Assassin's Simple/Beginner HTPC Buying Guide - Page 417

Yes, that is the general recommendation. Its much cleaner to do that way, i'm sure if you look around you might find an alternative but its most likely win 7 won't even launch

Okay cool.

Thanks for the help!

This solved several minor but annoying problems that I had (from the FAQ in post 3):

There is a bug in the Intel Win7 x64 HDMI drivers that can cause a blue or black screen with certain system combinations. Try this older driver (link below - sorry, don't know why it didn't just copy/paste) which has been known to fix this issue. If you connnect okay with VGA and not HDMI this is highly suspicious of confirming this problem.

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13340866829433

Uncola I don't have a problem Bitstreaming anymore. I forgot that is was a button that I unchecked in the Audio Advanced properties section that was causing the problem. The problem I have now is that is I have to Uncheck it to get Audio to watch Live TV in WMC but if I leave it Unchecked I can't Bitstream. Do you understand my dilemma? Any suggestions anyone.....

Here is a pic of the box I have to uncheck in order to watch Live TV or check to Bitstream:
Exclusive Mode "Allow application to take exclusive control"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8317538@N06/7065551597/

Question for you, when you bitstream from your HTPC what settings do you use on your NR709?

Hi all,

I am hoping someone has experienced the problem I am having and can point me in the right direction.

I am installing a new MB and CPU in my HTPC. I have built 20 or so PC's over the years so I am a bit perplexed as to what I might have done wrong on this one.

I am installing a Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 and an i3 2105 as per the guides recommendations.

I get it all together and when I hit the power button the leds light up and the fans start spinning for approx 2-3 seconds then they shut down. I checked the power connections to the board and they seem right. Any suggestions?

Make sure the CPU and cooler are seated properly.

I just sent it off on Friday and they received it yesterday so now I have to wait for them to either fix it or send me a new board. I am certainly hoping to not have to reinstall my OS and apps.

I tried tonight playing through WMP with the Nvidia card settings in the Windows Control panel and it's playing fine with the Sony Projector.
I'm thinking it has to be something with the MadVR and Cuvid processing through MPC.
Any suggestions are always appreciated

Looking for some clarification: assuming you have the hardware to do full 3d and the TV to go along with it, can you play a 3D MVC MKV file through any software that plays MKV, or do you need a specific player capable of playing those files? If so, what software players can play them?

I am not talking about side by side or top/bottom 3d files. I am referring to full frame MVC, specifically created from Makemkv.

Assassin that's not my issue! If I want to watch Live TV I have to uncheck them But if I want to Bitstream they have to be checked. I think the Lav Filter is affecting the Windows Codec when watching Live TV.

I'm always amazed at the incredible amount of information available on AVS. This guide is fantastic Assassin! I intend on purchasing your paid guides once I've ordered my new parts. I've configured a mini-itx build and my only hesitation is the cpu fan issue in the Apex mi-008. The pentium g620 is plenty of cpu for me and I have no desire for 3D, however per your guide it will touch the psu. Does this create extra noise? Unsafe? Or not really a big deal? I'm not seeing a g620t readily available and feel like I'm spending 65.00 on a slim fan by purchasing the i3 2100t.

Thanks for the suggestion Assassin but I'm scared to mess with the Shark007...lol

Don't be afraid to go in the water.

This is your idea of "cutting back"?

How does this compare to Remote Potato?

So I am doing an HTPC build for a friend and I am using several components suggested in this thread / guide.

The two components that are posing the problem are the Antec Three Hundred Two case and the Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 MB.

The case has two USB ports at the front of the case - both of them USB 3.0. There is a single internal USB cable that is meant to connect to a header on the MB. The only problem is there is not a USB 3.0 header that matches the cable on this board.

Is there a way to use the ports as USB 2 with some kind of adapter for the cable?

Any suggestions are welcome....it would be a shame not to be able to utilize those two ports.

Assassin - Do you no longer recommend the Apex MI-008 for a mini-itx build? You have it in your guide yet I found another post from you saying you'd never use it again.

You need a motherboard that has USB3.0 headers if that is what your case has. Otherwise you need a case that has USB2.0 headers if that is what your Motherboard has.

My case has USB3.0 and my motherboard has the headers for it. The headers are much different than normal USB2.0 headers.

I am not away of an adapter.

You can always add cheap PCI-x USB 3.0 cards to add more USB 3.0 ports.

But runing the USB3.0 front ports on your case (if that is what it has) will most likely need a motherboard with the header for it.

You won't have to go without USB3.0 but you might have to go without the front ports of your case being operational unless you upgrade your motherboard.

Here is some pics of my PC build.

First this pic is of the USB2.0 headers for the front of my case


This pic is of the USB3.0 header for the front of my case.



The headers are very different.

This is the front of the case below.




Are you sure your case is USB3.0 only in front and your motherboard is only USB2.0 ?????

If so- you would need to modify your case with USB2.0 ports to replace the 3.0ports or upgrade your motherboard.

If it was me- I would just add a USB3.0 card if I needed the extra ports, or otherwise just leave the front unhooked and nonoperational for now.

Gives you a good reason to upgrade the motherboard.

Perhaps wait for a good deal on a Z77 model and sell that off or use for something else.

That MB has USB 3.0 ports in the rear I/O port and none on the motherboard. If you wanted to utilize those ports, you may want to look into another mb.

Thanks, was worried for a second there.

When posting earlier I thought it was a projector issue and the GT430 video card. The problem is there after removing the Card and going back to the Intel I3 2100 - Intel HD2000 video.

I'm still having a severe stutter problem using MPC. When playing MKV files using WMP through Media Browser the playback is smooth without a glitch.

I am using the LAV Spilitter -Stutter there using MadVR or not using MadVR.
Latest drivers and versions of all devices and software.
Any thoughts are appreciated.

I really appreciate the keep it simple thought, which your i3 -HD2000 setup is. It works great and performs flawlessly.
With the projector and 106" screen I do see an improvement in the image with the GT430 and MadVR and Cuvid.
I will keep trying to get the stutter corrected and if it dosen't work out it's not going be too bad. It's still a great setup.
Thanks for your support.