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IT IS DONE

G

Goosemaster

Lifer
Over the years, I have always wanted to have a HTPC. After seeing one the dream HTPC setup of one of my dad?s clients, I was determined to have my own. It has truly been a bitch. Until recently (a few days ago) my HTPC setup has always been crappy (to me anyways). Finally, after being patient, it is done.

First, I had started with my 19in Sony Trinitron and my TV in conjunction with a Radeon 64MB VIVO card back in the day. I had my stereo connected via optical using a Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1

It was really quite impractical to say the least, and not really enjoyable. All it would do was let me watch videos on the TV while I worked?.it sounded nice, bust was quite pointless in use. The KVM allowed me to use the second PC using linux, but it all ended up being too loud because of fans and such.

Here are the old pics:

My main PC (XP) was behind the right speaker and the HP desktop was running Gentoo
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/2.jpg







I finally got some money and bought myself a shuttle XPC and plugged in my WintvGO tv card. Using BeyondTV was awesome, and it worked quite well, but it was still impractical as trying to do homework on the TV was not only impractical, but quite damaging to my eyesight? . For sound I ran my stereo using optical out care of the nforce integrated sound?DD live baby: D

Here are the pics:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...master/shuttle_xpc.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...r/My_pride_and_joy.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/nekid.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/shot.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...er/real_mans_chair.jpg


Finally, one day, the shuttle jsut died! Everything pointed to the motherboard so I rma?d it to newegg. After they determined that it was dead or whatever, they refunded my money because they were no longer stocking the v141gs. After getting a 41g v2, I then found out that my 2400XP+ cpu was dead??.. After a lot of trouble, I finished it.

Here is the result: D
ROOM PICS:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__007.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__030.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__020.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__019.jpg

CLOSEUPS:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__027.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__029.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__031.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__021.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__045.jpg


COOLING:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__044.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__012.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__013.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__017.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__018.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__032.jpg

For the Fan Bay, I needed to get rid of it's beige faceplate. having good thigns about Krylon and palstics, I decided to buy a can.WOW! I was AMAZED at how ath job it did. Truely fantastic. It's as if it was truely black plastic...talk about bonding. The beads are water btw. I was just washing it off to make sure there wasn't residue on it.
KRYLON RESULTS:
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__009.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__011.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__010.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Goosemaster/image__008.jpg

The PC is a Shuttle 41gv2 with 512Mb ram and a 2500+Barton. For storage I am using an internal 120GB WD SE, an external 160GB IOgear Firewire drive, and a NU external USB 2.0 burner/DVD-rom.

For video, it is using a 9800po which feeds my 2001fp via dvi. It is also connected via S-video to the TV pictured. In addition, it has a PVR250mce hardware mpeg2 encoder which is fed by cable tv.

For cooling, it uses its own ICE cooling system and an aftermarket 5 ½ cooling bay.

For sound, it is wired via optical to the receiver pictured.

For internet, I am using 802.11g

For software, I

I come home, I check my emails, and watch the weekly shows that are recorded each week on my TV while I surf or sit in the comfy chair. Hell, if I want to play a game, it isn?t a big deal. Since all the recording is done in hardware, I can play games while recording.

Basically, I love it. It has taken years to achieve, but it was worth it.




It ain?t Tivo, but it?ll have to do 😀
'
EDIT: and NO, I will NOT resize the pics😀

well sir, I believe you can go to hell
Click to expand...

😛



EDIT:

Here are some old BTV screenshots BTW. I beleive these are shots from the wintv go..either way I get better quality now.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...l_screen_mode_main.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G..._recording_options.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...ecording_settings..JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...r_a_show_to_record.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...me_shifting_screen.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...pcomgin_recordings.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G..._recording_details.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...ode_with_show_info.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...master/Main_screen.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G.../Main_video_Screen.JPG
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/G...line_Program_Guide.JPG

New Screeny
 
Originally posted by: CheapArse
Very nice, are you using XP MCE?
Click to expand...

Nope. Just XP and BeyondTV. I thought about MCE 2k4, but having to change the proprietary mpeg2 files to mpeg2 and then transcoding was going to be a pain,. With BTV, it is all automatic😀

Originally posted by: apac
You need a better TV 😉. Nice though.
Click to expand...

Ain't it the truth...it 's sh!!tyness stands out that much more now😀
 
Originally posted by: ThisIsMatt
The size of the pics is fine, but it looks like you took them with something that came out of a cracker jacks box.
Click to expand...

yeah, I know.....itis a 3mp fuji and it absolutely SUCKS indoors... and to think that I took these with it:

solitude
Old glory

EVil
MACROMANIA

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Is your Hauppauge PVR250 the Amity or Roslyn chipset?
Click to expand...


Roselyn. Snapstream.com has new drivers for roselyn out BTW.

Originally posted by: CheapArse
Does BTV come with a remote?
Click to expand...

The software does not but they have bundles that come either with the crappy hauppague remote or Snapstrema's own remote which looks quite nice.
 
