HTPC Quetsions

[WJA96]

What a HTPC looks like is irrevent, it's how it's setup (Media Portal, remote control functionality) that's important.

Those are your priorities. Mine are different.

A low profile cases limits your choice of video cards (look at the MATX silverstones) you can't add PCI and PCI-E at the same time.

The OriginAE, Larger Silverstone and mCubed all take full height graphics cards.

I have no need for full size ATX boards, I don't watch sky or DVB, will never fit those tuner cards, I did have a ATX P3 1ghz but decided to build a new faster, HD capable MATX system.

Unfortunately, they are switching analogue off, so will need a satellite or digital card eventually. I also think you are extremely unusual if you don't want to watch digital TV - surely you only have 5 channels plus DVD?

So how does your system differ from a DVD player?

My point being with the dongle that some installs will have the PC not visible in the IR receptive area. How many people put there gear in cupboards? So even with a "proper" htpc case with a VFD and IR receiver you'll still need a IR blaster/transmitter. My htpc is on the open racking, although it will be placed elseware when I get a new display, the front panel will be slightly out of sight. The installer I use has a HTPC and soundserver inside a cupboard so he'll need a IR blaster.

Again, your increasingly desperate sounding argument is that your system is ugly so you have to hide it in a cupboard and therefore you would stop me having a good looking system on display? I still don't see a strong argument for the USB 'blaster'.

If you can't remove the VFD from a HTPC case (which is around £50 per go) that means when you buy a new HTPC case you'll need to buy one with a VFD and IR receiver everytime. That works out pretty expensive.

Surely that's my choice - to have a fully integrated, proper HTPC case? If I change the case, I'll change the VFD and the remote receiver.

I can convert ANY PC to a HTPC with the USB dongle. If I see another MATX case that I like I can just fit the dongle onto it. I don't need to spend £160+ to change.

Yes, but I could just buy an mATX and fit a dongle to it as well. I wouldn't, because I would have to buy a cupboard to hide it in, then drill a hole in the cupboard and then... Well, the cupboard would be more expensive than the case, I'm sure. And I'd still have something that I consider to be jury-rigged together.

If you don't know about "invisible" cinema installations you would know that the kit and speakers are in a fake wall. It makes it look very "pro"

And that's going to save me money? Of course not. Again, I'm going to have to get a builder in to install my HTPC? To save £240 on the case. You've taken an already weak argument and destroyed it. I could get an 'installer' in, but why? I've got a case I'm not ashamed of and I'm going to show it off!

Your arguement of buying a overpriced htpc is that it comes with IR reciever/VFD/volume (last two which I would not use) and for cosmetic reasons. Because you're under your wifes thumb, your arguement is weak and limiting your choices.

Here we go again with the personal attacks. First I have no balls. Now "I'm under my wife's thumb". Come on, is that your argument? I'm a married man. My wife is a very important part of my life. I wouldn't upset for anything and she likes the public rooms to be 'nice'. To her, that means no computers.

If a £60 PC case does the same job, is silent, is metal and finished in black, understated looks IT DOES THE SAME THING. When the lights are down does it matter a PC case doesn't look like a piece of audio gear? No.

But you've disregarded my question about the £20 case, surely? You've wasted £40 by your own admission. Plus the cost of your power supply, because I would argue that sat 15 feet away from the screen, you can't hear the PC anyway over a decent mult-channel surround sound set-up.

And even if it does, so what? You could use a Stacker/LL TJ-07 as a HTPC. Compared to the pile of 10 poweramps, pre-amps, and 7 speakers, subwoofer the size of a emersion tank....a black PC draws very little attention to itself.

You're assuming that my wife would let me have all that stuff in our living room. She wouldn't. I feed my setup through 3 Linn Chakra Twins and the Seizmik 10.25 sub has it's own amp. Again, they are small and unobtrusive. The subwoofer is less than 12" square. In our room, that's plenty. Your system sounds like you've stolen the contents of the tour van from an Iron Maiden concert. The other speakers are also by Linn, Komponent 104's, as I like their sound. In our home, that black PC would stand out a mile. And my wife would not like that at all. And I respect her all the more for it.

 

[james.miller]

you two are arguing over completely different priorities...why dont you ask the op what HE wants? for once, i argee with squiffy, though it is amusing to see him taking the 'cheap' opinion for once. you know what im talking about, squiffy. Anyway enough of that.

if you want the case to be seen, buy a nice case, if you dont, buy a functional one. That rather straight forward, isnt it? i had a reasonably expensive silverstone case (sst lc-03), but i got tired of the poor cooling and eventually got rid. now i use a cheap thermaltake case. it isnt in direct sight, but it does the same job and it does it cooler, quieter and cheaper.


priorities, gentlemen. stop arguing over who has the most expensive gear.

 

[squiffy]

I also think you are extremely unusual if you don't want to watch digital TV

I don't watch any broadcast TV at all. So have no need for ATX board and the higher number of PCI slots. Soundcard and PCI-E is fine. So MATX is suitable for my needs.

All my gear is open, you still haven't understood that the front IR is incapable of receiving the signal if it's not in line of sight . Not everyone will have the HTPC on their racking. There is no requirement that a HTPC has to be seen either. You could have the amplifier and HTPC elseware.

If you don't understand the need for IR receivers and blasters then there's no point me continuing as you'll never get it, you're obviously not into custom installs.

I see with your system you're more concerned with looks and "lifestyle" components ergo you don't earn my respect, my system sounds ten times better.

There is nothing wrong with a nice black PC case in the living room. Be a man, get some 'tute from Eric cartman

 

[james.miller]

i like my logi. s510 media set. its an rf remote, no need for line of sight. hell it works through two walls, outside in the garden.

