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HTPC questions/advice

W

WesM63

2[H]4U
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
3,266
I'm finally in the market to build an HTPC. However, all it needs to do is playback files from a file server. I plan on using XBMC as a front end, all i really need help on is hardware advice.

FYI,
This will be connecting to an Onkyo TX-SR606 via HDMI. (or best possible connection available) Which in turn connects to a 42" Philips 1080p LCD TV.

I currently have the following as my main workstation that I've been debating on moving to HTPC duties. (subsequently moving the i7 rig back to workstation duties)

Zotac GF9300-D-E Wifi miniITX
Intel Pentium E5200
XFX GTS250 1GB (GS250XZDFC)
4GB Patriot Extreme DDR2-800
1TB Samsung F1
Silverston Sugo SG05

Now, its a decent little system, but it seems like this would be overkill for playing back files. (1080p/720p)

Should I use the above? If not, how much "power" would I really need to just playback HD files? Some research leaves with with little power. I'm really concerned about the video card and in another thread I saw this suggested.

Other options would include a used AppleTV or MacMini running XBMC. Providing they have enough power to playback HD files. I wouldn't hesitate building a new pc, but it needs to be as small as the current Sugo SG05 and cost ~$350.

Any advice or build suggestions is greatly appreciated.
 
Looks good for an HTPC. You could even take out the video card and just use the onboard.
 
It looks like you have the right idea. Everything looks great, but you don't need to have the extra graphics card. The nvidia 9300 build into that motherboard will take care of everything you throw at it in terms of HD video.

For a suggestion on the front end.. look into using Vista Media Center with MediaBrowser. http://www.mediabrowser.tv/

I recently just switched to it (after using MyMovies), and it's the best solution I've used for media organization yet. With a few hundred movies, it loads up in under 20 seconds, it pulls all the IMDB info, high resolution backdrops, etc. Use "meta<browser/>" with it, and it's even better, especially with TV series. http://themetabrowser.com/
 
w1retap said:
It looks like you have the right idea. Everything looks great, but you don't need to have the extra graphics card. The nvidia 9300 build into that motherboard will take care of everything you throw at it in terms of HD video.

For a suggestion on the front end.. look into using Vista Media Center with MediaBrowser. http://www.mediabrowser.tv/

I recently just switched to it (after using MyMovies), and it's the best solution I've used for media organization yet. With a few hundred movies, it loads up in under 20 seconds, it pulls all the IMDB info, high resolution backdrops, etc. Use "meta<browser/>" with it, and it's even better, especially with TV series. http://themetabrowser.com/
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, that looks fantastic. I'll have to look into it. First, I need to get this pc ready to go.
 
Yeah, drop the graphics card, onboard can handle HD content. I would drop to a smaller cooler running hard drive like an green or 640GB drive. Something along those lines, unless you're certain you need the room, then I'd get a green 1TB.
 
I can goto a 320gb seagate 7200.10 that I have laying around, that's no problem.

I'm still thinking about building a pc just for this, would this work? (using an E1400 as a cpu)

Intel BOXDG45FC
 
An E1400 would work for what you're trying to do, but I'd just move into something a little bit beefier anyway. That motherboard is a nice intel board. I'd rather use Intel brand anyway because the quality is great.

And yeah, a 320GB or 640GB drive would be nice and cool and quiet.
 
ShepsCrook said:
An E1400 would work for what you're trying to do, but I'd just move into something a little bit beefier anyway. That motherboard is a nice intel board. I'd rather use Intel brand anyway because the quality is great.

And yeah, a 320GB or 640GB drive would be nice and cool and quiet.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. I think i'll go with this, at $320 its hard to beat.

Intel BOXDG45FC
Intel Pentium E5200
PNY Optima 2GB DDR2-800
Silverstone Sugo SG05

The rest I have, 320GB Seagate 7200.10 and 8x DVD-RW Slim.
 
WesM63 said:
Intel BOXDG45FC
Click to expand...

I wouldn't go with that mobo due to the fact that Intel's G45 IGP is not good when it comes to playing back HD content. In addition, IIRC, the Intel's G45 only supports 2.1 audio through HDMI whereas the 9300 chipset, which the Zotac mobo you listed above uses, supports 7.1 LPCM audio through HDMI.
 
Danny Bui said:
I wouldn't go with that mobo due to the fact that Intel's G45 IGP is not good when it comes to playing back HD content. In addition, IIRC, the Intel's G45 only supports 2.1 audio through HDMI whereas the 9300 chipset, which the Zotac mobo you listed above uses, supports 7.1 LPCM audio through HDMI.
Click to expand...

So sticking to a mITX board with onboard video, the Zotac 9300 I have is the best option?
 
