planning a new HD HTPC, please advise.

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Volk

Limp Gawd
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Mar 20, 2003
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So I'm going to build a new HD HTPC to go along with my new Mitsubishi 52725 52" DLP HDTV, and I need your advice on some stuff.

Right now I have these parts ready for the system:

P4 3.0ghz, Abit IC7 mobo, 1Gb corsair 3500 (this is bh5 but I have nothing better to do with it), 2 x 200gb seagate 7200 rpm HDs, Radeon 9800 Pro, PCI 802.11g.

I am looking for PVR capabilities for OTA HD. I read that MCE 2005 will have this functionality, but I have not seen MCE 2005 on sale anywhere yet, is it even out yet? I remember hearing about a Linux distro that has MythTV built into it, but I have never used Linux before and dont know how hard it would be, or even if this supports OTA HD recording. Also what capture cards will I need to do OTA HD with MCE/myth? I know I need a regular tvtuner card along with the HD card, any recommendations on these?

edit: Ooh, I found MCE2005 on newegg.

edit2: actually found an even better deal here http://www.pcalchemy.com/index.php/cPath/54

I also want to be able to rip DVDs to the HDs for later viewing (netflix), I know I can do this with dvd shrink in windows if I were to go the MCE route (or does MCE have this feature built in?) but I dont know how, or if it is possible (for me with no linux knowledge) with mythtv.

I would also like your recommendation on a sound card that I can hook into my 5.1 receiver, with the best possible sound quality for no more than $150 for the card.

I plan on using the DVI on the 9800 with a DVI to HDMI cable for the picture.

Also looking for a remote I can use to control the mouse in MCE for ripping the DVDs and other times I need mouse functions without hooking up a mouse. I was looking at the snapstream firefly remote for this.

I am also willing to use sagetv or any other pvr software that can do OTA HD recording.

Thanks.
 
MCE will work with a few HD tuners, ATI's HD Wonder and DVICO's Fusion Three Gold "something or other" (I can't fully remember the name) and I think two other cards (one currently not available in the US). I'd avoid the HD Wonder based on the numerous bugs that it has, get the DVICO one instead.

You can pretty much do whatever with Myth. ;)

I would also like your recommendation on a sound card that I can hook into my 5.1 receiver, with the best possible sound quality for no more than $150 for the card.
Click to expand...
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-120-103&depa=0

The card I'm orginally thinking of is no longer made (Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1) but that Chaintech is very nice when you use ASIO with it.

I believe the Firefly is already compatible with MCE so your good to go with that. BTW if you get MCE you can't install it over an existing install of XP, you need to start over from format. Also it would be best to get everything in a bundle, the second bundle is really good and gives you everything you need other then a remote (the Firefly is better for that anyways ;) ).
 
CrimandEvil said:
MCE will work with a few HD tuners, ATI's HD Wonder and DVICO's Fusion Three Gold "something or other" (I can't fully remember the name) and I think two other cards (one currently not available in the US). I'd avoid the HD Wonder based on the numerous bugs that it has, get the DVICO one instead.

You can pretty much do whatever with Myth. ;)


http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-120-103&depa=0

The card I'm orginally thinking of is no longer made (Audiotrak Prodigy 7.1) but that Chaintech is very nice when you use ASIO with it.

I believe the Firefly is already compatible with MCE so your good to go with that. BTW if you get MCE you can't install it over an existing install of XP, you need to start over from format. Also it would be best to get everything in a bundle, the second bundle is really good and gives you everything you need other then a remote (the Firefly is better for that anyways ;) ).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I wasnt expecting the sound card to be so cheap, you sure this is going to have excellent sound?

rayman2k2 said:
Just curious, but will that work?
Click to expand...

With a DVI to HDMI cable.
 
rayman2k2 said:
Well obviously ;)


I just never put 2 and 2 together, wasn't aware that that was a viable option...
Click to expand...

Ya I got a belkin "Pure AV" dvi-d to hdmi cable for about $50 at Fry's.
 
Volk said:
Ya I got a belkin "Pure AV" dvi-d to hdmi cable for about $50 at Fry's.
Click to expand...
Is there such thing as a DVI to Component cable that will work directly connencted from the video card to the component input on a non HDTV component input?

I thought I read that one needed some sort of adapter on the DVI output in order for the signal to be properly coded for the TV?
 
doylnea said:
Is there such thing as a DVI to Component cable that will work directly connencted from the video card to the component input on a non HDTV component input?

I thought I read that one needed some sort of adapter on the DVI output in order for the signal to be properly coded for the TV?
Click to expand...
If you have a Radeon you can get one of these (http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=2537967) for TVs that don't have DVI inputs.
 
Newegg is also selling the ATI 9800 HDTV adapters for component video. Get it there, it will be cheaper.

Otherwise you need a transoder to do the same thing.
 
Thought I would chime in.

DVI - > HDMI works just fine, I got a 9800 pro DVI to HDMI on my Sony KP46WT520 myself.

Couple of things you might wanna know, be prepared for overscan at 720p or 1080i. Solution? Powerstrip.

Also, it seems that TV DVI spec is slightly different from PC DVI, in handling of black levels. So there is black crush over DVI (dark grays are displayed as black, so you have loss of detail in dark scenes).

Solution for it, is a custom non linear gamma ramp, that would bump the brightness of dark colors.

Here is what I am talking about:

HTPC
http://www.hostpicsfree.info/806665htpc1893.jpg
http://www.hostpicsfree.info/352007htpc12212.jpg
http://www.hostpicsfree.info/575759htpc2119.jpg
http://www.hostpicsfree.info/752253htpc3298.jpg


DVD
http://www.hostpicsfree.info/595463dvd1254.jpg
http://www.hostpicsfree.info/541119dvd26.jpg
http://www.hostpicsfree.info/870712dvd3317.jpg
 
does "sound quality" matter if you're passing a digital connection to a receiver? isn't the sound card just acting as a pass through at that point, since it doesn't need to do any digital to analog conversion?
 
Yup which is why you can just use the onboard sound for that.

<--- finds it funny when people by Creative cards for Digital pass through :D
 
The only advantage of a stand alone sound card is possibly a more secure connection and less CPU usage. I went to a Chaintech 710 because of its ability to easily use ASIO for stereo playback.
 
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