Ever since you guys put the bug in my ear I've been looking to build one...think I'm gonna make this a winter project (one of many)

You guys got any info/recommendations/things to avoid with it.

been poking around some of the sites and it looks pretty easy....but looks can be decieving.

beyondtv by snapstream and be done with it :) easy to install and rock solid.

you can buy the beyondtv link to watch tv on your other computers inyour house.
all very resonably priced.

before that I jumped into mythtv. I new nothing about linux and it was a great learning tool. great software but for a set it and forget it type of deal I'd recommend snapstream.

geeks

I built an HTPC that looks like a giant #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& sheriff. It's a bit too large to fit in the audio cabinet but maybe a wall mount would work. :-)

Don't go tiny unless you really need to. A lot of the cases that are small are also extremely cramped so you need short DVD drives or have to be meticulous about wrapping up your loose wires, etc. A lot of them are also extremely sharp inside, so sanding any sharp edges and vacuuming isn't a bad thing to do when you get your case.

If you want to play back HD video on a built-in graphics chip, you need to run Windows drivers. If not, you'll have to get a separate graphics card.

If you're going to leave it running all the time, get a hard drive rated for 24hr operation (most aren't).

I'm on my 2nd. 1st one used an x-qpack case w/ an Asus microatx board w/ AMD 2GHz processor and nvidia 6150. 2nd one also uses an Asus board but w/ AMD 780G graphics. The nvidia worked better under Linux.

Linux is easy to install if you use Mythdora or knoppmyth. Get an HDHomerun tuner if you're doing over the air.

Holler if you have more specific questions...

geeks
I can see your pocket protector

geeks

Remember what the bible said "And the geeks shall inherit the Earth"

Here's a stupid question....How do you get the signal from the PC to the TV. I don't have an HDTV. Mine has S-Vid and Component Video in.

also anything i need to be aware of in regards to FiOS for my TV signal.

Mr Hunters, That Beyond TV looks pretty slick....Did you just purchase the S/W or bundle it with a tuner card?

you need the tuner for the cable signal. so if you don't have one already i'd get the bundle. I recommend the 2 tuners in one cards that way you can either record multiple shows or watch one and record another.

I have never had an issue with hauppauge. They are a very reputable tuner card vendor.

you need a vid card that supports svid out. doesnt need to be fancy. You can pick one up for under 40bucks. newegg.com = cheap.

I figured out the Tuner cards to get the signal into the PC....was just trying to figure out how to get it back out to the TV.

been looking at the Silverstone Cases.....They're Purty, will look good with the Carver components I have. Some of them are expensive and not realistic but looking at this one.

Silverstone LC10 (http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=LC10-E&area=usa)

Mine has S-Vid and Component Video in.

also anything i need to be aware of in regards to FiOS for my TV signal.

Depends on whether FIOS is encrypted or not. My guess is it is, in which case you probably just want the DVR feature that Verizon sells you because I don't think a 3rd party tuner can decrypt their signals. I used over the air for mine. Hmm...looks like you might be able to use a CableCard tuner:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=956075

My old HTPC had s-video and composite out in case you're interested in it. It's got an Asus A8N VM-CSM motherboard w/ 4GB of ECC memory (it was a backup server so that's why it has ECC memory in it) w/ a 2GHz athlon X2. It's in an x-qpack case w/ enermax liberty power supply.

I figured out the Tuner cards to get the signal into the PC....was just trying to figure out how to get it back out to the TV.

been looking at the Silverstone Cases.....They're Purty, will look good with the Carver components I have. Some of them are expensive and not realistic but looking at this one.

Silverstone LC10 (http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=LC10-E&area=usa)

that IS purty.

What do you guys consider the most critical parts of the build? beefed up processor, More Memory on the Video card, etc. etc.

There are some LiveCD's out there that will let you try out a few different Linux media centers.. The good thing about the LiveCDs is that they let you test out your hardware to see if its up to snuff before you commit.

