Guide to Building a HTPC, Workstation and Server - Page 102

Originally Posted by andy987s

Do you think the audio from ASUS 'HD' onboard audio (ADI AD2000B) is upto scratch for playing music or would your recommend a separate card?

Originally Posted by Sepen

renethx,

I have right now,

Abit IP 35 e
4 gigs of Crucial
GF 8600gts
c2d 6420 Intel
Vista Ult 32 bit SP1

I can play everything fine except 1080p mkv files. 720 play fine but the 1080p are jerky and the audio is off by several seconds. I have searched and tried everything to no avail. Using VMC, ZP, KMP, FFDSHOW etc.

Would going to a c2d 8400 help?

thanks, Sam

Originally Posted by Sepen

Haha, you kidding me, did as you said and it runs the files perfectly. No stuttering and no lip synch issues. So, should I keep it as is or go for the 8400? Thanks a ton!!!!

Originally Posted by audionewer

i want to know if Pheonm 9950 or 9850 and 790gx board good or not.

for deinterlancing and stuff etc.

Originally Posted by sunshine108j

I will like to start by thanking all this forum members in advance. I am home theater enthusiast who wants to get the absolute best picture (blue Ray included) and sound out of my TV and stereo system; price is not a consideration for now so if you could give me the absolute best, I can always scale down as needed.

I will like to be able to hookup an HTPC system that I want to build to my stereo by means of HTMI to HTMI from the HTPC to my preamp Anthem D2 my system as it stands is the following:

Dali speakers
Euphonia MS4, euphonia CS4, euphonia AS2, euphonia phantom
Anthem D2
Cary Audio Model 7.125
Pioneer 50" 1080p Flat Panel Plasma HDTV - PDP5010FD

After considerable times spend reading these site the HTPC system components I am thinking:

Mother board
First choice
ASUS P5Q-EM,
Foxconn A7DA-S 790GX
ASRock 4Core1333-FullHD HTPC
Considerations
GIGABYTE GA-MA790FX-DS5 AMDMSI K9A2 Platinum Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H
ASUS M3N78-EMH HDMI, M3N-H/HDMI, M3N78 PRO, M3N78-EM, M3N-HD/HDMI
AMD 790FX chipset ATX, $212.
MSI K9A2 Platinum AMD 790FX chipset ATX,MSI K9N2 Diamond, MSI P7N Diamon
LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
GA-EP45-DQ6 and GA-EP45-DS5
Processor (CPU)
I really will like someone's opinion on this I do not have any preferenceI will be running Windows Vista 64
Sound cards
Asus Xonar HDAV1.3 and daughter board I want a card that is PAP/PAVP compatible
Graphic Cards
Radeon HD 4870
Fan
CPU FAN: Zalman CNPS9500
Memory
Please recommend I hear Corsair is a plus
Power supply
Enermax MODU82+ 625W (EMD625AWT)
Case
Moneual MonCaso 972
Blue Ray drive
I am thinking of the LG

Concerns and considerations
I want to be able to use one wire that hooks HTMI to HTMI that caries both audio and video at 24p and PAP compatible. Can I wire the audio and video to one HDMI output and want about the HDMI output that is in the mother board I am not sure how it will work or will there be a conflict?
My first choice was the ASUS P5Q-EM, but I notice that it limited room and the audio card and daughter board will take two slots, the graphic card will take another two with no room for extension. If I want to add a storage system there will be no room for a server, or I want to add something else it will not be possible I was considering the Foxconn A7DA-S 790GX as an option but have not heard many reviews on this card. They said that the case could take a full size motherboard.
Any help will be greatly appreciated on any aspect of any part of building this HTPC.

Originally Posted by sunshine108j

I just call ASUS and I do not think I will have problems using ASUS P5Q - EM motherboard and the other thing they share with me is that audio card DX2 is a newer and better card then the Asus Xonar HDAV ? any comments ?
I call the case people and they have not return my call yet, but my gut feeling is that it will be the same size, is there another combo drive that you can recommend? If this is true.

Originally Posted by sunshine108j

Thank you for the feedback, this person sounded like he knew both products well, but I will go with your advice and stick to the original Xonar HDAV1.3 then. Can you give me the best high-end motherboard you can think for my system so many I have looked at I am not sure which way to go.

Originally Posted by SeattleHTGuy

Renethx,

Thanks for your previous response. I am finalizing my Premium system and had a couple last questions. First, I am not a PC guy but have discovered I know more than the custom installers I have used in the past and can crack open a PC so I apologize if my questions seem lame.

