Willo's den!

[willofgod]

This... ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) if nothing goes wrong and we get the house we're buying this is going to be my little computer room down in the cellar.

To that end, can anyone recommand a good sound card, set of surround sound speakers, and wireless access point + couple of wireless cards. Because I'll finally be able to have my surround sound system for games and music.

I can spend a bit of money for something decent, but I cant have top of the range stuff, as I just cant afford that. Any ideas?

Dont mind spending a bit extra on the wireless access point though as I dont want folks coming round and hijacking my network and stealing my bandwidth! This has to be secure as well, defintely with a firewall built in and any of the latest security protocols (802.11g isn't is?). And a print server if possible.

Anyone got any experience with these things? ISTR you were talking about these things weren't you Shifty? Dont you stream movies over your wireless network or something?

The Access point will be the other side of the house from my computer on the ground floor. And Mels PC will be in the loft so it needs to be able to penetrate through walls and into the cellar without losing to much signal.

Also will this cause any lag issues for my game, or would it be best to get a cable box installed in the cellar and remain on the wire? Dont want to do this though as it costs more and I' going to be skint with my new mortgage as it is (its a beast).

Clanman, could you tell me what you've got setup for you music as I seem to recall you've already done this kind of thing. Dont think I'll be able to afford the kit you've got, but I'd like to see what height the bar currently standing at. ta.

Willo

[Clanman]

My sound kit is ok, it was top spec and a good few bobs worth 3 years ago, but with all things technological, it comes down.....

if i was going to redo mines.....

sound card would be Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS 7.1 THX which reatils at around £85 +- £5

If that is too much then go for an Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 which retails at around £50 OEM


Now keep in mind the above cards when it comes to speaker set up, if you buy the ZS 7.1, you want the speakers to go with it, which are the Creative GigaWorks 7.1 S750 THX (£260) and will product a f00kin stunning sound in combo with the card. Creative do a whole load of speakers, if you aint taking the top of the range 7.1's go for the bet 5.1's rather then the cheaper 7.1's that they do.
Logitech Z-680 THX® Certified 5.1 Speakers are also stunning and have a bit of grunt to them too... very sexy too, they come in at around £250, but they is mean mutha fuc*as (proper bo).


As for wireless, i am not practically experianced in it, but i am aware of the drawbacks of such systems well, have had a play with some gear and wasnt overly impressed.....100m cat5 costs £30 tops and rj45 are pennies each... i could understand not wanting to cable out the house if its all done and decorated but not if your just moving in.... its more secure, faster and a hell of a lot cheaper.... too many other things to list.... but dont be drawn into the wireless thing too easy, they are expesnsive and can be a cunt..... so many other things......but ave got a few other things to at the moment so i will get back to the rest later on.

[pup]

from what i have heard from mates tryin out the wireless thing its not too good and they went back to good old fashioned cables.. maybe in a few years but not now

[willofgod]

Blimey you've royally put me off it now. Hummm, might look into this CAT5 cabling idea of Clanmans then. We will be redecorating the place so it might not be such a pain to do it. Or I could get a cheap wireless access point all the same. But get one with a wired connection and plus my PC into that and let Mel have the wireless connection upstairs... Still worried about security though...

And now I want those speakers Clanman mentioned... 260 quid though... Even I would feel guilty buying those... Would be nice though in my sound proofed callar / computer / games / cocktail room!