 

[squiffy]

i like my logi. s510 media set. its an rf remote, no need for line of sight. hell it works through two walls, outside in the garden.

Your kit has to be RF though, at this time I have CD player, Squeezebox, pre-amp, dimmer, HT pre-amp, TV and HTPC all IR controlled.

With IR, in some installs you do need receivers/blasters. Ie you could have source on show, but av pre-amp and poweramps are elseware. IR receiver below the projector screen, and blasters fitted to front panel IR receiver on your kit. It's a great idea. Useful for bigger installs when the kit is another room to the main HT room.

 

[james.miller]

well it doesnt have to no. If you can settle for two separate remotes, then an all-in-one + the rf for the pc, sorry, htpc is quite acceptable. Although to be frank, if people insist on buying £300 cases i doubt they'll settle for two remotes Tbh, sometimes it easy to use the original remotes than an all singing all dancing touch screen IR jobbie.

 

[WJA96]

I don't watch any broadcast TV at all.

You're very unusual. Most people do wish to watch broadcast TV.

All my gear is open, you still haven't understood that the front IR is incapable of receiving the signal if it's not in line of sight . Not everyone will have the HTPC on their racking. There is no requirement that a HTPC has to be seen either. You could have the amplifier and HTPC elseware.

No, I'm quite happy that IR is LOS and RF is omnidirectional. Generally, most people have their systems oriented so the IR receiver faces towards where they are sitting. That way the remote control works.

If you don't understand the need for IR receivers and blasters then there's no point me continuing as you'll never get it, you're obviously not into custom installs.

If you mean the man from The Audio File in Cambridge came and installed it for me, then I'm into custom installs. If you mean did I get a builder in, then no, I'm not into custom installs.

I see with your system you're more concerned with looks and "lifestyle" components ergo you don't earn my respect, my system sounds ten times better.

Obviously I haven't heard your system, but I'll take your word for it. You haven't heard mine either, but you've been making uniformed comments throughout the thread, so why stop now?

My system sounds beautiful to me. It's a compromise, yes, but it's a compromise that I suspect many other people in the world would be quite happy to live with. I don't need to shake the walls with the content I watch and listen to. Perhaps you do. I suspect your neighbours would prefer you didn't.

As for earning or having your respect, I reckon I'll just have to live without it.

There is nothing wrong with a nice black PC case in the living room. Be a man, get some 'tute from Eric cartman

Be a man, be a man, be a man. Always with the personal attacks on my masculinity. I don't need a subwoofer the size of a bathtub in my living room to be a man. The fact that you think you do says volumes about you.

 

[james.miller]

so i guess thats a negatory on the stop arguing issue, then?

 

[WJA96]

Stop arguing over who has the most expensive gear.

I don't think there is any argument about that. He's apparently got a problem with me be willing and able to spend £300 of my own money on a really nice computer case. Apparently wishing to compromise with my wife over audio video perfection makes me less of a man. I happen to disagree and I do agree that that I would not be happy with more than one remote, which is why I have written my own software on an HP 1910 Pocket PC that lets me control all the devices - it is still infra red though. Our next system will probably use the Linn Kinik/Kisto RF system, but I can't afford it at the moment.

 

[WJA96]

so i guess thats a negatory on the stop arguing issue, then?

I'm not arguing, I'm having a very polite discussion with another Forum member.

 

[james.miller]

you are taking to blows with another forum member and deviating from the topic, just let it go. Im sure you both have more to contribute than 'my stereo's better than yours'.


// on topic

mo786, what do YOU want from a htpc case? do you want it to be a visual part of the system? To look the part, or are you happy to have a cheap case thats hidden away? there are so many ways of doing it but we need to know what you want from it first

 

[WJA96]

you are taking to blows with another forum member and deviating from the topic, just let it go. Im sure you both have more to contribute than 'my stereo's better than yours'.

I'm quite happy to accept his stereo is better, but he insulted me on three occasions and that's not nice. I have never been less than completely polite.

// on topic

mo786, what do YOU want from a htpc case? do you want it to be a visual part of the system? To look the part, or are you happy to have a cheap case thats hidden away? there are so many ways of doing it but we need to know what you want from it first

My understanding was that the OP was quite happy with his choice of case, he wanted some advice on motherboard selection. I gave him that advice some way back - ASRock 945G DVI. He then said he wanted advice about an ATX compatible HTPC case, but I had already suggested the ones I liked, and he had apparenbtly decided he didn't like those, probably because of cost, which is a perfectly acceptable reason, so, sorry, but I've had my bit of contribution.

 

[errata]

Hi,
Anyone recommend the best MICRO ATX Mobo to get? (I am gonna get the ANtex Fusion case - unless anyone knows better)

Also whats the bast processor to use? I am building in advance for HD DVD - I am thinking of a standard Athlon 64 CPU but unsure on graphics card as well..

Also can anyone explain hwo to get a rmeote working? Do you need some add on on the back that will accept an IR signal?

The antec fusion type cases are a good modest cost choice.
Silentpcreview is pretty straightforward on their involvment and have some reccomendation on boards too. Also http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=900405

The fusion is a nicely tarted up version of the cheaper case mostly differing in the aluminium not plastic front, a stealth bay and a basic VFD, more & better internal accessories.

Check if it has a remote, dont think it does, the micrsoft MCE one is excellent for MCE use and as stated uses cig packet size external pod & USB plug with a possibility of mointing it internally if your willing to crack it and your case open.

Not convinced any VFD's are essential but they are flash.

You suggested components would be fine, though your probably dont need a 3500 and 6150 graphics have been problematic for some (6100 baords are more plentiful and cheaper and you can allwyas look for HDMI equipped graphics card when you need it (VISTA?))