HTPC Recommendations

Nixeh · 21 Apr 2006 at 11:59

Heya guys, quite new to the HTPC scene.

Currently building a file server for my inhouse network that will only be seen on the network side and not by the outside world. Obviously it will be storing movies, games and tv shows and possibly music for myself and my family.

Ive been planning for a while to build a htpc but as i have most of the storage elsewhere i would like a small compact pc that will sit next to the tv in the front room that will act as the front end.

I want it to be small yet sylish (thinking of building my own enclosure) but im not sure what about the hardware. I would like 2 dvd drives (1 for Region 1 and another for Region 2 dvds. I plan to be upscaling the image on the fly at some point but dont know what type of system specs i would need for this. It will have a small laptop hdd in there aswell to store MCE and other small programs.

So basically this front end will handle the dvd playing, upscaling, and now and again the odd dvd burning, whilst having the remote rigged upto it.

So im wondering if u guys have any ideas on hardware specs that i could use to fullfill my needs.

Remember needs to be small yet sylish but powerful enough to do what i need.

Thanks in advance, Nixeh

pinkaardvark · 21 Apr 2006 at 12:19

My HTPC is a full sized chassis so can't help you on the size front, but if you're going to use ffdshow to process DVD's then you want a fairly meaty cpu to handle it. I have a 4400x2 but it's worth noting that ffdshow will only use one core so that's probably the equivalent of a 3800?.

On the remote front I use IRMan and girder together with a harmony 525 remote and this pretty much covers absolutely every possibility of automation control you could imagine but does need a bit of work in the setting up front.

Oh and on the size front I'd make sure your selection of components can run silent or at least very near to it as noise is a real pain in the bum for a HTPC, hence why I went for a full sized chassis as it lets me control noise much more successfully.

On the graphics front I'd reccomend a 6600 as you can get silent version of these, but obviously you may need something more meaty if your gaming requires it. It's at least worth checking what functions the card you choose supports as the different nvidia and ATI options have differing capabilities with their respective codecs depending on card version. The nvidia codecs do seem to be the best respected at the moment for DVD however.

Nixeh · 21 Apr 2006 at 12:25

I doubt i will be gaming on it much.

Just out of curiosity how well does a PC connect to a Normal TV (not lcd), whats the picture quality like? Should be upgrading to an LCD at some point but dont exactly know when.

pinkaardvark · 21 Apr 2006 at 12:56

Nixeh said:
I doubt i will be gaming on it much.

Just out of curiosity how well does a PC connect to a Normal TV (not lcd), whats the picture quality like? Should be upgrading to an LCD at some point but dont exactly know when.

I have a 40" Samsung LCD so can't comment as I have never had a PC connected to a TV, but if it's anything like an xbox then it'll be ok for games at very low resolution of course and acceptable for DVD but no upscaling and a fuzzy unusable mess for everything else hehe.

I really don't see the point in a HTPC unless it's connected to something that can support at least 1024*768 at the very least.

FrankJH · 21 Apr 2006 at 17:05

pinkaardvark said:
I have a 40" Samsung LCD so can't comment as I have never had a PC connected to a TV, but if it's anything like an xbox then it'll be ok for games at very low resolution of course and acceptable for DVD but no upscaling and a fuzzy unusable mess for everything else hehe.

I really don't see the point in a HTPC unless it's connected to something that can support at least 1024*768 at the very least.

While XP MCE was designed for low res use on a telly, I concur that as we who frequent this board are used to higher resolutions, once you attach a pc to a standard non hd tv you will be horrified., just a guess mind you

BassPunk · 22 Apr 2006 at 23:16

my htpc:

nexus fans all round with zalman speed controller + seasonic s12 psu

samsung hdd with nidec motor enclosed in a Silent Drive™

nvidia passive gfx with purevideo mpeg 2 decoder

cant be heard :eek:

Mr Latte · 23 Apr 2006 at 12:02

To put forward some thoughts.

1) do you need a file server, will more than one person really be using the entertainment for streaming?

2) build your system to be as quiet as possible if its for HTPC particulary movie watching. Quiet scenes in movies with a PC whirring can be very irrating.

3) get a lot of advice regarding the the display your choosing or have and how you intend to connect it with the PC.

SERVERs
It seems of recent that this is the next big buz to have all your entertainment central and then wirelessly provided. This can be an expensive and fairly tricky thing to achieve and maintain. Also be aware that with high bandwidth files such as DVD or more importantly HD Video wirless is going to cause problems so a wired network would always work best.

Personally i take a different view.
I prefer to not have the hassle or expense of networks and transfer any material/entertainment i need across my PCs via USB2 portable harddrive. Music is pre arranged and copied/pasted on all machines and harddrives are not expensive. Typically we view all our programmes via a V40 in the livingroom including Hi Def so this is stored on the HTPC within that room.

Music is more versatile so our favourites are available on 3x Pcs within the house (livingroom/loft/daughters) Additionally required/fave audio is transferred to an Ipod Nano placed on a Bose Sound Dock which is used in the bathroom and looks and sounds class.

The loft room has a full HTPC but mainly used for general PC duties. This room is primarly my fun room complete with console gaming suite set within a moderete 7.1 layout viewed from an AE700 HD projector and 80" screen.

I recently added a MCE wireless laptop but its mainly used wirelessy for streaming custom audio to the X360 and for surfing wirelessly anywhere within the house. Im not over impressed with MCE or MCE-X360 and prefer to run other fave apps from a clean desktop (using objectdock) for an apple look.

I fail to see why i need a server or the hassle of running one and doubt that many people actually do need one but everyone to their own ideas. I suppose some guys within the IT sector like to take their work home with them but for me seperate machines with whatever material is needed on them works a treat.

* Additional
You dont need 2x DVD drives as a regional software will take care of your USA UK discs. Do allow for provision of a HD DVD or other drive in future but still maintaining the DVDrecorder drive for fast burning.

* Dont rely on onboard audio, simply even the latest SUCK in comparison of quality cards.

* I recommend at least 1GB of ram but 2GB is better combined with an X2 CPU. My system will run 3x 1080i for a benchmark of performance so it allows background apps/processes to be running and not effecting the Hi Def playback. Its also a great machine for decoding/re-encoding and digital photograph editing wiping the floor with my aging 1GB 3GHz P4.

*Up scaling DVDs, this all depends on your screen and graphics settings. Apps like Theatretek with the Nvidia codec is usually good enough for most without other processing software. Anyways within a year youll be looking to rebuild your collection in Hidef wont you?