HTPC: Build or Buy?!? HELP

[GamingDaemon]

Hi Folks,

I know, I know, this is an old thread that has been beat to death, but most of the other threads are 2 to 3 years old. So, here we go again...

I am an avid DIY PC builder and love building new PC’s. But in our current economic situation, money is a bit scarce. And I am seeing a plethora of set-top devices that seem to do most of what I want an HTPC to deliver. So, I am trying to determine whether I should try to build my own HTPC or buy one of these new set-top boxes.

My current home theatre is a dark room with five electronic reclining chairs, a JVC DLA projector, a rack of equipment in a closet and a 110 inch screen. I have CAT6 cable throughout my house. I have a Blu Ray disc player and a Vudu device that lets me play Vudu movies I have purchased.

First, here’s what I want in a HTPC/device:

• Play all of the 1080p Blu Ray movies I have ripped to my Home Server PC
• Play any other personal videos I have taken that are stored on my Home Server PC
• Access the internet to round out my ability to see movies and TV online (I have DirecTV and Vudu, but I know there are other options open to me like Hulu and YouTube)
• Future-proof to some degree, as much as is possible

So should I consider building a new HTPC with a shiny new Sandy Bridge processor that will let me play my Blu Ray movies without a discrete video card? Or buy a Sony SMP-N100 device or something similar?

Thank you in advance!

 

[PolygonGTC]

Personally, I've not seen a device for sale that does as good of a job as an HTPC. All I see are complaints of sharing over the network, interface complaints, complaints about format compatibility.

From what I'm reading, you should build an HTPC. One reason alone would be future proof.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Personally, I've not seen a device for sale that does as good of a job as an HTPC. All I see are complaints of sharing over the network, interface complaints, complaints about format compatibility.

From what I'm reading, you should build an HTPC. One reason alone would be future proof.

Thank you for the feedback. I'm leaning to HTPC. one thing I keep hearing is that Intel still has that problem with the 23.976Hz movies. Is that still true?

 

[AQ_OC]

Don't you have some old hardware lying around that you can use in your new HTPC to lessen the financial impact? It doesn't all have to be shiny and new...heck, I have two HTPC and one is mostly made from hold parts, and it does a great job.

I have one HTPC built on an i3 and using intel hd2000 graphics. I can't see the problem with the 23.976 Hz thing. I don't think it has been fixed because I believe it was inherent to the chip, but I haven't seen a need to worry about it.

I agree with the other poster...building your own is the absolute best way to go and you already have such a nice setup. You don't need to spend a fortune for what you're wanting to do.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Don't you have some old hardware lying around that you can use in your new HTPC to lessen the financial impact? It doesn't all have to be shiny and new...heck, I have two HTPC and one is mostly made from hold parts, and it does a great job.

I have one HTPC built on an i3 and using intel hd2000 graphics. I can't see the problem with the 23.976 Hz thing. I don't think it has been fixed because I believe it was inherent to the chip, but I haven't seen a need to worry about it.

I agree with the other poster...building your own is the absolute best way to go and you already have such a nice setup. You don't need to spend a fortune for what you're wanting to do.

Unfortunately no, I take all my spare pieces and makethem into PC's for firends and family. I do have a couple of choice parts though, like a 60GB SSD and an Intel network card. But to your point, yes I think I will build it myself.

So now I am debating whtehr to make it a lower cost AMD build or a more reliable and faster Intel build.

 

[AQ_OC]

Unfortunately no, I take all my spare pieces and makethem into PC's for firends and family. I do have a couple of choice parts though, like a 60GB SSD and an Intel network card. But to your point, yes I think I will build it myself.

So now I am debating whtehr to make it a lower cost AMD build or a more reliable and faster Intel build.

You'll get different opinions on that...I prefer Intel CPUs but AMD vid cards. Your SSD and NIC should carry over. I like INTEL nics. In one of my boxes, I have a 64 GB SSD as the boot drive. I use mymovies as a back end to Windows Media Center so the HTPC has a nice interface with all the movies attractively arranged for browsing. There are other ways to do it that work as well or better.

 

[Brahmzy]

Absolutely build it yourself.

I didn't skimp on my build and I'm glad I didn't. I went with an i3 2100, AMD vid card, Hauppage 2250 tuner, intel SSD, nice case etc. It is solid and snappy - handles everything.

I also use MyMovies/WMC and TMT5 for BD playback. I went with good hardware as I never wanted to be waiting on anything or have any performance issues whatsoever while watching TV/Movies. Want the best experience possible as I've got quite a bit invested in my A/V gear.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Yes, I've got about $20,000 in my home theatre room already. I'm just missing the HTPC. The AMD A6-3500 seems liek a good idea at around $82, but the Intel i3-530 is only $56. Does anyone know if the i3-530 can play Blu Ray movies, or should I get a discrete video card like a 6570? With a $80 6570 video card plus the $56 for the i3-530, it is about $55 more than just the AMD proc.

