Best pre-built HTPC w/ Nvidia GPU for 4K@60Hz HDMI 2.0 HDCP 2.2

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Ducman69

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Edit: Going w/ Android based solution + HD Homerun Prime (either Shield or the 900E's built in Android OS). Thanks!

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So I ordered a Sony XBR-75X900E, and like an idiot completely forgot that the old 2015 Alienware Alpha HTPC I've been using (love that little thing BTW, has been a real champ), is HDMI 1.4A only. DOH!

I need to find a good new mini HTPC similar to the Alienware Alpha form-factor and quietness ASAP, that can run Windows 7 to boot (still running Windows Media Center for watching Comcast TV... lame, I know), that can do HDMI 2.0 4K@60hz w/ HDCP 2.2, and prefer it to have an NVidia GPU as I had constant problems with my old Intel NUC and Windows Media Center due to driver issues.

I found a Asus Vivomini, but same problem no HDMI 2.0 support.

Any ideas would be much appreciated!
 
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Nothing pre-built in that form factor with I would consider "quiet", but YMMV. Have you thought about building something yourself, or are you looking at pre-builts mainly to keep the costs down?
 
pippenainteasy said:
Nothing pre-built in that form factor with I would consider "quiet", but YMMV. Have you thought about building something yourself, or are you looking at pre-builts mainly to keep the costs down?
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I usually "roll my own", but its hard to get a truly mini formfactor, at least nothing like a Alienware Alpha. mITX is still relatively big for where its going, and the little Alpha was tiny and silent, but its just outdated in its ability to deliver full 4K HDR.

The other option is I could just get a little NVidia shield or even see if the Sony's built in "smart" functionality isn't overly crappy, and for TV just go back to renting a cable box from Comcast. Just a shame as I have cable-card working fine, albeit with the old school Windows 7 media center.
 
What about the new AMD 2400g chips? Mini ITX board? Or the new intel Plus Vega on die chip?
 
Tekara said:
For cable you could do a hdhomerun prime which works fine with the Shield. Would also open up the ability to watch cable on anything else connected to the network.
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Thanks, I already have HD Homerun Prime, that's what I was using the windows boxes w/ Windows Media Center with for many years.

I didn't realize it works well with the Shield! Perhaps the Sony 900E TV itself can handle it then, since I understand that both the Shield and TV are simply little Android devices.

Sounds like I was barking up the wrong tree anyway attempting to stick w/ a W7 solution, as outside WMC, W7 simply can't handle scaling properly for a 4K screen as I noticed trying the kitchen HTPC on it, hah! Super tiny, even at max 200% scaling. Thanks again for the advice.
 
Are you doing only OTA or also the paid channels hence wmc and win 7? If the former, then Plex can do live TV and recording just not the encypted channels.
 
Vengance_01 said:
Are you doing only OTA or also the paid channels hence wmc and win 7? If the former, then Plex can do live TV and recording just not the encypted channels.
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Cable-card paid channels.

I tried Plex in the past, and beyond missing channels, I also found the performance to be very slow changing channels, despite being gigabit wired ethernet. *shrugs* Can't be the device itself, as switching channels in WMC/W7 boxes works fine, so figured it was a limitation with Plex interface, at least at the time.
 
Shield won’t do it all, that’s the problem.
Be a massive downgrade.
 
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