HTPC Build...

[crazyfool]

nah i think that case can take full size cards... not entirely sure tho

[Shooty*]

Right, hope no one minds me hijacking this thread, but you all seem to know what you're talking about, and this is relevant:

It's my birthday next week. I have farmed out various components to family members as potential presents as there's really nothing else I need/ want. Except, like, world peace and stuff.

SO... what OS?

I have a large avi collection, 80s cartoons (Star Fleet, transformers, visionaries), home movies in mpeg2 and avi formats, and some pop videos I've taken off cd singles. Also want to view photos and music through the interface.

Now, i know media centre is good for pics and music, but i find it disappointing for avi/ mpeg files. It's entirely possible I've been using it wrong, but theres some divx stuff I'm sure it refuses to list, and really it could do with a seperate video section as opposed to just making it an adjunct of photos.

it would also be nice to add apps to media centre (i.e dawn of war), so you can access it through media centre rather than return to desktop, but again i don't see a way to do that.

I've looked at ubuntu and mythtv extension, but have precisely zero experience of that, and concerns about codec recognition, etc. Have toyed with xbmc.

what else? we have sky plus... we connect the sky plus box to the telly through scart. Anyone know how/ if you can connect an htpc into the circuit? Would I want to? What format would recorded programs be in?

So.... anyone got any recommendations? Vista's bloody expensive atm as well. Sure I got it oem from scan for £50 some time ago... may go Windows 7 beta until June...

I have looked on t'internet, but didn't much to help my particular brand of luddite-ness.

[crazyfool]

well the best media center imo opinion at the moment is mediaportal... yes it is a lot of work to set up unless your very lucky but it isn't too complicated, can play pretty much any file as long as there a codec installed for it and its free ... unfortunately it only runs on windows so vista or xp for that...
most linux distros can handle all kinds of file formats and the OS is free... xmbc would be a good choice for linux if you dont need tv on it... theres my 2 cents..

[djglenn]

any favoured heatsinks for HTPC's (where noise is THE most important factor).

Also why do people prefer the AMD "e" processors? purely down to energy efficiency?

[Shooty*]

eh, good point. 8 cm fans to fit that case will also be needed... Unless the mobo fan control stuff works well... And rubber brackets from quietpc perhaps.

Edit: With a DVI output to an HDTV, does the audio signal get sent along the DVI cable, like it would from a Sky HD box?

[crazyfool]

no audio via dvi to hdmi unfortunately... but most 780g motherboards, if thats the one your going for, have hdmi output which also outputs sound. As far as heatsinks if you go for an amd "e" proccessor, which alot of people do due to the fact they are energy efficient and therefore cool running, then you can cool them very well passively. The scythe mini ninja i think is the one i had but it wont fit a low profile case. Instead i opted for an akasa fan cooled heatsink which i run at its lowest speed and its inaudible... i'll see if i can find the link

[Shooty*]

Sorry, I'm being a muppet, I didn't meant DVI, I meant HDMI.

Edit: Man, this whole project is doomed.

My TV stand has a depth of 35 cm.

That case is, like, 42 or something, so would stand out and look stupid.

The only case that would fit appears to be this http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/system-cabin...ter-hmc-1s53a/

and I'm not sure a) that I want that or b) that 200 watts would be enough.

****ing hell ARGH god why can't this be easier?

[crazyfool]

i wouldn't go for it... 200w may be enough but the case itself is a bit too small for decent cooling etc... how about a standard desktop case... not great asthetically but you could put a box over it

[Shooty*]

LInky

Getting desperate now

[Shooty*]

OK, I've taken the plunge with the recommended components (except a cheaper sony bluray drive).
Getting some of the parts for my birthday on Friday, so will hopefully be putting it togetherFriday night. Am going to run Windows 7 on it, with additional parts being Logitech webcam fusion and Xbox 360 wireless controller.

Will keep y'all informed, with pictures of the build if anyone wants them.

Place your bets now: how will the following games perform with the onboard GPU:
Sid Meiers Pirates! (for the wife)
Sim City 4
Dawn Of War
Audiosurf
Spore Creature Creator (for the kids)
Age of Mythology

I'm hoping with the possible exception of Sim City 4, it should be able to cope with all of them. And perhaps Spore CC. That might cause problems.

Going to whack MAME on there as well, soon as I can decide which version is best for most games compatible AND xbox/ joystick control ability...

[Shooty*]

I've started
LInky