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Assassin's Simple/Beginner HTPC Buying Guide - Page 299

post #8941 of 15486
12/9/11 at 10:58pm
Woah assassian, are you converting to the darkside a la XBMC? Just saw it on your blog...

Check out plex too!
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post #8942 of 15486
12/9/11 at 11:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by werd View Post

Woah assassian, are you converting to the darkside a la XBMC? Just saw it on your blog...

Check out plex too!

I have never had a problem with xbmc. I think its a great albeit slightly different piece of software.

Yes, the guides are coming soon.
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post #8943 of 15486
12/9/11 at 11:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

I have never had a problem with xbmc. I think its a great albeit slightly different piece of software.

Yes, the guides are coming soon.

I know, just giving you a hard time... I like plex though since it is enabled in WMC.
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post #8944 of 15486
12/10/11 at 3:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pman555 View Post

Is anyone available to help me troubleshoot LAN problems?

It seems like my computer isnt recognizing the fact that a LAN cable is plugged into my computer.

Its plugged in directly from my Fios router.

EDIT: I'm going to try downloading the latest mobo drivers from their website from my macbook and install them via usb stick.

EDIT2: I'm an idiot. I forgot to scroll down Assassin's guide to the part where it says "install the LAN driver." Whoops...well at least I can say I figured out the problem on my own, right? Interweb is working just fine now. Downloading and installing 73 windows updates.

Happened to me last week when I was building my HTPC... don't feel too bad
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post #8945 of 15486
12/10/11 at 6:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobber8742 View Post

Having more problems. I can't get the .iso files to play. I only made couple .isos. I set it up using VirtualClone using the guide. I'm getting an error that says "Files needed to display video are not installed or are not working correctly. Restart Windows Media Player or restart the computer." The files will play fine in Windows Media Player however. Not sure what's causing the error in WMC.

Are you launching from Media Browser? If so, you need to set up an external player to launch when a blu-ray iso is mounted. The option is in the advanced media browser settings. WMP cannot play mounted blu-ray images... you must use a player like TMT5 or PowerDVD just like with a disc.
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post #8946 of 15486
12/10/11 at 8:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwpritchett View Post

Are you launching from Media Browser? If so, you need to set up an external player to launch when a blu-ray iso is mounted. The option is in the advanced media browser settings. WMP cannot play mounted blu-ray images... you must use a player like TMT5 or PowerDVD just like with a disc.

Sorry for not being specfic, these are DVD .isos not Blu-Ray.
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post #8947 of 15486
12/10/11 at 8:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by harrydetroit View Post

I'm looking for some guidance for building my first HTPC. I've been doing a lot of reading up both here and else where and it is a bit daunting.

I think that I have two limiting factors. The first is price-wise I'd like to keep it $300 or less, though obviously I could deal with it being a little bit over if need be. The other factor is that it is a must that the HTPC be able to smoothly play live and recorded hd tv with my HD Homerun tuner, preferably using windows media center.

I also think that for now I will not need a dvd drive, as I don't plan on using it for DVDs really anyway, and I do have an external dvd driver that I can use for installing things off disc and all that. So I think I can save a little there.

I see a lot of great options in Assassin's guide, but as I look for the best options cost-wise, I start to worry whether or not it will have enough juice to fit my needs with the live tv and also for streaming online.

If anyone could offer some suggestions or point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it. It is pretty exciting to be building my own htpc but I just don't know what direction to go in.

Judging by my question above, does the following build seem like it will work?


Intel Pentium G840 Dual Core 2.8 GHz

ASRock LGA1155/ Intel Z68/ DDR3/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&V&GbE/ MATX Motherboard, Z68 PRO3-M

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM

Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Green SATA II 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive WD10EARS

MI-008 Tower Black P4 Chassis with 250W Itx Psu+sata Power Supply


I really appreciate any help. Thanks!
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post #8948 of 15486
12/10/11 at 9:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by werd View Post

I know, just giving you a hard time... I like plex though since it is enabled in WMC.

First part of the XBMC guides are up. These are going to take me a while to meet my high standards of what I think are excellent guides so please be patient.
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post #8949 of 15486
12/10/11 at 9:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobber8742 View Post

Sorry for not being specfic, these are DVD .isos not Blu-Ray.

