Wanted: HTPC Build Guide

JackSpadesSI

Senior member
Jan 13, 2009
636
0
0
In the past year I’ve built myself a gaming desktop and a Windows Home Server. I’ve got the itch to put another system together, and now I’d like to build a Home Theater PC – if the price is right.

I want my HTPC to be capable of the following: multiple-tuner DVR, Blu-ray/DVD playback, light gaming machine, and web browser.

I’ve already got a dual-tuner DVR (rented from my cable company) but its hard drive capacity is hardly impressive. The other issue with it is the two tuners. Sure, 95% of the time having two tuners is plenty, but sometimes I really wish I had more (3-4).

My HTPC would have to have all the ease-of-use of my current DVR: which I’m pretty sure Windows Media Center 7 does. I’d want access to ALL of my channels that I pay for (digital TV, with all the channel tiers and HDTV). The only thing I’d be ok losing would be OnDemand.

My current DVR and stand-alone Blu-ray player are connected via HDMI to my 5.1 receiver, and then to a 52” 1080p LCD TV. I’d like the HTPC use HDMI out to maintain my current setup, but replace those two devices.

My budget is $500-$800, but I’m VERY flexible with that – especially if a HTPC would allow me to stop paying for the DVR I currently have.

Please recommend me a build. Thanks!
 

mcveigh

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2000
6,457
6
81
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17591247#post17591247

totally stolen from there......

intel version
# CPU: Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93GHz 3MB L2 LGA775, $113.
# CPU Cooler: Cooler Master 風神鍛 (Geminii S) RR-CCH-PBU1-GP, $30.
# Motherboard: Intel DG43GT (BOXDG43GT) LGA775 Intel G43 chipset ATX, $87.
# Memory: A-DATA ADQVE1B16K DDR2-800 2 x 2GB Kit, $92.
# Graphics Card (ATI): SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4670 DDR3 1GB, $70.
# Graphics Card (NVIDIA): XFX GT-220X-ZNF2 GeForce GT 220 DDR2 1GB, $70.
# HDD: Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB SATA 3.0Gbps, $60.
# PSU: Corsair VX450W CMPSU-450VX 450W, $65.
# Case: Antec Fusion Remote Black microATX, with LCD/IR receiver/remote, $140.

AMD version
# CPU: Athlon II X4 630 ADX630WFGIBOX 2.8GHz AM3, $122.
# CPU Cooler: Cooler Master 風神鍛 (Geminii S) RR-CCH-PBU1-GP, $32.
# Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G chipset microATX, $89.
# Memory: A-DATA HY63I1B16K DDR3-1333 2 x 2GB Kit, $88.
# Graphics Card (ATI): SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4670 DDR3 1GB, $70.
# Graphics Card (NVIDIA): XFX GT-220X-ZNF2 GeForce GT 220 DDR2 1GB, $70.
# HDD: Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB SATA 3.0Gbps, $60.
# PSU: Corsair VX450W CMPSU-450VX 450W, $65.
# Case: Antec Fusion Remote Black microATX, with LCD/IR receiver/remote, $140.

throw BD reader in and run windows7 and you are done.
 

kalrith

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2005
6,628
7
81
AFAIK, you'll need to rent a cable card from your cable provider in order to get all the channels.
 

Slugbait

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,633
3
81
AFAIK, you'll need to rent a cable card from your cable provider in order to get all the channels.

While I was investigating this a few months ago (Comcast), the first CableCard is available without charge...additional CableCards will incur a monthly fee.

Comcast told me they will NOT provide a tuner. You're on your own there.

Ceton has multi-channel tuners that are pretty interesting: one model can supposedly do six channels (but by default, Win7 only supports four tuners, unless AEP is installed). It's expected to hit shelves Q1 2010.

Hauppauge announced back in Sept that they would be selling a tuner by the end of this year. Nothing yet that I can find, including any additional news.

AFAIK, you need to have an MCE version of Win7 to utilize these newer aftermarket CableCard tuners. Otherwise, you need to get an old OEM card off of eBay for MCE 2K5 or Vista Premium/Ultimate.
 
