HTPC: Comments plus "Use it on main TV or make it headless and add another extender?"

[Engineer]

First, forgive me as I'm a complete noob on the HTPC stuff. I am tired of the high prices of cable boxes from TWC and decided to get an HTPC, a couple of HDHomerun Primes ($2.50 per month for each CableCARD) and a couple of used Xbox 360 Slims for extenders (plus remotes for all). Also picked up Cat5e cable and stuff to wire the house - needed to do for years anyway.

Have so far:
Core I3 4130T
Asus H97I-PLUS ITX board
Older Intel 120GB Sata II SSD
WD Green 2TB drive for storage
16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 PC1600 RAM (overkill but at $62.00, can't complain)
Acer smaller case that I had from trading around
PicoPSU 120W power supply (will receive on Friday). Should be good enough since system pulls 31W from wall at idle using existing crappy PS.
Windows 7 Professional with WMC
Rosewill WMC remote Rosewill RHRC-11002
Flirc Unit (in case I want to use existing remote for familiarity)

2 Xbox 360 Slim units
2 Xbox Media Center Remotes with TV control

8 port TP-Link 1Gbps switch TL-SG1008D
12 port Cat5e patch panel
lots of Cat5e plates/keystone jacks as well as rework through hole plates
1,000 feet of solid copper 24AWG Cat5e cable
3 - HDMI cables from Monoprice

Comments on the above welcome.

Now the real question: For ease of management, it would be easier to put the HTPC with WMC as well as the HDHR's in a spare bedroom and pipe it to the rest of the house. However, to do this, would require another extender for the TV downstairs. Would this be better for familiarity (all TV's the same interface) and management of the HTPC (could have a mouse and keyboard permanently attached but the monitor would be DVI so I'm not sure I could watch TV on the PC itself). Is the HTPC viewing on a TV pretty painless using the remote/WMC or would the XBox be easier (seems it would)? Already have a wireless access point with 5 port switch where the PC and HDHR's could be installed headless so that wouldn't be a problem.

I've already spent far more money than I ever thought was possible on this an may never recoup my money but I'm past that now. I'm going to do it or fail trying hard.

Any comments on my stuff so far or my question would be appreciated. Be kind....I'm a noob trying to find my way around this stuff.

TLDR: Would an Xbox 360 extender be much easier for my family than navigating the HTPC for live/recorded TV?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

First, forgive me as I'm a complete noob on the HTPC stuff. I am tired of the high prices of cable boxes from TWC and decided to get an HTPC, a couple of HDHomerun Primes ($2.50 per month for each CableCARD) and a couple of used Xbox 360 Slims for extenders (plus remotes for all). Also picked up Cat5e cable and stuff to wire the house - needed to do for years anyway.

Have so far:
Core I3 4130T
Asus H97I-PLUS ITX board
Older Intel 120GB Sata II SSD
WD Green 2TB drive for storage
16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3 PC1600 RAM (overkill but at $62.00, can't complain)
Acer smaller case that I had from trading around
PicoPSU 120W power supply (will receive on Friday). Should be good enough since system pulls 31W from wall at idle using existing crappy PS.
Windows 7 Professional with WMC
Rosewill WMC remote Rosewill RHRC-11002
Flirc Unit (in case I want to use existing remote for familiarity)

2 Xbox 360 Slim units
2 Xbox Media Center Remotes with TV control

8 port TP-Link 1Gbps switch TL-SG1008D
12 port Cat5e patch panel
lots of Cat5e plates/keystone jacks as well as rework through hole plates
1,000 feet of solid copper 24AWG Cat5e cable
3 - HDMI cables from Monoprice

Comments on the above welcome.

Now the real question: For ease of management, it would be easier to put the HTPC with WMC as well as the HDHR's in a spare bedroom and pipe it to the rest of the house. However, to do this, would require another extender for the TV downstairs. Would this be better for familiarity (all TV's the same interface) and management of the HTPC (could have a mouse and keyboard permanently attached but the monitor would be DVI so I'm not sure I could watch TV on the PC itself). Is the HTPC viewing on a TV pretty painless using the remote/WMC or would the XBox be easier (seems it would)? Already have a wireless access point with 5 port switch where the PC and HDHR's could be installed headless so that wouldn't be a problem.