Hmmmm... DVD iso's should play natively in WMP if mounted properly. My best guess with the error you're getting is that you've got a codec problem. Before diving into that, do your discs play without issue?
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post #8950 of 15486
12/10/11 at 10:42am
Ok, Im getting there since my funds are lower than normal with the wife going to town for XMAS. . Assassin here is what I have so far for a pure HTPC rig:
i3-2100 Sandy Bridge - got this for 124.99 from NewEgg but they gave me a $25 gift card (a little complaining issue ) so that ended at $99.99 freeship
8G G Skill RipJaws - got that on a day new egg had this for $29.99
A mid tower (older Antec as it was lying around from an old gaming rig I had built in 2000 and it looks like the 300) and space is no issue .Fans are the coolermaster sickleflow and the are dead quiet.
For Mobo, I went with ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155
for $124.99 and freeship. With shipping almost the price of the Gigabyte microATX that you recommend.
Antec Earthwatts 380 Bronze. &44.99 free ship (Very quiet) - Also if anyone is looking for an OCZ 600W (kinda loud for an in room setup), hit me up.
For storage, I have a 1 TB drive to start with so I will just keep looking for deals as they come along for others.
OS - I already have a Win7 64bit prof ready to move off this "older" computer so I am good there. (zero cost)
Yet to order final piece:
An SSD - gonna order the crucial 64, just holding out to see if I can get anything else without a rebate that would be good. No OCZ though.

My theater is 120" projection and I have been testing your guides and setup on a i5 laptop and it looks sweet.

Cant wait to build my "own" netflix library (my primary reason for HTPC) and all the other "stuff" that it can do.

Thanks man for the great guides!

Joe
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post #8951 of 15486
12/10/11 at 2:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

First part of the XBMC guides are up. These are going to take me a while to meet my high standards of what I think are excellent guides so please be patient.

yessss still very great job

i really like XBMC for ability to play everything but the only thing i hate is how its hard to set a multiple folder to one shortcut in the home screen

ex: in my mediabrowser, i have multiple choice like, action, cartoon, thriller, comedy and more

and for each im able to link more than one folder

ex: for action , i have E:\\DVD\\Action, F:\\BlueRay\\Action, G:\\3D-BD\\Action and H:\\RipMovies\\Action

i know its possible to do that in XBMC but its not simple as Media Browser, and i never found a clear guide to doing that correctly

i hope you will have a guide for that with AEON Skin or any other great Skin

i really like having a home screen choice fo action and others

thanks again for your great job
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post #8952 of 15486
12/10/11 at 4:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwpritchett View Post

Hmmmm... DVD iso's should play natively in WMP if mounted properly. My best guess with the error you're getting is that you've got a codec problem. Before diving into that, do your discs play without issue?

I'll have to try. I should mention that the isos will play in Windows Media Player just fine. Media Browser and Windows Media Center are both giving me errors.
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post #8953 of 15486
12/10/11 at 6:38pm
I'm just about finished configuring everything after buying the guids about 3 months ago and now they are changing to XBMC rather than MediaBrowser? I'm confused. I went to read the http://assassinhtpcblog.com/ but it appears down. I just spent $14 on pearl and coverart.

Edit: Sites back up, not seeing a mention of XBMC on the main page though.
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post #8954 of 15486
12/10/11 at 6:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by snef View Post

yessss still very great job

i really like XBMC for ability to play everything but the only thing i hate is how its hard to set a multiple folder to one shortcut in the home screen

ex: in my mediabrowser, i have multiple choice like, action, cartoon, thriller, comedy and more

and for each im able to link more than one folder

ex: for action , i have E:\\DVD\\Action, F:\\BlueRay\\Action, G:\\3D-BD\\Action and H:\\RipMovies\\Action

i know its possible to do that in XBMC but its not simple as Media Browser, and i never found a clear guide to doing that correctly

i hope you will have a guide for that with AEON Skin or any other great Skin

i really like having a home screen choice fo action and others

thanks again for your great job

This is very simple to do in medibrowser as well. You can have multiple folders as part of a collection. I do the exact same thing as well. You can follow this or follow the setup using the guides provided by the man himself assassin.
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post #8955 of 15486
12/10/11 at 6:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by roar View Post

I'm just about finished configuring everything after buying the guids about 3 months ago and now they are changing to XBMC rather than MediaBrowser? I'm confused. I went to read the http://assassinhtpcblog.com/ but it appears down. I just spent $14 on pearl and coverart.

