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Inexpensive laptops as an HTPC?

1196 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Andrew_B, Dec 30, 2008

Andrew_B

Discussion Starter · Dec 29, 2008

I am looking for a relatively inexpensive laptop that can double as a HTPC.

I need it to be fast enough to be able to playback downloaded HD content (1080p h.264) and have an HDMI output. A 15" screen is as small as I want to go.

Does anyone have experience with laptops that fit my criteria or have any rules of thumb that I should go by when looking at specs?

I've looked around at the local Best Buy and Circuit City and there are so many different processors and graphics chipsets that I've found it difficult to discern if they would be powerful enough to meet my needs.

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captain_video

· #2 · Dec 29, 2008

Check out the sticky thread at the top of this forum for the minimum hardware requirements for an HTPC. I think you'll find that a laptop that meets this requirement isn't going to be as inexpensive as you'd like. The main thing is that you're going to need one of the latest graphics GPUs to support HD playback as well as a 2GHz dual-core processor as a bare minimum. It should also be HDCP compliant. I don't know if there are any laptops out there with an HDMI output but I'd think they'd lean more towards the high end of the price scale rather than the bargain basement laptops that are being advertised these days.

The bottom line is that you could build a better HTPC from scratch for less money than a comparable laptop would cost. You will also have more capability to upgrade the HTPC for more capabilities as your budget permits. A laptop is pretty much locked into the configuration you bought it in, with few exceptions.

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JoeWPgh

· #3 · Dec 29, 2008

I basically agree with everything you say. The 780m chipset is becoming more common, but once you add a Blu-Ray player you're up to 6~700.00. As you say, you could put together a comparable desktop for the same or less.

I have an HP with the 780m and BD player. It handles BD playback as well as any of my desktops. But as a laptop, I would have to warn you that it is absolute hell on a battery. I'm talking everyday casual use, not play back of media. So yeah, it's a laptop and handles HD pretty well. But you pretty much have to keep it plugged into the wall, so it's not that great of a laptop.

Quote:
Originally Posted by captain_video /forum/post/15400396

Check out the sticky thread at the top of this forum for the minimum hardware requirements for an HTPC. I think you'll find that a laptop that meets this requirement isn't going to be as inexpensive as you'd like. The main thing is that you're going to need one of the latest graphics GPUs to support HD playback as well as a 2GHz dual-core processor as a bare minimum. It should also be HDCP compliant. I don't know if there are any laptops out there with an HDMI output but I'd think they'd lean more towards the high end of the price scale rather than the bargain basement laptops that are being advertised these days.

The bottom line is that you could build a better HTPC from scratch for less money than a comparable laptop would cost. You will also have more capability to upgrade the HTPC for more capabilities as your budget permits. A laptop is pretty much locked into the configuration you bought it in, with few exceptions.

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Andrew_B

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 29, 2008

I appreciate the feedback nudging me towards a proper "desktop" HTPC and I suppose I left out a few details that would clarify what I am trying to find.

I currently have a 2.4 GHz C2D based HTPC with an ATI x1250 graphics chipset that is able to handle all of the content I want the laptop to be capable of handling. In addition I also have a stand-alone BD player connected to my main display (a 1080p plasma).

My goal for the laptop is mostly to be used as a couch web surfing/away from home PC. But, I'd also like to occasionally use it to to play back HD content on my 720p projector and take it over to friends' houses to use with their displays.

My pricing target for "inexpensive" is under $1000. I did see a few models that came with HDMI outputs but they either had intel graphics chipsets (ugh) or were AMD based and outside of my intel C2D frame of reference.

It is good to hear that the 780m chipset may be just the thing I am looking for. I'll add that to the top of my list of candidate laptops as I come across them.

Thanks for the tip on the sad battery life of the HP with that chipset. Can you let me know what model number that is so I don't accidently end up with it?

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JoeWPgh

· #5 · Dec 29, 2008

It's an HP Pavilion dv5. Overall I'm pretty happy with it, as I don't really need to run it on battery very often. It's the few times I have that I noticed how quickly it drained. I'm guessing it will go +/- 3 hrs of web surfing, minor database work. Cut that in 1/2 for HD playback.

It comes with a very slim MCE remote, which is both a blessing and a curse. When I'm surfing my main HTPC, that remote wakes the laptop and points it to the oddest things.

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noclue

· #6 · Dec 29, 2008

I'll toss my 3 cents in.

I Bought a VERY CHEEP compaq laptop to use as a htpc for just under 400 usd.

15.5 screen,2 gig ddr2,vista 32 bit home premium,amd athlon x2 [email protected] 1.9 gig,

nvidia 8200m. Using a hd tuner (haupage 950 usb stick) HD recordings from over the air has been flawless. I have no source for 1080p so not sure if the laptop has enough procseing power for that. conected to a 720p 32" lcd tv through vga. the same series laptop but different model has a hdmi out port (but no vga out)

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pender

· #7 · Dec 29, 2008

yes, the 780m chipset for 1080p/24. Intel Dual Core 2Ghz. 1GB RAM min.

The 9650m GPU should handle high bitrate 40Mbps video. Like the Asus N80Vn-X1 for $900. The HDMI port supports HDCP and audio passthorugh, which is important. It also has spdif thoriugh 3.5mm headphone jack. You need a cheap external/Interenal BD player though.

Overall, a HTPC for BD playback is a safer choice because you know you are getting HDCP compliant components. Laptops are also designed to run with the screen lifted open - thermodynamics.

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Andrew_B

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 30, 2008

I ended up taking advantage of a 30% discount coupon code at HP.com to get a customized dv7t. This is a 17" laptop with a 2.26 GHz C2D and a GeForce 9200M GS chipset. It even has a blu-ray drive and came to a total of $915 shipped.

The 780m version (dv7z) was a little bit cheaper but I decided to stick with intel/nvidia. Hopefully it will live up to my expectations.

Thanks to all for the advice. Impulse laptop buys are fun.

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