Assassin's Simple/Beginner HTPC Buying Guide - Page 271

I have the HTPC goes into HDMI1 and PS3 to the HDMI2 on the Pioneer AVR, then HDMI out from AVR to HDMI1 on the TV. So I think the PQ settings on the TV for HDM1 would be the same for both PS3 and HTPC right?

Anyone ever run into an issue where you click on the config tool icon in MB, and it greys out like it's trying to bring the menu up but nothing ever happens? It just hangs there until I move the mouse to the edge and then it'll go to the main screen.

Tried googling to no avail. Using Hydra.

Thanks

I am guessing I should have gotten the 2100t rather than the 2100 with this case as the stock cooler does not fit. I see what you mean about two 2.5in or 1 regular hd not fitting. Are you happy with this case in general? I am debating between getting a low profile cooler or returning the case and getting something with a little more space. I like the looks of it, but not sure about the heat and spacing issues. Do you have a recommendation for a low profile cooler that would work in this case?

For anyone interested in going ITX, the ASUS F1A75-I Deluxe Llano motherboard has finally made an appearance on newegg. Comes fully loaded... even a remote.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131789

I'm putting together a htpc. I've gotten a majority of the parts and only need a few to complete. Below is the list of parts to be used:

Silverstone GD04
Intel i3-2100
Asrock Z68 pro3-M
8gb G skill sniper
Antec Truepower New 550 (I already have this laying around)
WD Caviar Black ITB
SSD - ??? (Not sure if I will get one)
Bluray drive - Not sure if needed. Was thinking of just streaming from main pc
Windows 7 64gb
GTX 460 - Not sure about this. I have one laying around so was think about using it.

I have the following questions.

How does the build look? Are the parts listed ok?
Assassin, I know you've built pcs with both the Gigabyte and Asrock Z68 boards. Is one easier to use than the other?
SSD - How much of a difference does it make in an htpc? I already have the WD black which I will partition if using for OS. What is the approximate difference in startup time when comparing a hard drive to SSD?
Fans - I've seen several reviews mention the fans being loud. I believe these reviews were when the case was first released. Is this still the case? Also, I believe the Asrock has headers for 3 fans. Can I use that to control the fans?
IR Receiver - What IR receivers are ppl using with this case? I would aslo like to power off/on the computer with remote. I believe my motherboard comes with a CIR header as well. Are there any solutions that take advantage of the CIR header?
ODD - I don't think I really need one as I will probably doing mostly streaming. However, I do have a bluray burner (LG WH10LS30 ) that I use in my main pc. I was thinking about using that in the htpc and then upgrading the main pc. If I do go that route, what is the fastest drive for ripping blurays?

Thanks

Assassin,
Thank you again for the awesome guides on your blog. They're extremely detailed, well written, and easily worth the small price.
As you know, due to my personal time constraints, I ended up just ordering a custom system from you. I also figured you could do a neater job on it than me. FedEx says it should be delivered this Friday. Can't wait!

BTW, I've lurked around AVSforums for a few years, but I just finally got around to actually registering... had to say thanks.

Tried the old drivers (helped with my resolution issue) but still no audio devices are being detected. When I double click on the sound options it starts the trouble shooter and from what I can see, it is finding a device but it's not being saved? Or perhaps it's simply just not finding anything.

Assassin, can you open your "Registry log.reg" file using a text editor, and tell me what values you have? Or it'd probably be easier to just screenshot it.
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/765...onfigaudio.png


If Windows can not find the device by itself, I might be able to force feed it the location and fingers crossed, I'd get some audio over HDMI.

Thanks in advance, and if anyone else is willing to help out that would be great. Particularly anyone running the Intel Pentium G620, or maybe any cpu that has the HD Graphics 2000. Thanks so much guys.

Gotta give credit when credit is due

I'm not sure if it was needing the new bios, or if it was just the reset to default settings that did it, but one of the two worked and they were both bios related so thanks Assassin!

PS - I have sound, now I just have to confirm whether I can/how to bitstream the good stuff. But no need for input just yet on that, I'll see what I got.

What's the difference between this recommended board GIGABYTE GA-Z68MX-D2H-B3 and and this one GIGABYTE GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3? What doe the UD2H mean? Worth paying extra for? The specs on both look the same to me. Both boxes say ultra durable so I don't think it is that. thanks,

Not to echo everyone else, but wow, thanks for this thread assassin! Your paid guides are also top notch! They inspired me to man-up and finally do this!

