display that I'm upgrading from 17" CRT to 6.3" LCD, and I'll need to rewrite the software on it.

To me this offers exceptional value for money, because a, I can't afford anything more, and b, I wouldn't appreciate any difference in quality anyway. As SupraGuy noted in a thread this isn't a "real" setup, and he's right, but to me it is AWESOME! Don't let people dissuade you because of their personal preferences, make the decision on whether it will work for you.