I've already spent far more money than I ever thought was possible on this an may never recoup my money but I'm past that now. I'm going to do it or fail trying hard.

Any comments on my stuff so far or my question would be appreciated. Be kind....I'm a noob trying to find my way around this stuff.

TLDR: Would an Xbox 360 extender be much easier for my family than navigating the HTPC for live/recorded TV?

Just chiming in to say I'm watching how your thread develops. I haven't experimented with extenders. Haven't done anything to make the HDHR'-'s wirelessly available, if that's even possible.

My Bro has (maybe both) PS3 and PS4 upstairs in his room. We were going to move forward to give one of them access to the server media library, and I think I should just need to provide a password. But I didn't figure to have plans for his PS3/4, and he didn't figure to have plans for my HDHR'-s. So the most I can do is make HDHR' tuners available on the two upstairs PCs as well as those down here -- wherever they are HDCP compliant. Only one of the two upstairs systems is HDCP compliant; the other will be when I replace it.

I want to learn about extenders.

I understand your panic about the money spent. Probably $120 each for the HDHR'-s, at least $50+ for an 8-port switch. I never bought a roll of Cat-5e like that; my other brother [retired phone-company network tech] made a cable-drop for us from 2nd to 1st floor. I've managed to disguise the wiring at the floorboard in this rather small room down here -- similarly upstairs, running it through walls and closets. HDTV here; another down the hall in the den; one upstairs in me ol' Mom's room; another in Bro's room. A 5-port switch upstairs, and two down here. The LAN connectivity followed a universal imperative to meet all PCs, and then expanded in two locations for devices.

I sure got those HDHR'-s working well, though! And hope you don't mind, but this looks like a continuation of an earlier, briefly popular thread (where I think you posted). I'm fine with it! Let's pick it up again here!

Afterthoughts: to your questions that I might even try to answer. DVI is HDCP compliant, and I use several DVI-to-HDMI cables. It's basically the same signals going through different interface plugs. So no problem with that.

I can't speak for Xbox. I've grown very fond of "the Green Button" remote, and very comfortable with the WMC menus. Compared to the Charter Cable "Guide," "Info" and "Menu" screens, the Charter STB offering sucks (IMHO). If you have a different provider (did you say TWC? . . ), their STB on-screen menus and guide presentations may be better. I have seen another provider's setup at Bro'-#2's house, and it looks like they copied the appearance of WMC and then improved it -- somewhat impressively. My Charter tech-support as stand-up, knock-down marvelously stellar. So everything is a mixed basket, and menus and stuff can't really matter at all, since I mostly use WMC instead of the STB.

All your media integrates in WMC: things like Netflix, your photo library, your music library, all the movies or DVR recordings you can store at one or more locations. I'm a WMC addict, in addition to being a hardware addict. "Morphine --- with a Demerol Chaser!" per the Bela Lugosi (Martin Landau) script-line of "Ed Wood." The rest of the viewing public takes what comes easiest. And Easiest means a subscription, a truck-roll with thorough setup, some remotes, DVR features, and nothing to do but pay a bill every month -- which we all do.

I can't guarantee it, but it sounds to me that -- first-- "you're in too deep to get out now!" -- and -- second -- I think you're really enjoying this -- in a sort of masochistic way of it . . .

 

[Engineer]

Just a note on HDHR price: Bought a used one from eBay for $69.50 shipped on a Buy it Now "Best Offer". Two days later, it was $78.00 shipped free on Newegg so I picked up another so I could get six tuners that I 'think' I will need. Didn't do bad on the price of the HDHR's other than I've waited too long now to get anything back on the eBay one (I did power it up though). Just dragging my feet with work and a cold winter (wiring my house).

I can't guarantee it, but it sounds to me that -- first-- "you're in too deep to get out now!" -- and -- second -- I think you're really enjoying this -- in a sort of masochistic way of it . . .

