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Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:24 pm Post subject: Spec me a HTPC pretty please

I'm planning to soon be moving into a new place, and want to of course sort out the essentials. Fridge & beer is easy enough, but I will also need a decent home-theatre system.

My requirements currently stand at:

Near as silent running as possible
Pretty looking if poss
Powerful enough to easily handle HD vid
output via hdmi (with audio)
Hopefully not bank-breaking expensive

Anyone got any experience/suggestions/thoughts?

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:11 pm Post subject:

nobody? i am disappoint Sad

i like the ones from hush, but they seem to start at £1500 or so which i think is a bit OTT

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:13 pm Post subject:

best i've got.

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:28 pm Post subject:

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:29 pm Post subject:

You might dismiss this out of hand, but have you thought about a PS3?

Near silent, supports iPlayer, the internet browser supports java and maybe flash (not sure on that), plays blu-rays, dvds, cds...

I've just set up my PC as a media server using windows media player 11, took less than half an hour and except for when the service crashes (caused I think by sharing violations with torrents) I get my movies and tv series over the wireless to the TV easily... And you can select only specific folders so other PS3 users can't see my porn on the telly.

It has HDMI, digital audio out and you can sync them with HD decoders which start at around £150 with richer sounds.

The only thing it doesn't do is support matroska codecs, so HD downloads are pointless, but honestly, even on a 42" 1080p telly the standard def avi downloads play back fine - considering they're free!

Maximum cost - £190 plus a tenner for an HDMI cable.
For only an extra £150 you can get something like this to make it sound good: http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/sony/strdh500/sony-strdh500 (Sony to sony hdmi majicks would make sense here.)

Add decent speakers and you're there.

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:39 pm Post subject:

I am not adverce to using consoles, i have used an old xbox for media for years now as it has been possible to hack it wide open and install nice software. Its great, apart from lack of power for HD.
However, i do not like the closed format of the newer ones, like the PS3 and XB360. They force you do do things their own way, and i would like "propar" internet, and everything that goes along with a PC, games perhaps as well.

I am counting on using the XBMC software to handle my media - which has all codec support, remote controllable goodness, fantastic media library features etc etc. But it requires a x86 based format really.

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:43 pm Post subject:

Stuff I need to know:

Local or remote storage? (assume 1tb drive anyway)
I assume silly HTPC case?
Any need for gaming support?

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:59 pm Post subject:

No need for a big disk, or even a fast one i think. A big server elsewhere stores the stuff with a gig ethernet link to the htpc.

I like unassuming, stylishly minimalist cases. non of that jazzy lcd screen is required or anything.
best looking ones i like are this sort of thing:

Gaming is not really is primary job, so no, no need for oodles of ram, cpu or GPU. as long as it can handle bluray playback to a 1080p screen over hdmi i will be happy.

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:05 pm Post subject:

I got as far as:

Case: Lian Li PC-C33B £128
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA785GT-UD3H £75
CPU: AMD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 550 £72
RAM: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 £85
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB £65
GPU: XFX ATI Radeon HD 4770 £75 (optional, onboard might cover it, but I'd bet crappy, cheaper GPU also an option, but y'know)

I'd be wary of cases that are made of 2u and heatsinks, that way lies risers and small fans.

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:06 pm Post subject:

Hmm, thats a big fattie case.

I think the idea of the 2u made of heatsink is that there are no fans required. I dont mind the riser card idea, its only a GPU that needs to be added?

The antec micro fusion looks like it might be a nice combination

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:11 pm Post subject:

you might get away with no gpu at all, as it has onboard with hdmi out.

but obviously, I picked it out of a hat, so can't vouch for performance.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158998 or http://www.advancetec.co.uk/acatalog/Asus_ATI_Radeon_HD_4850_1GB_graphics_card.html

could work well in a smaller case, again, do reading, work out what'll work.

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:41 pm Post subject:

yup, low profile gpu is prob the best way to go.
I think the biggest challenge a matter of finding a nice case.
Then a mobo to fit nicely into it, and an optical drive that matches up

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject:

yep, my personal choice would be an asus barebones minitower in a cupboard.

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:07 am Post subject:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2010/02/09/radeon-hd-5450-review/1

is worth a read, suggests one of of the I3 cpus with the IGP

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:15 am Post subject:

I have been pointed at the mac mini. Apparently it can make quite a decent media center. I think that it would nicely fit behind the screen. And with win7 bootcamped, and the media center remote, that should do the trick.

I just have top steel myself to buy a mac

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:20 am Post subject:

Surely any old laptop would work, too? only issue would be sound, which I imagine is the same with a mac mini.

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:24 am Post subject:

Wouldn't an Atom-powered mini ITX PC do the trick, or are they not quite up to HD? The ION-based ones look a similar spec to the Mac Mini.

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:45 am Post subject:

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:43 am Post subject:

That does look like a good GPU to use if i build my own box.

Hmmmmm about the boxes. I think I really want a PC, not a mediabox. I have been using XBMC for ages, and its fantastic cataloguing of my media library and playback ability is not something i would give up on.
Plus with a PC i get proper internet, iplayer, 4od, youtube, music from my squeezeserver, remote control over wifi, bluetooth to use a dinovo mini keyboard, Media center remote & blaster with IR server to learn IR remote codes & handle controlling extra devices like the tv and sound system... and probably more stuffs i have forgotten to list.

So, ruling out propitiatory playback devices like the WD mediabox.. yes a laptop might do the trick. But i'd need one with a dvd drive for starters, hdmi, optical/coax digital audio out, enough poke to playback blu-ray etc yet be small and quiet enough to stick by the tv. I dunno but I would guess that they cost ~ £550 or so that a mac mini does.

Or am i being a (mac)tard...?

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:59 am Post subject:

Remember DVI is compatible with HDMI, it just doesn't support sound down the cable, all you need is a £10 adaptor/cable.

Digital out could be more of a problem, but apparently some HP (and I imagine other) laptops support it from the headphone socket.

Otherwise, a USB doobery will do it for not much.

As far as blu-ray playback, are you thinking sweepy, or proper?