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Assassin's Simple/Beginner HTPC Buying Guide - Page 457

post #13681 of 15524
7/9/12 at 12:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sammy2 View Post

Oh.. It's the time to put them on the HDD for a huge on demand library that concerns me more. Pulling a disc off the shelf and putting it in a BRP is a thing of the past. I don't remember the last time I used my BRP. There's 7 HDMI inputs on my AVR of which I use exactly one.

The big thing about my HT that always tripped up the wife and kids was having to switch inputs on the AVR. Isn't it nice to not have to do that any longer?
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post #13682 of 15524
7/9/12 at 1:32pm
So anyone do a build based on Llano, or only Intel folks here? My last mini-ITX build was using a core i5 Clarkdale, but I ended up pulling that system out of the case and used it in a test server. I am thinking about getting a new mobo/CPU for my mini-ITX case which has been sitting empty for a while (just purely for video playback, either Live TV from my networked tuner or streamed from my server), and leaning towards a Llano build just to switch things up.
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post #13683 of 15524
7/9/12 at 1:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by StardogChampion View Post

The big thing about my HT that always tripped up the wife and kids was having to switch inputs on the AVR. Isn't it nice to not have to do that any longer?

Yes it is, but I am missing out on the excercise from walking to the shelf and then the BRP to put in the disc.

As far as switching inputs, the H 900 does that and there's still input switching on the AVR for network audio and FM radio. The BRP is still programmed to it too.
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post #13684 of 15524
7/9/12 at 1:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbone1026 View Post

So anyone do a build based on Llano, or only Intel folks here? My last mini-ITX build was using a core i5 Clarkdale, but I ended up pulling that system out of the case and used it in a test server. I am thinking about getting a new mobo/CPU for my mini-ITX case which has been sitting empty for a while (just purely for video playback, either Live TV from my networked tuner or streamed from my server), and leaning towards a Llano build just to switch things up.

What about the A6-3500? Should handle everything you need.
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post #13685 of 15524
7/9/12 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by vistadelloco View Post

ok i updated my list does it all still work together i want to start purchasing today

OS - Windows 7
CPU - Sandy Bridge LGA1155 3D Intel I3-2100- just picked up 89.99 (micro center instore)
M. Board - gigabyte GA-H67MA-UD2H-B3 out of stock / GIGABYTE GA-H77-DS3H LGA 1155
RAM - G Skill 4GB 2x2GB DDR3 1600
HDD - Samsung F4 2TB
PSU - Roswell Green Series RG530-S12 530W PC&Cooling MKIII 400w
Case - N Media 1000B N Media 6000B
Wi Fi - Roswell PCI Express
Drive - Lite-On Blu/Dvd/Cd Burner
SSD - Plextor64GB SATAIII crucial m4 128GB just saw this for 114.00 @ micro center i want to go back if these all play well

will hold off for now
Video Card -Nvidia GT440
Cable Card ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

Yep. Looks like a great build. You are going to love it.



icant belive i forgot an inportant question -- AUDIO i need to be able to pass audio to my reciever (.. ill let the reciever do the work /onkyo 609) i need 7.1 dts hd ma , thx, dolby, etc.

-will my set up still allow(or do i need change something)

- i see j river audiophille in the guides do i have to use this for best audio or since its pass through i still have options for frontend

(i had my cart full last night just cound't pull the trigger unless i found out:()
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post #13686 of 15524
7/9/12 at 3:35pm
Yes. It will do fine. You can use LAV or the HD Audio patched XBMC builds to playback HD Audio as well. Pull the trigger!
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post #13687 of 15524
7/9/12 at 3:35pm
Thread Starter 
Its in my hardware guide. The i3 2100 passes HD Audio over HDMI.
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post #13688 of 15524
7/9/12 at 3:40pm
BTW, for SSD the Samsung 830 is $90 at newegg right now.
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post #13689 of 15524
7/9/12 at 6:53pm

Probably more trouble than it was worth (at least that's how I feel at the moment), but the SSD is installed and seems to be working.

I think my biggest problem (besides doing too many things at once that I don't know how to do) is that I moved the 2 HDDs from the SATA3 ports to the SATA2 ports. Apparently, the system couldn't find a boot disc where it was "supposed" to be and wouldn't start up. Interestingly, now that everything's set up, I'm copying something right now from one HD to the other at SEVERAL TIMES the speed at which it used to copy when the SATA3 drives were connected to the SATA3 ports (100+ MB/sec). Not complaining, but not understanding, either.

 

First things first. If you haven't seen an SSD (as I had not), they're adorable. Really.

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8868/1000711p.jpg

Slightly larger than a standard deck of cards, and about half as thick.

 

My original plan was to put it above the HDD, since there is plenty of room:

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/9255/1000705e.jpg

Unfortunately, I could not get a power cable to reach to that point. So I just put it on top of the BDP:

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9972/1000713c.jpg

I was going to use velcro, but it was too thick and the cover wouldn't fit over the drive, so I just rolled a piece of duct tape.