Never tried Myth. I just installed XBMC (xbmc.org) on the Kubuntu machine in the den.. great interface, seems like it can support everything I needed, but still need to spend the time getting it configured correctly. Boxee is another one being developed that just announced Linux support.

Also, I have tried a few different methods to get the signal to back to the HDTV.. The simplest ended up being the best. The HDTV supports a VGA interface, so I purchased an inexpensive 25' cable. The HDTV runs as a second display off the Kubuntu desktop at 1366x768 resolution.

-- Tom

i got an old msi s video out card if you want to try it kev. its agp

What do you guys consider the most critical parts of the build? beefed up processor, More Memory on the Video card, etc. etc.

Video card is not needed if you don't decode H.264 (HD resolution)...the built-in video card on the microATX motherboards is fast enough.
A 2GHz processor is plenty fast enough to save off the HD video to disk. You won't need that much memory either.
The most critical part is probably the tuner if you want to use it w/ Verizon. Make sure you get one w/ unencrypted QAM support.

I'm doing something a little silly crazy and probably won't get it all to work (but I think I will) I'm building a Media Box/HTTPC that will have a Windows Home Server running in a virtual machine as well as the odd Linux box and virtual desktop virtualized....

I got the GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H with 780G Chipset http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090

4GB GSkill

2.3Ghz Dual Core AMD BE-2400 45watt processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103215

Zalman Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118035

All wrapped in a Piano Black Thermaltake Lanbox: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133045

Currently running eval Win2K8 HyperV with an AD Win2K Exchange 08 Win2K8, Suse Linux 10, and Ubuntu desktop in virtual machines (last 2 V2V from VMware virtual machines)

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/ProductImageCompressAll200/11-133-045-12.jpg

Should work fine as long as you're not going to display w/ that box (I'm not sure Windows in a VM will display video fast enough). The 4850 has a faster bus than the BE versions.

Holy crap I tried to read that and my brain oozed out of my ears :alien:

Can someone tell me what a htpc is?

geeks

Home Theater PC (HTPC) or media PC

I want to get more out mine than just an HTPC but here is the primary dig from Wikipedia:

A Home Theater PC (HTPC) or media PC is a convergence device that combines the functions of a personal computer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer) and a digital video recorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_video_recorder). It is connected to a television (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television) or a television-sized computer display (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_display) and is often used as a digital photo, music, video player, TV receiver and digital video recorder.
The general goal in a HTPC is usually to combine many or all components of a home theater (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theater) setup into one box. They can be purchased pre-configured with the required hardware and software needed to add television programming to the PC, or can be cobbled together out of discrete components as is commonly done with Windows Media Center (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Center), MythTV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythTV), GB-PVR (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GB-PVR), SageTV (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SageTV), Famulent (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Famulent&action=edit&redlink=1), or LinuxMCE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinuxMCE). The traditional HTPC concept in its purity is becoming less popular, being replaced by other devices.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theater_PC#cite_note-0)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theater_PC

Should work fine as long as you're not going to display w/ that box (I'm not sure Windows in a VM will display video fast enough). The 4850 has a faster bus than the BE versions.


esx4 will but youse can't get that until March.

Holy crap I tried to read that and my brain oozed out of my ears :alien:

Can someone tell me what a htpc is?

geeks

You should put one in the shop while EEEGORREEEEE is running you can watch Teletubbies

You should put one in the shop while EEEGORREEEEE is running you can watch Teletubbies

How can a Teletubbie WATCH the Teletubbies?

I didn't see your triangle!!!

esx4 will but youse can't get that until March.

I'll believe that when I see it...no way is a VM fast enough to display HD video :spin:

Think JohnR is going to photoshop Salty's head onto a teletubbie? :laughs:

I'll believe that when I see it...no way is a VM fast enough to display HD video :spin:

Think JohnR is going to photoshop Salty's head onto a teletubbie? :laughs:

I didn't say HD.

TDF you will need a cable card for each tuner with the fios.

Well, this is what I've priced out.....let me know what you think or if there might be any concerns I should look at. Comes in under budget so I'm happy at that.