I can say that I'm enjoying it as it does give me a chance to do new hardware (I had no reason to do more hardware up until this came along). Yes, I'm in too deep. It's all or bust for me now....price be damned! :biggrin: or

Oh, and the XBox extender has a decent app for TWC allowing On Demand, which is a must for my wife (and HDHR nor other cablecard systems can do that I know of). I know that it could be done on the HTPC but not easily (no app, just navigate to the TWC site, login and watch). That's a consideration too.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Just a note on HDHR price: Bought a used one from eBay for $69.50 shipped on a Buy it Now "Best Offer". Two days later, it was $78.00 shipped free on Newegg so I picked up another so I could get six tuners that I 'think' I will need. Didn't do bad on the price of the HDHR's other than I've waited too long now to get anything back on the eBay one (I did power it up though). Just dragging my feet with work and a cold winter (wiring my house).



I can say that I'm enjoying it as it does give me a chance to do new hardware (I had no reason to do more hardware up until this came along). Yes, I'm in too deep. It's all or bust for me now....price be damned! :biggrin: or

Oh, and the XBox extender has a decent app for TWC allowing On Demand, which is a must for my wife (and HDHR nor other cablecard systems can do that I know of). I know that it could be done on the HTPC but not easily (no app, just navigate to the TWC site, login and watch). That's a consideration too.

Well, Bro', I wish I could offer more advice. In a couple months, the one-year freebie that Charter gave me on our fourth STB runs out. That's currently the only way I'm set up to get "On Demand." One STB is about $7 or $8 in the monthly bill. I know that it's really small change -- an offering to a homeless person's tin-cup. But I would like to learn something about this Xbox extender possibility for On Demand.

Because I can integrate Netflix, Hulu and other sources into my WMC, the lack of On Demand is less significant. But then, I'm paying for something which incompletely replaces something I can't get in MC that I'm paying for.

Also -- thanks for the tip about a cable-provider's "web TV." I should explore that.

 

[Binky]

tl;dr (and now for my own super-long post...)

The WMC interface on the WMC machine is *basically* identical to the WMC interface on the extenders. You will always have the best experience on the computer that is the WMC "server" (faster menus, better handling of odd file formats, etc.), so I'd put that in a viewing location if that's an option. Also, some but not all WMC addons work through the extender. For recorded TV, the experience between the WMC computer and the extender is identical. It's when you start trying to play MKV's and other files through the extender that you have problems.

The location of the TV tuners shouldn't matter and you should open your planning to options where they aren't in the same room with the computer. The tuners just need access to the antenna and (preferably?) a wired network. The flexibility of the HDHR's gives you a lot more options for computer case size and location.

In general, people will never see the WMC desktop on the "server" computer once you have things running smoothly, so I wouldn't worry about having the computer in any given place instead of an extender. Things to consider if you will have the computer at a viewing location are size, noise, heat, and maybe kids (i.e. might be a need to lock down the computer in a separate room). Having the WMC computer and an extender at the same location is also problematic because they use the same remote control codes.

For what it's worth, I use a second Win7 machine as my extender in my family room, and the primary recording WMC machine is located in my bedroom. Most recorded TV and movies are on a home server machine. My long-term plan is to combine the sver box with the WMC recording box (Win8.1 server box with virtualized WHS2011, maybe), and move all viewing locations to Kodi, but i'm not having any luck with the WAF on the Kodi interface. Also, the recorded TV options on Kodi aren't nearly as good as WMC.

 

[Engineer]

tl;dr (and now for my own super-long post...)

The WMC interface on the WMC machine is *basically* identical to the WMC interface on the extenders. You will always have the best experience on the computer that is the WMC "server" (faster menus, better handling of odd file formats, etc.), so I'd put that in a viewing location if that's an option. Also, some but not all WMC addons work through the extender. For recorded TV, the experience between the WMC computer and the extender is identical. It's when you start trying to play MKV's and other files through the extender that you have problems.

The location of the TV tuners shouldn't matter and you should open your planning to options where they aren't in the same room with the computer. The tuners just need access to the antenna and (preferably?) a wired network. The flexibility of the HDHR's gives you a lot more options for computer case size and location.

In general, people will never see the WMC desktop on the "server" computer once you have things running smoothly, so I wouldn't worry about having the computer in any given place instead of an extender. Things to consider if you will have the computer at a viewing location are size, noise, heat, and maybe kids (i.e. might be a need to lock down the computer in a separate room). Having the WMC computer and an extender at the same location is also problematic because they use the same remote control codes.

