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First HTPC - Questions?

L

leisnerr

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Joined
Aug 29, 2008
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I apologize first off if this information was in another thread but after searching and reading on various forums for hours I couldn't find a clear concise answer.

I'm new to HTPCs but know a good amount about computers/networking etc. Right now I have Comcast but am probably going to be switching to FiOS which will give me a better TV package and thus I figured I'd try building an HTPC.

I'm wanting to build a HTPC that won't require a STB to be used so that I can just run the coax right into the box and not have to deal with multiple remotes etc. I was planning on using WMC with a InfiniTV 4 PCIe, however I'm not sure if this is going to achieve the desired result. I read about needing a M-Card from Verizon to make this happen but got a little lost.

Any insight is greatly appreciated, thanks!
 
InfiniTV with a cable card from your provider will do this. 4 tuners(HD) with the use of a "m" card(m=multiple streams).
 
The M-Card I'm assuming is supplied by the cable provider at a 1 time purchase cost or monthly cost? Also, does it plug directly into the Ceton card or do I need an additional free PCI slot?

Thank you!
 
Is it a common thing with Verizon? I read a few other places of them denying customers m cards and only offering cable cards?
 
m card is a type of cable card. there's a single stream card, and an m-card. you just tell them you need an m-card.
 
Just a heads up, Amazon currently has the Infinitv 4 for $199 w/ FS if you don't have it already.
 
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Thanks Xonim, I was literally about to order everything from Newegg when I saw your link. Below is what I have picked out so far, any other suggestions or looks good?

Case:
Silverstone Series ML03B

Motherboard:
ASUS P8Z68-M Pro LGA 1155 Micro ATX

CPU:
Intel Core i3-2125 Sandy 3.3GHz LGA 1155 + Heatsink

Memory:
G.SKILL 240-Pin DDR3 4GB 1333 x2 (So cheap, why not?)

Power Supply:
Rosewill HIVE-650W Modular PS

Hard Drive:
I'm going to put my current Intel X-25 SSD 80GB in for the OS and then Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM for data until I finish building my storage server.

Blu Ray:
ASUS Blu-ray Burner

Remote:
Rosewill RRC-126 WMC Infrared Remote

Tuner:
InfiniTV 4 PCIe Quad Tuner

Thoughts? Suggestions?

I don't do a ton of recording but now with the quad tuner I will probably stop torrenting a lot of things that are included in my TV package when I switch to Fios. 1TB should be plenty for my current media archive plus recordings until I'm done my other storage project. I'm mainly looking forward to the Ceton Echo extenders that will be coming out so I'll be able to stream out to the other TVs in my apartment.

Thanks again for the advice/link!
 
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Not all that familiar with that case....is the stock heatsink with the i3 too tall for it?

Could probably save $25 and just get the Asus P8H67-M LE motherboard. You won't be OC'ing a HTPC, so no need really for the Z68 platform.

Same thing for the processor. The i3 2100 is more than enough for 1080p playback, so unless you're doing something crazy, the 2125 isn't really worth it for HTPC use. The 2100 is only $110 at Newegg after promo code.......there's another $40.

In my experience, avoid Rosewill PSU's. This Seasonic is only $5 more, and is of much better quality. That being said, you don't need anywhere near even 600w to run a HTPC, but they don't really make modular PSU's smaller than that, so....yeah.
 
I originally went with the i3-2125 because of HD 3000 graphics over HD 2000 for a nominal cost, that being said I'm not too worried about the $25 difference in motherboards since I could always re-purpose it at a later time, better to have the option than not too imo, unless this were a budget build.

I like that power supply better, will be swapping that out. But yea, I know I could get away with a 300-350watt PSU but like you said modular doesn't really go lower, since the case is small I didn't want a bunch of extra wiring to deal with.

Thanks for suggestions!
 
leisnerr said:
I lied, I think this will do!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151097
Click to expand...

While a good PSU, it needs a case with solid airflow. As such, I don't think the ML03B will provide enough cooling for that PSU.

Speaking of the case, if you want to stick with that case and plan on going an fanned PSU, I don't recommend buying the case from Newegg as they charge $15 shipping for it. I recommend buying from Amazon.com instead:
http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-A...1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1329730208&sr=1-1

If you want to stick with that fanless PSU, I recommend this larger case instead:
$90 - Silverstone GD05B mATX HTPC Case
 
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The GD05B can be had for $70 from Amazon last time I checked. I bought one last week, love it.
 
InfiniTV dosnt? Dang, I am in the midst of cancelling Satelite and going to OTA. InfiniTV is out then :p
 
Originally they were going to support OTA. I don't know why they decided not to, but they did.
 
This Engadget review seems to indicate that it should work with OTA/ClearQAM...unless either (1) they're wrong, (2) I'm reading it wrong, or (3) something's changed...

In fact the hardest part will probably be convincing your cable company that your PC can accept the card -- we suggest that you tell the nice gent on the phone that you have a TiVo. You can then run TV Setup in Media Center without a card and watch clear QAM, or just wait until your appointment and save yourself from running the wizard twice. At some point during the install three sets of numbers will show up on the screen, your friendly cable installer calls 'em in, and with any luck you'll be enjoying the same HD goodness as those with a leased set-top box can -- other than video on demand anyways.
Click to expand...

EDIT: Official FAQ says otherwise...so Engadget is wrong.
 
Technically, for Cable card to work it needs ClearQAM. That's why ClearQAM support in VMC was such a big deal before they supported CableCard but no one has said one way or another if their CableCard tuners allow for tuning of ClearQAM channels without a CC installed in them. I really wish they'd make it understood if they did or not cause the prices of CC tuners is pretty damn good right now. There's little point in getting any other kind of tuner if they did.
 
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leisnerr- if you haven't ordered already, here's some more PSUs

400W PC Power and Cooling Modular $50 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703034

430W Corsair PSU $35 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026&Tpk=cx430

I just started ordering parts for my HTPC and I'm getting that same case, it looks awesome. One word of caution- that case fits ATX PSU's, but I've read its very tight. Modular PSU's are typically longer than non-modular and may have clearance issues with the CD/DVD drive. You may want to investigate that.

Personally, I am getting the corsair and saving the money. I'm sure I'll find room for the extra wires, or worst case scenario, I'll make it a modular by lopping off the wires I won't ever need :D
 
jsteinm1 said:
I just started ordering parts for my HTPC and I'm getting that same case, it looks awesome. One word of caution- that case fits ATX PSU's, but I've read its very tight. Modular PSU's are typically longer than non-modular and may have clearance issues with the CD/DVD drive. You may want to investigate that.
Click to expand...

Agreed about that part. I fitted mine with a Seasonic 500W psu and the Pioneer DVD drive cannot be pushed back enough to get flush. Luckily, I had a Samsung DVD-RW drive which is 1 inch shorter so with some shoehorning, I got both to fit by tucking the psu wires under the DVD-RW drive. Beside this, the case is a great one for HTPC.

Also, this case only have half-height cards support due to the limited height. I had to toss out the HVR-1600 card I had since it's full height and get it replaced with a AverTV Volar Max USB TV tuner (in Canada, no provider will offer CableCard at all, which sucks).
 
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