APEVIA Black / Blue SECC Steel / Aluminum X-MASTER-BL/500 ATX Media Center / HTPC Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144232

MotherBoard ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131324

AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103255

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231144

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

ASUS EN8400GS SILENT/HTP/256M GeForce 8400 GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121240

DVD Drive Sony NEC Optiarc Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R Burner with LightScribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118016

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 ATSC/ClearQAM/NTSC TV Tuner PCI w/Remote 1178 PCI Interface
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116007

I have the same motherboard and processor in my current HTPC :-)
I'm not sure you need the geforce 8400...the 780G is plenty fast for HTPC duty.
Also consider the Fusion HDTV tuner if you really don't need one that support CableCard for your Verizon FIOS:
http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/Video/fusion7rt.asp
or the HDHomeRun:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010Y414Q

Both work well w/ MythTV on Linux.

Yeah but the G-Force is only 23 bucks so I jumped on it....looks to be a good card and the price is right. :kewl:

that'll do it.

Another (Possibly Stupid) Question....but what about decoding for surround sound? Would the audio on the motherboard be able to do that? Or will I need to add another higher quality sound card that can take care of that?

this area is grey to me as well.
my snap stream has an option for 5.1 but I really think you only record in stereo.

did the motherboard you bought come with 5.1 or digital out?

:edit:
looks like it does.
you have SPDIF out so if your reciever supports that, that would be the way to go. then do the pc audio test speaker to speaker to make sure thats working properly.

does 5 channel audio come over cable without a digital box in between?

Can't find a whole lot of specs on the Audio for the mother board, 8 channels says to me that it will support 7.1 surround......hopefully.

what I'll probably do is use the on board and if it isn't sufficient I'll get another card.

I have FiOS so it will be intersting trying to hoo that up.

i can't believe you can get fios and we can't. KILLS ME
---

yea the onboard will be just fine. its just a matter of what it gets recorded at.I read somewhere that its only stereo. but the 8 channel will be good for dvd movies and such.

at least you're not in Boston so you have a shot...it's apparently too expensive to rewire all the copper in Boston w/ fiber according to a friend at Verizon.
A quick dig on Google found this:
http://text.broadbandreports.com/forum/r20220829-HTPC-with-FiOS

Sounds like a royal PITA and you probably would have been better off buying a tivoHD...
As for audio surround sound, most microatx motherboards including the one we have supports it....

What if I'm not recording HD.....Don't have the TV for it yet and that is still a year or 2 out.

Looks like most of the issues they are having is with the HDTV recording.

the main issue is that the FIOS data output is encrypted. Not sure if their set top box has s-video out, but if it does, you might be able to record off that if your tuner card has an input for it...

the main issue is that the FIOS data output is encrypted. Not sure if their set top box has s-video out, but if it does, you might be able to record off that if your tuner card has an input for it...

then you would need an IR blaster for the settop box

I thought the IR Blaster was for the Remote control....so you can control your converter box with the PC remote

it does that too. the ir blaster changes the channels of your fios cable box, from your pc.

this is needed to record channels from your cable box or to just change channels for viewing.

if you have a scheduled recording and the source is your cable box the ir blaster will change the channel to get the recording. In this scenario you would have an s-video out from your cable box to the computer.

Ahh, I see said the Blind Man. Was checking out some of my audio components last night and it looks like I may have to update my Tuner/Pre-Amp to take advantage of Surround Sound.....but thats for a later discussion with the mrs......after we have the HDTV discussion. :hee:

been poking around some of the sites and it looks pretty easy....but looks can be decieving.

See what happens when I make crazy easy statements :hihi:

FYI, here's a list of unencrypted cable channels the hdhomerun can tune to:
http://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun/lineupui?Cmd=LocationProgramsWeb&Country=US&Postcode=02116
I just use it for over the air...

Anybody do over the air hd-dt?
02048

This is becoming a bigger %$%$%$%$ing pain in the ass then its worth...:wall:

I got $500 in cash, good old american currency....but thats not good nowadays, So i send the wife to the bank to put it in the account so I can transfer it to Paypal so i can order the stuff. Bank says it sent the money to Paypal on Friday....nothing yesterday, nothing today so I call them up.