Anyway, I've got a build I'm going to order tomorrow, and got a few questions. I'm doing the standard, easy to use HTPC with Blu-Ray ripping, 1080p out, I'd like to have overhead for 3D just in case. I will eventually be getting a HDHRP on my network in the next month, but have not ruled out the Ceton card either.

-I3-2100
-Intel X25-M 80GB (re-use)
-Samsung Spinpoint F4EG 2 TB SATA2 5400rpm 32 MB Hard Drive HD204UI
-G.Skill 2x2GB DDR3 1600 "Standard" (I know the MB won't use the 1600, price was negligible)
-Lite-On Bluray/DVD/CD Burner (12x), IHBS112-29
**Undecided:
-ASRock H67M-ITX LGA or ASRock Z68M-ITX/HT?
-SilverStone GD04B vs. APEX MI-008 (see below)
-PS?
-Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard

Questions:
1. SilverStone GD04B vs. APEX MI-008: I think the APEX looks cool, and I'm not afraid to frankenstein a bit, but... Judging by cost and reputation the Silverstone is better? Is the Apex too 'toy-ish'? It's really hard to tell just by pics, so first-hand recommendations are appreciated. This will be in my living-room, and looks are important! Also, I would have to get a PS either way...
2. If I got the Apex, is there a good, small power supply that is recommended? I am fine spending $$ on a GOOD PS. Would the Silverstone just fit any ATX PS?
3. If I went with the Apex case, would the "SilverStone Low Profile 90mm" be more quiet/work better?
4. "ASRock H67M-ITX LGA or ASRock Z68M-ITX/HT" Is the only difference the Z68? The only thing that would bring me is 1600 RAM?

THANKS!

Edit:
1/2. Got the Apex, and used the included PSU. Love it.
3. Got he Low Profile Cooler, glad I did. Not much room left in there.
4. Got the ASRock Z68M-ITX/HT. I'd rather buy newer tech as I don't upgrade too often.

1. The Apex is quite a bit smaller, and takes a mini board. The Silverstone takes a micro board. I haven't used the Silverstone, but the Apex is a pretty nice case. Nice steel, and I don't have any sharp points in mine. It looks nice in my media cabinet.

2. You don't need a PSU with the Apex. It comes with one. It may not be the greatest, but it works fine. With a build similar to your plan, I get 28 watts at idle, and 35 watts with 1080p playback, so even if it's not the MOST efficient psu, you won't save much with better efficiency. The inclusion of the psu makes the Apex a bargain, in my opinion.

3. Assassin has squeezed the stock cooler from the 2100 into the Apex, but it's a super tight fit. I used the 2100t, which comes with a shorter cooler. Or you could get the 2100 and a low profile cooler.

Dear Assassin:

I found the root of my problem in not being able to play standard DVD rips (VOB files) from Media Browser (or even from within WMC). The problem is not in the container or the programs trying to access the VOBs, the problem resides in the i3 graphics driver update. Do not use the most current i3 graphics driver build. Use the build that you recommend for people that experience BSOD with the newest build. This may be worthwhile to add to your guide, as it took me hours to figure this problem out.

On another note: I read the sticky in the HTPC forum about upscaling your DVD movies to 1080p using ffdshow located here. Is this something that can be followed without any ill-effect on your guided setup (particularly the codecs, decoders, etc?).

Assassin,
Just want to say that anybody looking for a problem free HTPC build should consider Assasin's paid guides at his blog. Excellent and best $20 dollars spent toward building my HTPC. I am ready to pull the trigger on a build that will be able to game at highest settings when complete. In order to minimize up front costs I am building it to be an HTPC first then adding the parts for tv tuner and video card(s) later. Here is the first phase:

Processor Intel Core i5-2500K
Motherboard ATX ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3
or
Motherboard ATX GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 z68
Memory G.Skill 2x4GB DDR3 1600 "Ripjaws"
HDD WD Green WD20EARS 2TB Drive
Optical Drive LiteOn iHBS212
Case SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum LC13B-E
Power Supply SeaSonic S12II 620 Bronze
Keyboard & Mouse Rii Touch N7
Windows Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM

Optional parts to be added later are:
Video Card MSI R6870 HAWK (eventually adding a second card for crossfire)
TV Tuner Ceton InfiniTV 4 Quad-tuner Card
SSD Crucial M4 64GB SATAIII (switch to system drive)
Second HDD WD Green WD20EARS 2TB Drive

My first question is which board do you recommend out of the two seeing as it will be for an eventual crossfire setup? Second question is the selected PSU enough for the final build?