For what it's worth, I use a second Win7 machine as my extender in my family room, and the primary recording WMC machine is located in my bedroom. Most recorded TV and movies are on a home server machine. My long-term plan is to combine the sver box with the WMC recording box (Win8.1 server box with virtualized WHS2011, maybe), and move all viewing locations to Kodi, but i'm not having any luck with the WAF on the Kodi interface. Also, the recorded TV options on Kodi aren't nearly as good as WMC.

Thanks Binky. I had never thought about putting the PC in one room and the HDHR's in the other room. This might work out really well for space, clutter and heat.

As for using a second Windows 7 PC as an extender, I don't think I could watch the recorded movies because of the copy once flag that TWC puts on basically EVERY channel (I could be wrong about that but I think that's what I read).

As of now, I have no plans other than live and recorded TV from TWC. That may change over time.

The PC will sit nicely in the space that I have and it's a pretty low power unit (31 Watts at the wall even using the crap power supply - should go down once I get the the PicoPSU). The chip is 35W TDP max and should never reach that. I'll have a quiet 120mm fan blowing down on the stuff to cool it and push hot air out. I'll monitor that.

While I'm at it, anyone recommend a good remote control software to control it without using keyboard / mouse (I know not always possible). I've used VNC for years but is there better? Haven't used Remote Desktop in ages and don't know what's a good choice. I don't think I'll need to access it on the WAN side, only the LAN.

Again, thanks for your ideas. I'll read again to make sure I didn't miss anything. As long as the WMC on the HTPC is pretty robust and fairly painless, I can sell it to the family. We will see.

 

[Binky]

Copy flags - you are probably correct. test things out before making any decisions. I record only off-air. Copy protection really sucks.

Heat - don't worry too much about heat. Reading the CPU forum on this site will make you think your CPU is overheating if it's above room temp. This is absolutely not true! Systems that run 24/7 can live long and productive lives with their CPU's running at 50-60c (HD's like it less than 40C, though). I think temp and power cycling is what kills computers. My home server and HTPC machines that run 24/7 almost never fail.

Remote control - there is nothing better than teamviewer right now. VNC and RD are also fine, but teamviewer is superior.

Keyboard/remote - look at the K400 (~$20) and the lenovo 5902. These are for occasional use only, so pick the one that stores well in your area.

 

[Engineer]

Copy flags - you are probably correct. test things out before making any decisions. I record only off-air. Copy protection really sucks.

Heat - don't worry too much about heat. Reading the CPU forum on this site will make you think your CPU is overheating if it's above room temp. This is absolutely not true! Systems that run 24/7 can live long and productive lives with their CPU's running at 50-60c (HD's like it less than 40C, though). I think temp and power cycling is what kills computers. My home server and HTPC machines that run 24/7 almost never fail.

Remote control - there is nothing better than teamviewer right now. VNC and RD are also fine, but teamviewer is superior.

Keyboard/remote - look at the K400 (~$20) and the lenovo 5902. These are for occasional use only, so pick the one that stores well in your area.

Again, thanks. The K400 looks interesting in that it has the built in touchpad and is reasonably priced at $24.99 with free shipping. I already have a MS wireless keyboard and logitech mouse that I'm not using but they are big, bulky and would take up two USB ports.

I'll look into Teamviewer. I don't really want it going out to the web if possible so I'll look and see if that has a local only option. Otherwise, I might just stick with RD or VNC.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Again, thanks. The K400 looks interesting in that it has the built in touchpad and is reasonably priced at $24.99 with free shipping. I already have a MS wireless keyboard and logitech mouse that I'm not using but they are big, bulky and would take up two USB ports.

I'll look into Teamviewer. I don't really want it going out to the web if possible so I'll look and see if that has a local only option. Otherwise, I might just stick with RD or VNC.

When you get this all working the way you want and according to the various advisory contributions, I hope you post a summary or "project exposition."

On some of these topics -- like extenders-- I don't know where to start.

 

[Engineer]

When you get this all working the way you want and according to the various advisory contributions, I hope you post a summary or "project exposition."

On some of these topics -- like extenders-- I don't know where to start.