 

I used Acronis Disk Director, which, even for a Windows program, doesn't have an intuitive byte in its program. I couldn't "clone" the drive because of some technical setting in the formatting (one of the many things I have no desire to try to understand, but it wouldn't work). It kept warning me that just "moving" the partition might not work. Well, it did. I also moved that little extra partition that Windows creates, but, by then, I was getting better at figuring out what the program wanted and I was able to get my message across (I had to create an unallocated block on the SSD first). Of course, this all required a dozen reboots. 

 

So what should have taken half an hour took almost three. And, just to add icing on the cake, my ImageShack links don't seem to be showing up properly, so I'm afraid you have to click on the links for now. I'll update this at some future time if I can get it to work properly.

One major production at a time.

Michael

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post #13690 of 15524
7/9/12 at 8:35pm
Thread Starter 
I have been working most of this evening with Shark007 to improve my free Shark007 setup guide over at my blog. I hope you enjoy the changes I have made.

http://assassinhtpcblog.com/?page_id=39#guide1
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post #13691 of 15524
7/10/12 at 8:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sammy2 View Post

What about the A6-3500? Should handle everything you need.

Yup, that is exactly what I am looking at. Going to be an HTPC that will get some backyard/outdoors use biggrin.gif
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post #13692 of 15524
7/10/12 at 8:57am
I intend to use this only to play movies, on a video-projector I still have to buy (considering atm the Epson Power Lite 5010 mostly because in this price range it's the one who offer the maximum throw distance).
I'll be using a debian OS with a mythtv frontend, I wondered if this build was enough to play any kind of movies and display the audio properly.
the backend will be hosted on a server in the house, that's why I didn't put big drives in it.
thanks
648
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post #13693 of 15524
7/10/12 at 3:23pm
I just bought 2 of the 3 TB WD Green Drives. In fact, they were just delivered today. I am going to use them in an HTPC. Now, I just found out that WD has released "Red" drives for NAS (Review: http://www.storagereview.com/western_digital_red_nas_hard_drive_review_wd30efrx). Should I send back the Green drives and and buy the WD Reds?
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post #13694 of 15524
7/10/12 at 3:33pm
No.
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post #13695 of 15524
7/10/12 at 3:51pm
Costco has those 3TB Go-Flex external drives agin for $129
that's that Seagate 3 TB drive with the single 1TB platters in them .. killer deal the drives alone cost $179.oo
Seagate has a new model out on that Flex drive so these are clearance prices that will never agin see
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post #13696 of 15524
7/10/12 at 4:04pm
Any preference on SSD drives? There were a couple of deals on NewEgg but reading the reviews it seems like more often t hen not the users had problems with
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post #13697 of 15524
7/10/12 at 4:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fastslappy View Post

Costco has those 3TB Go-Flex external drives agin for $129
that's that Seagate 3 TB drive with the single 1TB platters in them .. killer deal the drives alone cost $179

Great deal on storage. Lowest that I've seen at $43/TB. I own 2 already from staples for the same price
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post #13698 of 15524
7/10/12 at 4:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbone1026 View Post

Any preference on SSD drives? There were a couple of deals on NewEgg but reading the reviews it seems like more often t hen not the users had problems with

I think that Samsung 830 got good reviews on andtech or toms.
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post #13699 of 15524
7/10/12 at 4:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fastslappy View Post

Costco has those 3TB Go-Flex external drives agin for $129
that's that Seagate 3 TB drive with the single 1TB platters in them ..

Here is the drive that's included inside the enclosure http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148844
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post #13700 of 15524
7/10/12 at 4:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pbmpharmacist View Post

I just bought 2 of the 3 TB WD Green Drives. In fact, they were just delivered today. I am going to use them in an HTPC. Now, I just found out that WD has released "Red" drives for NAS (Review: http://www.storagereview.com/western_digital_red_nas_hard_drive_review_wd30efrx). Should I send back the Green drives and and buy the WD Reds?

I just got mine too. Going to test them but not installing them full time until I build my server. The Red drives seem like a good idea but it's not worth it to me at nearly 30 bucks a piece more than what I got my Green drives for.
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post #13701 of 15524
7/10/12 at 4:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dbone1026 View Post

Any preference on SSD drives? There were a couple of deals on NewEgg but reading the reviews it seems like more often t hen not the users had problems with


I like the SSD's that have the Marvel controller over the Sandforce controller I have Plexor's myself 5 year full replacement warranty
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post #13702 of 15524
7/10/12 at 4:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

I have been working most of this evening with Shark007 to improve my free Shark007 setup guide over at my blog. I hope you enjoy the changes I have made.
http://assassinhtpcblog.com/?page_id=39#guide1

Clean..
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post #13703 of 15524
7/10/12 at 5:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

I have been working most of this evening with Shark007 to improve my free Shark007 setup guide over at my blog. I hope you enjoy the changes I have made.
http://assassinhtpcblog.com/?page_id=39#guide1

Your hyperlink in the guide to enabling subtitle control is broken (in both your free and paid guides) as it refers to your old guide structure rather than the new one.

