• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Dazed and Confused???

S

smokedog

n00b
Joined
Dec 23, 2003
Messages
14
Hi all

I am looking to build a media PC for the living room. I have run into a couple of questions regarding parts and OS choices. This PC will not be used for heavy gaming, it will be burning DVD's, playing movies, doing a lot of TIVO work, surfing and email, and some limited office type duties. Will be priced around $1200 CDN (my spending limit).

Requirments:

Must be as quiet as possible.
Must be as small as possible (considering parts being used)
Must be stable (24x7)

Parts being thought about (with alternatives in brackets):

AMD Athlon XP 2500 Barton (maybe mobile?)
ATI Radeon 9600 All in Wonder (maybe XT version?)
Maxtor 120 GB Quiet Version (good choice?)
512 MB PC3200 DDR
NEC Dual Layer DVD Burner

Parts I have absoulutely no idea which way to go:

Case: Small Form Factor or Antec Sonata?
MB: Obviously a mATX for SFF - would like to use an NForce2 chipset for the audio (Soundstorm) - I am really open to suggestions here (except I will be using and AMD proc.)

OS:
Windows XP Pro or Media Edition? (I will be using an MS product)

If anyone has any previous experience building a set up like the one I'm looking for, let me know.
If anyone has any suggestions for parts, let me know.
If anyone has any good links, let me know.

I was looking at the Antec Aria for a case, but it looks like it has some heat issues, and I will not be modding the case choosen at all. My main PC is a Sonata, and I like how quiet it is, but it may be too big for the living room.

Thanks in advance.
 
Mobile 2400+
Abit AN7
Sapphire 9600
Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-250MCE
Maxtor HD is good (becareful though, I know people who have had them fail on them) but a Samsung SP1203N 120GB HD would be better.
512 is good, I can find 512 Dual packs (256x2) for around $99 USD here.
Nec is good
SilverStone Lascala SST-LC03

You can't buy MCE, use either XP Pro or Home. I'm using links to Newegg for a reason, it lets you see and understand what you should buy.

Never mention AIW within context of an HTPC, the are great for a gaming rig but an HTPC they do not make. You forgot remote, thats one of the most important parts. You should OC that 2400+ to a 3200+.

An HTPC is 20% hardware and 80% software, picking out the right software is the most important part.

Software:
DVD - TheaterTek
Frontend - Meedio
PVR software - Sage TV
Music - Your pick (I like iTunes myself)
Miscellanous - FFDShow
 
do people actually use tv in on on thier htpcs? i always assumed that people would watch tv from their sat/digital cable boxes directly into their tv and have the htpc on a diffrent video line for just games/divx ect
 
CrimandEvil:

A couple more questions/comments if you don't mind.

I will be going with the mobile 2500+ (on sale)
Abit NF7-s or the AN7? NF7 is cheaper.....
I like the Hauppauge....does the hardware encoder make a big difference? It has a RF remote as well?
Saphire 9600 makes sense (if using the above)
What is the big knock against an AIW?
I may look at a different HD (Seagate offers a 5 yr warranty now)
The SilverStone case, how quiet is it? I have decided against the SFF Aria. Too many issues. I will look at the cases on the site linked, or maybe just go with another Sonata (cheap).
Thanks for the list of software. What do you think of SnapStream?
Also, NewEgg does not ship to Canada :( (at least last time I checked).
Thanks.
 
Links to Newegg were you show you what parts I was talking about but yeah they still don't ship north of the border.

I'd got with the AN7. It was the newest audio codec among the NF2 boards, it has audio in/out and the performance is the same as the NF7-S.

The Hauppauge 250MCE does not come with a remote (the idea is that it's mostly for Windows MCE which you get a remote with so you wouldn't need one- don't worry it works without MCE I should know since I have two and XP Home) but there are better remotes out there. (I'll get a list of some later).

