Convince me (not) to build a HTPC

[slackerinabox]

OK, so looks like the HD-DVR is even cheaper than I thought - only $8 a month. I'm going for it plus my old laptop hooked up via s-video and mini-jacks for mp3 and divx playback. Two questions:

1. know a good front end interface for couch based tv watching? I know MCE is decent enough but I don't want to deal with a whole new OS

2. know of any good usb remote controls?

 

[tRaptor]

First of all my setup:

Hardware:
Gyration Mouse/Kbd
ATI Remote Wonder
Asus Pundit
2.0 P4
512mb RAM
PVR-500 (Dual Tuner)

Software: GBPVR

The way I see a HTPC is this, if you want something that you can customize and will have to "work" on then go for it! If you really want something that just freaking works, go for the cable co. If you dont wana come home after a hard day of work and have to fiddle with the dam thing, you might wana stay away. Now I'm not saying that once your setup thats how life will be, but you know how computers are.

Given all that, I love my setup. GBPVR does just what I want it to, and its free. I have tried most every software out there and this is the one. Its not overly fancy, but its not stupid simple either.

The feature that I love the most is that I can give it a few directories, with folders and folders and videos in the folders and it will let me navigate them simply, just a list of the file names no fancy pictures, ect. (Ok i'm getting away from my point). Its also customizable.

You ge stuff like comskip, and the author is working on getting it to auto-re-encode to xvid or divx.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: Quasmo
I cant. I love my HTPC, with 4 NTSC Tuners and an HD tuner. Unlimited record time (based on your HDD size), 10ft GUI is awesome. Only problem is no cable card support.

What software do you use? Just MCE?

 

[JS80]

HTPC = $XXX + obsolete in 3 years

cable dvr = $10/mo

 

[intogamer]

I'd build a HTPC/Main rig as 1 rig

since I do most of my HTPC stuff on 1 comp anyways.

Just stream it with hardware

 

[MX2]

Originally posted by: DrVos
Modded Xbox + XBMC FTW. A cheap and elegant way of displaying computer media on the TV

I quite agree

 

[gsethi]

I was like you first. I made a HTPC that I only used for maybe 2-3 times in a year or so I had it. Switched to Dish PVR and now i use it everyday. As others have said, first go with the Cable Co DVR setup and then see what you are missing/what you need and then decide.

in my case, keeping the HTPC on 24/7, the electricity bill was more than $5/mo that I am now paying for the DVR fee.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: gsethi
I was like you first. I made a HTPC that I only used for maybe 2-3 times in a year or so I had it. Switched to Dish PVR and now i use it everyday. As others have said, first go with the Cable Co DVR setup and then see what you are missing/what you need and then decide.

in my case, keeping the HTPC on 24/7, the electricity bill was more than $5/mo that I am now paying for the DVR fee.

soemtimes the key is to setup the dvr on your home pc to keep the resources in check


<--poor college student

 

[flashbacck]

Originally posted by: happybelly
If you have Comcast, you can use the firewire port on the cable box and stream/record shows to your PC. It's not as user friendly as using a HTPC or DVR, but it works well. It also works with ESPN, HBO and every other cable channel I've tried except for the MLB package.

For those building a new HTPC, I wouldn't count on getting the premium channels via firewire. Those channels are suppose to be encrypted. It's just that in many areas, such as happybelly's, they haven't turned on the encryption yet.

The lack of HDTV for premium channels is a big con for HTPCs, but with Vista Media center will be support for Cablecards which will allow you to view the encrypted channels. Unfortunately this will require everyone to buy entirely new systems that are cablelabs certified.

 

[funboy6942]

Plain and simple that in a few months of fees from the dvr box would build you a nice HTPC and there is a $200 HDMI PCI-E card you can pick up soon that supoosedly will stream HD to your PC.

I dont have HD set up but I do have a HTPC in my living room and took out a long 50 foot s-video and audio cable to my bedroom so at night can use it to watch movies or what ever using my X1900 AIW and remote. this way its actually gets use in 2 rooms without having to make seperate HTPC's.

And Im not 100% sure but I believe that when I had a ATI HDWonder card it said in the manual you can use 2 at once and record 2 shows at the same time.

 

[Staples]

Well since you can get zero digital cable channels on a HTPC, that should invalidate the option for everyone except the hardest of the hardcore geeks.

Renting a DVR wins.

 

[chambersc]

I"m going to bookmark this thread.