Edit: Sites back up, not seeing a mention of XBMC on the main page though.

guide 9. At least when i looked earlier.
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post #8956 of 15486
12/10/11 at 7:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by roar View Post

I'm just about finished configuring everything after buying the guids about 3 months ago and now they are changing to XBMC rather than MediaBrowser? I'm confused. I went to read the http://assassinhtpcblog.com/ but it appears down. I just spent $14 on pearl and coverart.

Edit: Sites back up, not seeing a mention of XBMC on the main page though.

Nothing is going away.

I am including both.

Bonus.
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post #8957 of 15486
12/10/11 at 8:06pm
can i use anydvd hd or makemkv with this drive: SAMSUNG SH-B123L/RSBP ? i really want to get it, it's cheap right now
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post #8958 of 15486
12/10/11 at 9:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by packetlosss View Post

Thanks. Yeah I had installed the latest 64 bit version off their website. I haven't tried the LAN ultrafast utility yet. Been trying to keep things simple till everything is stable. The problem seems to have gone away now so hopefully it's resolved.

Btw, are you running on the 1.60 Bios? UEFI install?

I'll have to verify the BIOS version. If it was available in late August I am running it. I also know the LAN and Video are current (last month or so)

I also consider this board hobbled as Newegg sent it back from a return saying I bent the pins, but the problem I was having isn't present on this board .Go figure. Also running the G630 processor. It's been steady as a rock (pun intended) so just left it alone.

That's why I was surprised about your comment on the lan. I did a circa 100 gig movies folder in under an hour. Walked away while it churned and was surprised to find the process complete with no problems when I came back.
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post #8959 of 15486
12/11/11 at 8:05am
If I wanted to included a N64 emulator, how would I label that under Gamebrowser?
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post #8960 of 15486
12/11/11 at 8:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by harrydetroit View Post

Judging by my question above, does the following build seem like it will work?


Intel Pentium G840 Dual Core 2.8 GHz

ASRock LGA1155/ Intel Z68/ DDR3/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&V&GbE/ MATX Motherboard, Z68 PRO3-M

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM

Western Digital 1 TB Caviar Green SATA II 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive WD10EARS

MI-008 Tower Black P4 Chassis with 250W Itx Psu+sata Power Supply


I really appreciate any help. Thanks!

The ram is too tall for use in that case assuming that you are installing the hard drive in the 2.5" bay. I recommend regular or "naked" ram without the talk heatsinks in that case.
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post #8961 of 15486
12/11/11 at 8:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by joedeman1969 View Post

Ok, Im getting there since my funds are lower than normal with the wife going to town for XMAS. . Assassin here is what I have so far for a pure HTPC rig:
i3-2100 Sandy Bridge - got this for 124.99 from NewEgg but they gave me a $25 gift card (a little complaining issue ) so that ended at $99.99 freeship
8G G Skill RipJaws - got that on a day new egg had this for $29.99
A mid tower (older Antec as it was lying around from an old gaming rig I had built in 2000 and it looks like the 300) and space is no issue .Fans are the coolermaster sickleflow and the are dead quiet.
For Mobo, I went with ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 LGA 1155
for $124.99 and freeship. With shipping almost the price of the Gigabyte microATX that you recommend.
Antec Earthwatts 380 Bronze. &44.99 free ship (Very quiet) - Also if anyone is looking for an OCZ 600W (kinda loud for an in room setup), hit me up.
For storage, I have a 1 TB drive to start with so I will just keep looking for deals as they come along for others.
OS - I already have a Win7 64bit prof ready to move off this "older" computer so I am good there. (zero cost)
Yet to order final piece:
An SSD - gonna order the crucial 64, just holding out to see if I can get anything else without a rebate that would be good. No OCZ though.

