MCE 2005

[loup garou]

Finally got my MCE2k5 box fully operational. It had been sitting under by desk for the past 2 months awaiting a new vid card, component adapter, remote, and tv tuner card. Put everything in yesterday and is currently being stress tested on the bedroom tv before being moved to the main stage on the livingroom HDTV/6.1 receiver.

If everything works well, tv recording, season passes, etc, we'll move it in next weekend. So far, everything works perfect. Just want to make sure it's as reliable as our Tivo before making it our main DVR.

I'm thoroughly impressed with the TV/DVR features. That was my main worry while setting it up, I loved it just for the music and picture features that I had played with for the past 2 months. I was concerned about the DVR features being as good quality, easy to use and robust as our Tivo my gf and I have come to know and love.

So far, the answer to that concern is a resounding YES! it is just as good, if not better. Everything is simple to use and my gf was watching tv, recording season passes, making slideshows, etc in under 10 minutes.

Even plays shows transferred over from our Tivo via TivoToGo! The password popup box is a little wonky, as is FF/RW, but totally usable. I'm very excited as Bill Gates mentioned forming a strong partnership with Tivo during his CES speech. I'd love to see an easy-to-use TivoToGo interface in MCE, using the remote and the 10-foot interface. That would be perfection.

The system is no powerhouse and everything seems to run silky smooth:
IDeq 200V SFF PC
1600+XP
512 MB PC2700
80 GB main drive, 160GB storage drive
9600XT vid card + ATI DVI->Component adapter
Hauppauge PVR150
Built in audio
OEM MS Remote + Receiver/IR Blaster

Just a little brag, also if anyone has any questions about MCE, setup, usage, tweaks, etc, feel free to ask.

Also, does anyone have any cool plugins I should know about? I've got the excellent weather plugin for weather via weather.com and the so-so Netflix plugin.

Updates:
Since the OP, I've switched from the builtin audio to a USB Audigy to fix an issue with 5.1 sound not working correctly. I've also added a Harmony 680 remote.

After some consideration, I also grabbed a 2700+ from Newegg so I can fully enjoy Orb with it. With the 1600+, my CPU would be pegged at 100% and video would be jerky. Hopefully this will help it. It'll just be nice to actually be running above the minimum spec, anyways.

Here are pics as requested:
Semi-blurry shot of whole setup (minus sub and rears, of course) New speaker stands should be here tomorrow!
Closeup of iDeq box (notice broken USB port and weird snowman candle )
Closeup with DVD drive visible
Cable mess!!!

 

[n7]

Very nice.

However, I thought one had to buy MCE with a pre-built computer

Edit: Nvm. I just noticed Newegg is selling it OEM.
I thought there was no way to buy this aside from egay, but i guess i was wrong.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: n7
Very nice.

However, I thought one had to buy MCE with a pre-built computer

Edit: Nvm. I just noticed Newegg is selling it OEM.
I thought there was no way to buy this aside from egay, but i guess i was wrong.

Yep, you can buy it OEM from newegg or the like, with an MS Action Pack subscription (where mine is from) or from an MSDN subscription.

 

[timswim78]

Pics?

I guess it looks like this:
http://www.mepotech.com/prod_images_large/barmp0295.jpg

 

[gordita]

sweet setup.
I have a questions(s) about MCE2005.
what is the installation process?
does it come in two cd's?
I'm borrowing my friend's copy to test it out.
it's between MCE2005 and meedio.
do I need special h/w ?
right now, I would be using a barton 2500+ chip, 512MB Ram, 9550 with DVI and VGA, abit nf7-s mboard with onboard 5.1 and optical out.
I only want to use the mce2005 for mp3's and jpeg's.
none of the tv stuff.

thanks
u can PM me with all the answers.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: gordita
sweet setup.
I have a questions(s) about MCE2005.
what is the installation process?
does it come in two cd's?
I'm borrowing my friend's copy to test it out.
it's between MCE2005 and meedio.
do I need special h/w ?
right now, I would be using a barton 2500+ chip, 512MB Ram, 9550 with DVI and VGA, abit nf7-s mboard with onboard 5.1 and optical out.
I only want to use the mce2005 for mp3's and jpeg's.
none of the tv stuff.

thanks
u can PM me with all the answers.

There are 2 cds. The first cd is just a regular xp pro cd with some hooks in installation to ask for the second cd.

The install process goes like this:
Boot off cd1.
Copies installation files, asks for cd key, etc
Begins installation
Asks for cd2.
Copies MCE files
Asks for cd1
Completes installation
You do need to activate it if you install the OEM or Action Pack versions, don't know about the MSDN version as we don't have an MSDN sub, just action pack.

Your hardware should be fine, but I'd check to see if ATI offers MCE drivers for the 9550...I think MCE support starts with the 9600 line and up.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: timswim78
Pics?

