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Need help/advice

Etherton

Etherton

Will Bang for Poof
Joined
Aug 7, 2006
Messages
6,996
Looking to build a dedicated HTPC and need a little advice on the components... I looked through the sticky but it appears to be about a year old now and that might as well be a lifetime in computers.

I need it to :

Play BR/DVDs
Internet
Stream my DVD (possibly BRs too) collection to my Sharp LED tv without quality/stuttering issues.
Connect to my HK receiver via optical/coaxial outs.
Fit into a case similar to this one...
HDMI
Quiet
Cheaper the better (remembering quality playback) will be hitting up the FS Forums here!

I have :

2 x WD 1.5tb Black HDDs
1 x WD 1tb Blue HDD
Logitech Edge bluetooth Keyboard
Win7 Ultimate

Thanks for any advice!!
 
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The cpu & on board gpu has enough power to stream dvd iso's without issue?
 
i can't say for certain as i haven't tried that specifically but it blows through 1080p mkvs so i can't imagine it would struggle with a lowly dvd :p
 
Guess that brings up a more important question... how should I be archiving my DVD & BR collection? What format and which playback software is the best? Should i be using XBMC? I have been ripping them to iso's and using VLC too play them back so far....
 
diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks but i store as video files (mkv mostly) and archive/play with xbmc. you're wasting a lot of space storing as dvd iso unless you intend to burn them to dvds at some point.
 
Well I got everything I need on the way. I went a lil different route after doing some reading. There is a amazing sticky over on the AVS Forums if a one is looking for some more information. I appreciate all the info you gave me demografik....

Went with :

Intel i3 530
Gigabyte GA-H55M-S2H LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB
2 x WD 1.5tb Back HDDs
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB)
CORSAIR Builder Series CX430 V2 430W
LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X
Thermaltake Lanbox Lite VF6000BWS


Taking the memory out of my desktop (signature) for now.... a little over kill but I went with a solid build I think.
 
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Looks good. Are you not getting a bluray player? Also, I recommend XBMC and to get some sort of remote to use with it.
 
Skipping out on blu-ray at the moment. Wife might kill me in my sleep if I spend anymore right now. I have a PS3 for BR if needed.... you don't think the Logitech Edge will work for the time being. I have a Logitech 880 but the volume up button sticks on it. Dunno if it can even be used with my set up. Need to really look into the software end of all this.
 
Oh okay, I was just curious because you mentioned wanting bluray playback, ps3 works though. For software, you should at least demo XBMC. I noticed instantly the improved playback quality of almost all of my media and have rarely opened VLC since. I'm sure the logitech will work fine. I pre-ordered this remote here and can't wait for it to come out. Maybe in a month or so when it comes out your wife will be more okay with your spending the $60 on it.
 
i'm not sure that sticky is so amazing if you gathered that you need an i5, 8gb and a 5770 :confused:
 
demografik said:
i'm not sure that sticky is so amazing if you gathered that you need an i5, 8gb and a 5770 :confused:
Click to expand...

The sticky didn't convince me that I needed an i5/5770. Got a good deal on both IMO. I paid $135 shipped for the i3 530 CPU/mobo combo & $85 for a lifetime warrantied 5770. The memory I hijacked from my desktop for free (don't think I will miss it honestly). I was going to buy the case, psu & burner regardless. Already had the storage... so overall I paid maybe $100 more than the system you had reccomended and it is much more solid. I'm not saying yours would not have done what I originally asked....
 
I was concerned with playback and now it can pass as a moderate gaming machine....
 
Just finished my HTPC build, here's what I picked up:

Intel i3-2100 (3.1GHz, dual-core)
Asus P8H67-M PRO (using onboard GPU with HDMI out to TV and optical SPDIF)
4GB Corsair (2x2GB)
64GB Crucial SSD (OS only)
HDHomerun Dual Network Tuner
Samsung BD-ROM / DVD-RW
hec Desktop case
External 750GB USB drive

I was REALLY skittish on using the onboard GPU for video playback, my confort was that if it doesn't cut it, I can always toss a vid card in the PCI-e slot and be done with it. I'm happy to say that's not necessary. I can push Hulu Plus Desktop in full HD, Netflix in full HD, and a DVD just fine with no issues at all. OTA is also great with the HDHomerun, since there's no internal tuner card I can use multiple PC's and hook up to the tuner stream. Power-on to usable Windows is about 25 seconds if it needs to be rebooted, and in the short time I've been messing with it I haven't felt any major heat issues. Case is not silent, but only marginally louder than the Dish Network receiver it's replacing.

All-in this build cost about $650, I already had the external hard drive from the Dish receiver.
 
Also, if you're in it for BR playback, get a BR player. There isn't native software for BR playback like there is for DVD, you'll have to not only purchase the software but make it work with your choice of front-end. Unless you're getting the software in Juarez, you'd be better off getting a standalone BR player.
 
A dedicated BR player is a cheaper, more simpler solution for sure. But some people don't want an extra remote (if they don't have a universal remote), or don't have the space or extra inputs for another component, or they just want to do everything with one device. I'd say, they way various BR players integrate into 7MC is pretty darn good. I have no complaints of using TMT with 7MC. If you are using a different OS or frontend, then you may have more trouble down the road. Also, it does suck having to pay for software, but having it all in one system, and have it work with 7MC can be a benefit to some.
 
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