My theater is 120" projection and I have been testing your guides and setup on a i5 laptop and it looks sweet.

Cant wait to build my "own" netflix library (my primary reason for HTPC) and all the other "stuff" that it can do.

Thanks man for the great guides!

Joe

You are welcome! Thanks for using them! Make sure to post again once everything is setup.
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post #8962 of 15486
12/11/11 at 8:57am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by lwong180 View Post

can i use anydvd hd or makemkv with this drive: SAMSUNG SH-B123L/RSBP ? i really want to get it, it's cheap right now

I would think it would work fine with anydvd. I haven't tried that drive in a while.
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post #8963 of 15486
12/11/11 at 9:00am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ashmanarion View Post

If I wanted to included a N64 emulator, how would I label that under Gamebrowser?

I am traveling so I will have to check on this later for you once I have better internet access.

Btw I was able to put up a few more xbmc guides. They are a work in progress but should be very thorough and nice once completed.
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post #8964 of 15486
12/11/11 at 9:23am
So, my HTPC is hooked up, software installed and seems to be running great!
Pictures to come soon, once I get the disc drive cover on and the top case cover on.

However, I'm not loving the remote I bought.
I got this guy on Newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16880101008

The first thing I noticed was that when I press the green WMC button, it turns my xbox on! I guess I could avoid pressing this button, but it would be nice to be able to open WMC with a press of a remote button. Has anyone else run into this problem? I cant imagine I'm the only one!

Second, I have to point the remote directly at the receiver. It would be nice not to have to point DIRECTLY at the receiver if you're laying on the couch watching a movie.

Third, the receiver, sticking out of the front of my HTPC, is a bit distracting from the overall gorgeousness of my silverstone case! I'd prefer a receiver that can be plugged into a rear USB plug and still be able to receive the remote triggers.

Does anyone have any suggestions of another HTPC remote I could try that would alleviate these problems?
Thanks!
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post #8965 of 15486
12/11/11 at 9:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by pman555 View Post

The first thing I noticed was that when I press the green WMC button, it turns my xbox on! I guess I could avoid pressing this button, but it would be nice to be able to open WMC with a press of a remote button. Has anyone else run into this problem?

On your XBox, go into system settings, and at the bottom of the list you'll find an option to configure the remote control. Select the XBox 360 Remote Only option. That should stop it from turning on with an MCE remote.
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post #8966 of 15486
12/11/11 at 9:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwpritchett View Post

On your XBox, go into system settings, and at the bottom of the list you'll find an option to configure the remote control. Select the XBox 360 Remote Only option. That should stop it from turning on with an MCE remote.

That should solve one of the quirks. Thanks!
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post #8967 of 15486
12/11/11 at 11:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

First part of the XBMC guides are up. These are going to take me a while to meet my high standards of what I think are excellent guides so please be patient.

Hey - thanks for the guide the more the merrier in my eyes... For some reason using chrome when I click paid guide 9 i get "The Server assassinhtpcblog.com:21 requires a username and password"

Obviously I'm already logged in as I can access all the other guides. Any idea?

Thanks
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post #8968 of 15486
12/11/11 at 11:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mariob33 View Post

This is very simple to do in medibrowser as well. You can have multiple folders as part of a collection. I do the exact same thing as well. You can follow this or follow the setup using the guides provided by the man himself assassin.

i use MediaBrowser with this type of setup

im sure Assassin will do a guide to do that in XBMC
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post #8969 of 15486
12/11/11 at 12:49pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by werd View Post

Hey - thanks for the guide the more the merrier in my eyes... For some reason using chrome when I click paid guide 9 i get "The Server assassinhtpcblog.com:21 requires a username and password"

Obviously I'm already logged in as I can access all the other guides. Any idea?

Thanks

I have made some changes and reformatted some things. I hope the new guide is a little smoother now. Let me know.
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post #8970 of 15486
12/11/11 at 1:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by assassin View Post

I have made some changes and reformatted some things. I hope the new guide is a little smoother now. Let me know.

So in chrome I still get that same login request(only on paid guide9). In IE I don't get the error but the pictures are red x's...Maybe it is something on my end? I'm unsure. Hope this helps.... I can take screenshots if you need more information.
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