HTPC Build Help

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onekiwiman

17 posts

Geek

# 38222 26-Jul-2009 13:06

Hey.

I am thinking of trying to build a HTPC. I have no idea what parts I need. Has to be cheap.

Want to be able to:
- watch and record HD freeview and pause, rewind live tv ETC
- DVD library - backups
- Music Library
- Get online content

I have had a look at software and I think I would use MediaPortal.

Can you help with a parts list? Thanks.

duckquack

75 posts

Master Geek

# 239100 26-Jul-2009 16:09

you can get some great ideas from reading this thread http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=84&topicid=19606

If you buy a decent case you can always add other things as your budget allows. Price Spy (website) is also pretty good for researching your components once you decide.

I've previously used media portal, and although it's great software I've recently tried windows 7 ( media center) and I must say I've been very impressed and won't be returning to Media Portal. Windows 7 have trial version that you can try for free prior to the official release I think they expire in Feb 10, but as it stands I'll definately shell out for Win 7. You could also pickup an OEM version cheaper if you are building a computer from scratch.

My specs should appear below and I can honestly say I have no regrets about any of the components I purchased. Happy hiunting

onekiwiman

17 posts

Geek

# 239103 26-Jul-2009 16:29

How much did that setup cost you?

duckquack

75 posts

Master Geek

# 239112 26-Jul-2009 17:05

This was my base system, prices are old so some things should be heaps cheaper (i.e HDD, Ram, video cards etc).

SILVERSTONE -LC16M Black Desktop Case        $365.00
Corsair VX520W         $155.00
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, 3.00GHz     $284.00
Samsung 500GB 7200rpm SATA hard drive (42c GB)         $134.00
Corsair DDR2-800 Dual Channel Kit 240-Pin 2x 1GB         $149.17
"EN8600GT SILENT/HTDP/512M    $158.00
Windows Vista premium OEM          $150.00
Hauppauge 2200 DVB-T (HD and Analog) $168.00
Hauppauge 3000 (1xDVB-S,1xDVB,T,1x Analogue)           $220.00

$1,783.17

The two tuners are recent purchases because my old tuner didn't like Win 7. I haven't included the other HDD, because as indicated earlier you can always add, or subtract things i.e you could buy a lower spec CPU or RAM, you might only buy one tuner and then add another tuner later on. Make sure you start with a decent case and power supply so that you have both the space and ability to add things that will invariably draw more power, good PSU are also quite. Remember some of these prices are 12-18 mth old. It's taken me 3yr to slowly build up my system....Rome wasn't built in a day.

Be warned building a HTPC is a frustrating buisness, but it's also very rewarding.

duckquack

75 posts

Master Geek

# 239122 26-Jul-2009 18:06

duckquack: This was my base system, prices are old so some things should be heaps cheaper (i.e HDD, Ram, video cards etc).

SILVERSTONE -LC16M Black Desktop Case        $365.00
Corsair VX520W         $155.00
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, 3.00GHz     $284.00
Samsung 500GB 7200rpm SATA hard drive (42c GB)         $134.00
Corsair DDR2-800 Dual Channel Kit 240-Pin 2x 1GB         $149.17
"EN8600GT SILENT/HTDP/512M    $158.00
Windows Vista premium OEM          $150.00
Hauppauge 2200 DVB-T (HD and Analog) $168.00
Hauppauge 3000 (1xDVB-S,1xDVB,T,1x Analogue)           $220.00

$1,783.17

The two tuners are recent purchases because my old tuner didn't like Win 7. I haven't included the other HDD, because as indicated earlier you can always add, or subtract things i.e you could buy a lower spec CPU or RAM, you might only buy one tuner and then add another tuner later on. Make sure you start with a decent case and power supply so that you have both the space and ability to add things that will invariably draw more power, good PSU are also quite. Remember some of these prices are 12-18 mth old. It's taken me 3yr to slowly build up my system....Rome wasn't built in a day.

Be warned building a HTPC is a frustrating buisness, but it's also very rewarding.

Sorry also add Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R motherboard $225 and DVD Drive $50 so all up just over $2000. I reckon if you dropped a tuner and updated the prices to current figures you could be looking at significantly less. If yopu include my labour probably closer to $6000!...........have fun, researching is the fun bit.

dale77

292 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 239187 26-Jul-2009 21:43

duckquack:
Windows Vista premium OEM $150.00

Be warned building a HTPC is a frustrating buisness, but it's also very rewarding.

$150? I see $250 on ascent. Or perhaps that was an "academic" version?

I second that frustrating but eventually rewarding comment.

HTPC: Antec Fusion 430, Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-UD2H F7, AMD X2 4850e, Sapphire 4670 1GB, Corsair 4x1Gb, Adata 128Gb SSD, WD10EARS Green, LG GGC-H20L Blu-ray, Hauppauge NOVA TD-500, Logitech z-5500, Logitech Harmony 525, Samsung LA40B530 1080p, Vista Premium-32 SP2, Catalyst 10.12(Facelift preview), Mediaportal 1.2.3+OneButtonMusic, AC3Filter, Cyberlink Powercinema 6 codec, BLU-RAY: Samsung BD-F7500

duckquack

75 posts

Master Geek

# 239192 26-Jul-2009 22:04

dale77:
duckquack:
Windows Vista premium OEM $150.00

Be warned building a HTPC is a frustrating buisness, but it's also very rewarding.

$150? I see $250 on ascent. Or perhaps that was an "academic" version?

I second that frustrating but eventually rewarding comment.

Remember OEM isn't your normal shop copy, it's designed for people who build computers, its not an academic version or an upgrade. From memory you usually have to buy some components to qualify and unlike other versions you will get no official support from Microsoft (the builder of the computer has that resp), you also can't transfer from computer to computer, but honestly who does that anyway.

Everything else is the same updates, programs etc it's still possible to buy at this price have a look here http://www.computerstore.co.nz/66i-00752.aspx

If you want to know more about OEM see this site http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-oem.htm

borgia

94 posts

Master Geek

# 239194 26-Jul-2009 22:12

Why would you buy vista when you can use the Windows 7 release candidate until 2010? It works much better than Medial Portal. And this is from someone with a perfectly working Media Portal setup. I coverted to Win7, would never go back.

Ivan

duckquack

75 posts

Master Geek

# 239211 26-Jul-2009 23:25

borgia: Why would you buy vista when you can use the Windows 7 release candidate until 2010? It works much better than Medial Portal. And this is from someone with a perfectly working Media Portal setup. I coverted to Win7, would never go back.

Ivan

Totally correct, and I totally agree Windows 7 is a much better product. I'm not an advocate of Vista, I'm simply explaining how much my setup cost when I built it in 2008, Vista just happened to be on the list of things I purchased at the time (obviously Win 7 wasn't around).

meesham

921 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

# 239961 28-Jul-2009 22:00

I'd disagree that Windows 7 is a better product. In my opinion W7 is easier to set up, but MP is much more configurable and the addons are what makes it. If you're after something to manage your TV show collection look at "My TV-Series", for movies (DVDs or video files) have a look at Moving Pictures, and I'd replace the built in MP TV schedule with 4TheRecord (it still uses the MP Tv server to do the actual recording). It's a brilliant tool that also gives you a remote windows console, web and MSN messenger access to your scheduler, and is much more configurable and smarter than any other products I've looked at (which is quite a few).

onekiwiman

17 posts

Geek

# 241104 31-Jul-2009 22:07

My budget would be very low around $800.