They say I have to be patient...i say Bull%$%$%$%$. Youy got the money friday where is it. They say there's nothing They can do for me...i say Bull%$%$%$%$...where's my money....Miraculously the money pops into my account while I'm talking to them on the phone....Right There was nothing they can do for me :rolleyes:

so now I go to place the order on newegg for the parts. it won't go through via Paypal.... They tell me to pay for it with another method. i say the money is in paypal...they say There's nothing they can do. So now I have to transfer the money back to my Checking account 3-5 day delay....then transfer it to my Credit Card account.....another 3-5 day delay so i can order the stuff.

At this rate i should just wait til Holo-deck technology gets here and set that up :wall:

sorry but I needed to vent.

Unbelieveable....but success....after my 3rd call to paypal it turns out the order won't go through because i don't have a credit card on file...even though I am paying with a balance they would only accept it with a verified addy that they get from the credit card. :wall:

Serenity Now

Avoid p*sspal as much as possible :-P

You should have just ordered from newegg w/ a credit card...I do it all the time...

I try and avoid using a CC whenever possible...usually don't have a problem with PayPal....just today....very frustrating

Wow, got that stuff fast from Newegg.....ordered it tuesday and everything but the case arrived yesterday. 1 Day turnaround....not to shabby.

My son is mega-excited because I told him he could build it and I would just be there for tech support.....he was like a kid at xmas yesterday.....as well as me :hee:

seeing those boxes from newegg come in NEVER gets old :)

A little update...been messing with this for a couple of weeks now. Went with Media Portal for the S/W on it...very slick and very free (one of my favorite words). I've loaded up all my cd's into digital format on it and now have a completely databased digital music library. :kewl:

Took some time to get the FiOS part working, unfortunately I had to keep the set Top Box for it hooked up and am using the S-Video out to tie in the TV, is working as a Tivo-like system now for that.

I am currently in the process of cataloging my DVD collection on to the HDD so I can have that as accessible as my music. Its pretty slick how it goes out to the internet and grabs all the info about the movies and adds it to the database so when I browse the titles I get descriptions as well as cast and other info. They even have a plug in that allows me to manage my netflix account from the within the app....again very cool

Last hurdle will be convincing the wife we need a 50" flat panel to hook it up to :hee:

Thanx for all the help/suggestions.

good work! just started playing around with media portal (motivated by your post) played with it a long time ago. much improvement.!

I agree the IMDB search is awsome.

also whats a great feature is that you can install "front ends" on all your other pc's so you can watch tv on them. beyond tv charges 50 bucks a license for that feature.

So does that mean you get shortwave on your rabbit ears now?

GEEK :rotflmao:

A little update...been messing with this for a couple of weeks now. Went with Media Portal for the S/W on it...very slick and very free (one of my favorite words). I've loaded up all my cd's into digital format on it and now have a completely databased digital music library. :kewl:

Took some time to get the FiOS part working, unfortunately I had to keep the set Top Box for it hooked up and am using the S-Video out to tie in the TV, is working as a Tivo-like system now for that.

I am currently in the process of cataloging my DVD collection on to the HDD so I can have that as accessible as my music. Its pretty slick how it goes out to the internet and grabs all the info about the movies and adds it to the database so when I browse the titles I get descriptions as well as cast and other info. They even have a plug in that allows me to manage my netflix account from the within the app....again very cool

Last hurdle will be convincing the wife we need a 50" flat panel to hook it up to :hee:

Thanx for all the help/suggestions.

Last hurdle will be convincing the wife we need a 50" flat panel to hook it up to :hee:

If you find something that works PM me.

Black Friday

Black Friday

Nope. She's works that day. And I just be a new tow vehicle, maybe.......

I'll tell ya...I've been looking and you can find some good prices at Amazon.....go hek them out at a circuit ity or best by and then get it from amazon.

seriously, a couple I looked at i found on Amazon $3-400 cheaper and w/ free shipping