HTPC Noob - what do I need?

Richard_16v

Richard_16v

Richard_16v

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Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Bedfordshire
Since I know nothing about AV stuff in general and have never owned a HTPC I would like some help from the almighty knowledge that is OCUK :D

I would like to get a HTPC that I can connect to a AV Receiver to watch films through surround sound + HDMI to connect to a LCD screen.

I don't have anything as yet, I will be buying from scratch but just want to make sure I don't miss anything.

What spec system/features will I need to watch movies (DVD's/Bluerays and Downloads) on an LCD and through surround sound?

p.s. sorry I even confuse myself just trying to explain what I want :confused:
 
if your av reciever supports hdmi1.3 id wait for the new amd/ati gfx cards to come out that support 7.1 audio through hdmi for your blueray/hd content. otherwise your dd+/truehd audio will be downconverted to ac3/dts if you use spdif, so in essence your not getting the best out of your hd content. this is done due to the bandwith limit of spdif.

if you only have a 5.1 setup and are watching dvds mainly or an older av reciever that doesnt support hdmi1.3 and dont fancy upgrading it, then theres no point waiting for the new gfx cards.

whatever you do, you'd want to build around a asus/gigabyte amd780g chipset mobo, combined with an amd 45w low power dual core, passively cooled processor.
 
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amkan13 said:
whatever you do, you'd want to build around a asus/gigabyte amd780g chipset mobo, combined with an amd 45w low power dual core, passively cooled processor.
Click to expand...

Seconded, i recently built this set-up, only difference is I have a 65w chip.

Also, if your going to go for a TV Card, go for the Nova-T-500, good card (although mine is having some dual tuning issues which im currently trying to resolve, i thinks its a faulty card rather than a crap card) also the remote you get with the tv card, its ok, but if you are going to be recording or timeshifting then i would buy a USB Microsoft remote as when in record/timeshifting mode, the happaulage remote becomes very slow and un-responsive due to the IR being connected to the back of the card rather than having its own dedicated port.
 
i would go with some think like this

AMD
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Intel
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To finish it of a nice HTPC case, maybe a classic desktop case
or a mini tower, or even a cube like case. but thats upto you.

for hd playback you will have to get a HDCP Graphics card tho you dont need a super
fast card. some think like a ati 2400XT, ati 2600pro/xt, nvidia 8500, nvidia 8600
passive cooler would be a good thing to keep the system quiet.

you dont need a gfx card for the amd board on the list ive added that supports
full hd playback, the only down side to the board is it dont come with a s-video
port. but apart from that its a great board.
 
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yea Trunks9486, ive got that board in my media pc

full stats

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4850e (45w)
TV Card: Still looking for a good tv card
Memory: 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2
HDD: 2 x Western Digital 500GB
DVD: Samsung SH-S203PBEBN
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H
PSU: Enermax Liberty 500W ATX2.2 Modula

im very happy with my setup, yea a intel c2d chip would be better for
encoding/decoding but for full hd playback and other uses ie surfing. downloading
and more. its great

but its down to you at the end of the day Richard_16v, on what setup you
would like to go for. both systems will do the job.

oh yea and when you got some extra cash go for the LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader
& HD-DVD ROM
 
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