Cool, looks good. I wouldn't mind doing something like that. You do need a new TV though. And for the love of god, hang something up on the wall! Some pictures, painting, whatever. 😀
 
I know your struggle all too well. I finally got my HTPC completed about 5 months ago. It's in a Antec Sonata case, the piano black finish flows nicely with the rest of the A/V gear. I use it for the obvious, movies, music, pictures, and ROMs.

What kind of A/V gear do you have? Particularly the receiver and the speakers. Right now I have an Onkyo receiver, I'm happy with it, just wish it had more inputs(but not many people fill 6 sets of A/V inputs, haha). I'm running just a basic set of Onkyo speakers, nothing fancy at all, but they get the job done for my room. Having a well-setup HTPC makes things so much easier. Anyways, specs are as follows:

Intel D845EBT2 Mobo
P4 2.53Ghz
512MB PC2700
Use onboard sound(optical and coax out, 5.1)
ATI AIW 8500
Lite-on 4X Dual Format burner

The 8500 isn't much graphics power, but I don't play games on it. The only 3D lovin' it gets is Winamp plugins. The other nice thing about the AIW is that it came with the Remote Wonder which makes listening to music that much easier. That way when you're in the other room or whatever I can just change tracks without having to go to the desk. So if you don't have a remote for it, I would definitely look into getting one.

I don't directly use it for a PVR because I have a ReplayTV, but with DVArchive I can just transfer all the ReplayTV recorded shows over the HTPC via ethernet.

I'll see if I can snap some pics of the setup tomorrow.
 
Originally posted by: jtusa4
I know your struggle all too well. I finally got my HTPC completed about 5 months ago. It's in a Antec Sonata case, the piano black finish flows nicely with the rest of the A/V gear. I use it for the obvious, movies, music, pictures, and ROMs.

What kind of A/V gear do you have? Particularly the receiver and the speakers. Right now I have an Onkyo receiver, I'm happy with it, just wish it had more inputs(but not many people fill 6 sets of A/V inputs, haha). I'm running just a basic set of Onkyo speakers, nothing fancy at all, but they get the job done for my room. Having a well-setup HTPC makes things so much easier. Anyways, specs are as follows:

Intel D845EBT2 Mobo
P4 2.53Ghz
512MB PC2700
Use onboard sound(optical and coax out, 5.1)
ATI AIW 8500
Lite-on 4X Dual Format burner

The 8500 isn't much graphics power, but I don't play games on it. The only 3D lovin' it gets is Winamp plugins. The other nice thing about the AIW is that it came with the Remote Wonder which makes listening to music that much easier. That way when you're in the other room or whatever I can just change tracks without having to go to the desk. So if you don't have a remote for it, I would definitely look into getting one.

I don't directly use it for a PVR because I have a ReplayTV, but with DVArchive I can just transfer all the ReplayTV recorded shows over the HTPC via ethernet.

I'll see if I can snap some pics of the setup tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Congrats....Hurry with the pics then😀

As for the AV gear, I have an Onkyo tx-sr600. It drives my 5.1 setup.

fronts: Mirage FRx-5 😀
rears: pos technics 🙁
center: POS aiwa
sub: Athena asp-400 10'' 100watt/400watt mosnter😀😀

Basically, it was a 2.1 system (Mirage and athena) and I wanted DD and DTS so I just added the rears and center from other stuff in my house. This is all fed by a pair of 20ft-25ft 🙂confused: ) cables from the PC. One is a toslink cable and the other is s-video to feed the PC.


My next upgrade is either new speaks or a projector😀
 
You need a bigger tv man.

EDIT: Tell me what happened at nip/tuck that was so good, and if it involved boobies, vid cap? THen you will have the mother of all htpc's.
 
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Hurry with the pics then😀

As for the AV gear, I have an Onkyo tx-sr600. It drives my 5.1 setup.

fronts: Mirage FRx-5 😀
rears: pos technics 🙁
center: POS aiwa
sub: Athena asp-400 10'' 100watt/400watt mosnter😀😀

Basically, it was a 2.1 system (Mirage and athena) and I wanted DD and DTS so I just added the rears and center from other stuff in my house. This is all fed by a pair of 20ft-25ft 🙂confused) cables from the PC. One is a toslink cable and the other is s-video to feed the PC.
Click to expand...

I can't remember the model of my receiver off the top of my head but it might be the same one as you. If not it's the model before it. Retailed at $500-$600 IIRC. I used to have my own apartment and I had a great home theater setup in my main living area but since then I've moved in with a friend so all my crap is crammed into my bedroom.
 
Originally posted by: Kelvrick
You need a bigger tv man.

EDIT: Tell me what happened at nip/tuck that was so good, and if it involved boobies, vid cap? THen you will have the mother of all htpc's.
Click to expand...

I can transcode it for you....have server sapce? how marge do you you want it? it is 3.2GB rght now.....it will take a while but I can get it down to 300Mb ..might as well get it from bittorrent sights like I said..it will be much faster for you..

As for what happened....😀😀
 
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