NEW HTPC build

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AdmiralSarek

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 66216 14-Aug-2010 19:40

I have made some progress on building my HTPC since my last post (for freeview (DVB-T & S).

I am looking at the following PC
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=WKSPB3455
But I will sub the EVGA GTS250 HDMI Ready 1GB GDDR3 graphics cardas as another poster pointed out, they don't carry the full sound on the HDMI output (http://www.missingremote.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4993&Itemid=232 was given as a nice link)
Instead I will go for the Sapphire Ultimate HD5670 1GB GDDR5 Silent cooled graphics card (http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=VGASAP5672). The ATI specs look good http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/ati-radeon-hd-5000/ati-radeon-hd-5670-overview/Pages/ati-radeon-hd-5670-specifications.aspx
-Support for H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, and Adobe Flash
-DirectX® 11 support

This leads to the first question, will this card work? I have heard tales of ATI cards having problems streaming the freeview tv etc.

mattyboy2 pointed out that I will ened a USB extender for a mouse etc (thanks for that). Any sugestions? I have to go about 15 metres from the CPU to where I will want to control everything in the lounge, which goes through 3 walls.

HDMI cable length is about 12 m, which means a 15 metre cable as I can't make on up to suit (unlike say netwrok cables. Has anyone done one this long before? I think I will need a Catergory 2 High Speed HDMI cable but these look to be the standard for now.

I am looking at the "Hauppauge WinTV-HVR4000 HD TV RECEIVER built-in DVB-S2, DVB-S. DVB-T PAL QUAD-MODE HYBRID 4000-HD" (http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=TVNHGR1047) tunner card. Anyone had eny experience with these / think it willl work?

Thanks for all your help

ArcticSilver

673 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 112

Reply # 367667 14-Aug-2010 21:17

I wouldn't recommend going so crazy on the graphics card etc.

This is what i built just recently and it works brilliantly:

Corsair XMS3 (TW3X4G1333C9DHX) 4GB Dual Channel kit 2x 2GB PC10666 DDR3 (1333Mhz) Memory CL9-9-9-24

LiteOn iHOS104 Dual Layer Multi-Format (Black) SATA Blu-Ray Reader/DVD-Writer Combo

MSI 890GXM-G65 Socket AM3 Motherboard

AMD Phenom II X4 945 (3Ghz) 6MB Cache *Quad Core* 5200Mhz Socket AM3 CPU + Fan Retail Boxed (HDX945WFGMBOX)

Western Digital AV-GP WD20EVDS - Hard drive - 2TB - internal - 3.5 - SATA-300 - buffer: 32 MB

Avermedia AVerTV TwinStar - DVB-T HDTV receiver / analogue TV / radio tuner / video input adapter - PCI Express x1 (A188D)

Silverstone Grandia GD04 (Black) Home Theatre PC Case *Front Audio & USB NO PSU - Brilliant because it is shallow yet it can still fit 2 3.5" HDD's.

Corsair CMPSU-450VX 450W ATX Power Supply Unit

The onboard on the MSI motherboard passes the audio through its HDMI port. It runs all channels and blu-ray disks smoothly.

The HDD is designed for a media center, just give it a search and you can read up on why.

Got the LiteOn Blu-ray reader because it was only $150.

The motherboard has USB3 and eSata so if you want to expand out of the media center it is a breeze.

The tuner i choose (Avermedia) works brilliantly, it has dual DVB-T tuners so you can record and watch a channel at the same time. The motherboard has space for 2 PCI-E cards so you can easily add another card so you can record 3 channels while watching a 4th.

You can get equivalent's in DBV-S. I highly recommend Avermedia over Huppague who have been having some TV tuner issues lately. My whole setup is based around good brands that will last.

The above is what I run and have put it through its paces. I would recommend that combination to anyone building a media center.

AdmiralSarek

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 367680 14-Aug-2010 22:06

ArcticSilver, thanks for the advice.
I should have been more specific, I intend to play games on the PC, and then when there is something on freeview or sattelite (or a DVD) to watch I intend to use the HTPC to send the signal to the TV (hence the 15m HDMI cable). But not both games and tv at the same time.

Thanks for the Avermedia vs Hauppage info, I will see what Avermedia cards are on offer.

sub

293 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 21

Reply # 367732 15-Aug-2010 08:14

ArcticSilver:
You can get equivalent's in DBV-S. I highly recommend Avermedia over Huppague who have been having some TV tuner issues lately. My whole setup is based around good brands that will last.

What issues? The only thing I've seen reported here related specifically to Nova-TD stick, and that problem is being investigated. Personally I use the a pile of Hauppauge cards, with the HVR-4000 and HVR-4400 being my favourites, and these have been working great for me.

Are you aware that Hauppauge do a large chunk of their development work in New Zealand? It certainly helps that they have a local presence, and are well placed to investigate any local issues.

(yes, I work for Hauppauge here in New Zealand)

ArcticSilver

673 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 112

Reply # 367902 15-Aug-2010 17:18

sub:
ArcticSilver:
You can get equivalent's in DBV-S. I highly recommend Avermedia over Huppague who have been having some TV tuner issues lately. My whole setup is based around good brands that will last.
What issues? The only thing I've seen reported here related specifically to Nova-TD stick, and that problem is being investigated. Personally I use the a pile of Hauppauge cards, with the HVR-4000 and HVR-4400 being my favourites, and these have been working great for me.

Are you aware that Hauppauge do a large chunk of their development work in New Zealand? It certainly helps that they have a local presence, and are well placed to investigate any local issues.

(yes, I work for Hauppauge here in New Zealand)

Both my Hauppauge tuners (first the 500TD) the analog one have had serious problems with WMC.

Just to get either of them to work i usually have to manually install the latest drivers (though the TD never worked normally, i returned it), where as Avermedia is just plug and play.

Yes i'm only talking 2 cards but they happened to be the two i got. To me that's particularly poor.

dale77

291 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 367975 15-Aug-2010 20:26

The HDD is designed for a media center, just give it a search and you can read up on why.

Thanks for the nice tip on the WD AV-GP drive. Certainly looks ideal for a HTPC.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=615

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

smac

258 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 368086 16-Aug-2010 09:08

I run a 15m HDMI, no problems. Used one from rapalloav - the one I got doesn't seem to be listed any more but I'm sure you can find what you need there. At that distance it does need to be a good cable (ie low gauge) but that doesn't have to mean $$.

AdmiralSarek

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 368844 17-Aug-2010 19:09

Any ideas what the best way to control the PC from another room is goingto be?

Does anyone know if I am going to have trouble with the computer running a normal PC monitor and the main LCD TV in the lounge at the same time, or will it be easy to just swap outputs from one screen to another liek you do with a laptop when you use an external screen?

I get the impression that I am the only person that wants their games PC to be an HTPC as well, has anyone else atempted this?

Nety

2584 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5

Mod Emeritus

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Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 369164 18-Aug-2010 10:29

AdmiralSarek: Any ideas what the best way to control the PC from another room is goingto be?

Does anyone know if I am going to have trouble with the computer running a normal PC monitor and the main LCD TV in the lounge at the same time, or will it be easy to just swap outputs from one screen to another liek you do with a laptop when you use an external screen?

I get the impression that I am the only person that wants their games PC to be an HTPC as well, has anyone else atempted this?

People have tried it and may have limited success but I think most (if not all) find that for a media centre to be successful you really need to have it dedicated to the roll.
As for the two screen that can cause issues as well. In Windows 7 there have been restrictions put in place in the name of HDCP which restrict more then one monitor being used for certain things (like playing blu rays)

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