Do HTPCs use a different sized mobo?

[guynexdoor]

I built my first ever PC 2 years ago. It was a great experience, and many Anand users helped me out.

Do they use a different size mobo?

I'm curious about HTPCs. I've heard of them, but I don't really know the purpose/capabilities of them. Basically...why would I want to build one?

And is it true I can use HTPC as my Tivo?

I have HDTV, and a receiver w/ speakers.

Thanks

 

[velillen]

Basically you use a HTPC just for tv. The cases are horizontal (like old school dells in schools) so they generally fit in better sitting next to your TV, xbox, whatever.

Most people i have seen do just use them for recording tv and watching tv through the same app. Pretty much they use your everyday motherboard. YOu pretty much hook up your cable to the HTPC and output the HTPC to your TV and do everything through the app on the HTPC.

As for building on...most cost less than 1,000 since you don't really need a powerful video card nor do you generally need a monitor or keyboard/mouse (though you will need a set to set it up but after that you dont really need one)

 

[MarcVenice]

All you need is LOTSA space And you want it to be quiet.

 

[ChefJoe]

Depending on how many cards you want for TV capture, you can go with a full size ATX motherboard or something smaller (like the micro-ATX).

My Tivo computer is an Abit IS-10 (mATX board) in an Antec Aria case. It fits much more nicely in my stereo cabinet than a full size case would. This system has two PCI capture cards and an ATX graphics card (if you playback HD you need something more than onboard graphics).

To answer your why question:
I went with the HTPC so I could easily playback anything I download (divx, etc) and I tend to burn DVDs of TV shows I watch until the actual DVDs come out. Snapstream/BeyondTV allows me to make compliant DVDs much easier than any TiVo or Comcast DVR would.

 

[Zepper]

An HTPC is a control center for recording, storing and playing back media sources. Could be audio CDs, movie DVDs, etc. And can act like a Tivo for time shifting television programs. Besides that, it can do anything that any equally powered PC can do. Most HTPCs are built around standard mobos, either ATX or mATX (microATX). Some HTPC cases that use full ATX mobos use a riser to rearrange the card slots so you only have one or two in a horizontal orientation. Most HTPC cases that can take a full ATX mobo have compromises that affect cooling and other components. Ones that use mATX mobos generally need to employ fewer compromises except those that come standard with the smaller size board. There are also some based on the mini-ITX form factor mobos. As the fellow above mentioned, HTPCs generally need more HDD storage than your typical PC as even compressed audio and video files aren't small. Hours spent pre-planning an HTPC system will be well spent.

.bh.