POLL: Anyone here with a HTPC?

[Arkitech]

I've been tinkering around with my HTPC setup for about 6 months now and while its far from perfect the video quality is amazing. Plus the the ability to create hours and hours of music playlists are a nice feature too. I can also surf the web and play games. I may never go back to a DVD player again.

 

[ScoobMaster]

No, but I did just get a TiVO! Now I don't know how I lived without it!!!!

 

[Antoneo]

What setup do you have and what settings/software do you run for DVD playback? I have an Athlon64 2800+ with a cheesy ATI 9550 on a Shuttle system and find it inadequate for cleaned up DVD playback (ffdshow). I also don't think I'm scaling properly since I dodn't have dscaler installed (I initially ran into problems with the nvidia DVD decoder + bsplayer and gave up).

 

[GrassR00t]

I have one. Haven't had too much time to mess with it lately though. It is a P4 3.0c, 512MB PC3200, using a Radeon 8500 with the dongle to put out a 1080i signal. I have a 200gig and a 120 gig HD that I back my DVD's up onto (need more HD's now!). I am also using it as a PVR and to store my music. As far as software, I use media player classic for the most part, I have zoomplayer just haven't had time to mess with it, and FFDshow as my filter.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: Antoneo
What setup do you have and what settings/software do you run for DVD playback? I have an Athlon64 2800+ with a cheesy ATI 9550 on a Shuttle system and find it inadequate for cleaned up DVD playback (ffdshow). I also don't think I'm scaling properly since I dodn't have dscaler installed (I initially ran into problems with the nvidia DVD decoder + bsplayer and gave up).

Do post processing filters in ffdshow make much difference in quality of output? In what way is your system inadequate? Are you outputting to a high definition television?

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Antoneo
What setup do you have and what settings/software do you run for DVD playback? I have an Athlon64 2800+ with a cheesy ATI 9550 on a Shuttle system and find it inadequate for cleaned up DVD playback (ffdshow). I also don't think I'm scaling properly since I dodn't have dscaler installed (I initially ran into problems with the nvidia DVD decoder + bsplayer and gave up).

I have a really basic setup right now, I pretty much play all of my video through PowerDVD. But what makes the difference is my video connection, I use a HDMI cable to connect to a HDTV. The video quality is excellent and that's without using any special codecs or filters (FFDshow, etc..)

Initially I tried playing around with FFDShow but you have to be very careful with the settings because the wrong ones can literally destroy your display device. Another issue I had that I have gave up on trying to fix was resizing the desktop without overscan problems. Most of my desktop along the edges are not visible, but fortunately when playing video its not a problem.

There's a lot of free software out there designed for HTPCs so its possible there may be one that addresses your issue. Its just a matter of looking and of course tweaking the machine to it looks right to you.


Try this link for htpc info - Text

 

[Afrotech]

I've got a tivo, Xbox w/ XBMC, and my puter with ati 9800 pro with HDTV adapter.

Into a 51" sony 16:9 HDTV w/ 5.1 surround.

 

[aidanjm]

Has anyone experimented with those new fangled network media streamers (the ones where you keep your Divx, mp3, mpeg files on a server/ hard disc, and have the movies/ music streamed over your net work to the media player in the room where you have the TV)? Something like this or this.

Anyone tried a Tvix?

 

[SaltBoy]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
Initially I tried playing around with FFDShow but you have to be very careful with the settings because the wrong ones can literally destroy your display device. Another issue I had that I have gave up on trying to fix was resizing the desktop without overscan problems. Most of my desktop along the edges are not visible, but fortunately when playing video its not a problem.

Just curious, Arkitech - what HDTV do you have? I've been able to get rid of overscan on my Samsung.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: SaltBoy

Originally posted by: Arkitech
Initially I tried playing around with FFDShow but you have to be very careful with the settings because the wrong ones can literally destroy your display device. Another issue I had that I have gave up on trying to fix was resizing the desktop without overscan problems. Most of my desktop along the edges are not visible, but fortunately when playing video its not a problem.

Just curious, Arkitech - what HDTV do you have? I've been able to get rid of overscan on my Samsung.

I'm using a 32 inch Zenith (c32v37) and I've tried nearly everything with no success. I've changed the drivers about 30-40 times but I always have the overscan issue.

