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Help! Need Suggestions for New HTPC - Page 2

post #31 of 50
12/11/12 at 1:30pm
Thread Starter 
Here's the build I'm thinking:

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Multi-Touch-920-003070/dp/B005DKZTMG/ $32
http://www.amazon.com/SilverStone-Aluminum-Steel-Center-ML03B/dp/B004GGUAUE/ $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162032 $21
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128548 $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=20-231-421 $18
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-151-086 $46
http://www.microcenter.com/product/398114/Pentium_G645_29GHz_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor $50
http://www.microcenter.com/product/378086/830_Series_MZ-7PC064D-AM_64GB_SATA_60Gb-s_25_Internal_Solid_State_Drive_(SSD)_Desktop_Kit_with_3-core_MCX_Controller $60

Let me know if there's something that doesnt make sense or a better choice. Also, I found a 1TB hd I'm going to include so I won't have to buy one.
Edited by warscout11 - 12/11/12 at 1:36pm
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post #32 of 50
12/11/12 at 1:36pm
For the price of that motherboard and ram you can get a better motherboard and ram.
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post #33 of 50
12/11/12 at 1:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mfusick View Post

For the price of that motherboard and ram you can get a better motherboard and ram.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157294

$129 for Asrock Extreme 4 Z77 + Gskill 8GB DDR
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post #34 of 50
12/11/12 at 1:40pm
8GB = $35 and the board = $95.
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post #35 of 50
12/11/12 at 4:31pm
Thread Starter 
Hey, ya I saw that one, I saw a lot of bad reviews and I usually stick to either asus or gigabyte for motherboards just from my experiences in the past. It was hard finding a 1155 micro atx motherboard with decent reviews actually.
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post #36 of 50
12/11/12 at 4:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by warscout11 View Post

Thanks so much for your builds! After reading this:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=146023
I'm gonna go with the amd build,

If you are going to run XMBC, Intel is not a good choice.

- You will disable DXVA2 with Intel, that means you use only CPU/software for video playback, Intel GPU hardware (many excellent ASICs in the die) will be unused (what a waste!).
- You can use DXVA2 as well as software solution with AMD.

That's why AMD Llano / Trinity is so popular in XBMC Forum.
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post #37 of 50
12/11/12 at 4:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiddles88 View Post

I'd take Intel. Cooler and faster. This reviews shows the i3 murdering the 5800K (other do too), even in a HTPC you don't want to sacrifice CPU grunt:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/A10-5800K-vs-Core-i3-3220-CPU-Review/1646/19

Anything to do with video playback?

The main task of a HTPC is video playback (in general), for which AMD Trinity / Llano is a lot better in many respects.
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post #38 of 50
12/11/12 at 4:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by renethx View Post

Anything to do with video playback?
The main task of a HTPC is video playback, for which AMD Trinity / Llano is a lot better in many respects.

And? There is no reason to knowingly buy a slower CPU just because it excels GPU-wise. Even for an HTPC, I'd always take Intel first.
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post #39 of 50
12/11/12 at 4:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by renethx View Post

If you are going to run XMBC, Intel is not a good choice.
- You will disable DXVA2 with Intel, that means you use only CPU/software for video playback, Intel GPU hardware (many excellent ASICs in the die) will be unused (what a waste!).
- You can use DXVA2 as well as software solution with AMD.
That's why AMD Llano / Trinity is so popular in XBMC Forum.

I can see what you're saying as far as dxva2 being unused with intel, but will that actually affect video playback? The gpu is unused, but since the intel can handle the software decoding anyway, is there a really a downside? I'm not sure, which is why I'm asking.
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post #40 of 50
12/11/12 at 4:43pm
No pissing contest guys. Both are good. I don't think it matters much for the OP.

AMD is better at the GPU stuff and Intel is better at the CPU stuff. It's that simple. Both are enough for his intended purpose on both counts.
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post #41 of 50
12/11/12 at 4:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by warscout11 View Post

I can see what you're saying as far as dxva2 being unused with intel, but will that actually affect video playback? The gpu is unused, but since the intel can handle the software decoding anyway, is there a really a downside? I'm not sure, which is why I'm asking.

Well in simple speak I can try to answer you question so it makes sense. Can you run XBMC and play movies perfectly on an Intel based system? Answer = YES.
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post #42 of 50
12/11/12 at 4:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiddles88 View Post

And? There is no reason to knowingly buy a slower CPU just because it excels GPU-wise. Even for an HTPC, I'd always take Intel first.