Hardware encode does make a difference, anyone that says otherwise is either lying or doesn't know better. I can record two shows (using two tuners of course) at the same time at near DVD quality using less then 5% of the processor, I'd be lucky if I do that with the AIWs at 90% with lower quality settings (much lower), hence the knock. AIWs have a place, mostly in gaming rigs but to base an HTPC around is settings yourself up for failure. They do make for good inputs for game consoles though.

Seagate had to disable their acoustic management firmware so they run alittle louder now. The Spinpoints have a good warrenty (three years) and are just as quite as the old Seagates.

I hear the SilverStone case is pretty quite but I wouldn't since I'm building my own (two actually).
Here are some other case to consider:
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=dvine5_1
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=ht400b_1
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=overturecooling_1
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=silverstonelc03vfd_1
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=accent_case_1
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=silverstone_lc03_1
http://htpcnews.com/main.php?id=silverstone_1

I wish that I could get mine built faser since I realy like the design more then those cases. I could then offer to sell them to people. ;) But everythings going pretty slow.

BTV (the company is called Snapstream) is pretty good, I just don't like the UI and it doesn't feel very "tweakable" to me. The good though is that you can try out both Sage and BTV since they have a 15 day full feature trail versions.

Just in case your wondering my HTPC specs:
1900+ Athlon XP (have to upgrade to a Mobile Barton soon)
Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe (got for $39 from Newegg :D )
256mb PC2100 (I need to get double that and faster soon)
Western Digital 120GB 8mb Cache (I need a larger drive now)
Lite On 52x32x52 cdrw (Loud as hell)
Dead DVD Drive (killed in mod project, going to replace both CDRW and this with a DL DVD burner)
Two Hauppauge 250MCE tuners
GeForce 2 MX (needs to get replaced, looking at a 5200/ 9600 or higher myself)
StreamZap remote and the X10 HTC.net Remote but I'll probably go with a USB-UIRT and a new universal remote soon.

Using Sage TV with NVDVD codec, iTunes, Media Player Classic (going to replace with TheaterTek soon) and FFDShow and some little custom software. Will add Meedio to that soon.
 
Thanks for all the info, I was kinda jumping in with both feet without checking how deep the pool is :)

So, it looks like my hardware decisions were in the right direction, minus the vid card and case. I may still go with the Antec Sonata, as it is on sale and very quiet.

One more question. I get my TV signal from my local Telco. They send all the signals as a digital signal thru ethernet. It has coax out, s-video out, and RCA out. Will this still work with the Hauppauge? I am not sure if it is sending a digital or analog signal to my TV, I would have to check with the Telco.

Once again, thanks for the info.
 
Wow, I've never heard of that (granted I don't hear much about how you crazy canucks watch TV, lol). I don't know but at the very least it's worth a shot. Try talking to your Telco and asking them.
 
CrimandEvil said:
I hear the SilverStone case is pretty quite but I wouldn't since I'm building my own (two actually).
Click to expand...

Can we see? Did I miss a post?
 
It's all pretty much sketches right now (no scanner though) and I don't use modeling software, I'm pretty good artistic wise atleast thats what everyone says.
One is a large case to replace my aging reciever, H- 10 W- 11.5 -D- 12
Second one is a normal desktop size case, looks something like the Gateway 910X
I forgot that I'm also modding an old Mac case for a MATX HTPC too as well as some A/V cases (6 Disc CD changer and a DVD player). I'm also working on two gaming rig mods (suit case and my mid tower).

It sucks desiding how I'm going to spent my money on which project, right now my mid tower is getting the attention and I'm also building a water cooling setup for it. The desktop HTPC case is all planned out and ready to go, the receiver replacement plans are being finalized (it's going to be water cooled so it going to be a two "chamber" design with the WC stuff in the bottom and the PC stuff on top.

I plan on have worklogs up but since I don't have a digi camera I'll have to use those disposable cameras and get digital prints on CD. :( Not to mention any special parts that I may need, so everything is going kind of slow.
 
