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Planning HTPC build

olds

olds

Elite Member
I have been using my gaming PC for a HTPC to see if I need a HTPC. I do.
I want a pretty silent one that has HDMI out, displays 1080p, outputs 5.1/7.1 and can act as a DVR (I have Comcast cable). I don't plan to game on it as having a video card capable of playing the latest games will probably make it too noisy.

I basically have three questions;
AMD or Intel?
AMD seems to run at lower power and thus possibly quieter but can it crunch?

Do TV cards/software allow you to subscribe to programs to record them like a DVR does?

Should I build a HTPC or is there a pre-built box (Popcorn Hour like) that is out or coming out that I could use?

TIA
 
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I have been using my gaming PC for a HTPC to see if I need a HTPC. I do.
I want a pretty silent one that has HDMI out, displays 1080p, outputs 5.1/7.1 and can act as a DVR (I have Comcast cable). I don't plan to game on it as having a video card capable of playing the latest games will probably make it too noisy.

I basically have three questions;
AMD or Intel?
AMD seems to run at lower power and thus possibly quieter but can it crunch?

Do TV cards/software allow you to subscribe to programs to record them like a DVR does?

Should I build a HTPC or is there a pre-built box (Popcorn Hour like) that is out or coming out that I could use?

TIA
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter, HTPC's aren't very processor intensive

The cards don't do anything but tune, your software does all the scheduling etc, and yes you can get subscriptions with most software.

I don't know much about the Popcorn Hour type solutions.

Good info here

and here

Get ready to spend some $ 🙂

Honestly, a good DVR works pretty well, especially if you want to view premium channels, unless you go the cable card route...

It gets complicated when you start talking about sending video to other TV's.

For my purposes (I'm mobile, doing the contract employee stuff), I have a standalone HTPC spec'd out thusly:

Quad Core
1TB HD for storage
Hauppauge HVR 2250 dual tuner hybrid (actually 4 tuners-2 analog, 2 digital)
Windows 7 beta (free ATM) with WMC-I use WMC because it's free and is a pretty good scheduler, DVR


I recently added an extender LINKSYS DMA2200 for $100, awesome deal & functionality for an extender-but you have to have a wired network or an 802.11n network.

I have more suggestions, but they depend on if you want to share the content and if you have a wired or wireless home network (has to be n flavored if wireless)...
 
I don't understand -- why do you want a DVR that's crippled in channel selection? Buy a Tivo HD and a PS3. Headache-free, and totally functional.
 
I ripped this from one of my previous posts:

I just did a new build with an Antec NSK2480 and a ninja scynthe mini heatskink. Because the case has 2 120mm fans RIGHT next to the HS, i dont need one on it - my CPU (E7300) runs about 47c at full load. It's so quiet, I bought greenpower HD's also. I didnt connect the HD or power LED (its a HTPC) and I cant even tell it's on.

I am using Vista because Vista Media Center is great, probably the best app MS has ever made lol

edit: Oh, and I built the whole thing for about $600 with OS and 2TB of storage 🙂
 
Originally posted by: s44
I don't understand -- why do you want a DVR that's crippled in channel selection? Buy a Tivo HD and a PS3. Headache-free, and totally functional.
Click to expand...

Can you explain the crippled channel selection? Why would it be crippled?
 
Originally posted by: FP
Originally posted by: s44
I don't understand -- why do you want a DVR that's crippled in channel selection? Buy a Tivo HD and a PS3. Headache-free, and totally functional.
Click to expand...

Can you explain the crippled channel selection? Why would it be crippled?
Click to expand...

In order to get all the cable channels, you need to have a cable box. An HTPC with a QAM tuner will only get a handful of stations. I'm pretty sure there are only two HTPC options for getting all the cable channels: buy a prebuilt computer with a cablecard (cablecards are currently only available to computer manufacturers) or buy a capture device like the Hauppauge HD PVR and connect the cable box to it.

I built a quiet, low-power HTPC for $310, and that included a dual-ATSC tuner and 1TB drive. You can read a little more about that build and my recommendations to another HTPC builder in this post.
 
