Guide to Building a HTPC, Workstation and Server - Page 111

I dont know, it cant be randomly, since the boot disk disappears every single time. Might it be because that one is the only IDE disk i have? But the thing you can do is to disable all of the 12 devices except the first one, where you put the OS disk. So it bascially says, 'boot with this one, of dont boot at all'

So before i can figure that problem out i need to buy a HTPC (since im buying the new server OS hdd from the same company as some of the parts, less shipping).

I was wondering if there's any replacement cases for the Silverstone Crown one. I have to pay $800 for it :s Any cheaper ones that will still fit the whole build?

i have an onkyo 606 and will give preliminary results monday ninght (hopefully). Using 4670 and 9150e.

Is it this one: SilverStone LASCALA LC17 - Desktop - ATX ?

Im guessing that the CPU Cooler won't fit in there?

I'll see how it goes, im gonna try to get it cheaper somewhere else, but it's quite expensive to ship it overseas. And no one sells the black one here.

Renethx, I know multiple graphics cards can be combined to drive a big monitor, especially for gaming. But is is possible to add multiple cards to support multiple independent 1080p video + 7.1 audio streams for a movie server? If so, do you have a recommendation for good cards that can do this... and any configuration issues that should be addressed? (Mobo, chipset, CPU, etc.) Could 3 or 4 cards be used in the same system? Gaming is not important, and assume this is your current mid/high-end ATX system.

Thanks again!

Boy, that comparison makes me wish I stuck with the original Q6600 in my plan! Thanks for that, though. I feel better going to the E5200 now.

Try dropping your resolution as mentioned, but I highly doubt it's the cable. Find another one (borrow from another computer nearby?) and make sure that's not the issue.

do you mean : drivers (audio, tuners and video)?

i need it for HD movies only.

Then you may want to ask your questions in a thread that addresses your issues rather than this thread which is not focused on your approach. Here is the thread that appears appropriate...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=719041

Thanks, but this surprises me. Is this because the interface for audio between the MoBo and the video card is an actual cable instead of a RAM buffer? If the interface were a DMA buffer, you could just assign different addresses to different cards, (for both audio and video), and each card would just handle its own bits and output them to its own connectors. In the case of bitstream digital audio, this would not require much work... since a receiver downstream will do the actual decoding. (The CPU/MoBo would be responsible for shuttling bits from the disk drive to the buffers to keep the cards fed.)

I know there are multi-channel audio cards (M-audio 1010lt for one) that must work something like this... so it doesn't seem hopeless to think that someone will support multiple HD video streams on a single PC in the future. (Or maybe I'm way off base?)

I guess Kaleidescape and these other high end media servers that talk about multiple video streams (or zones) are really just talking about interleaved file I/O over ethernet that still has to be decoded by a PC (player in their terms) downstream at each TV site. (Nice way to sell a lot of hardware I guess.)

Quick question renethx!

Is it worth buying Radeon 4870 x2 instead of the ordinary one? money vs preformance wise. And will the HX620W be enough power to run it?

- HD 4870 X2: 8pin+6pin
- HX620W: 8pin+8pin

Im guessing there's enough connectors?

Thanks

Ok, thx. I think i'll go with the x2 one then. How much stuff can i put in there in addition to what's in your build before i need more power?

Renethx,
Based on your suggestion for mid-range Intel HTPC and parts I can gather/buy, I am planning my 2nd HTPC with BD playback capability:

• CPU: Core 2 Duo E5200 (already bought)
• CPU Cooler: stock (included in box).
• Motherboard: ASUS P5Q-EM Intel G45 chipset microATX (to be bought)
• Memory: Crucial DDR2-667 2 x 1GB Kit (on hand)
• HDD: Samsung 500GB SATA (on hand).
• PSU: Corsair VX450W CMPSU-450VX (to be bought).
• Case: Antec Fusion Remote (already bought).
• LG Combo BD/HD DVD player (on hand)

Questions:

1. Is there any problem connecting Antec Fusion Remote IR receiver to this Asus motherboard?
2. Is the noise acceptable with the stock cooler or Scythe NINJA MINI a must?
3. Will 2 x 1GB DDR2-667 be good enough for VMC or I should better off buying new 2 x 2GB DDR2-800 or higher?

TIA
PS: Planning to get an HD4650 when available.

I really wanna thank you renethx. Your help has made my decision _alot_ easier.. Great to have ppl of your character around. Thanks again!

SD DVD Playback on an HTPC
Has anyone here been able to get super good video from their HTPC, specifically with the 4850 card?
I am coming from the XA2 and an OPPO 983 and cant seem to get the HTPC to even rival the PS3s video quality. I have tried a couple different players and messed around with the 4850 settings but am still unhappy with it.
Does anyone here use the 4850 and feel that their setup is comparable to an OPPO 983 or XA2?
Or was I hoping to get something that only dedicated stand-alone players can achieve?

Thanks. I'll proceed to order others parts, w/o HD4650.

Are:

Gigabyte GA-X48-DQ6, X48, Socket-775, ATX, Silent Pipe, DDR2, 2xPCI-Ex(2.0)x16
and
Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4, X48, Socket-775, ATX, Silent Pipe, DDR2, 2xPCI-Ex(2.0)x16
exactly the same except for the two less SATA ports? No need for 8 when i can only use 6 anyway

Im goin for HTPC build thats capable of 8 Channel LPCM audio and Blue ray/HD Video playback.

Have got the mother board selected as GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H paired with a SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4670.

But i am undecided about the processor to get for the setup.

Would a X2 4850e suffice here or should i get a Phenom Triple or quad core?

Since this is for just movie playback (and not gaming), does it make any sense to get a Triple or quad core?
And if so does the X3 8750 (2.5 Ghz) be faster then then X2 4850e (2.8Ghz) for any day to day applications or divx/mkv conversions?

Thanks in advance