First Htpc build need guidance

RomanNose

RomanNose

RomanNose

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20 Aug 2010
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Hello I am going to be build a budget htpc with blu ray and also would like to have a dual freesat tuners, (two dvb s2).

Currently I have got this far

2nj0qa.png


Now I need to get 5.1 speakers and the tuners, however I am not sure on these three things,these are my problems:


2:Can I just get two dvb s cards, and if I did would that mean that I could watch two TV programs at the same time, or record one and watch another. Or would I have to get one Dual dvb s card. I am also currently wired up in my house for free sat with two lgb ports near both my tvs so don't worry about that.

3: Also I shall be using a free os such as Ubuntu or xbmc, what would be the best option to enable the use of dual tuners.I understand that xbmc cannot be used to record and watch tv, are there any other alternatives? I shall be also using this as a nas so that I can watch my recordings from my tv on other computers on my network so what would the best way for this to be setup?I really dont want to use windows 7 partly due to the fact that I would like minimal background processes and it will cost quite a fair bit of the build if I get it.



Fyi: I already have a graphics card that I will take out of my current build and put into this htpc, as I will be changing my current graphics card anyway at the time when I plan to build it.
 
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Hey

As Stulid says you need to change your RAM, also personally for HTPC Id be wanting small form factor at least, if not a more suited case, does add cost I know
You say you have a gfx card already but its probably worth getting a mobo with built in gfx so as to free up expansion card slot space on mobo, and reduce power draw, noise, heat output
And you do realise that HDD is designed as a storage drive not boot, it will still work just be slower, if you dont mind this then no problem
 
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stulid said:
SODIMM memory wont work, you need,

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-203-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517
Click to expand...

Ok well I have changed that, Now just wondering about getting this:
Code: 
http://www.netup.tv/en-EN/dual_dvb-s2-ci_card.php
Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this, it says it had linux drivers so maybe it is the one for me?

95thrifles said:
Hey

As Stulid says you need to change your RAM, also personally for HTPC Id be wanting small form factor at least, if not a more suited case, does add cost I know
You say you have a gfx card already but its probably worth getting a mobo with built in gfx so as to free up expansion card slot space on mobo, and reduce power draw, noise, heat output
To answer your first questiopn yes you will be able to plug 5.1 speakers into 8 channel audio, 8 channel is basically 7.1 so you just dont plug in the additional two speaker connections
And you do realise that HDD is designed as a storage drive not boot, it will still work just be slower, if you dont mind this then no problem
Click to expand...
I was thinking about getting an ssd however It will be on most of the time for watching tv and blu rays, so it shall hardly used for booting and the prime use for it will be storage and playback. The reason why I did not really want to go for small form factor is that I do have enough room for a mid size case and also as I have only built one build before, I am not that experienced at building in a tight area.

Thanks for answering my question will remove it from my list
 
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5.1 sound would be done through the optical out on the motherboard. You'd have to have an optical in on your amp powering your speakers. Alternatively, you could buy a graphics card (or motherboard) with an HDMI port - you'd need to have an HDMI port on your amp. This would output 5.1, or if you get one of the newer cards (ATI 5450) it will output the higher definition audio - DTS HD, TrueHD etc. Of course your amp will need to support these (HDMI only)

In terms of dual DVB-S cards, I've just fitted a Blackgold BGT3595 with dual DVB-S2 and DVB-T. Works fine with Windows 7 and there is support for Linux.

For OS look at MythTV. Don't know about Bluray support
 
95thrifles said:
Untitled-13.png


For example this, mATX build, lower power consumption, heat output and noise, all in nice small form factor case
Click to expand...
Oh I forgot to say this, the room where it shall be going has a carpet, so dust filters will be needed for sure. You have some valid points, but I would really hate working in such a small case and after all I would want it to stay quite cool. About the noise the sofa is actually quite a fair distance from the tv and once the tv is on I doubt I will be able to hear the fans.
 
I would say the suggested Micro ATX and small form HTPC case are fine if you feel the NEED, but any other size inc full ATX and a massive case are fine if you can live with it.

What graphics card do you have? Is HD audio via HDMI or DX11 important?

Do you need a 600w PSU?