I guess it looks like this:
http://www.mepotech.com/prod_images_large/barmp0295.jpg

Yep, looks just like that but with a gazillion cables coming out the back.

 

[Daniel]

Originally posted by: werk
You do need to activate it if you install the OEM or Action Pack versions, don't know about the MSDN version as we don't have an MSDN sub, just action pack.

I installed with the action pack version and had to activate.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Daniel

Originally posted by: werk
You do need to activate it if you install the OEM or Action Pack versions, don't know about the MSDN version as we don't have an MSDN sub, just action pack.

I installed with the action pack version and had to activate.

Yeah, me too. I just don't know about the MSDN version.

 

[gordita]

Originally posted by: werk

There are 2 cds. The first cd is just a regular xp pro cd with some hooks in installation to ask for the second cd.

The install process goes like this:
Boot off cd1.
Copies installation files, asks for cd key, etc
Begins installation
Asks for cd2.
Copies MCE files
Asks for cd1
Completes installation
You do need to activate it if you install the OEM or Action Pack versions, don't know about the MSDN version as we don't have an MSDN sub, just action pack.

Your hardware should be fine, but I'd check to see if ATI offers MCE drivers for the 9550...I think MCE support starts with the 9600 line and up.

werk, what do the ATI MCE drivers offer?
what is different if I just install the basic ATI Radeon 9550 driver off their site?
I did install my mce2005 last night, was busy setting up my other s/w, so could not play with the media center.
anyways, I still have to finish running s-video and optical cables from my receiver to my PC downstairs which I will do tonight.

with the regular ATI driver, will I still be able to output the media center GUI onto my tv?
now, about the remote, the remote does RF or IR?
if it's IR, i'm cooked bcoz the PC is in the basement and the tv is above it, in the living room, so what options do I have?
and any of these chains carry the remote or do I have to buy it off newegg?

thanks

 

[Antoneo]

Hrmm, does MCE2005 offer intuitive file (rather media) browsing? I need a frontend that allows for easily readable browsing of filenames for my divx/xvid library. I hate squinting at my TV set when using Windows Explorer, and increasing the text size through "Advanced Display Properties" is counterproductive when the menus are messed up.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Antoneo
Hrmm, does MCE2005 offer intuitive file (rather media) browsing? I need a frontend that allows for easily readable browsing of filenames for my divx/xvid library. I hate squinting at my TV set when using Windows Explorer, and increasing the text size through "Advanced Display Properties" is counterproductive when the menus are messed up.

This is one of the #1 features of MCE...excellent browsing & readability in the "10 foot interface."

 

[Daniel]

Originally posted by: gordita




werk, what do the ATI MCE drivers offer?
what is different if I just install the basic ATI Radeon 9550 driver off their site?
I did install my mce2005 last night, was busy setting up my other s/w, so could not play with the media center.
anyways, I still have to finish running s-video and optical cables from my receiver to my PC downstairs which I will do tonight.

with the regular ATI driver, will I still be able to output the media center GUI onto my tv?
now, about the remote, the remote does RF or IR?
if it's IR, i'm cooked bcoz the PC is in the basement and the tv is above it, in the living room, so what options do I have?
and any of these chains carry the remote or do I have to buy it off newegg?

thanks

I had a MCE 2004 setup using a radeon 7500. I got my 2005 version and tried to install with my current hardware. The install goes fine, windows displays fine but when you try to use the actual media center it won't work. It was the video card, it was using the latest xp drivers, just not MCE drivers. I had to go buy a radeon 9200 and the setup works perfectly now.

 

[gordita]

in my case, the media center does work on my dell 17" LCD.
I have not yet tried to output the media center to my tv through s-video.
so, does this mean that it will not work when I try to do this since my video card is a Radeon 9550 ???

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: gordita

Originally posted by: werk

There are 2 cds. The first cd is just a regular xp pro cd with some hooks in installation to ask for the second cd.

The install process goes like this:
Boot off cd1.
Copies installation files, asks for cd key, etc
Begins installation
Asks for cd2.
Copies MCE files
Asks for cd1
Completes installation
You do need to activate it if you install the OEM or Action Pack versions, don't know about the MSDN version as we don't have an MSDN sub, just action pack.

Your hardware should be fine, but I'd check to see if ATI offers MCE drivers for the 9550...I think MCE support starts with the 9600 line and up.

werk, what do the ATI MCE drivers offer?
what is different if I just install the basic ATI Radeon 9550 driver off their site?
I did install my mce2005 last night, was busy setting up my other s/w, so could not play with the media center.
anyways, I still have to finish running s-video and optical cables from my receiver to my PC downstairs which I will do tonight.

with the regular ATI driver, will I still be able to output the media center GUI onto my tv?
now, about the remote, the remote does RF or IR?
if it's IR, i'm cooked bcoz the PC is in the basement and the tv is above it, in the living room, so what options do I have?
and any of these chains carry the remote or do I have to buy it off newegg?

thanks

Sorry--missed your post earlier. As Daniel mentioned, you probably won't be able to output the MCE interface. If so, and ATI doesn't offer MCE drivers for your card, I'd pick up a cheap 9600 from newegg. If you have a TV with component inputs, they've also got the VGA or DVI to component adapter for Radeons, which I'm using. Provides an excellent picture, by far the best TV out I've ever seen from a PC.