 

[PolygonGTC]

No need for an i3 or i5 to build one. Get some used parts and save some money. I'm running a Q6600 quad from two builds ago to run mine and it's overkill even at that. I still prefer a dedicated GPU anyhow.

 

[GamingDaemon]

No need for an i3 or i5 to build one. Get some used parts and save some money. I'm running a Q6600 quad from two builds ago to run mine and it's overkill even at that. I still prefer a dedicated GPU anyhow.

Prolly, true, but the i3-530 is only $56. And an AMD A6-3500 is $90.

 

[wtourist]

The Sandy Bridge Pentium G620 was $63 shipped at last look, better processor, better on board video than I3-530. The Pentium G620 is a socket 1155 instead of the I3-560s 1156, more wiggle room if needed. If nothing else the Pentium will run cooler and quieter. [Amazon]
I prefer H67 to H61 motherboards but H67 prices seem up and there have been soome good sales on H61 Motherboards. Be cetain the board chosen has HDMI port, and sound chip required. 889 or 892 if using on board sound.
1333 4gb 2 x 2 Ram will be fine, as would getting one 4GB stick and adding another latter at need (unlikely). Around $30.
I believe the Antec NEO ECO 400 is on sale at newegg for $35 before a $10 MIR.newegg
Cases that look like Audio Equipment usually cost extra, the NZXT 210 ($40) OR 210 ELITE (2nd fan and USB3) $50 {Amazon} or a Rosewill Blackbone on sale $35(newegg) would do very well.
The Blackbone comes with a Blue LED fan, but goes on sale for $35 and both fans are quiet.

 

[Tsumi]

Buying a prebuilt computer (gasp!) is sometimes cheaper than building your own, especially on the low end. And will do the job just fine. Heck, buying a $300-400 laptop will be fine for HTPC use, and leave you with a computer you can bring around, but make sure to buy ones that use the new Sandy Bridge or Llano CPUs. They should be capable of DTS-HD output, but I believe the older ones cannot. Cheap desktops can be had in the $250-300 range, and will have everything you need.

When you think about it, the Windows license really adds a lot to the cost. If you're unable to find a deal, that license would cost you about $100. So to compare to a prebuilt computer, that really only leaves you a budget of ~$150-200 to match that prebuilt, which I don't see happening in most cases.

 

[GamingDaemon]

Buying a prebuilt computer (gasp!) is sometimes cheaper than building your own, especially on the low end. And will do the job just fine. Heck, buying a $300-400 laptop will be fine for HTPC use, and leave you with a computer you can bring around, but make sure to buy ones that use the new Sandy Bridge or Llano CPUs. They should be capable of DTS-HD output, but I believe the older ones cannot. Cheap desktops can be had in the $250-300 range, and will have everything you need.

When you think about it, the Windows license really adds a lot to the cost. If you're unable to find a deal, that license would cost you about $100. So to compare to a prebuilt computer, that really only leaves you a budget of ~$150-200 to match that prebuilt, which I don't see happening in most cases.

I already have an additional Win7 Ultimate license that I will use exculsively for the HTPC, so that takes the $100 out of the equation. But that does bring up the Boxee Box question, since they are around $180 and pretty much do what I am asking to do, yes?

 

[Tsumi]

I prefer the flexibility that computers have in running a variety of programs, and the ability to play literally any format. It's for that same reason I bought a Cowon O2, which plays quite literally everything besides FLV files, as long as it doesn't overload the processor.

And you never know what you might want to turn your HTPC into. I for one, turned my HTPC into a Wii emulator, which is fairly demanding. You can't do that on a Boxee Box.

 

[GamingDaemon]

I prefer the flexibility that computers have in running a variety of programs, and the ability to play literally any format. It's for that same reason I bought a Cowon O2, which plays quite literally everything besides FLV files, as long as it doesn't overload the processor.

And you never know what you might want to turn your HTPC into. I for one, turned my HTPC into a Wii emulator, which is fairly demanding. You can't do that on a Boxee Box.

I downloaded the Boxee software to my gaming rig to test it out. It was really cool. For the first 10 minutes. Then I began to see issues with it. I foudn some plugins for Windows Media Center that do a much better job of getting cover art and organizing my movies than Boxee does.

Looks like I am building an HTPC! Whooo Hoooo!

 

[W.Feather]

Look at doing XBMC maybe? I personally prefer it to WMC hands down, though some here are opposite of my thoughts.....


and yes, a HTPC is a better option.