Does the Blu-Ray drive you have chosen come with playback software?

Is the Eco-Green going to be your main drive? My own experience with that drive was poor and it had been suggested to me it was not designed for main drive PC use, some of the Eco greens being sold were designed for external storage drives or something? Not sure exactly what the issue was, but I got my money back due to it not being suitable in my desktop and went with a WD Green myself.

I was under the impression a dual dvb is less hasle and takes up less space, is there any issues or conflicts running two cards apart from space?

Regarding Ubuntu and XBMC, will they play back Blu-Ray? back when I tried them both I had nothing but issues and gave up, my Ubuntu PC is still sitting unused, it's hardware played back HD and dvd fine with Windows but not Ubuntu or XBMC.

This is my HTPC, runs quiet, plays everything I need and is small enough to go under the TV. Not added TV cards as I don't have the need. Some overkill components but I wanted to play games as well and had some 775 kit to re-use.

Silverstone GD02B case with two Sharkoon SE 80mm fans at 7v (silent)
Asus Maximus Gene II 775 mobo (overkill and I don't see the point in on-board GPU's if if planning to use PCI-E)
Intel E8500 at stock cooled with a passive Silverstone NT02-E cooler (silent, CPU is 65w so happy with that)
Corsair Dominator GT PC-8500 2x2GB (overkill)
PowerColor HD5750 1gb passive GPU (silent)
Samsung SH-B083L retail Blu-Ray drive (bundled with Cyberlink 8 Power DVD)
Samsung F3 500gb main drive (very quiet, I can barely hear it even when the PC is a foot away from me)
WD Green 1.5tb storage drive (quiet as above)
Corsair 450w modular PSU (silent as above and powerfull enough)
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit (overkill)
 
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sastusbulbas said:
I would say the suggested Micro ATX and small form HTPC case are fine if you feel the NEED, but any other size inc full ATX and a massive case are fine if you can live with it.

What graphics card do you have? Is HD audio via HDMI or DX11 important?

Do you need a 600w PSU?

Does the Blu-Ray drive you have chosen come with playback software?

Is the Eco-Green going to be your main drive? My own experience with that drive was poor and it had been suggested to me it was not designed for main drive PC use, some of the Eco greens being sold were designed for external storage drives or something? Not sure exactly what the issue was, but I got my money back due to it not being suitable in my desktop and went with a WD Green myself.

I was under the impression a dual dvb is less hasle and takes up less space, is there any issues or conflicts running two cards apart from space?

Regarding Ubuntu and XBMC, will they play back Blu-Ray? back when I tried them both I had nothing but issues and gave up, my Ubuntu PC is still sitting unused, it's hardware played back HD and dvd fine with Windows but not Ubuntu or XBMC.

This is my HTPC, runs quiet, plays everything I need and is small enough to go under the TV. Not added TV cards as I don't have the need. Some overkill components but I wanted to play games as well and had some 775 kit to re-use.

Silverstone GD02B case with two Sharkoon SE 80mm fans at 7v (silent)
Asus Maximus Gene II 775 mobo (overkill and I don't see the point in on-board GPU's if if planning to use PCI-E)
Intel E8500 at stock cooled with a passive Silverstone NT02-E cooler (silent, CPU is 65w so happy with that)
Corsair Dominator GT PC-8500 2x2GB (overkill)
PowerColor HD5750 1gb passive GPU (silent)
Samsung SH-B083L retail Blu-Ray drive (bundled with Cyberlink 8 Power DVD)
Samsung F3 500gb main drive (very quiet, I can barely hear it even when the PC is a foot away from me)
WD Green 1.5tb storage drive (quiet as above)
Corsair 450w modular PSU (silent as above and powerfull enough)
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit (overkill)
Click to expand...
The card I have is a gt 220, it can play audio via hdmi but as I will be using 5.1 surround this is not required.What I might do is change the 1.5tb for a small but suitable ssd. On my main desktop I already have a 1.5tb hard drive that is hardly used, what I might do is buy two 300mb powerlines and then put a gigabit pci adapter on my desktop then actually use my 1.5tb drive as a nas.However I am not exactly sure how I would network this up as the main router is not gigabit and the router that I use as a switch is not gigabit either. The reason why I went for a 600 w supply is basically for future proofing, it is well worth it to be ready for future graphics cards etc..