And The Intel G45 does handle HD just fine. I'm running the DG45ID mobo in my HTPC and it plays both BluRay and HD-DVD just fine from disc and from MKV.
 
lol

well... I'm at a loss now. I'm just trying not to go overboard here.
 
ShepsCrook said:
And The Intel G45 does handle HD just fine. I'm running the DG45ID mobo in my HTPC and it plays both BluRay and HD-DVD just fine from disc and from MKV.
Click to expand...
But he'll get lower CPU usage as well as better audio with the Zotac mobo.

WesM63 said:
lol

well... I'm at a loss now. I'm just trying not to go overboard here.
Click to expand...

Well if you're not adverse to AMD, you could go with this low power setup:
$56 - AMD Athlon X2 4850E 45W CPU
$120 - Zotac GF8200-C-E NVIDIA GeForce 8200 ITX Motherboard
---------
Total: $176 plus tax and shipping.

Same HD decoding capability and audio support as the Zotac 9300 mobo you chose but with a lower power and cheaper CPU. For HTPC duties, the above setup is more than enough.

However if you want performance equaling the E5200 and don't mind the higher power draw, you can get this CPU:
$60 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 CPU
 
Well, I can't say that I've tested the Intel HDMI with my Intel board so I don't know the whole channels thing. But I will say that the HD is perfectly fine. There was a short stint when they first released the G4500HD series that there were driver issues, but that's no longer an issue.

Now, if you plan on going HDMI from the mobo to the Receiver which I assume you would want to, and the Zotac does more channels then the Intel, then by all means... go Zotac.
 
Danny Bui said:
But he'll get lower CPU usage as well as better audio with the Zotac mobo.



Well if you're not adverse to AMD, you could go with this low power setup:
$56 - AMD Athlon X2 4850E 45W CPU
$120 - Zotac GF8200-C-E NVIDIA GeForce 8200 ITX Motherboard
---------
Total: $176 plus tax and shipping.

Same HD decoding capability and audio support as the Zotac 9300 mobo you chose but with a lower power and cheaper CPU. For HTPC duties, the above setup is more than enough.

However if you want performance equaling the E5200 and don't mind the higher power draw, you can get this CPU:
$60 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 CPU
Click to expand...


I don't have a problem going AMD, but that Zotac board has no HDMI and no optical audio or anything. I suppose I could do Line Out to my receiver, but i don't even know what type of audio that would give me. (mono?)

The AMD price difference from my above listed setup is actually $1 more. (using the Intel board)
 
The Intel G series onboard video isn't any good. The hardware acceleration is flawed for many video profiles and reference frame levels. Stick with the nvidia chip. You'll get DXVA, VDPAU, and CUDA decoding for up to L5.1 16ref frames.

And that AMD board he linked does support HDMI. It has a DVI-->HDMI adapter that carries audio. It works well.
 
And the 2.1 through HDMI is not a problem. Drivers resolved that issue as well a while ago.
 
I would use the machine you have as an HTPC. It has about the same specs as mine and mine is working great, 1080P BD, HD-DVD, and rips play perfect.
 
w1retap said:
The Intel G series onboard video isn't any good. The hardware acceleration is flawed for many video profiles and reference frame levels. Stick with the nvidia chip. You'll get DXVA, VDPAU, and CUDA decoding for up to L5.1 16ref frames.

And that AMD board he linked does support HDMI. It has a DVI-->HDMI adapter that carries audio. It works well.
Click to expand...

Didn't even notice that. (stupid neweggs site isn't loading the pictures)

If that is true, Its worth the extra $1. Not to mention having the built in WiFi capability.
 
w1retap said:
And that AMD board he linked does support HDMI. It has a DVI-->HDMI adapter that carries audio. It works well.
Click to expand...

before I got my new Asus board with onboard HDMI, I was able to use a straight DVI-HDMI cable with my old HD3650 and that carried the audio just fine. I didn't want to have a DVI-HDMI adapter hanging off the back of the video card.
 
And yes, the AMD setups are still top dog for HTPC setups.

But there's been a long misunderstanding about the 4500HD boards and problems. Most have been cleared up and are able to handle HD just fine. And again.. it doesn't matter if he's using more CPU Time when all he's doing is HD video at the time. I know my HTPC only does 1-3 things at a time. The most intensive combination are encoding a bluray movie, and recording a show, while playing a show. My system handles it just fine.

The only reason I went with the intel setup is because I had the processor already. Otherwise, I would have bought AMD.
 