As always thanks

MavLink ~ Congrats on Post #1! Welcome!

I'm so jealous.
Just received my projector & hoping to order my HTPC from Assassin next week.

I RMA'd the MOBO and got the new one today. I plugged in my RAM, CPU/FAN, PSU. I connected my monitor through VGA. Powered it on with fingers crossed and still nothing. The PSU and CPU fans are still turning on, but nothing with the monitor. Do I need to have a hard drive connected?

Assuming I don't have another bad MOBO, what else could be the problem? The CPU? How can I test the CPU?

That's definitely a symptom of a bad CPU. Did you check the CPU to make sure none of the pins are bent?

Thanks. I'll be sure to post some pics when my Assassin HTPC gets here. Of course, I'll have to play around with it first. It's a custom job. I had a specific case I wanted and also an LCD display. Ben told me he didn't get a chance to take any pics as he barely had time left to get it to the FedEx guy after all the final checks.

Wasn't totally sold on the SSD yet. Since this will be always on, I'm not really worried about start-up times. Self-install multi-stream CableCard from Cox arrives in mail tomorrow. When the HTPC gets here, I should be fully prepared. Cox DVR gets shipped back next week, and the Roku goes in storage. I'll miss my little Roku, but I have to integrate everything all-in-one for the WAF. She gets really confused over multiple remotes, universal remotes, and switching inputs. She could handle Netflix and Hulu+ on the Roku, so I think she'll be fine with this.
I'm super excited!

Here's what I ordered from AssassinHTPC:

• Intel i5 2500k
• Rosewill R101-P-BK Case with Built-in 1x 120mm Rear Exhaust Fan and 1x 120mm Front Intake Fan
• nMEDIAPC Black Aluminum Panel PRO-LCD-B Media Center Programmable LCD (blue display)
• 2 TB 5400 RPM Hard Drive
• 4 GB DDR3 RAM
• BluRay Player/CD/DVD Burner Combo Drive
• 3D Ready
• HDMI, DVI, VGA Video
• Digital optical and analog audio
• USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports
• eSATA
• Gigabit LAN
• SATA3 and SATA2 connections
• AHCI enabled
• Good quality, efficient, quiet, power supply (He said he used a 300W Seasonic bronze rated power supply.)
• Windows 7
• ASSASSIN HTPC "Ready To Go" Complete Set Up
• Limited 1 year Parts & Labor Warranty

Here's what I bought separately from Amazon and already received:

• "Ceton InfiniTV 4 Digital Cable Quad-tuner Card" - $299.00
• "Noah Company MediaGate GP-IR02BK Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate MCE Remote Control, 2 Channel IR (Black)" - $27.97
• "Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard (Built-in TouchPad/Laser Pointer) - Black" - $31.32 (Got the regular RF version, not BT. This thing works really well.)

From my local Fry's Electronics:

• Logitech Harmony 650

I checked both the CPU and the CPU nest on the MOBO. Nothing seems to be out of place. There are no reviews on newegg for a DOA CPU for either the 620T or the 620. What are the odds the problem is the CPU vs. the MOBO?

I just really don't want to keep sending parts back to newegg. Shipping is starting to kill the price of this htpc.

Assassin,

I used your guild a few months ago to build my HTPC. At the time i bought 2 2TB HDs for my storage. I installed the OS on one of them (didnt partition). I have used both for storage and both are about half full at the moment. My question is. If i were to buy a 64GB SSD to use as my OS to get faster media brower performance and performance in general. What is the best way to go about this?

My initial thought was to transfer the media that is on the HD with the OS at the moment to the other storage drive and than format the drive with the OS. Take them both out. Install SSD and install windows/drivers etc. Then insert both 2 TB HDs again and movie the media back as needed.

Is that the best and/or only way?

Thanks