 

[Jpark]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
Has anyone experimented with those new fangled network media streamers (the ones where you keep your Divx, mp3, mpeg files on a server/ hard disc, and have the movies/ music streamed over your net work to the media player in the room where you have the TV)? Something like this or this.

Anyone tried a Tvix?

no but that works great with a modded xbox with xmbc streaming videos and music from a file server. that's what i use for a htpc

 

[Queasy]

I've almost put the finishing touches on my HTPC. As soon as my Gyration wireless keyboard and mouse arrive either today or tomorrow, it will be moved downstairs and hooked up to my HDTV. I'm running a A64 2800+, DFI Nforce3 UT LanParty, 1GB RAM, 6600GT with MediaPortal and XLobby as front-ends (I haven't decided which one I want to keep permanently yet). I'm still saving up for a nice HTPC case and a HD capture card but I'm at the point now where it's ready to be moved to the TV room.

I'll be using it to play DVDs, music, video files, game playing, etc. Also allows me to clear out some room in my office upstairs.

I kind of gave up on ffdshow. While it was nice to upscale the picture to 720p or 1080i, I could never get the settings adjusted so that the colors come out right. The Nvidia DVD decoders are doing a good enough job for right now. I may go back and play with it some more later.

 

[GrassR00t]

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: SaltBoy

Originally posted by: Arkitech
Initially I tried playing around with FFDShow but you have to be very careful with the settings because the wrong ones can literally destroy your display device. Another issue I had that I have gave up on trying to fix was resizing the desktop without overscan problems. Most of my desktop along the edges are not visible, but fortunately when playing video its not a problem.

Just curious, Arkitech - what HDTV do you have? I've been able to get rid of overscan on my Samsung.

I'm using a 32 inch Zenith (c32v37) and I've tried nearly everything with no success. I've changed the drivers about 30-40 times but I always have the overscan issue.

I was having the same issues on my HDTV, I use powerstrip to input a custom resolution. I completely got rid of overscan. You can use this as a guide to setup custom resolutions.

*Edit - Just FYI i have a Mitsubishi wt-46809 HDTV

 

[DingDingDao]

My setup:

P4 3.2, 1 GB PC3200, 250GB SATA, ATI 9800 Pro 256 outputting via DVI-component adapter @ 1920 x 1080i, Audigy 2 on an Asus MB
Logitech DiNovo BT desktop
Panasonic TH42PX20U 42" HD Plasma
Timings modified slightly in Powerstrip
Theatertek 2.0 + ffdshow

I use my HTPC for ripping DVDs and watching (my DVDs are collecting dust on my media shelf), and for gaming. HL2 widescreen = :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: GrassR00t

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: SaltBoy

Originally posted by: Arkitech
Initially I tried playing around with FFDShow but you have to be very careful with the settings because the wrong ones can literally destroy your display device. Another issue I had that I have gave up on trying to fix was resizing the desktop without overscan problems. Most of my desktop along the edges are not visible, but fortunately when playing video its not a problem.

Just curious, Arkitech - what HDTV do you have? I've been able to get rid of overscan on my Samsung.

I'm using a 32 inch Zenith (c32v37) and I've tried nearly everything with no success. I've changed the drivers about 30-40 times but I always have the overscan issue.

I was having the same issues on my HDTV, I use powerstrip to input a custom resolution. I completely got rid of overscan. You can use this as a guide to setup custom resolutions.

*Edit - Just FYI i have a Mitsubishi wt-46809 HDTV

I've tried powerstrip before with no success but that guide looks interesting. I may have to do a little more tweaking tonight.

 

[Stark]

it's in the sig.

i like xp mce a lot.
"not so much" a shuttle barbones for a fully functional htpc.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
I've tried powerstrip before with no success but that guide looks interesting. I may have to do a little more tweaking tonight.

Are you using an Nvidia card? The latest Nvidia drivers have HTPC settings and can adjust for overscan automatically.

 

[Antoneo]

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: Antoneo
What setup do you have and what settings/software do you run for DVD playback? I have an Athlon64 2800+ with a cheesy ATI 9550 on a Shuttle system and find it inadequate for cleaned up DVD playback (ffdshow). I also don't think I'm scaling properly since I dodn't have dscaler installed (I initially ran into problems with the nvidia DVD decoder + bsplayer and gave up).

