HTPC
 

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...

I can see your pocket protector

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

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.

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

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/Produc...82E16813128090

4GB GSkill

2.3Ghz Dual Core AMD BE-2400 45watt processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103215

Zalman Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118035

All wrapped in a Piano Black Thermaltake Lanbox: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133045

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/NeweggIma...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.

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:

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

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

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!!!

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/Produc...82E16811144232

MotherBoard ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131324

AMD Athlon X2 4850e 2.5GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103255

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231144

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136073

ASUS EN8400GS SILENT/HTP/256M GeForce 8400 GS 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121240

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/Produc...82E16827118016

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 ATSC/ClearQAM/NTSC TV Tuner PCI w/Remote 1178 PCI Interface
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16815116007

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/Pro.../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.