I also notice under the H264 tab you've changed some of your recommended settings. Previously you recommended FFDshow with multithreading and Do not use MPC-HC codec, however now you recommend the opposite. What is the reason for this change?

Also you don't mention going into the configuration for the LAV codec to enable hardware decoding for Intel QuickSync or NVIDIA CUVID in your guide. I'm not sure whether this step is necessary but I've always done it as I assumed it was required.
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post #13704 of 15524
7/10/12 at 5:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kesawi View Post

Your hyperlink in the guide to enabling subtitle control is broken (in both your free and paid guides) as it refers to your old guide structure rather than the new one.
I also notice under the H264 tab you've changed some of your recommended settings. Previously you recommended FFDshow with multithreading and Do not use MPC-HC codec, however now you recommend the opposite. What is the reason for this change?
Also you don't mention going into the configuration for the LAV codec to enable hardware decoding for Intel QuickSync or NVIDIA CUVID in your guide. I'm not sure whether this step is necessary but I've always done it as I assumed it was required.

Thanks for the heads up on the links. I will look into it.

There have been some changes in LAV since my initial guide that make it a better option now. Shark007 and I have been discussing this most of this week.

CUVID is a part of LAV now. No enabling needed.

From Nev:
Quote:
LAV CUVID is DEAD. All of its functionality has been merged into LAV Video. LAV CUVID will not be developed any further.

Edit: Hyperlinks fixed. Thanks again for the heads up.

Edit2: Here are some pertinent parts of my and Shark007's discussion to try to answer your question...
Quote:
FFDshow for AAC may break Mp4 playback...

....LAV works just fine but using ffdshow is no problem either. LAV audio now downmixes to stereo and supports speaker counts for anolog connections....

.....I have made many changes in my app. With current releases (v370), simply checking the SUGGESTED settings and choosing the audio output on the audio tab is enough to get most files playing with subtitles enabled via directvobsub.....

Shark007 is a hard working man and HTPC is lucky to have him. Show him some love for his work when you can.
Edited by assassin - 7/10/12 at 6:06pm
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post #13705 of 15524
7/10/12 at 6:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

Edit2: Here are some pertinent parts of my and Shark007's discussion to try to answer your question...
Quote:
FFDshow for AAC may break Mp4 playback...
....LAV works just fine but using ffdshow is no problem either. LAV audio now downmixes to stereo and supports speaker counts for anolog connections....
.....I have made many changes in my app. With current releases (v370), simply checking the SUGGESTED settings and choosing the audio output on the audio tab is enough to get most files playing with subtitles enabled via directvobsub.....
Shark007 is a hard working man and HTPC is lucky to have him. Show him some love for his work when you can.
So if I'm running HDMI straight to my TV as I don't have an AVR am I better off turning off bitstreaming or just disabling everything under LAV audio other than AC-3 (my TV won't process DTS)? What about viewing media on my laptop using its speakers?
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post #13706 of 15524
7/10/12 at 6:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kesawi View Post

So if I'm running HDMI straight to my TV as I don't have an AVR am I better off turning off bitstreaming or just disabling everything under LAV audio other than AC-3 (my TV won't process DTS)? What about viewing media on my laptop using its speakers?

Correct. Don't bitstream anything your hardware can't accept and decode.
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post #13707 of 15524
7/10/12 at 7:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

There have been some changes in LAV since my initial guide that make it a better option now. Shark007 and I have been discussing this most of this week.
CUVID is a part of LAV now. No enabling needed.
So if CUVID is part of LAV now wouldn't I need to enable under the hardware accelerator section it in the LAV Video Decoder settings?

600x473px-LL-7c3a9053_Capture5.jpeg
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post #13708 of 15524
7/10/12 at 7:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kesawi View Post

So if CUVID is part of LAV now wouldn't I need to enable under the hardware accelerator section it in the LAV Video Decoder settings?
600x473px-LL-7c3a9053_Capture5.jpeg

Correct. What I meant to say is that there is no such thing as a separate CUVID installation like there used to be as its merged now (as Nev says from that quote I posted from his CUVID thread). I don't use or need hardware decoding so I leave it off by default. But feel free to try it with and without some of the different settings. I leave LAV video set at default.
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post #13709 of 15524
7/10/12 at 7:51pm
Just plugged in both my WD Green 3TB hard drives and both worked fine. The DOA reviews at NewEgg are definitely over hyped.

Assassin, does the parity drive in FlexRaid run all the time or just when it's updating at night?
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post #13710 of 15524
7/10/12 at 8:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

Correct. What I meant to say is that there is no such thing as a separate CUVID installation like there used to be as its merged now (as Nev says from that quote I posted from his CUVID thread).

I read that before, I was wondering when GreenEyez sticky would be updated.
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