Media Center PCs combine all forms of digital entertainment. A media center is a stylish entertainment center component that can not only play movies, burn DVDs and record television, but also has the ability to access Internet content and stream high-quality video.

Media centers have unlimited potential for entertainment, provided you have the hard drive capacity to store it all. Whether you like to watch humorous video clips, online news content, or music videos, a media center PC can:

• Record Television: All media centers have TV tuners, so you can watch television and record your favorite shows. Play them back at your leisure or to watch them commercial free. Some systems even have dual tuners, so you can watch one show while recording another at the same time.
• Play Music: These systems can play CDs, stream Internet radio stations, and play any music file on your hard drive. Many also come with audio/music editing and organizing software.
• Access the Internet: Visit your favorite websites or download music and movies from the comfort of your sofa with a wireless keyboard and mouse.
• Burn DVDs/CDs: Most media centers have the ability to burn to dual layer discs, as well as standard DVDs and CDs. Some even have dual drives: one for reading; one for burning.
• Watch Video: You can watch DVDs, movies stored on the hard drive, cable, satellite, or streaming video from the web. Some boxes may also include an Blu-ray Disc drive or HD-DVD drive for your high definition content.
• Organize Photos/Videos: Genuine Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, which comes preinstalled on all systems, has a photo and video organizer. Or, you can install one of your favorite programs like PowerDirector 5 or Photoshop Elements and edit from your armchair instead of your desktop.
• Chat: Never miss a minute of your favorite show while staying in touch with your friends. You can log on to MSN Chat or your preferred chat service and chat while you are watching a movie or TV show.
• Life Management: Since these systems are compatible with most software, you can manage your money, do your taxes, organize your schedule or use a word processor or spreadsheet from the comfort of your lounge chair.

In this site, you’ll find articles related to media center PCs, as well as comprehensive reviews and a side–by–side comparison to help you make an informed decision on which media center is right for your entertainment needs. At TopTenREVIEWS – We do the research so you don’t have to.™

We looked at component type media centers, which are media centers that look like a stereo component instead of a tower-type PC and are designed for digital entertainment. Media Centers start at around $1000 and can be as much as $4000. Media “servers” on the other hand, are designed to hold large media libraries and start at around $5000.

Media centers perform the best with dual processors, a high–end 256MB graphics card and at least 2GB of RAM. It is also beneficial if the hard drive is large enough to hold a fair amount of audio and video. We’d recommend at least 250GB for starters.

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate Media Center PCs:

• Processor:The top–rated media centers have dual-core processors, like Intel’s Core 2 Duo, which excels at multitasking.
• Memory: Media Centers require a hard drive large enough to store large amounts of audio and video files. We suggest at least 250GB of storage. In terms of RAM, 2GB will run most applications.
• Video/ Audio: A high–quality graphics card is imperative for playing DVDs, TV, digital video or games. Generally, you should look for a dedicated 256MB video card and 5.1 to 7.1 surround sound ability.
• I/O Devices: Media centers should provide all ports or connections necessary to connect to TVs, cable television, stereos and peripherals such as video cameras. Most provide several types of audio and video options. They should also come with a wireless keyboard/ mouse combo and a remote control.
• Price/ Value: This criterion compares the suggested retail price to the included features. A good system with a low price rates better than an average PC with a higher base price.
• Support/ Warranty: The first–class manufacturers provide quality help and support through email, phone and online chat. They also provide up to three-year warranties at no additional cost.