What is a HTPC ?

DiscoKandy

DiscoKandy

DiscoKandy

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Surrey
Hi,
I see a lot of threads cropping up looking for hardware recommendations for HTPC setups. I've searched around google and here a bit, but am still a bit lost as to what it is that a Home Theatre PC actually does and how it differs from a standard PC.

What can HSPC's do differently to PC's ?
Do you need a high spec machine to act as HTPC ?

Cheers
 
Nothing Essentially, is my understanding

HTPC are primarily used for people who would like HD, DVD, TV Recording...etc....all in one machine.

The specs really depend on what you wish to do with the machine.
 
basically a home theatre PC is something that could sit under your TV and not look out of place, usually it should be quiet, store lots of media be able to play DVDs music etc, esentially it should be able to replace everything that usually sits under your TV. People like them to be able to record TV shows and things directly onto hard disk so they can watch them later burn them to DVD etc. things like that
 
I pressume they run using Media Centre rather than XP ? I dont really get it, do you plug it into your tv rather than a monitor and control it through a remote control ?
 
yup basically it's a replacement for one or several audio/visual components. It could be just a music source, mp3/flac/ogg/wav files. Or it could stream music/video off the net. Or off DAB. Or record freeview and playback. Or playback DVD-Videos, show pictures, play AVI files, control securit, connect upto projector, play camcorder files...basically loads of things. Any or all of the above. You'll also need a IR receiver (or RF receiver) remote and ideally a good quality learning remote that'll control everything.

You'll want it quiet as possible, but there's probably a acceptable level for yourself. I have a HTPC with one 7200rpm HD, 2x12cm fans @7v, CPU fan @1600rpm, and it's acceptable. Passive mobo and on-board GFX. It's not in a "HTPC" case but in a MATX small tower case.

You can have Media Centre, or XP with a front end will do (Meedio, Media Portal etc) You wouldn't use it for games due to poor GFX card, although nothing is stopping you fitting a higher end card but that means more heat therefore more noise, and wasted money/card for the job. ie X1900XT crossfire or 7900GTX SLI totally OTT for a quiet HTPC.
 
DiscoKandy said:
I pressume they run using Media Centre rather than XP ? I dont really get it, do you plug it into your tv rather than a monitor and control it through a remote control ?
Click to expand...
You can run them MC or XP, or a just a graphics front end. My example, the HTPC is plugged in to the HDMI port of an HDTV. The DD5.1 sound goes via optic to an 7.1 amp. The most demanding thing it does is play 15Gb HD movies at 1920x1080. Or you can sit on your sofa and surf and watch TV in a window, whilst recording the other channel. Its connected to a server that holds all your ripped movies, albums or photos. Uses a RF mini keyboard with inbuilt joystick mouse.
 
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DiscoKandy said:
Ok, im starting to get it. I have a 32" HDTV, how is that connected to the PC? Though the graphics card, or a seperate TV out card ?
Click to expand...



from the pc graphics card either dvi if your LCD has DVI or analogue.

on older tv most people use svideo.

I use mine to record / watch tv, watch dvd's, listen to music, surf the internet ( just to check a few things ) and download / store media.
 
Snow-Munki said:
from the pc graphics card either dvi if your LCD has DVI or analogue.

on older tv most people use svideo.

I use mine to record / watch tv, watch dvd's, listen to music, surf the internet ( just to check a few things ) and download / store media.
Click to expand...

Would conenecting the Video Card to the LCD via DVI allow me to view HD video sources?

Is that your main computer or a seperate HTPC ? What spec is it ?
 
DiscoKandy said:
Would conenecting the Video Card to the LCD via DVI allow me to view HD video sources?

Is that your main computer or a seperate HTPC ? What spec is it ?
Click to expand...

yeah, if you can use DVI that is the best option. Make sure your PC res is something like 1360 * 768. Your LCD is probably 1366 * 768 ( so you technically 'loose' 6 pixels but should be fine. )

Naa my main PC is Opteron 146 @ 2.9ghz / 2 gb ram / x850xt pe.

My HTPC was athlon xp 1800 / 512 ram / ati 7000 but recently upgraded to:

MSI K8NGM2-FID
Athlon 64 3200
1gb ram
320gb hdd
all in a microatx case under my TV

Hope that helps.
 
Snow-Munki said:
yeah, if you can use DVI that is the best option. Make sure your PC res is something like 1360 * 768. Your LCD is probably 1366 * 768 ( so you technically 'loose' 6 pixels but should be fine. )

Naa my main PC is Opteron 146 @ 2.9ghz / 2 gb ram / x850xt pe.

My HTPC was athlon xp 1800 / 512 ram / ati 7000 but recently upgraded to:

MSI K8NGM2-FID
Athlon 64 3200
1gb ram
320gb hdd
all in a microatx case under my TV

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...



I presume it all ran ok on the XP 1800 ? Thanks for your help matey
 
DiscoKandy said:
I presume it all ran ok on the XP 1800 ? Thanks for your help matey
Click to expand...

yeah all ran ok, as i was running on a 'normal' tv i hadto have magnify open sometimes which slowed the machine down.

however i believe if you want to run hd media an athlon 64 3000 is pretty much minimum requirements.
 
3700+ stock 2.2 1080p 60% CPU, 6150 onboard. Upto 70% for low def xvid/divx scaling to 1680x1050
4400+ x2 stock 2.2 1080p 22% cpu load, ati x1900xt.

dont buy slowest cpu, as need a bit for scaling and HD. just for music a p3 933 sufficient.
 
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