Silent HTPC build, does this look ok?

[Giraffe]

CAT, well I don't *need* two cards but it gives my PVR much more flexibility. Basically I've just bought a spanking new Samsung LED TV and while the picture is lovely, the EPG and all the onscreen stuff is so horrifically slow I can't bear to use the guide at all.
It's literally as bad as you'll press volume-up 5 times in quick succession, as you do, and you can then put the remote down and pick the laptop back up and the tv is *still* applying the volume-up commands! The guide is terribly laggy, browsing for a programme to watch is nail pullingly bad.

The TV shouldn't be like that. I bought a Sammy LED 37" last September (so the previous year to yours I assume) and the EPG on Freeview and all other controls are properly agile - to the point where volume can 'run away' if I don't pay attention.
With such a good picture, it would be well worth the effort to find out what's wrong.

[Caesium]

Giraffe,

What model do you have? Mine's a UE46D8000. I notice it being much slower on Freesat than on Freeview (but even Freeview is still bad) so I think it might be related to the number of channels it has to deal with?

I'm not really sure what I could do to fix it to be honest, I've been through all the settings a good few times and found nothing relevant - it's on the latest firmware too (first thing I did when it was out of the box).

In HTPC news, I've ordered a 65W A4-3400 at Insight, and they reckon they're due in on the 5th so we'll see if anything turns up. The DVB cards have arrived too, *so* small! They make Hauppage cards look like giants.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Giraffe,

What model do you have? Mine's a UE46D8000. I notice it being much slower on Freesat than on Freeview (but even Freeview is still bad) so I think it might be related to the number of channels it has to deal with?

I'm not really sure what I could do to fix it to be honest, I've been through all the settings a good few times and found nothing relevant - it's on the latest firmware too (first thing I did when it was out of the box).

In HTPC news, I've ordered a 65W A4-3400 at Insight, and they reckon they're due in on the 5th so we'll see if anything turns up. The DVB cards have arrived too, *so* small! They make Hauppage cards look like giants.

This motherboard should do the job:

http://forums.hexus.net/shopping-ret...t-voucher.html

If you want to spend a few quid less this motherboard should also do the job:

http://www.ebuyer.com/274047-asrock-...board-a75m-hvs

[Giraffe]

Giraffe,

What model do you have? Mine's a UE46D8000. I notice it being much slower on Freesat than on Freeview (but even Freeview is still bad) so I think it might be related to the number of channels it has to deal with?

I'm not really sure what I could do to fix it to be honest, I've been through all the settings a good few times and found nothing relevant - it's on the latest firmware too (first thing I did when it was out of the box).

In HTPC news, I've ordered a 65W A4-3400 at Insight, and they reckon they're due in on the 5th so we'll see if anything turns up. The DVB cards have arrived too, *so* small! They make Hauppage cards look like giants.

It's a UE37C6530, so the previous year's model and somewhat lower spec.
Freeview is OK on most controls (using the inbuilt tuner and the supplied controller) although it takes about 2 - 3 sec. to change channel which I suppose is due to FV and the decoding.
Freesat changes in ~1 sec.; I use the FV controller for little more than changing channel as the TV's controller does the rest.
As FS is slow it seems that it could be the box, or does that model have FS built in?

I've not yet linked mine to the 'net as I don't have a router! On my 'out-in-the-sticks' connection the old Thomson 'frog' with an updated driver gives all that the line can manage and no hassle with switching on and off affecting speed.

[dbh]

Have a look at the silverstone GD05B ... another htpc case that can take full height cards. Using one myself pretty nice and has space for 2 x 3.5" HDD + 1 x 2.5" HDD ... and an additional one if you get a bracket for the 5.25" bay. Sits nicely in my cabinet as it's the right depth too, doesn't stick out at the end.

[scaryjim]

... the old Thomson 'frog' ...

Good lord that brings back memories Mostly of my cheapo PC Chips mobo dying when I used it for ICS as the USB bus couldn't cope with the volume of traffic passing through it (my lodger did a lot of p2p stuff)...


To the OP: if you need a small HTPC case for mATX mobos and full-height expansions, you could do a lot worse than the Antec NSK1380. My only issue with it is the price - £93! I bought the pre-cursor to it, the Aria, way back in about 2005, and it's still going strong as my HTPC case (although I have had to replace the PSU recently). Thing is, the Aria set me back about £60 and has better specs than the NSK1380! But it's a very good-looking, small footprint cube case that doesn't look out-of-place alongside other entertainment equipment...