 

[Tsumi]

I personally use WMC with Shark007 codecs. Haven't tried XMBC though, so can't say anything about it.

 

[GamingDaemon]

I know null about XBMC. Is it Linux only? I am making this a Win7 Ultimate build as I have a license for that already, so that would be a sticking point for me.

 

[PolygonGTC]

Yes, XBMC works for Linux. However, you can download it for multiple O/Ss. Including Windows. I prefer Mediabrowser though. Also, I don't suggest any codec packs.

 

[bexamous]

Buying a prebuilt computer (gasp!) is sometimes cheaper than building your own, especially on the low end. And will do the job just fine. Heck, buying a $300-400 laptop will be fine for HTPC use, and leave you with a computer you can bring around, but make sure to buy ones that use the new Sandy Bridge or Llano CPUs. They should be capable of DTS-HD output, but I believe the older ones cannot. Cheap desktops can be had in the $250-300 range, and will have everything you need.

So similar question to the OP's, but last Xmas I got my GF a Boxee. She loves it but her list of complaints has been growing... its slow, lately its been locking up, and it can't play all the high bitrate 1080p video files (when action/panning scenes come and bitrate goes up, it starts pausing to buffer ruining the movie).

So I was wondering about getting a 'cheap' laptop 400-500, run the boxee software on it as she knows that interface, and done. Plus if she ever wants a laptop, she could use it.

Should I try for a laptop with discrete graphics, or just go for some recent intel 3000 w/hdmi. Should ~2ghz sandy bridge have any problems decoding any video file? What else would be good to get? Some type of remote, maybe a laptop cooler to put it on when using as htpc (cool==longer life and maybe it won't have to spin up its own fans as much making it quieter).

 

[Chelica]

I was on the same boat and decided to go and build an HTPC. The most important part is the case IMO. If you're going to display it out in the living room be sure to do your research.

 

[Tsumi]

So similar question to the OP's, but last Xmas I got my GF a Boxee. She loves it but her list of complaints has been growing... its slow, lately its been locking up, and it can't play all the high bitrate 1080p video files (when action/panning scenes come and bitrate goes up, it starts pausing to buffer ruining the movie).

So I was wondering about getting a 'cheap' laptop 400-500, run the boxee software on it as she knows that interface, and done. Plus if she ever wants a laptop, she could use it.

Should I try for a laptop with discrete graphics, or just go for some recent intel 3000 w/hdmi. Should ~2ghz sandy bridge have any problems decoding any video file? What else would be good to get? Some type of remote, maybe a laptop cooler to put it on when using as htpc (cool==longer life and maybe it won't have to spin up its own fans as much making it quieter).

My laptop using the older AMD HD4250 integrated graphics can play 1080P, albeit barely (still occasional lag), and is not able to do DTS-HD output. An Intel laptop using a HD3000 is much more powerful, as is any AMD laptop using the new generation APUs. Both are able to do DTS-HD. Both can be found for under 400, actually even 300 if you look hard enough.

Basically, any entry-level laptop using the latest generation processors (this includes the Sandy Bridge Pentiums) should be able to handle any 1080P file.

 

[matteos]

Hi Folks,

I know, I know, this is an old thread that has been beat to death, but most of the other threads are 2 to 3 years old. So, here we go again...

I am an avid DIY PC builder and love building new PC’s. But in our current economic situation, money is a bit scarce. And I am seeing a plethora of set-top devices that seem to do most of what I want an HTPC to deliver. So, I am trying to determine whether I should try to build my own HTPC or buy one of these new set-top boxes.

My current home theatre is a dark room with five electronic reclining chairs, a JVC DLA projector, a rack of equipment in a closet and a 110 inch screen. I have CAT6 cable throughout my house. I have a Blu Ray disc player and a Vudu device that lets me play Vudu movies I have purchased.

First, here’s what I want in a HTPC/device:

• Play all of the 1080p Blu Ray movies I have ripped to my Home Server PC
• Play any other personal videos I have taken that are stored on my Home Server PC
• Access the internet to round out my ability to see movies and TV online (I have DirecTV and Vudu, but I know there are other options open to me like Hulu and YouTube)
• Future-proof to some degree, as much as is possible

So should I consider building a new HTPC with a shiny new Sandy Bridge processor that will let me play my Blu Ray movies without a discrete video card? Or buy a Sony SMP-N100 device or something similar?

Thank you in advance!

If your focus is on BluRay you should build. I don't know about that Sony unit, I just got the WD TV Live which is great for what I use it for but does have severe limitations such as playing blu ray ISO's (also just found out it downsamples Flac to 48khz which is very annoying).
Set top boxes are fine, but if you are looking for top quality over ease of use there is no substitute for building one.