Do post processing filters in ffdshow make much difference in quality of output? In what way is your system inadequate? Are you outputting to a high definition television?

Post processing filters in ffdshow should make a significant difference: Link to mouse-over comparisons

I haven't done complete testing yet, mainly because of the frustrations I encountered with the nvidia DVD decoders and zoom player (not bsplayer as I incorrectly mentioned above). I've taken a vacation from tweaking, but ffdshow seems to make DVD output a bit sharper. I can't say for sure that the colors are correct; I'm running overlay since I couldn't get VMR9 to work. Noise seems to be gone but there is a bit of artifacting that's still there. My system was inadequate because there was noticable video stuttering during DVD playback as well as some tearing. I'm running the latest of all drivers so I'm guessing my CPU and more likely my crappy video card is the problem (not enough power for post processing). And yes, this is a 720P high definition TV.

Ugh, the HTPC idea hasn't gone as well as I had expected but basic playback of video, mp3s, and DVDs was successful so I'm living with it for now. Many of the problems I've encountered have been anticipated but I didn't think they would annoy me this much. I will say this though, video quality significantly depends on the connection you use. I went from VGA to DVI and there was a noticeable improvement in picture quality (noise free). I've also run into the overscan problem but I was set on upgrading this machine in the future to an nvidia card anyway so I'm just living with the in-laws for the time being.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Arkitech
I've tried powerstrip before with no success but that guide looks interesting. I may have to do a little more tweaking tonight.

Are you using an Nvidia card? The latest Nvidia drivers have HTPC settings and can adjust for overscan automatically.

I'm actually using a radeon card, one of the crappy se versions (9800se)

 

[Drakkon]

Started with a dell 400sc
added in:
P4 3.0
Windows XP MCE 2005
1GB PC2100
80GB SATA drive
250GB IDE
DVD/RW Drive
Radeon 9600se
WinTV 250
Then watch it all run on a 2001FP
makes for a pretty nice and quiet machine that i can work on and use in my bedroom as a TV (small apt), i really like MCE for its ability to kick back and use the remote to navigate everything.

 

[Antoneo]

What are you guys using as front ends? I'm simply using Windows XP and need a solution. I've tried Meedio, but the customization process became a bit time consuming as well as the lack of ready features.

 

[Queasy]

MediaPortal

XLobby

MediaPortal is probably the easiest of the two to get setup. Both are free.

 

[biostud]

Kind of.....
I don't have any TV but I've got a TV-card and my computer is hooked up to a 5.1 Hi-Fi setup.

 

[loup garou]

MCE 2005 system here:

Biostar IDeq 200V SFF
AMD 1600XP
512MB
80 GB system/music drive
160 GB recorded TV drive
8x DVD burner
9600 XT + Component adapter
Hauppauge PVR150 TV card
Audigy 2 NX USB2 soundcard using optical SPDIF passthrough
MS OEM remote
TW Digital Cable
Using PowerDVD6 as decoder

Connected to Onkyo SR600 6.1 receiver and Samsung TXN3245FP EDTV hacked to HDTV (soon to be replaced with 32" Syntax Olevia LCDTV)

MCE Tweaks/Plugins:
Sonic Encoders for VideoDVD & DVD Slideshow burning
MCEWeather -- Weather channel plugin
MyMovies -- Offline DVD management (soon to be paired with 3 Imation Disk Stakkas for autmated disk retrieval from MyMovies interface)
GamEX -- MAME/SNES emulator MCE fronted (awesome!!!)
MyNetflix -- Netflix account management through MCE interface (cool idea but needs improvement)

I built this machine as a project and was tested with the bedroom TV, but it has taken over our TiVo's place in the living room I love it so much. There are a few TiVo-exclusive features I miss, though...

 

[Antoneo]

Originally posted by: Queasy
MediaPortal

XLobby

MediaPortal is probably the easiest of the two to get setup. Both are free.

Oooh, media portal seems like a good one. I'll have to try that out. I use my HTPC for lots xvid/divx (tv shows) and DVD playback so easy file navigation is key for me. A lot of times, front ends seem to focus on TV recording or small collections of media files and makes navigating difficult, if not unintuitive.