I will. It will be a somewhat slow and drawn out process though. Still waiting on components and for the weather to get warm enough for me to navigate my attic to run the Cat5e cable. The PC has been running for a week but I'm waiting on the PicoPSU (delayed by snow). I may swing by TWC and get the CableCARDS this week and just fire it all up via wireless for now just to see if I can get it all going including On Demand via apps.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I will. It will be a somewhat slow and drawn out process though. Still waiting on components and for the weather to get warm enough for me to navigate my attic to run the Cat5e cable. The PC has been running for a week but I'm waiting on the PicoPSU (delayed by snow). I may swing by TWC and get the CableCARDS this week and just fire it all up via wireless for now just to see if I can get it all going including On Demand via apps.

The parts list is obviously destined for "true HTPC" exclusive usage, right?

And I'm guessing you don't have other computers connected by a LAN? or you're just buying the Cat-5e to extend your network?

I'd lay this out in stages or phases, and focus on each "subsystem." If you have to test cablecard activation, channel access and so on, you'll want the LAN set up with your PC's communicating with each other and the internet.

But maybe, with a moniker like "Engineer," you're way ahead of me about this. You want a short turnaround time between getting the cablecards, installing and activating them. We've thrown up some advice as we were even learning "new stuff" about this, and it could be very easy, but you'll be on the phone with their tech-support before it's accomplished.

If this is a new household LAN where none preceded it, you might have vast job-related experience that will make it a snap, or someone else could stumble through it.

It's a big project, from what I glean from your posts.

 

[Engineer]

No, I currently don't have a LAN (other than one cable running from downstairs, through the attic, connecting the lower main router to the upstairs access point). The LAN won't be exclusively for the HTPC or the extenders (but that's the reason that I finally broke down and am installing it because extenders, from reading AVS and TheGreenButton forums, just don't work reliably on wireless. I'm not a network guy so whether I'm doing it right, I don't know. I will be providing one port to the HTPC and another port from the main switch to a secondary switch for the HDHomerun Primes. If I place them next to the HTPC, I'll just throw all three of those on a small, 5 port 1Gbps switch (already have in closet from a FREE deal on SlickDeals a few years ago).

The other reason to get a LAN in place is I'm tired of trying to back stuff up over wireless. Just too slow. 1Gbps between PC's should help that tremendously.

As for cablecard activation, I'll probably connect it all up in another room and get it going all by itself before putting it all in the final destination. The one thing I'm unsure of is whether to get one going and try to get the other going on the same phone call (both connected at same time) or split them up. I've heard horror stories of getting cable operators to get them set up correctly. Once I get them though, I'll read more about that, connect the HDHR's up and navigate to them and get as prepared as I can for this.

I would have worked on it today but I had a bathroom fan go out and my kitchen faucet started dripping (more like running) hot water and I couldn't get it apart to see if it had o-rings (or whatever). I finally ended up going to Lowe's, Walmart and HD and bought the stuff and replaced the fan and the faucet. An all day job for this old man and now I'm worn out!

 

[Engineer]

By the way, anyone think the components that I chose are OK (for six tuners, 2 extenders for now but maybe more later)? I chose the Asus motherboard because it seemed to be designed to do just this type of thing (not to mention it has an Intel NIC built in and should keep part of the load off of the CPU from what I've read about it). Just making sure I'm not short on anything (too slow, ext) before I get too far into this.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

No, I currently don't have a LAN (other than one cable running from downstairs, through the attic, connecting the lower main router to the upstairs access point). The LAN won't be exclusively for the HTPC or the extenders (but that's the reason that I finally broke down and am installing it because extenders, from reading AVS and TheGreenButton forums, just don't work reliably on wireless. I'm not a network guy so whether I'm doing it right, I don't know. I will be providing one port to the HTPC and another port from the main switch to a secondary switch for the HDHomerun Primes. If I place them next to the HTPC, I'll just throw all three of those on a small, 5 port 1Gbps switch (already have in closet from a FREE deal on SlickDeals a few years ago).

The other reason to get a LAN in place is I'm tired of trying to back stuff up over wireless. Just too slow. 1Gbps between PC's should help that tremendously.

