HTPCs have been quickly gaining traction in the PC world. HTPC stands for Home Theater PC, and what makes them so desirable is that they are capable of playing all different types of media.
Gone are the days when PCs had to be large towering desktop eyesores. A fully customized computer can be built in a case no larger than a coke can, or even smaller. They can be as flashy as you want, or simple to fit with any interior décor.
HTPCs can be fully customized from the components inside, to the case, and even the lighting effects. They can also be found in pretty much any color and style you can imagine so you are guaranteed to find a case that suits your taste.
The reason they are becoming so popular these days is that the prices for computer parts are at a spot where you can get a decent amount of power for an attractive price. These media PCs can be as cost effective or as expensive as you desire, you can build a fully capable box for under $500.
So what’s the big deal? Well simply put, an HTPC can be used for many different things. You can stream movies, downloaded or otherwise, from any sources you may have. You can play music and even games if you build an HTPC with gaming grade hardware. Then there’s the audio. A PC can produce much higher quality audio than any other device and be hooked up to a stereo receiver to play in full 5.1/7.1/7.2/9.2 surround sound.
I had mentioned gaming. It is a fact that gaming on a PC is an overall better experience than playing on a console. If you are into gaming, that is another reason to jump into the HTPC because aside from all of its other functions, you have access to thousands upon thousands of games that can also be played using an Xbox or PlayStation controller while you sit back on the couch.
This is a quick overview on some of the benefits and flexibility of HTPCs. If you would like to know more, let us know in the comments!