Where are you getting your parts? I really like vibecomputers.com and they carry the Antec Overture which is what I'd go with for an HTPC if I were building one. I love my sonata as well but i just dont think it would work in a living room(well it would in MINE but probably not most ;))
Vibe also carries a range of TV Tuners and of course they are a Canadian company so all prices are Canadian and you don't have to worry about duty, etc ordering from BELOW the border ;)
 
Hi all

Well, the parts list is pretty much finalized. After a discussion with my boss, er, wife, a spending limit was decided upon, and that pretty much dictated what the parts were going to be.

The only part that I am somewhat unhappy with is the case. Since we had a PC and desk in the living room to begin with (a noisy PC, used strictly by my wife and young kids), she decided not to have the new HTPC in our entertainment centre, and keep it on the desk like the old one (due to price and space issues). So, I saved some money on the case (I was looking at the Antec Overture, and drooling over the Silverstones), but I now have to buy some longer cables so that I can connect it with the TV. I will probably get a new case in about a year anyways, so then I can move it to the entertainment centre and have a true HTPC.

So, here's the list:

Abit AN7 motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 2400+ Mobile
Thermaltake A1889-01 CPU Cooler
Zalman NB4J Northbridge heatsink
1 GB PC3200 DDR
Samsung Spinpoint 120 GB w/ 8MB cache
ATI Radeon 9600SE 128MB w/TV-Out
Antec SLK2650-BQE case w/ 350w True Power PS
BenQ DW822A Dual Layer DVD+-RW
Hauppauge PVR250 MCE
StreamZap remote control

Software:
Windows XP Pro
SageTV - PVR Software
Meedio - Frontend
iTunes or WMP? - Music
DVD Software - Any suggestions as to which is the best (preferably free!)
Miscellanous - FFDShow

All for about $1100 CDN.

In the future, the case will change, maybe get another PVR250, and increase the drive space.

Thanks to all for your help and suggestions. (especially CrimandEvil. You sent me on the right track. Good luck on the case design!)
 
I hear nothing but bad things about the TV-out quality on the 9600SE, you can easily go with 512mb of memory (1 gb really isn't needed).

If you want I might be able to sell you my StreamZap remote $20 USD (I'll have to check out what I can do on the shipping). I'm not really using it ATM but I do intend to upgrade to something else soon anyways.

120GBs tends to fill up fast, I'm trying to find a way to get another HD soon :D but that DVD burner should help out. I personally like the layout of iTunes specially on a TV.
 
I hear nothing but bad things about the TV-out quality on the 9600SE, you can easily go with 512mb of memory (1 gb really isn't needed)
Click to expand...

What do you suggest then? A straight 9600? 9600 Pro? Or a FX5200? I tried looking around for comments/reviews on the TV-Out quality of these cards, but all I ever see are 24 different benchmarks from video games, then the comment "Oh yeah, it also has TV Out." What about the 9200SE?

Reason I was looking at that card was the price. I coould easily jack down the RAM and grab a different card.
 
Hey CrimandEvil

Switched it to a standard 9600, and dropped the extra 512 MB.

If you want I might be able to sell you my StreamZap remote $20 USD (I'll have to check out what I can do on the shipping). I'm not really using it ATM but I do intend to upgrade to something else soon anyways.
Click to expand...

Actually, I'm getting a good deal on a bundle from SageTV's website. For $194 USD I'm getting SageTV, a StreamZap remote and the PVR250MCE. Our dollar is quite high right now ($0.77), and the place I'm ordering the rest of the parts from in Canada is selling the PVR250 for $200 CDN. I'm saving about $80 USD by ordering the bundle from Sage.

Other software that was suggested to me was PowerStrip, and like you said earlier, TheatreTek for DVD playback.

Thanks again, and I'll try and post a followup when I get the parts and have it up and running.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top