When my GF and I get out of college, she's talking about getting DVR. I've convinced her about an HTPC (mainly because of usuability and dork appeal) and it seems like she's down for it. I'd love to reference back here and explain why HTPC > DVR.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: Staples
Well since you can get zero digital cable channels on a HTPC, that should invalidate the option for everyone except the hardest of the hardcore geeks.

Renting a DVR wins.

It's rather simple to pull off usign an IR blaster or equvalent IR transmitter, but the real issue appears when you start addign dual or more than 2 external tuners to access said digital channels. It gets expensive and cumbersome.

 

[nageov3t]

you can build an HTPC pretty cheaply. they don't need to have top of the line specs or anything, especially if you've got tuner cards with hardware encoding.

I run my HTPC with 4 tuners on an AMD socket A 2500 and 512MB ram. works fine to record and playback television shows, watch live TV, or watch dvd's.

I've only ever really had one problem with it: the noise... I fixed that by putting my HTPC one room over and running cables for video, sound, a usb dvd drive, and usb receiver for the remote.

edit: you've also got a lot more control with the format. I work on Sundays, and it's usually pretty boring, so I like to rip all of the shows I've got on my HTPC onto a portable hard drive and watch them at work. it's also pretty great when going on road trips.

 

[Kaido]

Update from me, I ended up getting a Series 2 Dual-tuner TiVo. Works much better than I expected, glad I didn't go with an HTPC. I am the process of building a modified Xbox for using Xbox Media Center (XBMC). If you really wanted, you could wait for the new Apple iTV unit, but XBMC is so much better it's not even funny. I will also be using a Harmony 880 remote to control everything (there are hacks for Xbox that let you control it via remote and also turn it on & off).

In addition, I am going to be storing all my non-TiVo content on a simple file server. I snagged one of those 500gb drives from Output for $169.99 and I'm going to be using a small mini-ITX computer to serve up Xvids. Using regular 700mb video files (assuming you have a regular TV), it can hold over 550 DVD movies. If you have an HDTV you should probably use 1.4gb Xvids, which reduces it to a "mere" ~275 movies. I'm currently working an a special server operating system for XBMC called xNAS, based on FreeBSD. You can check it out here, although the beta is currently invite-only:

http://www.xnas.org/

I also got my itty-bitty Mini-ITX system in, here are a couple pics with a soda can for size reference:

http://www.wiredbynature.org/blogs/xnas/itxfront.jpg

http://www.wiredbynature.org/blogs/xnas/itxside.jpg

Holds a 3.5" drive

 

[wyvrn]

For pure cost, an HTPC is cheaper. I built mine for $450. This includes a nice AMD machine from Frys with a 2.8Ghz, and a Beyond TV/Wintv150 package that came with a remote free. I can watch OTA HD channels with an antenna, and record in regular quality.

To get PVR for satellite or cable, cost is minimum $60 per month, which is $720 per year. I get more channels, but the quality is about he same in recordings (satellite compression really sucks on a big screen). I miss some cable channels but not that much. There are plenty of quality shows on regular tv, not to mention sporting events.

Cheaper in the long run for HTPC but not as much content.

 

[mugs]

I have a TiVo and a HTPC (didn't build it, just bout a $270 Acer and added a $30 video card with video out and a WinTV PVR-150 (can be had for $60 on sale). I've also added several hard drives. When the year I prepaid for the TiVo runs out I'll probably ditch it and just use the HTPC.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: wyvrn
For pure cost, an HTPC is cheaper. I built mine for $450. This includes a nice AMD machine from Frys with a 2.8Ghz, and a Beyond TV/Wintv150 package that came with a remote free. I can watch OTA HD channels with an antenna, and record in regular quality.

To get PVR for satellite or cable, cost is minimum $60 per month, which is $720 per year. I get more channels, but the quality is about he same in recordings (satellite compression really sucks on a big screen). I miss some cable channels but not that much. There are plenty of quality shows on regular tv, not to mention sporting events.

Cheaper in the long run for HTPC but not as much content.

um pvr for satellite isn't 60 a month.
they charge you like 5-8 bucks a month per unit for a regular pvr/dvr.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: loki8481
I've only ever really had one problem with it: the noise... I fixed that by putting my HTPC one room over and running cables for video, sound, a usb dvd drive, and usb receiver for the remote.

That's exactly why I went with a modified store-bought PC for mine. Darn near silent.

