need help with HTPC build

[Jhanfosho]

I am wanting to build an HTPC for a friend who is going off to college. Since she already has a laptop, she will not be using it as a pc but more as a home theater system. I want it to be able to play blue ray or hd. Any ideas? I know some about computers but nothing of HTPCs. I assume that it is the norm for it to be able to store all of her DVDs. Anyways, could you guys make a build list for me and I will see how these things work. I will be giving this to her for a christmas present so I have time to save up. I want this to be really nice but not cost $2000. But I do not mind spending more if it means better output. Also, since she is a girl and isn't into computers she will not be overclocking and will want a simple, clean looking case. Maybe white? No flashing LEDs. Thanks guys!

 

[Deleted member 89018]

I'd very much recommend checking out Tech Report and Ars Technica's latest system guides, both of which provide a ton of information on building an HTPC system from the ground up.

http://techreport.com/articles.x/14610/10
http://arstechnica.com/guides/buyer/guide-200804.ars

 

[Adidas4275]

well i would start with what Front End do you want to use.



Vista Media Center, SageTV or Mediaportol (i think it just got a major revamp)



then after that you will need storage (if archiving DVDs)


then a nice case (antec sonatas are nice)

a good CPU and mobo with 780g chipset

4gb of RAM (its cheap and why not)

any specific questions i can help with?

 

[Jhanfosho]

Got a couple questions on how HTPCs work. For instance, she will be using a laptop for school. She will have a monitor in her dorm and when she is in her dorm she will hook up the laptop to her monitor.If she were to hook up the HTPC to her tv, how would she rip the dvds to the HTPC and then play them? Would she have to use the tv as a monitor? And then hook up a keyboard and mouse and do it like a regular computer?

 

[Adidas4275]

well i am using my HTPC right now, i use it with my TV but it is just a computer so you could use it with the monitor if needed. I have a MCE remote (which works well) and a logitech wireless keboard and mouse setup.


to rip DVDs you own to the HDD use either DVD shrink, AnyDVD or other such products.


she will need to use a keyboard an mouse mostlikey for this....

 

[Dangman]

I will be giving this to her for a christmas present so I have time to save up. I want this to be really nice but not cost $2000.

There's a major problem right there: Anything we recommend today might be outdated or out of stock by the time you build it in December. So unless you have some money now and or plan to give her the HTPC within the next two months or so, don't bother planning the HTPC right now. Way too early.

However if you were able to afford this right now, I recommend this setup:
AMD Athlon X2 4450E CPU - $80
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H AMD 780G mATX Motherboard - $90
G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ 2 x 1GB DDR2 800 RAM - $44
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $75
Samsung SH-203B 20X DVD±R SATA DVD Burner - $30
Antec NSK2480 mATX case with Antec Earthwatts 380W PSU - $105
Scythe SCMNJ-1000 Ninja Mini HSH - $35
Windows Vista Home Premium OEM - $90
----
Total: $549 plus tax and shipping.

 

[Jhanfosho]

There's a major problem right there: Anything we recommend today might be outdated or out of stock by the time you build it in December. So unless you have some money now and or plan to give her the HTPC within the next two months or so, don't bother planning the HTPC right now. Way too early.

Yes I understand that. I just wanted you guys to suggest a list of components and then I could know what to get further down the road as new hardware comes out, seeing as how I know nothing about HTPCs. If I use the case you suggested, would I need to use low-profile cards?

 

[Jhanfosho]

well i am using my HTPC right now, i use it with my TV but it is just a computer so you could use it with the monitor if needed. I have a MCE remote (which works well) and a logitech wireless keboard and mouse setup.


to rip DVDs you own to the HDD use either DVD shrink, AnyDVD or other such products.


she will need to use a keyboard an mouse mostlikey for this....

Ok thanks. Which Front End do you recommend for ease of use?

 

[Deleted member 89018]

If she's not really into computers I question the utility of an HTPC.

I'd recommend SageTV for ease of use but I don't know how it would be set up for ripping DVDs and such. I expect getting it configured properly would be a lot of extra work, and if it involves (in this case of Sage) third party additions to the software you could run the risk of sacrificing stability or taking away from that ease of use.

In answer to your question regarding how it would be used... I'm sure there's a way to set a system up so that all of the ripping can be handled via your big screen UI but I haven't tried that myself. There shouldn't ever be a need to connect the system to her monitor, though. Unless she wants to use it as a regular PC and can't read the text on the TV or something - this isn't an issue with media center style software like Sage, BeyondTV, Media Portal, etc as they are designed for use on TVs, but on an SDTV reading text on the desktop or in a web browser is painful at best.

I've been using SageTV for a couple years now and I'm using just the standard setup. As a DVR/media player it's perfect, works with my remote and is seamlessly integrated into my home theatre.

Anything that would involve a keyboard and mouse takes away from that, IMO, and puts it firmly out of the realm of "usable for someone who isn't into computers."

 

[Dangman]

If I use the case you suggested, would I need to use low-profile cards?

No, you can use normal sized cards with that case.

 

[SpoogeMonkey]

I'm in the process of upgrading my pc to a part time htpc and have been trying out the Meedios Ultimate frontend and really liking it. It does take a bit of tinkering to get everything working together, but I think it will be worth it in the long run.