Well, there is no reason to buy a slower GPU just because CPU is better. GPU is everything in video playback, the main task of HTPC.

- Decoding is done by a decoder in GPU: UVD (AMD) / MFX (Intel)
- Deinterlacing is done by stream processors in GPU (AMD) / Media Sampler+EUs (Intel)
- Post processing is done by stream processors in GPU (AMD) / Media Pixel Ops+EUs (Intel)
- madVR (if you are interested) uses stream processors (AMD) / EUs (Intel) exclusively via Diret3D API for its complex algorithms.

So CPU plays very little role in video playback.

SVP (Smooth Video Project) is an exception, that requires both CPU and GPU power (via OpenCL). A10 is just excellent in this case (good balance between CPU and GPU, and good CPU-GPU communication via improved memory controller). None of Intel can touch Trinity.

BTW a typical CPU-intensive task related to HTPC is video encoding. In x264 encoding, A10-5800K is roughly 20% faster than Core i3.
Edited by renethx - 12/12/12 at 6:13pm
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post #43 of 50
12/11/12 at 4:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by warscout11 View Post

I can see what you're saying as far as dxva2 being unused with intel, but will that actually affect video playback? The gpu is unused, but since the intel can handle the software decoding anyway, is there a really a downside? I'm not sure, which is why I'm asking.

Well, software solution is not that bad, but generally you'd better use DXVA2 / GPU hardware for better picture quality (deinterlacing by software sucks in my eyes) and for lower power consumption (not that big, but I still see 5-10W difference between DXVA2 decoding and software decoding with Intel SNB / IVB).
Edited by renethx - 12/13/12 at 6:03am
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post #44 of 50
12/13/12 at 5:31am
Renethx,

In your opinion with a $5000 budget (high end) what's the best PQ and performance hardware choice ?
CPU + video card ? Which ?

And what software ?
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post #45 of 50
12/16/12 at 7:11pm
Is this a facetious question, or are you serious? I could help you spend a good portion of that $5000 to get you the best video and audio experience possible with a HTPC. Think high-end SVP and UltimateEQ.
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post #46 of 50
12/17/12 at 2:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Heuer View Post

Hey - I'm a "Dad" so please don't assume anyone over the age of 13 can't understand this stuff!

Well, I'm a granddad trying to keep up, too. Hope I can join this conversation...

I'm planning to build an HTPC for the main purpose of playing movies (also 3D) from my HDD. I won't go for compromises but just want top-of-the-line in the first place. Got a nice (hand-me-down) SilverStone case, power, BluRay, SSD and lots of HDD storage but need some recommendations:

- ATX motherboard w/USB 3
- decent processor plus a flat cooler
- video card

Anybody care to pitch in?

Thanks

makarios
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post #47 of 50
12/17/12 at 3:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Puwaha View Post

Is this a facetious question, or are you serious? I could help you spend a good portion of that $5000 to get you the best video and audio experience possible with a HTPC. Think high-end SVP and UltimateEQ.

I'd like to hear UltimateEQ part (just to broaden my knowledge). smile.gif
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post #48 of 50
12/17/12 at 5:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Puwaha View Post

Is this a facetious question, or are you serious? I could help you spend a good portion of that $5000 to get you the best video and audio experience possible with a HTPC. Think high-end SVP and UltimateEQ.

I am just trying to calibrate my potential compass.
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post #49 of 50
12/17/12 at 10:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by renethx View Post

I'd like to hear UltimateEQ part (just to broaden my knowledge). smile.gif

Ultimate Equalizer can perform serious room correction and equalization for a typical 5.1 on up to 12-16 channels of audio. It requires a 2.7GHz processor but the recommended setup is using an i7 CPU and above for advanced setups. The recommended sound cards are Delta 1010LT ones that are about $170 a piece.

Since I would be pairing this theoretical $5000 PC with SVP I would probably suggest a SB-E CPU and high-end GPU to cover the overhead of both applications.

A person willing to spend thousands of dollars on high-end audio hardware would want this ability to have control over the audio outPut of a HTPC.
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post #50 of 50
12/21/12 at 6:13am
Wouldn't it be better calibrate audio on the audio level like on your receiver ?

Then just calibrate the HTPC to match that ?

My receiver has room correction.
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