I much prefer Windows Media Center over TiVo - but the giant price differential for using CableCards on a PC makes it something of a bad choice right now, especially when combined with the uncertainty associated with tru2way, SDV, and DCAS support. I keep hoping TiVo will pull a rabbit out of the hat and introduce some crazy-fast, feature-filled TiVo Series 4 boxes this year and fix my issues with them, but I keep thinking I'm setting myself up for disappointment...

Like s44 noted, you can buy a TiVo HD and a very good Blu-Ray player (BDP-S360 or BDP-S560) for $400-$500. I would actually not recommend a PS3 as a pure BR-D player - more expensive, no HDMI-CEC, and poor IR support. If you want to play PS3 games, of course, the situation changes.
 
I don't care about PS3 games.
I have a wired/wireless G network.
I want to watch blu ray and hd dvd in 1080p and 5.1.
I also want internet access.
1 TB of storage.
I won't be streaming movies to any other TV.
I will be going with basic cable for TV. I do want to tell it to record channel X at X PM.
 
Originally posted by: erwos
Like s44 noted, you can buy a TiVo HD and a very good Blu-Ray player (BDP-S360 or BDP-S560) for $400-$500. I would actually not recommend a PS3 as a pure BR-D player - more expensive, no HDMI-CEC, and poor IR support. If you want to play PS3 games, of course, the situation changes.
Click to expand...
I suggested the PS3 because it will handle pretty much every media center function that the Tivo doesn't... It's true, for pure Blu-Ray playback there are other options (with the new Panasonics finally out, prices are going back down too).
 
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I don't care about PS3 games.
I have a wired/wireless G network.
I want to watch blu ray and hd dvd in 1080p and 5.1.
I also want internet access.
1 TB of storage.
I won't be streaming movies to any other TV.
I will be going with basic cable for TV. I do want to tell it to record channel X at X PM.
Click to expand...

Then an HTPC will work awesome for you.

Realistically, you'll want to have something that's like this:

A dual core CPU (say an AMD 4850e or similar)
2GB of RAM
Motherboard (like the Gigabyte 740g board)
Hard drive of your choice (a big green power drive by WD)
A tuner that meets your needs (with basic cable, some really cheap analog only one would do you fine for SD broadcasts until W7 and stable QAM tuners become common place, or consider an HD homerun sitting right next to your HTPC since that wouldn't stream well over your G network)
A wireless card (I would get a wireless n one now in case you ever upgrade, the encore one is decent and ~$25)
AMD 4350/4550/4650 graphics card that is passively cooled for your HD decode needs
BD/HD DVD optical drive

That'd be what I consider the important stuff.

Personally, I don't care if there is a PC standing next to my TV stand, so I'd grab a cooler master case, a quiet 12cm Artic Cooling fan for the back and an Antec earthwatts power supply.

Crap, I even have a USB keyboard and mouse I hookup when I need to do something the remote cant. HTPC on the cheap and easy...


 
Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
would it be all-new, or will you use some existing parts?

budget?

size or other requirements?
Click to expand...

After seeing this, I am thinking of going the Tivo route.
Just need to look into speeds of transfers and formats the Tivo can play. I don't want to have to do a bunch of converting of files.

 
Yeah, if your plan is QAM you're either getting an HDhomerun or not a windows based HTPC solution.

By this time next year I expect that to be different. By expect, I mean hope. I've been expecting it for a while...
 
Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
tivo probably has the best fit and finish among all of the options. it's not long before the cost exceeds the hauppauge 2250, tho.
Click to expand...

Yep, it all depends on what you're shooting for. I built an HTPC as a way to save money, and having an ongoing TIVO bill just wouldn't fit with that goal.

Just as an example, my HTPC cost $310, and it'll save me $1130 every year. I'm going with free OTA channels (and internet TV) instead of DirecTV ($52/month), and using MagicJack ($20/year) will allow me to save enough minutes to drop my $60/month cell-phone plan and go with prepaid phones (~$15/month).

If cost isn't the main driving factor behind an HTPC, then there are definitely other options out there, and if you did go with an HTPC, it would likely look much different from mine.
 
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