which OS for HTPC?

SGWills · 31 Dec 2008 at 09:41

got my new htpc stuff arriving the next few days, but im unsure to which OS to use, i got Vista ultimate 64 running at the moment but also got a copy of XP media centre 2005.

are there any beneifits from using either one as oppose to the other? will mainly be using the htpc for watching films,tv and music and the odd game of css/L4D

any input would be great

Brian Stuart · 31 Dec 2008 at 09:47

Vista 64 should suite your needs just fine.

Valo · 31 Dec 2008 at 11:35

I'd use Vista Home Premium/Ultimate x86. x64 releases can give you problems with codecs compatibility

Glaucus · 31 Dec 2008 at 11:41

Valo said:
releases can give you problems with codecs compatibility

Since when, just try a different codec pack.

What you going to use as the front end?
Vista Media centre with dvd gallery enabled looks nice. But some of the screenshots of media portal look stunning. Not sure how hard it is to set up though.

edgedemon · 31 Dec 2008 at 11:43

I have a HTPC and it is running XP and media portal, works just fine, so I haven't felt the need to go to vista

asim18 · 31 Dec 2008 at 12:11

Personally, I would go for a vLite of Vista 64 for a slightly faster boot and K-Lite Codec Pack because it plays everything and I've never had a single problem with it.

alex24 · 31 Dec 2008 at 13:01

I'd vlite Vista 64 like asim18 has said, and use vistacodecpack x64 from shark007 (google it). That's always worked well for me, and enables playback in VMC of prettymuch everything I can think of that you'd have. Also install VLC for anything else, it's very good.