Software Recommendation for Windows Media Center

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Software Recommendation for Windows Media Center

amorangi

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Master Geek

#46756 9-Nov-2009 16:30

What software do people recommend for their HTPC? I'm using my HTPC for gaming also, so whatever I'm running needs to run on Windows. A Nova T 500 is arriving hopefully tomorrow so dual recording ability is a must. So far GB-PVR looks top of my list, but is there anything better? What are features I should be looking for?

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#271345 9-Nov-2009 16:47

I use Windows 7 Media Center and I am happy with that...

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Dawg

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#271430 9-Nov-2009 20:32

I use GB PVR because I have a popcorn hour - No complaints about gb pvr

vinnieg

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#271439 9-Nov-2009 21:06

+1 for Windows 7

I'm using *cough* Vista 64bit premium on my dual-core atom PVR/PS3 Media server, runs very well indeed....although I'm bound to be flamed for this.

Don't worry, I"m about to install Win7 on all my other Pcs, just not my media server(because I can't afford another copy

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

vinnieg

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#271440 9-Nov-2009 21:09

And if you don't like Windows, try mythtv.co.nz, I'm not sure sure who runs it...but it's a really informative site and a great free alternative. Fossie off here is also a wealth of information

I just happened to have most windows releases lying round from previous purchases and wanted an easy setup. Windows Media Centre(XP MCE, VIsta, 7) is one of the easiest

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

amorangi

63 posts

Master Geek

#271455 9-Nov-2009 22:03

You're right - I don't like Windows and would rather run mythtv (all my other machines are Linux), but as I said earlier it's for games as well (Q8200 + GTX260). It is running Win7 but everything MS ends up annoying me (Win7 is already aggravating me but that's another story), though I may give WMC a go since it's getting a lot of recommendations.

lostangel

163 posts

Master Geek

#271473 9-Nov-2009 23:07

I'm running Vista Home Premiums' Media Center + tv pack(satellite support).

This works well mostly.

I'm not likely to upgrade the tv box to win7 unless media center gets some big enhancements as thats pretty much all the pc runs.

dklong

164 posts

Master Geek

#271524 10-Nov-2009 09:00

You should also consider MediaPortal in your list. It seems to be a bit smarter about how it uses the tuners than most of the other software but has a heavier footprint than GBPVR so may get in the way of gaming. You end up with SLQ Server Express and a TVServer service running in the background all the time whereas GBPVR can be run in a mode without services and you just stop and start it when required. Not as good a mode for a dedicated media PC but useful for just watching TV sometimes and then gaming with full resources when you aren't watching TV.

If you are going to record TV a fair bit then having it running in the background all the time is definitely recommended!

browned

636 posts

Ultimate Geek

#271527 10-Nov-2009 09:06

+1 for Windows7 and add Media Browser addin, Anydvd HD, Virtual CD, Cyberlink PowerDVD for Bluray, BSE for EPG.

All in one solution controllable from MC remote once setup.

Home Server: AMD Threadripper 1950X, 64GB, 56TB HDD, Define R6 Case, 10GbE, ESXi 6.7, UNRAID, NextPVR, Emby Server, Plex Server.
Lounge Media Center: NVIDIA Shield TV 16GB: Kodi18 with Titan MOD, Emby.
Kids Media Center: NVIDIA Shield TV 16GB: Kodi18 with Titan MOD, Emby.
Main PC: Ryzen 7 2700, 16GB RAM, RX 570, 2 x 24"

JonoMG

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#271530 10-Nov-2009 09:16

Huge, huge, huge recommendation for MediaPortal.

I have tried MythTV before and loved the ability to customise... that's what MediaPortal will give you on the Windows platform. If you give Windows Media Centre a 9/10 for ease of setup then MediaPortal as a base install is about an 8/10.

Customisation ease will be based upon the maturity of the plugin you choose... take StreamedMP for example... it's really simple.

meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#271550 10-Nov-2009 10:06

Another vote for MediaPortal. The Moving Pictures and TV Series plugins for it are brilliant, and the StreamedMP skin is worth a look. There's also a scheduling engine called 4TheRecord (which also works with GB-PVR) which adds a smarter matching system, web console & remote windows GUI console for scheduling your recordings.

kiwijunglist

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#271573 10-Nov-2009 10:42

My vote

Win7 MCE / Mediaportal / GB-PVR

I think all 3 are good. I just setup Win7 MCE for my brother and found the setup very easy. Mediaportal setup is more difficult but allows more customisation.

If you choose mediaportal (i recommend Win XP 32bit OS), install 'streamedMP' plugin as well. This will make it look pretty and add My TV Series and Moving Pictures which are the two most important plugins. You should also consider installing 'unlocked SAF codec pack' <- I am normal against codec packs, but this i think is good. You can also install mentalinc's epg grabber.

If you choose Win7 MCE, install mediabrowser plugin, HD PACK 2.2, Media Centre Master (to create series.xml / mymovies.xml and folder/backdrop.jpg files). You also need to install a program (i forget the name of the program i used) to change the default 32bit h264 codec from microsoft one to PDVD/Arcsoft codec so you get smooth HDTV. Even if you choose 64bit installation it still uses 32bit h264 codec.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

Nety

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#271589 10-Nov-2009 11:14

kiwijunglist: [snip]You also need to install a program (i forget the name of the program i used) to change the default 32bit h264 codec from microsoft one to PDVD/Arcsoft codec so you get smooth HDTV.[snip]

Hey what? I have never heard of anyone else doing this. The MS codec works fine on my MC. No stutter at all full hardware acceleration.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

kiwijunglist

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#271592 10-Nov-2009 11:20

Nety: Hey what? I have never heard of anyone else doing this. The MS codec works fine on my MC. No stutter at all full hardware acceleration.

My borther's setup is Kuma Core (HT3) CPU / Onboard HD3200 / 2 GB RAM / HVR2200 / 1376x768 LCD TV / Win 7 MCE 64bit. Watching HDTV3 (1080i) seemed not too bad, however whenever the OSD came up eg. changing volume, TV Guide etc, it would sutter to hell. Changing H264 codec fixed this problem. (I also changed a few other settings, but i'm 90% sure it was the h264 codec change that solved his isssue)

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

Nety

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#271594 10-Nov-2009 11:30

Well as you can see from my sig that my MC is a lot lower spec'ed except that it has a 8500GT addin card. It seems the on board video cards are still not quite up to the task.

Edit :did you check the power settings? Win 7 still defaults to crippled CPU. That has caused me problems with HD playback in the past.

kiwijunglist

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#271670 10-Nov-2009 15:16

CPU was high then went down to 0-5% when i fixed the h264 codecs.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

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