 

[RossMAN]

What's the best dual DVI AGP video card that would fit in an Antec Aria?

 

[wyvrn]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: wyvrn
For pure cost, an HTPC is cheaper. I built mine for $450. This includes a nice AMD machine from Frys with a 2.8Ghz, and a Beyond TV/Wintv150 package that came with a remote free. I can watch OTA HD channels with an antenna, and record in regular quality.

To get PVR for satellite or cable, cost is minimum $60 per month, which is $720 per year. I get more channels, but the quality is about he same in recordings (satellite compression really sucks on a big screen). I miss some cable channels but not that much. There are plenty of quality shows on regular tv, not to mention sporting events.

Cheaper in the long run for HTPC but not as much content.

um pvr for satellite isn't 60 a month.
they charge you like 5-8 bucks a month per unit for a regular pvr/dvr.

To get a pvr, you must subscribe to a package. The cheapest package with pvr that I could find was $60 per month. Please read my post again.

The drawback to HTPC is less content unless you subscribe to cable or satellite. But for an overall comparison of the two, here goes:

DVR with standard satellite = $60 per month for basic package
Cable with recorder = $65 per month for basic package
comes with ~ 60-70 channels, including locals
quality is so-so on a big screen because of compression

vs.

OTA HD free
HTPC for ~450 dep. on features
no monthly subscription fees
OTA HD is better quality, but less content (no espn, discovery, tlc, etc..)

Total cost for the year = $720 for cable or satellite with recording capability
good selection of channels (though a lot of it is crap)
quality is so-so

$450 first yearonly for OTA HD and HTPC
selection is ~ 25 channels, including the Tube music videos
viewing quality is superior, recording quality approx same as satellite
bonus: can play videos, slideshows, pc games, and surf internet on HTPC

Looking at that comparison, the main difference is the content, which I found suprisingly easy to give up. The only thing I really miss is Sci Fi fridays, but I can rent the DVDs for much less than the monthly subscription fee for cable or satellite. Most of the shows I want are on broadcast TV anyway.

Over a 5 year period, assuming I rent the DVDs for one series per month to catch up on my favorite cable series, my approximate savings is $2000 over the dvr/subscription method, and I have more flexibility over what I want to watch and pay for.

 

[coolred]

What sort of system is required to play HD video? I bought a 37" HDTV on BF and am thinking of building an HTPC for it(I have somewhat of one as my main system now). My current cable company is raising my rates, plus if I wanted to get HD from them, thats gonna bring it up further as well as if I get the HD DVR(I have 2 tivos now, but SD only on them, not gonna buy the HD tivo at its current price).

I could get cable(HD)+internet cheaper through time warner, but they don't broadcast the local ABC and FOX channels in HD, so thats a big bummer, since whats the point of paying 8 bucks a month for HD when I am not getting 2 of the channels I want in HD. DirecTV is another option, but I live in an apartment and I don't know how to get the signal in to the apartment. I have seen others have the dish mounted on a pole in their back yard, but not sure how they are getting the cable inside the house.

If I can figure out a way to do the directv, that is probably my best bet. But if not, then i will probably go with TW and then just use the HTPC for OTA HD of the fox and abc channels that I can't get from TW.

Just not sure what type of system I need to put together to get it done. I already have a hauppauge SD tuner, and an HDTV wonder tuner. I also have a biostar SFF with an athlon xp 2100+ in it, not sure if that CPU is enough, or if it will have enough available slots for the cards and stuff.

My current system is an Asus A8N-VM CSM, X2 3800+, 1GB PC3200, EVGA 7600(GT, I think).

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: Jawo

Originally posted by: Quasmo
I cant. I love my HTPC, with 4 NTSC Tuners and an HD tuner. Unlimited record time (based on your HDD size), 10ft GUI is awesome. Only problem is no cable card support.

Whoa....why 4 NTSC tuners? Whats the benefits of having so many (besides recording 4 shows at once) and how do you avoid signal degredation from splitting?

I avoid signal degredation with a bi-directional amplifier. It splits it 4 ways, and I plug it into 2 PVR-500s which are dual tuner cards from Hauppauge. I record 4 shows on wednesday night so that gets a little crazy, but the nice thing about having 4 tuners is if one show starts right after the other and I'm already recording two, is that I get time before and time after on all my recordings so I'm guarenteed not to miss anything.

I run Windows MCE 2005, and theres a hack you have to do to get more than two tuners.