The remote is IR, but my MCE box and all my other AV equipment are in an armoire. I use a cheap LeapFrog IR repeater from Circuit City, it takes in IR signals on 1 base station, converts to RF, then beams it to the other base station where it emits the IR sgnals. Works great and was only about $30.

Also, if you want to wait, Philips is coming out with a new MCE remote that looks really cool. It has a small LCD on it that will display your music, video, etc titles for easy selection. There's also a Logitec Harmony MCE Edition (800 series, I think...I think it's RF, too, but not sure).

 

[Cardio]

There are drivers out there other than just those on the ATI site. I am currently running an ATI AIW 9800 which is not supported in MCE. Drivers for this and other cards can be found ~ Google search for "MCE drivers<your card>" should locate some. A guy named DIGIKID does drivers that work well and also a guy named KREM. An AIW and a Hauppage 500 MCE gives you three tuners and is a choice setup. This is especially nice in an SFF where you generally have only 1 PCI slot. Decoder software is also necessary and is not part of MCE. The Nvidia decoder software is by far the best , IMHO. MCE is strickly OEM and does not come with any documentation of any kind, so there is nothing to tell you what is necessary. MCE compliant hardware is necessary. MS has a list on their website, but it is not up to date, naturally, there is a lot more that is certified. If they can certify the hardware it doesn't look like it would be that hard to add it to their list. But then I'm sure I don't understand the complexities of running an unresponsive company like MS. Be sure that MCE Drivers are available (Somewhere) for for your video card and tv tuner card. A 9500 and 9550 can be used and work pretty well. MCE drivers are available from ATI for the 9800 card, BUT NOT AIW cards. MCE really does not like to recognize software decoding as used in the AIW's and all the MCE certified TV tuners have hardware decoding. Modified drivers work but the install order process is pretty specific.

 

[dheffer]

might be a stupid question... but do you need special MCE compatible drivers for installing the motherboard, etc? I have an nforce4 board, so would I simply use the standard ones? Does it have the sata drivers built into it like xp sp2 does? I plan on installing this first, and then when I get my MCE-compatible tv tuner, i can just throw that in. I have an x800xl, so would i just need the specific drivers for that, or what? Thanks!

 

[Linflas]

I bought a Hauppauge WinTV PVR500 this weekend and installed it in an old machine I have with an XP 2000+ processor, SB Live soundcard, and a GForce 3 TI-500 running XP Pro. Do you think I could I install Windows Media Center 2005 on this box?

 

[dheffer]

I just got MCE up and running... it's awesome, really awesome.
I think everything would be fine except for the video card not supporting dx9.

 

[singh]

Originally posted by: werk
Also, if you want to wait, Philips is coming out with a new MCE remote that looks really cool. It has a small LCD on it that will display your music, video, etc titles for easy selection.

That sounds pretty neat... any details/time frame for this remote?

 

[sparkyclarky]

Originally posted by: Linflas
I bought a Hauppauge WinTV PVR500 this weekend and installed it in an old machine I have with an XP 2000+ processor, SB Live soundcard, and a GForce 3 TI-500 running XP Pro. Do you think I could I install Windows Media Center 2005 on this box?

No DX9 video card = no go on WMCE05

 

[dheffer]

I'm pretty sure the OS will work, but the media center program won't. Pick up a $40 video card that's dx9 compatible

 

[sparkyclarky]

Originally posted by: dheffer
I'm pretty sure the OS will work, but the media center program won't. Pick up a $40 video card that's dx9 compatible

Yeah, the OS will work. But then there is no benefit to getting WMCE if all you want is the regular windows OS But yeah, if you just want a decent media box, a basic DX9 card like a 5200 will suit you fine. If you want to game on it, get at least a 9600 (but even that is starting to get long in the teeth).

 

[Zugzwang152]

pics of the box?

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: dheffer
might be a stupid question... but do you need special MCE compatible drivers for installing the motherboard, etc? I have an nforce4 board, so would I simply use the standard ones? Does it have the sata drivers built into it like xp sp2 does? I plan on installing this first, and then when I get my MCE-compatible tv tuner, i can just throw that in. I have an x800xl, so would i just need the specific drivers for that, or what? Thanks!

Sorry, didn't notice this thread got revived from the dead! I see in your later post you got it up and running...glad to hear!