Last edited:

kalrith

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2005
6,628
7
81
AFAIK, you need to have an MCE version of Win7 to utilize these newer aftermarket CableCard tuners. Otherwise, you need to get an old OEM card off of eBay for MCE 2K5 or Vista Premium/Ultimate.

I'm pretty sure that CableCard functionality for non-OEM computers (i.e. home-built) is only for Win7. That might have changed since this AT article, but at the time that was the case.
 

jdjbuffalo

Senior member
Oct 26, 2000
433
0
0
I have been looking at building one over the next couple of months and I've learned a lot from the AVS forum and other places.

The AVS forum post listed above is excellent and will give you a very good idea of at least where to start. It is an great guide.

What Slugbait said above is true.

The Ceton card is the best looking one. You will only be able to buy a 2 tuner and 4 tuner version at release (no 6 version one because of the Windows 7 limitation).

I will add that if you already have a Blu-Ray player then you might be best to keep it unless you want to move it to another TV or want to store your DVD/Blue-Rays on your HTPC or WHS computers.

For Blu-Rays you will need a Blu-Ray player AND decoding software. Unfortunately, Windows 7 does not include the software and I'm not aware of any free software that can currently decode it and display it. The software I chose was TMT3 (TotalMedia Theater) by Arcsoft but you can also look at PowerDVD.

If you plan on storing your DVD/Blu-rays on your hard drive then you'll need to look at Slysoft's AnyDVD HD. They are running a sale until December 31st. It is a great price and the best sale I've seen since I started looking at this program. It breaks the DRM so you can store and play them. This is much more convenient than grabbing a DVD off a shelf or having a huge DVD carousel.
 
Last edited:
Dec 30, 2004
12,553
2
76
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17591247#post17591247

totally stolen from there......

intel version
# CPU: Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93GHz 3MB L2 LGA775, $113.
# CPU Cooler: Cooler Master 風神鍛 (Geminii S) RR-CCH-PBU1-GP, $30.
# Motherboard: Intel DG43GT (BOXDG43GT) LGA775 Intel G43 chipset ATX, $87.
# Memory: A-DATA ADQVE1B16K DDR2-800 2 x 2GB Kit, $92.
# Graphics Card (ATI): SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4670 DDR3 1GB, $70.
# Graphics Card (NVIDIA): XFX GT-220X-ZNF2 GeForce GT 220 DDR2 1GB, $70.
# HDD: Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB SATA 3.0Gbps, $60.
# PSU: Corsair VX450W CMPSU-450VX 450W, $65.
# Case: Antec Fusion Remote Black microATX, with LCD/IR receiver/remote, $140.

AMD version
# CPU: Athlon II X4 630 ADX630WFGIBOX 2.8GHz AM3, $122.
# CPU Cooler: Cooler Master 風神鍛 (Geminii S) RR-CCH-PBU1-GP, $32.
# Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G chipset microATX, $89.
# Memory: A-DATA HY63I1B16K DDR3-1333 2 x 2GB Kit, $88.
# Graphics Card (ATI): SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4670 DDR3 1GB, $70.
# Graphics Card (NVIDIA): XFX GT-220X-ZNF2 GeForce GT 220 DDR2 1GB, $70.
# HDD: Western Digital WD6400AAKS 640GB SATA 3.0Gbps, $60.
# PSU: Corsair VX450W CMPSU-450VX 450W, $65.
# Case: Antec Fusion Remote Black microATX, with LCD/IR receiver/remote, $140.

throw BD reader in and run windows7 and you are done.

Why wouldn't you go for a quad core over a dual core???
 

mcveigh

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2000
6,457
6
81
if you only are concerned with HD PLAYBACK then a dual core is fine. I'd go for more cores if you plan on transcoding or editing videos.

more cores or faster one often mean more power which means more heat which means more noise from fans to cool it
 

dmw16

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
7,608
0
0
Sorry to jack your thread a little, but...

With that ATI TV Wonder Cable Tuner I could ditch my cable box and just get a cable card from Comcast and watch ALL my cable programing w/ a guide using a HTPC?

Thanks.