My HTPC Thread

[Dreaming]

Hi SiM

Hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread but I'm doing a remarkably similar build to yours, and wondering if you had any hints from your experience.

My specs so far:

Case NSK 2480
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H
Processor AMD X2 6850e
Memory 2gb Corsair XMS2 PC6400
Graphics Sapphire HD3470
Hard Disk Samsung F1 1TB
OS Windows Vista Home Premium

I was going to get that keysonic too but now... :/ I dunno. Are you talking about this one specifically:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=433757

It's a shame because it seemed to be perfect for PC use when not using the remote. I also was planning to use it as a PVR (hence the large hard disk) but haven't worked out the best way to do it yet...

[SiM]

No problem, glad to share my experience with you.

The keyboard has a bad range imo. About 3 metres... It is the one you have linked. Don't get it. I think TAKTAK said somewhere that the IR one worked well for him... maybe he can comment on the range... I would go for bluetooth one, although that is a gamble, it could have crap range too... i though RF>bluetooth, but it can't be worse than my one lol

Rest of rig looks great... For the cpu, did you mean the 4850e? That would be fine - for HTPC most demanding use is high bitrate 1080p L5.1 h.264 as acceleration won't work, even the 4450e should cope with this as my 4400x2 does

For the PVR you need a TV card which I know nothing about, I am not interested in recording low quality Sky transmissions...

I have taken the XP + mediaportal route. It looks very impressive to me, even though I haven't fully configured it yet... I would take a look at this before buying Vista for it...

[Dreaming]

No problem, glad to share my experience with you.

The keyboard has a bad range imo. About 3 metres... It is the one you have linked. Don't get it. I think TAKTAK said somewhere that the IR one worked well for him... maybe he can comment on the range... I would go for bluetooth one, although that is a gamble, it could have crap range too... i though RF>bluetooth, but it can't be worse than my one lol

Rest of rig looks great... For the cpu, did you mean the 4850e? That would be fine - for HTPC most demanding use is high bitrate 1080p L5.1 h.264 as acceleration won't work, even the 4450e should cope with this as my 4400x2 does

For the PVR you need a TV card which I know nothing about, I am not interested in recording low quality Sky transmissions...

I have taken the XP + mediaportal route. It looks very impressive to me, even though I haven't fully configured it yet... I would take a look at this before buying Vista for it...

Yea I did mean the 4850e.. oops. Apparently the 3470 does HD coding natively so shouldn't stress the CPU but I also hope to set it up as some kind of 'hub' for the home storing (and where necessary, converting & ripping) media. Then everyone can be networked to it and eventually as things expand... well that's the plan.

Thanks for the tips also something I saw on a bit-tech.net mod which I want to get is this:
The Mod

Picture of IR display

http://www.xoxide.com/vlsystem-mplay-blast-black.html - actual thing. Might just get the microsoft MCE keyboard to complement it.

[SiM]

All of the hardware decoding solutions (including UVD on the 3470) cannot decode Level 5.1 h.264... Which fine if all your stuff is L4.1 and you rip to L4.1, but if you have already ripped some to L5.1 then you will need the CPU to do the decoding...

I am planning to set up a different PC as the file server, I am just waiting to find some cheap 1TBs in stock!

Nice mod there, but a bit too hardcore for me

Personally, I am not too bothered about an IR display, I don't see why it would be useful... or rather worth the hassle/cost

[Dreaming]

The main purpose for me is the remote control looks pretty good and no need for external IR receiver dongles. I am trying to idiotproof the Media Centre though so anything that is super simple and straightforward to use is a winner.

And honestly as for sound it'll be playing back at 2.1 :/ I'm no audiophile lol. When I get round to putting things together I might put a thread up anyway so I can document everything that goes wrong...