HTPC Build using the forthcoming DirecTV HDPC-20

[kaizersose]

When the HDPC-20 comes out, I have decided to pull the trigger and put together an HTPC for my living room. I know that it wont be out until around the end of the year, but I want to get an idea of the scope of the project.

I will note that my non-technical wife will also be using this and it will feed the only TV in the house so reliability/usability is high on the list. I will be using Vista Media Center as the interface; my wife has used it and is familiar with it and my neighbor works for MS (I am in the Seattle area) which makes getting a copy a little easier. No gaming will take place on the machine and it is highly unlikely that any general computing tasks (word processing, email, etc.) will either. This will be an entertainment appliance and as such, priorities are the following:
1. Reliability
2. Usability (quick menu response, etc)
3. Noise (read: heat. We like to read in our living room when the TV is off)
4. Looks

It will output video via HDMI to my 42? 1080p LCD and audio via digital coax or fiber-optic cable to my 5.1 channel receiver. I have a Logitech Harmony remote for control.

I do not really have any brand preferences. Although I have not built an AMD system before, I chose one in the components below due to the availability of high quality on-board graphics chips with AMD boards. Also, because the HDPC-20 box will handle video decoding tasks, processor power is not at a premium and I do not need the fastest chip available. To the contrary, I want one that will do the job and require a minimum of active cooling. I would actually consider under-clocking if feasible to keep fan requirements and speeds down.

Price is a funny subject here. I am doing this as much as an tinkering project as anything else, so I won?t be cross-shopping against HD Tivo or a DirecTV DVR. I am willing to spend to get what I want (as laid out the priorities above) but don?t need anything extra. For argument?s sake and because it is the current total of all the components in my shopping cart at Newegg, let?s say $700.

I have done a good bit of research on the components, and this is what I have so far:

Case: Antec Veris Fusion Black 430 Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
Not attached to this case or anything. It has a built in IR receiver for a clean look and has good reviews in regards to cooling and fit. A bit towards the high end of what I wanted to spend, but I think it could be worth it. Willing to consider altneratives.

Motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H
As stated above, I like the built in graphics and this board has good connectivity options as well.

Processor: AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor
Fastest 45W AMD processor I could find

Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
I want 4gb for good, crisp menu response. I just picked this but it could be another brand.

HD: WD Caviar GP WD10EACS 1TB 5400 to 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
I think a terabyte ought to do the trick. If anyone can recommend a low-power or low noise drive, it would be helpful

DVD/Blu-Ray: LITE-ON Black SATA Blu-ray DVD-ROM Drive Model DH-4O1S-11
I don?t feel like upgrading this later on and the prices are too crazy now.

I have all of the cables and keyboards/mice needed.

Keep in mind that the DirecTV HDPC-20 isn?t out yet and may not be until the end of the year, probably ~November (what is bouncing around some forums right now). I fully expect the price of the memory, HD and BD-ROM drive to have dropped a bit by then.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks, K

 

[sjwaste]

Look into the Hauppauge HD-PVR. It records a component input to H.264. Basically, it's this thing except it'll work with your choice of source and won't require you to use Vista Media Center -- you can use SageTV, BeyondTV, or GBPVR, currently.

Right now I think it might be limited to 1080i output, but I hear it'll do a 1080p source and might record to that with a later driver. It also lacks 5.1 audio support, although that is strictly a driver issue and Hauppauge has promised it soon (and that company does make good on those). Even uses an optical input if you wish.

It costs about $250. I plan to get it and use it with my Comcast HD box. It has an IR blaster, so you can use it to control the channels for recording.

As for decoding, that's why I have my Socket 939 system around still Opteron 165 and an ATI HD3450 video card, which has UVD. Should be able to accelerate decoding.

 

[kaizersose]

I can see why that solution would be appealing for some people (choice of providers, control over content, etc) but there are a couple of drawbacks for me.

IR Blaster - Have never had a good experience with these with both tivo's and pc's. they very well might have improved considerably, but for me, it just adds another layer of complexity and command delays

Complexity Issues - These capture cards tend to have install issues and driver problems. the wife doesnt want to hear that 'a driver does not yet support this function'.

Cost - we have had dual tuner recording for some time now, going back to single is not an option. two of these HD-PVR's would significantly boost the price of the setup. admittedly, i do not know the cost of the HDPC-20

I will certainly keep this idea on the back burner though.

 

[kaizersose]

can i get any feedback on the processor choice or recommendations for cases?

/self-bump

 

[Operandi]

Man, the HDPC-20 looks pretty awesome, glad I stumbled on this thread.

Originally posted by: kaizersose
can i get any feedback on the processor choice or recommendations for cases?

/self-bump

(granted I haven't seen the Fusion in person) Every Antec case I've used has always disappointed me bit when I see it in person, Lian Li has ruined me for steel/plastic cases so I think I'd have to go splurge for AL Silverstone HTPC case. (What am I saying?, actually I did splurge, I went the Lian Li -C30I ).

As for the rest of the hardware I think you're good. Gigabyte makes great boards, just make sure that particular board is based on the AMD 780 chipset. I also value relabity and stability very high and as such I only use Seasonic and FSP PSUs (I don't know which OEM Antec used for that particular PSU).

You will also probably want to look into after-market cooling. Look at the new Zalmans that have 4-pin PWM fans for the CPU, and low speed (hence quiet) fans in accordance with your case choice.

Also, every Lite-on drive I've used has been offensively loud. I've personally found Samsung and Plextor to be the best in the noise department.

 

[kaizersose]

Originally posted by: Operandi
Man, the HDPC-20 looks pretty awesome, glad I stumbled on this thread.

Originally posted by: kaizersose
can i get any feedback on the processor choice or recommendations for cases?

/self-bump

(granted I haven't seen the Fusion in person) Every Antec case I've used has always disappointed me bit when I see it in person, Lian Li has ruined me for steel/plastic cases so I think I'd have to go splurge for AL Silverstone HTPC case. (What am I saying?, actually I did splurge, I went the Lian Li -C30I ).

As for the rest of the hardware I think you're good. Gigabyte makes great boards, just make sure that particular board is based on the AMD 780 chipset. I also value relabity and stability very high and as such I only use Seasonic and FSP PSUs (I don't know which OEM Antec used for that particular PSU).

You will also probably want to look into after-market cooling. Look at the new Zalmans that have 4-pin PWM fans for the CPU, and low speed (hence quiet) fans in accordance with your case choice.

Also, every Lite-on drive I've used has been offensively loud. I've personally found Samsung and Plextor to be the best in the noise department.

good feedback. i will check into the cases a bit more and definitely need to be more aware of the power supply. the fan is probably a good call too, i was going to see how loud the whole thing was first, but i will have to look into some of the other cooling solutions. in regards to the DVD drive, it was cheap and doesnt have some of the built-in 'DRM' that I have heard about on the sony's and others.