This build is going to be done in less than 3 months, I will try and pick up the parts when they are on offer so it may not be definite values. I am basically waiting for the ati 6k series to put in my rig at the moment, and will put the gt 220 in the htpc.

I have decided under much agonisation that I will have to be using windows 7, mainly because of driver issues with tuner cards. I am not exactly sure what card to get, I would preferebly want to get it of a reputable site like overclockers something that would do the same as this :
Code: 
http://shop.blackgold.tv/epages/BT3159.sf/en_GB/?
 
XMBC doesn't do PVR stuff, althou u can get a mythtv addon i think.

blu-ray playback is still quite limited under linux, but is getting better.
mythtv doesn't do blu-ray, but it is planned for the next version.

mythtv is definatlly the better software to use for a PVR thou.
no problems with running multiple cards, i run 4 dual tuners without any problems
 
As you state a budget HTPC why the need for future proofing with a 600w psu for upgrading Graphics when most new on-board GPU's are sufficient?

My own rig plays Supreme Commander at 1080p with high settings without much bother to my eyes. An i3 with onboard GPU on a P55 mobo would probably do me for just movies n music. A 5450 is all the PCI-E you need for True HD audio into a suitable AV amp with HDMI and superb Blu-Ray performance if not gaming, and it is very low power an ddoes not need connected to a PSU.
 
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sastusbulbas said:
As you state a budget HTPC why the need for future proofing with a 600w psu for upgrading Graphics when most new on-board GPU's are sufficient?

My own rig plays Supreme Commander at 1080p with high settings without much bother to my eyes. An i3 with onboard GPU on a P55 mobo would probably do me for just movies n music. A 5450 is all the PCI-E you need for True HD audio into a suitable AV amp with HDMI and superb Blu-Ray performance if not gaming, and it is very low power an ddoes not need connected to a PSU.
Click to expand...
I already have a gt 220, and I will be swapping it in my desktop for the next 6k series so there is no point in wasting it, also Amd3+ Amd board is much cheaper than going for intel, so I see no point in going for a p55 when I already have a gpu.

About the 600 w power supply, there is not much difference between a cheaper 400 w etc.. I might aswell go for 600 w so if I do want to change my graphics card I will be able to without getting a new psu.
 
Quote; I might aswell go for 600 w so if I do want to change my graphics card I will be able to without getting a new psu.

Makes no sense, so you are building a HTPC, you talk about requiring a budget HTPC yet are already planning an over the top PSU in the event of an even more power hungry future GPU?

SLI certified, more noise, more heat, more money. LOL @ budget HTPC.

My Sapphire HD4870 Toxic 1gb card is reasonable yet runs off my 450w.
 
Cycrow said:
also if you choose to use linux, the nvidia card would be much better for video playback than the ATI
Click to expand...

Linux LOL, HTPC and gaming = waste of time. What a quote, considering both cards perform better under Windows and Linux sucks for Blu-Ray playback, if you can get by the DVD playback at times. ;)
 
sastusbulbas said:
Linux LOL, HTPC and gaming = waste of time. What a quote, considering both cards perform better under Windows and Linux sucks for Blu-Ray playback, if you can get by the DVD playback at times. ;)
Click to expand...

might want to read the first post, as he mentions using ubuntu, and last i checked, that is linux.

also, he mentioned nothing about playing games, even thou u can play games on linux if you like ;)
 
For god's sake don't put a HTPC in an antec 300.

It's a case designed around cooling, not noise... and if you're using low power hardware for a HTPC you don't need anywhere near as much cooling, but it will still be a noisy bugger.
 
Cycrow said:
might want to read the first post, as he mentions using ubuntu, and last i checked, that is linux.

also, he mentioned nothing about playing games, even thou u can play games on linux if you like ;)
Click to expand...

I read ALL the posts, he is planning a 600w PSu for possible GPU upgrades, what for? Some new Purple laser ray movie thingie? He also mentioned W7.

Linux is not that great with Blu-Ray the last time I switched my Ubuntu HTPC on, and next to useless with most games.
 
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