As for cablecard activation, I'll probably connect it all up in another room and get it going all by itself before putting it all in the final destination. The one thing I'm unsure of is whether to get one going and try to get the other going on the same phone call (both connected at same time) or split them up. I've heard horror stories of getting cable operators to get them set up correctly. Once I get them though, I'll read more about that, connect the HDHR's up and navigate to them and get as prepared as I can for this.

I would have worked on it today but I had a bathroom fan go out and my kitchen faucet started dripping (more like running) hot water and I couldn't get it apart to see if it had o-rings (or whatever). I finally ended up going to Lowe's, Walmart and HD and bought the stuff and replaced the fan and the faucet. An all day job for this old man and now I'm worn out!

Can't add much for your subsequent post. Wireless networking is nice, but in your own house, the best backbone for all of it is Gbit Ethernet.

I started networking multiple computers in my house back in 1993/94, and I think I did it initially with NetBeui -- whatever it was called. Before broadband, I was using one system as a Proxy Server connected to the outside via Dial-up? I think that's what I did. First router: 2001. Every now and then, I would spend hours troubleshooting -- which becomes a learning experience.

Familiarity with these things -- setting up the router for instance, or assigning fixed IP addresses within your subnet -- makes it easier.

So I just hope you aren't overwhelmed if you hit some snag and there's nobody around to guide you out of it. [We're here, of course. . . ]

Murphy's Law is very real . . . But the devices are PlugnPlay. If the connectivity is there, you PC -- whichever it is -- will see the HDHR'-s on the network.

 

[Engineer]

Familiarity with these things -- setting up the router for instance, or assigning fixed IP addresses within your subnet -- makes it easier.

OT but on the topic of assigning IP's: I spent 2 days trying to get the TWC app working on the Xbox 360. It would constantly stutter and buffer. I hooked it to the one router with a wire (LAN for now) and still did the same thing. Talked to TWC multiple times and no resolve. Assigned a static IP through the router and no fix. Changed routers and no fix. Finally, going through the Xbox settings, I manually set an IP address directly on the XBox settings page and now it works great. No buffering over and over and instantly starts video. Not sure what's up with that but if anyone else tries an Xbox 360 and TWC app, keep that in mind.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

OT but on the topic of assigning IP's: I spent 2 days trying to get the TWC app working on the Xbox 360. It would constantly stutter and buffer. I hooked it to the one router with a wire (LAN for now) and still did the same thing. Talked to TWC multiple times and no resolve. Assigned a static IP through the router and no fix. Changed routers and no fix. Finally, going through the Xbox settings, I manually set an IP address directly on the XBox settings page and now it works great. No buffering over and over and instantly starts video. Not sure what's up with that but if anyone else tries an Xbox 360 and TWC app, keep that in mind.

I've got an old 3Ware "2000" router with gigabit ports and wireless capability up to wireless N. [I think the wireless standard applies at both the router and the other end or the device needing connection. So you'd need a router supporting wireless-AC to get the benefit of a laptop supporting AC.]

I've divided my "sub-net space" of 256 possible IP addresses into two segments: the range of IPs that are assigned by the router's DHCP server, and a range reserved for fixed IP addresses of my own choosing.

In addition to that, my router (and certainly others that were contemporary or later) allow you to make DHCP "reservations." So, once your device is communicating with the router to get assigned an IP address under DHCP, you can make the reservation for that IP. This might also solve your problem -- I can't say.

So . . . Mmmmm. . . . Xbox and DHCP? Xbox with fixed IP set in the Xbox setup configuration or its OSD? Something to remember, I suppose. I might have occasion to do what you did. And . . . that's why I'm here -- to bask in the light of your wisdom and experience, or from any other contributors.

 

[Engineer]

PicoPSU installed (just plugged in - not tidied up yet) and burning in. Pulling 23-24 watts at the wall with everything plugged in (motherboard, CPU, 16GB of DDR3 (2 x 8GB), 1 Intel 120GB SATA II SSD, 1 WD GREEN 2TB drive, CPU fan (Intel Stock) and one Yates Loon 120mm low speed fan). This is at idle obviously. Have seen it as high as 37 watts while powering up. PicoPSU lowered it about 10 watts over original LOUD SFX (Small Form) power supply @ 220 Watts.

