HTPC Build or pre built box

Hello everyone.

I´ve started reading into the HTPC "scene" and sometimes I see systems that have TV cards and others that doesn´t. Can anyone explain this to me?
 
It just depends what the user needs from their htpc. I use Virgin so have no need for a tuner card, whereas others may like just having freeview in which case they user their htpc as a pvr.
 
Marvt74 said:
It just depends what the user needs from their htpc. I use Virgin so have no need for a tuner card, whereas others may like just having freeview in which case they user their htpc as a pvr.
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You have Virgin as your TV supplier is that it? Why don´t you need a tuner card then, can you elaborate a little more please?

What does pvr mean? Sorry, I´m from Portugal... :D


Edit: Personal Video Recorder. It means that you have a box from Virgin that already allows you to record your stuff right?
 
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Balakov said:
You have Virgin as your TV supplier is that it? Why don´t you need a tuner card then, can you elaborate a little more please?

What does pvr mean? Sorry, I´m from Portugal... :D


Edit: Personal Video Recorder. It means that you have a box from Virgin that already allows you to record your stuff right?
Click to expand...

Sorry, yes. I have virgin and they provide a box which allows me to watch and record shows they provide (like Sky).

For people without virgin they could install a tuner in their htpc to allow them to record channels which are free :)
 
Balakov said:
So the tv cards only allow you to record right?

Lurkio, why did you put 2 tv cards and different ones on the build?
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They allow you to watch and record. You would connect an aerial (or satellite dish) to the tuner card input.

The more cards means the more options. Ie watch one thing whilst recording another. With only one card you would only be able to watch or record one thing at a time.
 
the 6220 , get you freeview HD/SD channels ( from ground based transmitter)
the 6981, gets you HD/SD channels from a satellite (based in space, same one sky transmitts from)

The reason I have both freeview and freesat is that there are channels that are only
on one of the services (tho there are a lot that are transmitted on both)

The tv cards allow you to watch / pause / record live TV and also to stream tv channels
to any other pc in the house that has the media portal client installed onto

Even with a single tuner card you could watch one channel and record 4 other channels IF they are on the same MUX
 
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lurkio said:
the 6220 , get you freeview HD/SD channels ( from ground based transmitter)
the 6981, gets you HD/SD channels from a satellite (based in space, same one sky transmitts from)

The reason I have both freeview and freesat is that there are channels that are only
on one of the services (tho there are a lot that are transmitted on both)

The tv cards allow you to watch / pause / record live TV and also to stream tv channels
to any other pc in the house that has the media portal client installed onto

Even with a single tuner card you could watch one channel and record 4 other channels IF they are on the same MUX
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation, but for me it´s not´s not my purpose on a HTPC (recording stuff).

If I made a built without a tvcard, It would be impossible just to watch television right?
 
It depends in the uk, we have bbc iplayer, 4od etc
So with a web browser you could watch live or catch up tv using those services
 
lurkio said:
It depends in the uk, we have bbc iplayer, 4od etc
So with a web browser you could watch live or catch up tv using those services
Click to expand...

Thanks again for the explanation!!

By the way, when you say ground based transmitter it´s your regular tv right (the one with the license without any kind of box)?
 
Hi Chaps,

So I've revised my spec:

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I already have a HDD for it, and may add a blu ray drive at a later point. What are your thoughts on the above? My main considerations are:

Noise - Has to be fairly quiet
Compatibility - Will the above hardware decode current and likely future codecs/containers etc?
Future Proof - I hear h.265 is in the works
I will add a blu ray drive at a later time, this will just stream from a NAS for the time being.

It's down to this custom build, or something like a Artic MC001-BD or Pulsebox. Incidentally, if anyone has had any experience with these boxes please let me know :)

Thanks,
 
I'd go with your build one of the prebuilt ones as it will be quicker and much more future proof. Need it a little faster, simply add a new cpu :)

Might be worth trying to get some sound proofing material involved. Otherwise consider an AMD E450. It would be a little slower but you'd avoid noise from the cpu fan as its silent.
 
I must admit the Acer Revo L70 Nettop PC has caught my eye. Has anyone used one of these before?

- AMD E450 1.65
- 4GB RAM
- 320GB HDD
- AMD HD 6320
 
I've got one with Windows 8 and xbmc on it. Works fine although does struggle a little with the more advanced skins.

(Also no option to include a BR drive, without buying the model which comes with one)
 
Marvt74 said:
I've got one with Windows 8 and xbmc on it. Works fine although does struggle a little with the more advanced skins.

(Also no option to include a BR drive, without buying the model which comes with one)
Click to expand...

Thanks for that.

I think based on that I'll go with a custom build. If anyone has any comments or suggestions with it i'd appreciate it. In fact, i'd probably change the case for Lian Li PC-Q09FB Mini-ITX HTPC Chassis - Black (150W Flex PSU) [PC-Q09FB]
 
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Excellent choice, i spotted that case the other day and was impressed by the value of it.


Bare in mind though that the case is only ITX and your motherboard is Micro-ATX :)
 
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