1). I am going to populate the CW02 case with 4 Greenpower WD 1 Tb drives and therefore utilize the onboard RAID in RAID 5 for these 4 drives. I may go with more external drives as well. My question then, should I go with your recommended system drive, get two of them and use RAID 0 on the purple Gigabyte eSATA ports or get one Velociraptor 300 instead? This system will be used to stream as much as three HD signals to extenders in the house as well as be the direct connection to my TivotoGo program, and the primary unit in the Theater. I also intend to play some games, after the little dudes are asleep. Finally, it will be used to render home movies and render other material as well. So, it's going to get a pretty constant workout. Knowing this, would you go with two drives, one screaming fast one, or the drive you recommend?

2). Here is my rookie RAID question. Should I put the Blu Ray on a yellow port (not part of the array, of course) or if I get only one drive should I put the Blu Ray on the purple ports? Again, non array. Does it matter? Should I stick the primary drive as well on the yellow port and place it in the lowest number so it boots from there? I also said it is best to flash the ports correctly for RAID at initial install even if you don't actually set up an array. Your opinion? In reading Gigabyte material and blogs my understanding is the purple ports are theoretically better/faster. Is this correct?

3). As it stands, I intend to use Vista Media Center with TMT. From my reading, it appears that only the HDHomerun will work for QAM & Vista Media Center. I get royally confused when I read about the new plug in to allow other tuners to work. I hear that its only for OEM stuff. Do you know if I should go with the HDHomerun or do you recommend another tuner that will then work with the upcoming changes to Vista Media Center and if in fact we little people will be able to get the changed Media Center fix?

I ask this because of all things, I was swinging one of my munchkins at the park on Sunday here in WA and a guy from Boston (of all places) who owns the company that sells OrigenAE equipment (second distributor), was swinging his grandkid and he said he was on his way to CEDIA. He had been assured that multiple tuners were out there that would indeed work with Windows Media Center (latest fix) and that end consumers like me would soon be able to download the Vista Media Center fix. As I researched cases, I had been to his web site and looked at his info. It is a small, small world. Do you have an opinion or advice on the tuner mess? I have room for the HDHomerun unit so it doesn't really matter except it would be nice to get a cleaner setup and one less cable and power.

4). With all six bays filled, should I populate the two 92mm drive fans or leave them empty? If yes, what fans? The system is in a fairly good air flow power ventilated cabinet. The only other quite hot product is my B&K receiver which I intend to place a foot above the PC. The B&K can damn near cook an egg when cranked.

I appreciate any help as I really don't want to spend all this money and have the flipping thing not work with QAM and not be able to handle a lot of activity.

Originally Posted by audionewer

right now i have asus p5q + e8400. does it really matter if i buy 8600gt, 9800gt or 4850 for video card if i have e8400.

on the info that you have, that e8400 + p45 + either 9800gt or 4850 for good for PP and other things.

i want to know if i buy 8600gt instead of either 9800gt or 4850, that is really matter or not.

Originally Posted by audionewer

when is it come out? it looks like i would rather wait.

Originally Posted by Satan.

I've decided to build an HTPC. It'll be Linux/MythTV based. I'm a Mac guy, so introducing Microsoft back to my life is not something I look forward to. I realize this means that I won't be able to take advantage of processor-level decoding, so I believe I've amped up the performance to compensate. I've chosen an Intel system because that's what I have experience with as a system builder (though I haven't build one in several years).

Case: SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum GD01B-MXR -- I chose this case because it has a built-in IR receiver, apparently a rare thing in HTPC cases for some stupid reason? I can't find USB IR receivers on NewEgg, am I doing something wrong?

Power Supply: ORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EG45M-DS2H -- According to the guide here on page 85 of this thread, this should be fine for what I want to do. It lists 24Hz BD playback as not optimal, but I don't have any BD media and if I get into it someday, I'm most likely going to buy a standalone player.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz -- I'm debating dropping this down. Maybe a slower clock on a Quad or even down to a Duo. Am I really going to get that much more performance out of the Quad compared to a Duo in Linux, with MythTV? I'm seeing posts in this thread in favor of a ~3Ghz Duo... would that be better than the Quad I'm considering?

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) -- Good ratings, RAM is cheap.

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD800JD 80GB -- I don't need massive storage, using a Drobo. Thought about a 10k drive but can't justify the cost.

Optical drive: Pioneer DVD burner -- See above note about BD.

Remote: Logitech Harmony 880 -- I have a girlfriend, I have roommates. While we all work for the AV department here on campus, I'm by and far the most advanced of the group. I'll be making a "Mrs. Satan" button so she can just turn everything to where it needs to be.


Thoughts? Comments? I'm looking to trim costs because the addition of the Harmony remote has driven this cost up north of $1000, before shipping.