Heh I just ordered the zotac 9300 board with an e5200 for my own pc I plan on hooking up to the bedroom tv for mostly htpc duties. I went with that as opposed to an atom setup or an amd lower power one. In the end I wanted something with a bit more juice than I really might need (just in case, who knows what I'll use it for) and I wanted it in a small form factor. The zotac ion board looks interesting also, but its right around the same price as this setup which turns out to be a really good value.
 
Thanks again for all the input. I *think* I have it narrowed down.

Zotac GF8200-C-E
AMD X2 4850e
2GB PNY DDR2-800
Silverstone Sugo SG05

All for $316 and some change shipped.

Anyone else want to chime in before i submit this order?
 
Spaceman_Spiff said:
Heh I just ordered the zotac 9300 board with an e5200 for my own pc I plan on hooking up to the bedroom tv for mostly htpc duties. I went with that as opposed to an atom setup or an amd lower power one. In the end I wanted something with a bit more juice than I really might need (just in case, who knows what I'll use it for) and I wanted it in a small form factor. The zotac ion board looks interesting also, but its right around the same price as this setup which turns out to be a really good value.
Click to expand...

don't plan on trying to play games with the onboard 9300. for shits and giggles I loaded Fear 2 on my HTPC to see how it ran and it ran really bad. I turned everything to low and it still was pretty bad. For a playback machine it is perfect. I love mine.
 
Other good HSF to use with the SG05:
$35 - Scythe SHURIKEN Rev B HSF
$55 - Thermalright AXP-140 HSF
 
Thanks guys. Ended up going with the Scythe Shuriken, as the Gemini II doesn't exists any longer.
 
WesM63 said:
Zotac GF9300-D-E Wifi miniITX
Intel Pentium E5200
1TB Samsung F1
Click to expand...
I don't know why your buying a whole new setup when this will work perfectly fine and you've already got it. All you need is to pick up 2 gigs (1gx2) and possibly a new case (the SG05 isn't that great for an HTPC due to it's tiny and not very upgradable limitations).

Also, I'd suggest checking out Media Portal with the Streamed skin added in with Media Player Classic Home Cinema instead of XBMC. At least then you can use hardware acceleration for your media.
 
CrimandEvil said:
I don't know why your buying a whole new setup when this will work perfectly fine and you've already got it. All you need is to pick up 2 gigs (1gx2) and possibly a new case (the SG05 isn't that great for an HTPC due to it's tiny and not very upgradable limitations).

Also, I'd suggest checking out Media Portal with the Streamed skin added in with Media Player Classic Home Cinema instead of XBMC. At least then you can use hardware acceleration for your media.
Click to expand...

Various reasons. For one, I wanted to keep the pc in my bedroom where it currently is. (quite and takes up little space) and two, i'd rather not have a $600-$700 pc setting in my living room just to play back video files. I can live with a $320 system to do that.

I'll check into media portal. Although, I'm pretty impressed with xbmc. It does everything I want it to and simple to use. (I installed it on my current workstation last night and played around) Not sure if you're trying to say that xbmc doesn't do media acceleration (there is a check box in the settings screen for it, which was enabled), if there is something I'm missing an explanation would be great.
 
XBMC only supports hardware acceleration in Linux at the moment. Which means you don't get to make good use of the fancy IGP. HOWEVER, you can configure XBMC to use an external video player (such as MPC) that does support it.

Does it still work without hardware acceleration? Certainly, as your CPU is plenty fast enough to decode it all on its own. But you'll end up with higher CPU usage (and supposedly not as good PQ though I haven't tested it).

Personally I've been messing around with XBMC for a little while, having moved from MediaPortal. It certainly works fine. But I might go back to MP or even get VMC or 7MC a whirl.
 
WesM63 said:
i'd rather not have a $600-$700 pc setting in my living room just to play back video files. I can live with a $320 system to do that.
Click to expand...
Okay then, do what I suggested and reuse parts you have. :rolleyes:

I have no idea where you're getting this $600-700 figure. $25 for memory and like $100 for a better case. Hardly in the neighborhood of even $400. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
CrimandEvil said:
Okay then, do what I suggested and reuse parts you have. :rolleyes:

I have no idea where you're getting this $600-700 figure. $25 for memory and like $100 for a better case. Hardly in the neighborhood of even $400. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Sum of all items in current system = $600-$700. I see what you're getting at, but you're completely missing my points. Granted, I could do what you're suggesting, but IMO it will be easier for me to just build the new system and leave the other exactly how it is, where it is.

rhouck,
Thanks for the info. I'll have to play with xbmc more once the new parts get here. I didn't have a problem playing anything I thew at it last night on my current rig (first post in this thread), including 1080p and 720p .mkv's. IQ looks fantastic as normal. Not sure what I should or should not be seeing.
 
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