PicoPSU runs at 120Watts max.

Only thing I can hear with the cover off (not tried it on yet) is the WD Green drive. Cannot hear the other components if the drive is unplugged.

Edit: Interesting - after running 30 minutes or so, the power dropped 21W at the wall. I first thought it was the WD drive kicking off but I navigated to the drive in Explorer and it was indeed awake. Can't complain with those kinds of numbers from this so far.

Edit #2: Windows Experience Score of 6.6 with a CPU score of 7.1. Pulled a max of 56W at the wall while testing (from what I could see on the Kill-o-Watt).

 

[BonzaiDuck]

PicoPSU installed (just plugged in - not tidied up yet) and burning in. Pulling 23-24 watts at the wall with everything plugged in (motherboard, CPU, 16GB of DDR3 (2 x 8GB), 1 Intel 120GB SATA II SSD, 1 WD GREEN 2TB drive, CPU fan (Intel Stock) and one Yates Loon 120mm low speed fan). This is at idle obviously. Have seen it as high as 37 watts while powering up. PicoPSU lowered it about 10 watts over original LOUD SFX (Small Form) power supply @ 220 Watts.

PicoPSU runs at 120Watts max.

Only thing I can hear with the cover off (not tried it on yet) is the WD Green drive. Cannot hear the other components if the drive is unplugged.

Edit: Interesting - after running 30 minutes or so, the power dropped 21W at the wall. I first thought it was the WD drive kicking off but I navigated to the drive in Explorer and it was indeed awake. Can't complain with those kinds of numbers from this so far.

Edit #2: Windows Experience Score of 6.6 with a CPU score of 7.1. Pulled a max of 56W at the wall while testing (from what I could see on the Kill-o-Watt).

Wey-uull! Ah'll "throw in" a comment here. I think your thoughtful design with this points out a good power-profile for dedicated HTPC's. I haven't built one. I use my power-hogging "general-everything" PCs for HTPC duty.

For several days now I've been working with NVidia tech-support to figure out how rebooting a system with 2x GTX 9x0's borks their low-power potential by about 80W. Resetting SLI makes the cards behave properly @ only 10% power-consumption at idle. I added my shared computer monitor to the same UPS, so idle increased from 85W to 109W with the properly-behaving SLI.

The difference between your HTPC and my overclocked monster-PC is probably close to a 75W light-bulb. And for the performance, I'm at 7.8 overall -- limited to that number by either CPU or RAM or both.

So 7.1 is pretty darn good for an HTPC, because WMC is not all that demanding. And I'm guessing that by "testing," you mean in the HTPC's regular function? Or did you put the screws to it with OCCT or Prime95? I think it's likely the former.

Howsoever my comparison is inaccurate, it looks good for both your HTPC and my monster as well.

 

[Engineer]

Just an update: Everything finally installed, running, tweaked and tested (for a week). Five (5) TWC boxes now back at TWC lowering my bill by $40 - $7 (rental on two cablecards).

• HTPC (specs listed in previous posts) with Windows 7 Pro running WMC using a Flirc unit to use existing TWC remotes
• Logitech K410 keyboard
• Two HDHomerun Primes
• New CAT6 gigabit network (two jacks in most rooms)
• 16 port Zyxel managed smart gigabit switch
• 3 - Xbox 360 Slim units acting as extenders as well as the TWC app (for On Demand)
• 1 - Xbox 360E as a spare

Were a few hiccups but overall, couldn't be more happy. Might not ever pay for itself but was fun to put it all together and get it running.

 

[bradly1101]

Just an update: Everything finally installed, running, tweaked and tested (for a week). Five (5) TWC boxes now back at TWC lowering my bill by $40 - $7 (rental on two cablecards).

• HTPC (specs listed in previous posts) with Windows 7 Pro running WMC using a Flirc unit to use existing TWC remotes
• Two HDHomerun Primes
• New CAT6 gigabit network (two jacks in most rooms)
• 16 port Zyxel managed smart gigabit switch
• 3 - Xbox 360 Slim units acting as extenders as well as the TWC app (for On Demand)
• 1 - Xbox 360E as a spare

Were a few hiccups but overall, couldn't be more happy. Might not ever pay for itself but was fun to put it all together and get it running.

Congrats! It's the perfect use for a PC, and definitely fun!

Edit: I remember the first time I opened the guide with two HDHR's and clicked record on six running shows simultaneously. Too cool.

 

[evident]

for this reason I won't be able to update half the machines in my house to windows 10.

 

[Aikouka]

Two HDHomerun Primes

One nice thing about using a single HTPC is that you avoid having to update a lot of machines. I started using a piece of software from Emco called Remote Installer. It allows me to define installers, and tell the PC to install them. Since I have four PCs that all have SiliconDust's software installed, it's certainly easier. Unfortunately, I still can't seem to get it to work with Windows 8.1, so I can't update my Kitchen HTPC. However, I don't really watch TV on that one anyway.

It can push any installer with a silent option (it can push ones without it, but you have to manually push any buttons), so I also got it to help with any Flash updates. I found this other software that can handle that automatically, but it costs money for that feature.

16 port Zyxel managed smart gigabit switch

It'd be interesting to hear how good this unit is. I've seen Zyxel a few times, but I think tech people tend to be wary of the "unknown company." I went with a TP-Link 24-port smart switch. I was debating going with a PoE-capable switch as I'd like to eventually get IP, PoE-based switches setup, but I figure I'll eventually just get another, smaller PoE switch when I do that.

 

[Engineer]

It'd be interesting to hear how good this unit is. I've seen Zyxel a few times, but I think tech people tend to be wary of the "unknown company." I went with a TP-Link 24-port smart switch. I was debating going with a PoE-capable switch as I'd like to eventually get IP, PoE-based switches setup, but I figure I'll eventually just get another, smaller PoE switch when I do that.

To be honest, I needed the ports (16) more than the speed. I didn't have enough ports on the 8 port Gb switch (TP-Link) and was looking when I found the Zyxel on NeweggFlash for $89. I knew there was a $60 coupon on Newegg for that same switch (out of stock at the time on Newegg) so I tried it on the NeweggFlash and it worked. $89.99 - $60.00 coupon - FREE SHIPPING = $29.99 shipped. The only sad thing is that I should have gotten two (the limit).

As for running, I don't really do anything fancy. I set it up, updated the firmware (it has dual firmware capability - I suppose in case one screws up you can get to the 2nd one). I've tinkered with the Ethernet statistics and whatnot. It is fanless and just runs. Does not have an external wall wart...uses a full size AC cord plugged into back (the cord is shielded - I checked). Runs a tad warmer than the TP Link but it's just that - warm.

Maybe someday, I'll try the VLAN and QOS stuff. Speed might be a tad faster than the TP-Link but that could be day to day stuff causing differences.

Regardless, for $29.99, it was a steal....and I could have had two for $59.98 and I just screwed up!

Settings:

System

• IP
• Time
• Information

Port

• Port
• EEE
• Bandwidth Management
• Storm Control

VLAN

• VLAN
• Guest VLAN
• Voice VLAN

MAC Table
Link Aggregation
Loop Guard
Mirror
Multicast

• IGMP

Spanning Tree
LLDP
QoS

• General
• Trust Mode

Security

• Port Security
• Protected Port
• 802.1X
• DoS

AAA

• Auth Method
• RADIUS
• TACACS+

Management

• Syslog
• SNMP
• Error Disable
• HTTP/HTTPS
• Users
• Remote Access Control

 

[ewite12]

I've just currently moved everything around and this is what I ended up with.

1 - HDHomerun Prime
1 - HDHomerun OTA
NEXTPVR on my server

2x Nvidia shield running Kodi

I was running everything on a Intel NUC with Ceton, WMC 8.1, etc. It wasn't stable enough to keep the wife happy Ceton drops at the slightest glitch, drivers/codecs, WMC keeps getting less and less support, etc. Right now I have all the switches, server and HDHomeruns on a UPS as well.

 

[evident]

^ yep, Ceton InfiniTV was just too flaky for me. look at my media pc the wrong way and it stops working. HD Homerun Prime just works (once you properly activate the cablecard, but that's another problem with the cable provider and not with these boxes.)